Tom Fitton, head of the conservative legal watchdog group Judicial Watch, violated a gag rule that has gripped official Washington and the nation's press: the ban on naming the CIA officer who many believe is the so-called whistleblower.
As Fitton, an experienced lawyer, said, anonymity for a whistleblower is not guaranteed except possibly with respect to his or her immediate superiors. There is no requirement that members of the media, government officials not directly connected with a whistleblower or persons such as himself must avoid naming the CIA officer -- who is not a covert operative -- publicly.
Yet YouTube barred Fitton's video in which he names Eric Ciaramella as the apparent "whistleblower." Ciaramella has not stepped forward to deny that he is the "whistleblower." Fitton argues that the CIA officer is not covered by whistleblower protections, because he leaked his second-hand story to the House Intelligence Committee before filing a whistleblower complaint.
Fitton names 'whistleblower'
https://vimeo.com/372092613
Not only have Democrats insisted that the whistleblower's identity is top secret, but the person's lawyers, who are anti-Trump activists, say their client should remain anonymous. The "real CIA" (AKA Deep State), however, seems to be behind the lid on the American press. It is bizarre that, once the officer's name was published and after he refused to deny being the "whistleblower," no one else in the media followed the story, asking questions and mentioning the name.
Fitton contrasted that with the media's treatment of Linda Tripp, who provided recordings of Monica Lewinsky that spurred Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings.
Even Fox News, which for the most part supports President Trump, is under orders not to mention Ciaramella's name. Who would have the power to impose such a gag order on virtually the entire media system, other than the CIA -- which no doubt is arguing that it is protecting one of its officers? The fact that Fox News is honoring the gag order points directly to CIA intervention.
The reason for this vast gag order is not only to protect the real CIA's push to oust Trump. There is more to it than that. The real CIA is anxious to show that it is boss of our media, and that no one may defy it. That is why YouTube caved and blacked out the Judicial Watch video.
As Fitton, an experienced lawyer, said, anonymity for a whistleblower is not guaranteed except possibly with respect to his or her immediate superiors. There is no requirement that members of the media, government officials not directly connected with a whistleblower or persons such as himself must avoid naming the CIA officer -- who is not a covert operative -- publicly.
Yet YouTube barred Fitton's video in which he names Eric Ciaramella as the apparent "whistleblower." Ciaramella has not stepped forward to deny that he is the "whistleblower." Fitton argues that the CIA officer is not covered by whistleblower protections, because he leaked his second-hand story to the House Intelligence Committee before filing a whistleblower complaint.
Fitton names 'whistleblower'
https://vimeo.com/372092613
Not only have Democrats insisted that the whistleblower's identity is top secret, but the person's lawyers, who are anti-Trump activists, say their client should remain anonymous. The "real CIA" (AKA Deep State), however, seems to be behind the lid on the American press. It is bizarre that, once the officer's name was published and after he refused to deny being the "whistleblower," no one else in the media followed the story, asking questions and mentioning the name.
Fitton contrasted that with the media's treatment of Linda Tripp, who provided recordings of Monica Lewinsky that spurred Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings.
Even Fox News, which for the most part supports President Trump, is under orders not to mention Ciaramella's name. Who would have the power to impose such a gag order on virtually the entire media system, other than the CIA -- which no doubt is arguing that it is protecting one of its officers? The fact that Fox News is honoring the gag order points directly to CIA intervention.
The reason for this vast gag order is not only to protect the real CIA's push to oust Trump. There is more to it than that. The real CIA is anxious to show that it is boss of our media, and that no one may defy it. That is why YouTube caved and blacked out the Judicial Watch video.
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