The anonymous whistleblower who unveiled the Ukraine affair, sparking a possible impeachment case against US President Donald Trump, has a long tradition. The first prominent whistleblower was Daniel Ellsberg, activist and economist, today 88 years old. He launched the "Pentagon Papers" in 1971 to the "New York Times" and the "Washington Post."
The secret government study proved that the Vietnam War could not be won and that both President Lyndon Johnson and his successor Richard Nixon had lied to the public. After Ellsberg's identity was revealed, he was charged. He was threatened with a maximum sentence of 115 years imprisonment. The case only exploded because it came out that Nixon had let him hear illegally.
DER SPIEGEL: What moved you to secrecy at that time?
Daniel Ellsberg: I was the only person who was allowed to read all 7000 pages of the "Pentagon Papers". I had her lying in my safe. I decided that the public needed to know about these documents. People had to know about this war, which was still going on. My intention was to put pressure on Congress.
DER SPIEGEL: They risked their freedom. What do you advise the current informant?
Ellsberg: He or she can not do much but hide further. But since the whistleblower wants to testify before the congress, it is very unlikely that he or she will remain anonymous in the end. The Congress will try to preserve its anonymity. But I hardly believe that all Republicans would keep this secret to themselves. It is a most dangerous situation. You have to protect her or him.
DER SPIEGEL: How did your identity come to light?
Ellsberg: Neil Sheehan, the New York Times correspondent to whom I gave the Pentagon Papers, assured me that my anonymity would be maintained. But another journalist who had been released from the same paper took only 20 minutes to find out my name and revealed it. 20 minutes!
DER SPIEGEL: What happened then?
Ellsberg: The next morning FBI agents appeared in front of my house. Luckily I was not there, just in a motel to hand the "Pentagon Papers" to the Washington Post. My wife and I hid for 13 days.
DER SPIEGEL: Did you have to fear other people besides the FBI agents?
Ellsberg: Yes, among other things, Nixon hired a group of people who called themselves "plumbers" and later became famous in the wake of the Watergate scandal. They broke into the office of my former psychoanalyst, hoping to find information there. They wanted to blackmail me and silence me.
DER SPIEGEL: How do you deal with such a situation as a private person?
Ellsberg: It's been going through my head lately, too. I believe that the lawyers of the current whistleblower are absolutely right in saying that their client is in physical danger. Not necessarily by government agents or employees, as in my case. But Trump has a huge, well-armed following that is open to violence. He targets the Ukraine whistleblower. I hope that this person is well protected.
DER SPIEGEL: Your case shows that state revenge against whistleblowers is nothing new, not only since Trump.
Ellsberg: Barack Obama has prosecuted nine or ten whistleblowers. He is said to have said - supposedly in jest: 'Can not we (the NSA whistleblower, ed., Ed.) Get rid of Edward Snowden with a drone?' Others spoke very openly about Snowden being hanged. Trump's talk that this person behind the Ukraine revelations now deserves the death penalty did not start with him. Vice Presidents and MPs have often mentioned this to me and others, especially Snowden and Chelsea Manning (the WikiLeaks informant, editor's note), with whom I identify most. We acted and knew we risked severe penalties and dangers.
More about the Ukraine affair
DER SPIEGEL: How will the current scandal end?
Ellsberg: Trump commits one illegal act after another. This is a big difference from the past: this is a clear case, it is a criminal offense. In addition, there is only one whistleblower so far, but apparently dozens of other people who also knew, but remain silent. What did they do about it? We did not hear from anyone, including Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo, that they had warned the president, and nobody told Congress, the courts, or the press. Trump relies on them to shut up. But each of them is involved in the cover-up of a crime and violated the oath of office, according to which he should defend the US Constitution against all enemies at home and abroad.
DER SPIEGEL: Is it possible to impeach Trump?
Ellsberg: Not initiating such a procedure would mean, despite the political risks, that this president would be above the law. It would mean living another two years with an absolutely lawless president. And that's too long.
DER SPIEGEL: How do you see the chances of an impeachment?
Ellsberg: Trump has publicly - and probably rightly - said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and still would not lose the support of his constituents. The question that arises now: Does that also apply to the Senate? To the Republicans?
DER SPIEGEL: What do you think?
Ellsberg: I consider a possible impeachment possible. Maybe I'm naive. There will be some Republican senators who will have enough who can no longer support Trump. The question is whether it will be 20 or more.
