The Washington Post reports:
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined to read a question submitted by Sen. Rand Paul, in which the Kentucky Republican sought to name a person who conservative media outlets have alleged is the whistleblower whose anonymous complaint launched the impeachment inquiry.
“The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted,” Roberts said of Paul’s question, which also included the name of a Schiff staffer.
Paul has repeatedly demanded that the media unmask the alleged whistleblower, whose identity is protected by federal law. After Thursday’s ruling, Paul showed no reaction. He stood up, gathered his papers and walked out of the Senate chamber to address reporters.
My question today is about whether or not individuals who were holdovers from the Obama National Security Council and Democrat partisans conspired with Schiff staffers to plot impeaching the President before there were formal House impeachment proceedings.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 30, 2020
Watch the moment when Rand Paul tries to out the whistleblower by asking a question with his or her name in it and Chief Justice Roberts “declines to read the question as submitted.” pic.twitter.com/sJwljoK6OO
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) January 30, 2020
Rand Paul was told by the Chief Justice that he couldn’t break the law by outing the whistleblower.
Rand Paul throws a tantrum and walks out of the Impeachment trial.
Do you REALLY need more evidence of the criminality and entitled nature of the GOP?https://t.co/677QyBz3q7
— JayQwellin (@DarkCovfefe) January 30, 2020
Sen. Rand Paul leaves the Senate floor—against Senate rules—after Roberts declines to read his question because it named the alleged Ukraine whistleblower.
“I don’t know who the whistleblower is,” Paul said, though his question included the person widely alleged to be it. pic.twitter.com/rfmyJR9eER
— Daniel Moore (@PGdanielmoore) January 30, 2020