Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr
Richard Mauze BurrMarsha Blackburn shares what book she's reading during Trump Senate trial GOP senator provides fidget spinners to Senate colleagues at lunch Juan Williams: Counting the votes to remove Trump MORE (R-N.C.) said on Thursday that he does not think the identity of the whistleblower at the center of the House impeachment inquiry should be publicly disclosed.
Richard Mauze BurrMarsha Blackburn shares what book she's reading during Trump Senate trial GOP senator provides fidget spinners to Senate colleagues at lunch Juan Williams: Counting the votes to remove Trump MORE (R-N.C.) said on Thursday that he does not think the identity of the whistleblower at the center of the House impeachment inquiry should be publicly disclosed. Asked by reporters if he wanted the individual's identity to be made public, Burr told reporters that he "never" thought that.
"We protect whistleblowers. We protect witnesses in our committee," Burr added.
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His comments come as President Trump
Donald John TrumpWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE and some of his allies on Capitol Hill have called for the whistleblower to come forward and for the individual's name to be publicly released.
Donald John TrumpWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE and some of his allies on Capitol Hill have called for the whistleblower to come forward and for the individual's name to be publicly released. 
Lindsey Olin GrahamGraham says he wants to see Bolton manuscript Bolton upends Trump impeachment trial Juan Williams: Democrats can't let Trump off the hook MORE (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters earlier this week.Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulLindsey Graham will oppose subpoena of Hunter Biden Marsha Blackburn shares what book she's reading during Trump Senate trial Sekulow indicates Trump should not attend impeachment trial MORE (R-Ky.) also called for the media to publicly out the whistleblower during a rally with Trump in Kentucky — to the consternation of many of his colleagues — telling reporters: "Do your job and print his name." Burr's committee is reviewing the process behind the whistleblower complaint, the handling of which created a high-profile split within the administration.
The complaint — tied to Trump asking Ukraine to open a probe into former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE and his son Hunter Biden — is also at the center of the House impeachment inquiry, which is looking into whether or not Trump conditioned aid to the country on it agreeing to open up an investigation.
Joe BidenWarren: Dershowitz presentation 'nonsensical,' 'could not follow it' Bolton told Barr he was concerned Trump did favors for autocrats: report Dershowitz: Bolton allegations would not constitute impeachable offense MORE and his son Hunter Biden — is also at the center of the House impeachment inquiry, which is looking into whether or not Trump conditioned aid to the country on it agreeing to open up an investigation. Burr, however, does want to speak with the whistleblower as part of his committee's investigation into the process.
Lawyers for the whistleblower have offered to have the individual provide written answers to questions under oath. But Burr told The Hill late last week that the setup was "not acceptable."
“We have a proven track record of protecting people's identity,” Burr added at the time.
He added on Thursday that he believed the whistleblower's attorneys had done a "reversal" since they made initial contact about making the individual available.
"I just think that they were disingenuous when they ... sent us a letter saying how anxious they were to come before the committee," he added.
