Feb 4, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Rand Paul reads alleged name of Ukraine whistleblower on Senate floor

Rashaan Ayesh

Sen. Rand Paul enters the Senate floor — Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the alleged name of the Ukraine whistleblower on the Senate floor as senators debated President Trump's impeachment on Tuesday.

The state of play: Paul read aloud his question that named the alleged whistleblower — and had an accompanying poster that also included the name — which Chief Justice John Roberts refused to read during the impeachment trial last week.

The Kentucky senator has been at the forefront of the push to name the whistleblower for months — a fight that triggered a schism between stalwart Trump allies and moderates in the GOP.

What he's saying: Paul defended his decision to CNN's Manu Raju, arguing that he did not single out the alleged whistleblower with his floor speech: "I would say the chief justice did that. By not allowing the question, he's sort of confirming to the public who it is. I have no idea who it is."

"I think it's very important that we know if there was a concerted government plot to bring the president down by a lot of employees," he added.

Go deeper: The GOP's war over naming the Ukraine whistleblower

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Rand Paul reads alleged name of Ukraine whistleblower on Senate floor

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