"Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot," Blackburn said in a tweet at about 4 p.m. ET, she claimed without evidence that Vindman leaked the July phone call to the whistleblower, adding: "They both have lots in common." CNN is not identifying the whistleblower, but there is no evidence that Vindman or the whistleblower knew each other or held any political motivations. It is unclear whether Blackburn or her staff sent the tweet as it posted during oral arguments in the Senate impeachment trial , which bans members from using electronics. "The Department of Defense must live up to what they told me, stand up for Lt. Col. Vindman, and protect him from reprisals.

Source: CNN January 25, 2020 14:37 UTC