Dear Mr. Trump,

Your baseless and dangerous allegations against the whistleblower are easily refuted.

Allegation that the complaint must’ve been drafted by a lawyer.

The CIA hires lawyers for “foreign intelligence and counterintelligence activities.” https://www.cia.gov/careers/opportunities/support-professional/attorney.html  CIA explains that its employees will interact with various governmental entities, including the White House. It’s likely that the whistleblower was a lawyer or had legal training. Among other positions, attorneys can be CIA Staff Operation Officers, Ethics Attorneys, and Analysts who “identify and analyze key threats to the US.”

Allegation that the whistleblower must be a “political hack.”

The CIA tests its employees by, inter alia, “polygraph interview” and a “comprehensive background investigation.” No one joins the CIA to engage in politics. Loyal Americans join the CIA because they care about our country.

Allegation that the whistleblower spoke to “spies” in the White House.

The report shows that information was obtained from “multiple U.S. Government officials.” Report 1. Among these are “[m]ultiple White House officials with direct knowledge of the [Zelensyy] call.” Report 2. These officials “were deeply disturbed by what had transpired in the phone call.” Report 3.

These informants are not spies, but people you hired into the White House. They’re not planted there by an opposing political party, but people who respect our country and witnessed your abuse of presidential power.

Allegation that sequestering the transcript in “lock down” mode is routine.

The transcript was removed from where it would routinely have been kept, by order of White House lawyers, who were aware of “the gravity of what had transpired in the call.” Report 3. “The call did not contain anything remotely sensitive from a national security perspective.” Report at 4.

So stop lying.

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger