The identity of the person who filed the intelligence community whistleblower complaint that sparked the drive to impeach President Trump remains a secret. Democrats leading the impeachment campaign say his or her identity (for brevity, the whistleblower will hereafter be referred to as “he”) must remain closely guarded. Advocates of whistleblower laws, such as Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, agree.

The New York Times came under heavy criticism when it reported that the whistleblower is a CIA officer. “Any decision to report any perceived identifying information of the whistleblower is deeply concerning and reckless, as it can place the individual in harm’s way,” Andrew Bakaj, the whistleblower’s lawyer, told the Times. “The whistleblower has a right to anonymity.”