Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr
Richard Mauze BurrGOP chairman says Senate impeachment trial could last 6-8 weeks Bottom Line GOP senator wants to know whistleblower identity if there's an impeachment trial 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 BurrGOP chairman says Senate impeachment trial could last 6-8 weeks Bottom Line GOP senator wants to know whistleblower identity if there's an impeachment trial 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 TrumpTrump faces high stakes in meeting with Erdoğan amid impeachment drama Democrats worry they don't have right candidate to beat Trump Trump threatening to fire Mulvaney: report 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 TrumpTrump faces high stakes in meeting with Erdoğan amid impeachment drama Democrats worry they don't have right candidate to beat Trump Trump threatening to fire Mulvaney: report 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 Trump should be allowed to undo DACA order The Hill's 12:30 Report: Dems, GOP dig in for public impeachment hearings The Hill's Morning Report - Witness transcripts plow ground for public impeachment testimony MORE (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters earlier this week.Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulFox News legal analyst says quid pro quo is 'clearly impeachable': Trump requested 'criminal' act Federal court rules baseless searches of travelers' devices unconstitutional Sunday shows — New impeachment phase dominates 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 BidenDemocrats worry they don't have right candidate to beat Trump Trump threatening to fire Mulvaney: report Giuliani pens op-ed slamming 'unprecedented' impeachment inquiry 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 BidenDemocrats worry they don't have right candidate to beat Trump Trump threatening to fire Mulvaney: report Giuliani pens op-ed slamming 'unprecedented' impeachment inquiry 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.
