Confused about the NYT story that Kevin McCarthy and Steven Scalise are literally in hysterics about

[NewsCenter28]

Can someone explain to me the real version of what actually went down with the whistleblower and Schiff here rather than Scalise/McCarthy's hysterical baseless spin? CNN just sent an alert to my Iphone on this as well.

[wishstar]

1. Here is excerpt from the NY Times article:

WASHINGTON — The Democratic head of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, learned about the outlines of a C.I.A. officer’s concerns that President Trump had abused his power days before the officer filed a whistle-blower complaint, according to a spokesman and current and former American officials.

The early account by the future whistle-blower shows how determined he was to make known his allegations that Mr. Trump asked Ukraine’s government to interfere on his behalf in the 2020 election. It also explains how Mr. Schiff knew to press for the complaint when the Trump administration initially blocked lawmakers from seeing it.

The C.I.A. officer approached a House Intelligence Committee aide with his concerns about Mr. Trump only after he had had a colleague first convey them to the C.I.A.’s top lawyer. Concerned about how that initial avenue for airing his allegations through the C.I.A. was unfolding, the officer then approached the House aide. In both cases, the original accusation was vague.

The House staff member, following the committee’s procedures, suggested the officer find a lawyer to advise him and meet with an inspector general, with whom he could file a whistle-blower complaint. The aide shared some of what the officer conveyed to Mr. Schiff. The aide did not share the whistle-blower’s identity with Mr. Schiff, an official said.

[Thomas Hurt]

3. Dude was not sure the IG and his boss weren't going to bury it.

[maxsolomon]

7. Entirely valid concern

since they did.

[Voltaire2]

2. Its part of their strategy to gaslight every irrelevant detail as some sort of scandal

that invalidates the actual subject of the complaint.

In this case, the whistleblower informed Schiff that there was a complaint and the basic facts within the complaint, as the whistleblower was aware that the complaint was being suppressed by the administration.

Scalise et al are trying to turn this into a disqualifying counter scandal.

[Iliyah]

4. Apparently Scalise and McCarthy does know how to read

or don't understand what they are reading and most definitely do not understand the procedures. Hair on fire bullshit.

[Garrett78]

6. They understand. They lie and obfuscate on purpose.

[Kingofalldems]

5. OHhhhhh I get it.

Putting it out there.

[NewsCenter28]

8. Yeah this is not a big deal at all

NYT showing itself to be a right-wing rag, once more. This is not news, and certainly not "Breaking News." Had time to study the details at a break from work and find this whole story outrageous for the NYT to publish now.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Almost anyone would have done the same as the whistleblower.

It's just the smart thing to do. Something Republicans don't understand.

[Jarqui]

10. There was some reporting or testimony prior to this NYT story

that the whistleblower had tried other channels to try to get this concern communicated.

So that isn't "news"

What happened after that is covered in more depth by the NYT.

I really doubt whistleblowing is an intense and repeated training exercise.
I also doubt that the circumstances they witnessed was a routine event - certainly prior to Trump.

The gist was they had tried to get it dealt with a couple of other ways and after asking was led to this path.

Is it really shocking that after a person in the government sees the President misbehaving that they would ask for the input from others as to whether they should report it and if they do report it, how they should go about it.

To me, the fact that their efforts meandered this way makes their story even more credible.

Naturally, the GOP will try to spin whatever into something more sinister. But nothing they can say or do will change Trump's words to the President of Ukraine on his own White House memo/pseudo transcript:

“I would like you to do us a favor though” (get dirt on the Bidens)

Nor did anything the whistleblower did cause the memo to be hidden in a more secure system where no one would be likely to see it.

[octoberlib]

11. They're trying to spin this. It's actually irresponsible journalism by the NYT.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Mark Warner and Richard Burr actually issued a statement saying the House followed correct procedure. Whistleblowers contact House and Senate Intelligence and ask them what they need to do.

[NewsCenter28]

13. Yeah highly irresponsible to say the least

I do have some vague recollection as well that Michael Schmidt is a well-known GOP hack.

The outrageous nature of the NYT publishing this at all is off the charts.

[octoberlib]

12. Statement from Burr and Warner aides

Link to tweet

I am told by spokespeople for both
@SenatorBurr
and
@MarkWarner
that it would be ***standard practice*** for intel committee to tell a potential whistleblower to hire counsel and file a complaint with an agency IG or the IC IG.

**Bipartisan. Both parties say this.**

[Kingofalldems]

14. The real version is it didn't happen.

Link to tweet

Trump supporters not having a good day.