Thread by @EpochTimes

An anonymous #Whistleblower whose complaint prompted an #ImpeachmentInquiry misled the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) about his or her communications with Congress, according to a source familiar with details of the complaint. (Thread 👇) theepochtimes.com/whistleblower-…

The source told @EpochTimes that the #Whistleblower didn’t check the box to disclose whether they previously communicated the allegations to “Congress or congressional committees.”

Not checking the box is misleading, if not outright false, since @RepAdamSchiff admitted that his staff had communicated with the #Whistleblower prior to the filing of the complaint.

The misleading answer on the application may put the whistleblower in legal peril.

The punishment for making a “false statement or concealment of a material fact” is “a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both,” the application states.

The #Whistleblower’s attorney, @MarkSZaidEsq, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

@MarkSZaidEsq The news that @RepAdamSchiff’s staff spoke to the #Whistleblower was first reported by @NYTimes. The revelation drew criticism from Republicans because #SchiffLied about the issue on television.

“He [#Schiff] withheld this info from the American people and even from the Intel Cmte,” @DevinNunes said. “In light of this news, it’s hard to view impeachment as anything aside from an orchestrated farce.”

https://twitter.com/RepDevinNunes/status/1179478204735787009

55 House Republicans have since joined a motion to #CensureSchiff. congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

.@TheJusticeDept reviewed the #WhistleblowerComplaint before it became public and determined that no further action was necessary.

@SpeakerPelosi nonetheless launched an #ImpeachmentInquiry, before either the #Transcript of the call, or the #WhistleblowerComplaint were released.

The form filled out by the #Whistleblower has already been the subject of scrutiny, prompted by an updated version of the form being posted on the #ICIG website in August, around the time the #WhistleblowerComplaint was filed.

The updated form notably omits a section warning potential #Whistleblowers that 1st-hand info is required to file a complaint. The vast majority of the #WhistleblowersComplaint consists of 2nd-hand info.

The ICIG office later clarified that the #Whistleblower filled out the old version of the form that included the language prohibiting 2nd-hand info.

The ICIG explained that #Whistleblowers could apply for protection without 1st-hand info.

The #InspectorGeneral also admitted that the recent change to the #WhistleblowerComplaint form to omit that language was, in part, due to media scrutiny. theepochtimes.com/inspector-gene…

The clarification about the forms prompted further inquiries from Congress. Republican Sens. @ChuckGrassley, @RonJohnsonWI & @SenMikeLee sent a list of questions to the #ICIG, requesting to know when exactly the new #Complaint form was put in place. hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

@ChuckGrassley @RonJohnsonWI @SenMikeLee The @WhiteHouse released a #Transcript of the call between Trump and #Zelensky on Sept. 25.

The transcript debunked several anonymously sourced media allegations, including the claim that Trump repeatedly pressured Zelensky or that he made a promise. whitehouse.gov/wp-content/upl…

When #HouseIntel released the #WhistleblowerComplaint the next day, a comparison of the claims in the two documents exposed further contradictions, such as that the #Whistleblower incorrectly stated the number of investigations the leaders discussed.theepochtimes.com/whistleblower-…

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