I call you guys Xerox, because you just repeat the same stuff that is put out there by the obfuscators and never come up with anything original. It's hardly worth the effort of finding ways to couch the truth that piss you off. I was there when the first Whistleblower laws were introduced. They were designed to make it easy to get information about misdeeds to the top, for action. In reality, first hand or second hand does not matter. You are to report information to the Inspector General that you think might otherwise be covered up. It is up to the I.G. to figure out if it is factual or just gossip and rumors. The I.G. puts unsubstantiated claims in the files, and forwards the ones that appear to have substance. It is up to the people the I.G. alerts to act on the report. So, this I.G. determined the Whistleblower had good information, second hand not-with-standing. It makes me wonder what the State Department I.G. has that is so hot they had to call special meetings with House and Senate Committees, today?