A new poll finds that Donald Trump's harassment of the federal whistleblower whose complaint spurred impeachment proceedings against him is making some federal workers think twice about blowing the whistle themselves.
Mother Jones reports that the poll, conducted by the Government Business Council, found that 34% of federal workers said they were "less likely" to report perceived wrongdoing based on Trump's attacks and those of his allies. The breakdown included 19% who said they are "much less" likely to report malfeasance and 15% who were "somewhat less" likely to file a report.
On the bright side, another 50% of federal workers said Trump's intimidation tactics would have no effect on their decision to report wrongdoing. Another 16% said it actually made them more likely to take action.
Trump and his GOP minions have been absolutely insistent that the whistleblower, who is anonymous and has a right to remain so, should be outed and forced to testify. Trump has also suggested that the whistleblower should be executed, comparing that person to a spy during a closed-door event in New York on Sept. 26.
“You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart? Right?" Trump said. "The spies and treason, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now.”
We also used to handle the presidency a little differently than we do now.