The intelligence community's IG interviewed a second whistleblower

The head of the intelligence community's internal watchdog office, Michael Atkinson, interviewed a second whistleblower about President Trump's communications with Ukraine's government, Mark Zaid, the lawyer representing the anonymous official, confirmed Sunday.

The whistleblower reportedly has first-hand knowledge of Trump's dealings with Ukraine and could support the initial whistleblower's complaint that spurred the congressional impeachment inquiry. ABC News also notes that the existence of a second whistleblower could prove to be a blow to Trump's insistence that the first complaint was "totally inaccurate." Andrew Bakaj, the lead attorney for the first whistleblower, further confirmed that his firm "represents multiple whistleblowers," The Wall Street Journal reports.

The New York Times reported Friday that a second whistleblower was considering filing a formal complaint against the president. While Zaid, who is also one of the attorneys representing the original whistleblower, confirmed that he is representing a second official, it is not clear if the person referenced in the Times report is his client. The second whistleblower allegedly has more direct information than the first whistleblower, per the Times.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Zaid said both officials have full protection of the law to protect them from a retaliatory firing. The second official reportedly has not communicated with the congressional committees conducting the impeachment inquiry. Read more at Reuters and ABC News.