© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Expert: Ukraine Whistleblower Process Puts Them, Search for Facts at Risk

Bradley University

An expert on whistleblowing said the way the president’s Ukraine phone call scandal is playing out in public is undermining the investigation process.

Dr. Jacob Young is the director of the Bradley University Center for Cybersecurity and the leader of new research for the National Whistleblower Center. 

“If this had been done entirely behind the scenes by the proper investigation teams to run all the way through its course, and then an actual report that wasn’t tainted by politics was released that said, here’s the facts, then we would have a much better gauge of what actually happened," he said. 

He said there’s now a concerted effort by the media and Trump administration officials to uncover the whistleblower’s identity. Young believes someone will eventually be successful. That could put the whistleblower in danger. 

“This process that we’re seeing right now actually hurts the whistleblower, because now they are a known quantity. We don’t actually know their identity. But they exist. We know they exist," Young said. 

He said exposed whistleblowers often lose their jobs, see any future career opportunities melt away, and see their lives ruined.

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.