UPDATE At END: CBS News’ 60 Minutes reported Sunday night the anti-Trump whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment probe against Trump is under federal protection, according to a reading of a letter sent by one of the whistleblower’s attorneys, Andrew Bakaj.

The Intelligence Community Inspector General who received the complaint determined the whistleblower is biased against Trump, finding “some indica of an arguable political bias on the part of the Complainant in favor of a rival political candidate.”

The whistleblower, who relayed second-hand gossip about President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, was reported by the New York Times to be a CIA officer who had been tasked to the White House and has since returned to the Agency.

CBS reported, ““60 Minutes” has obtained a letter that indicates the government whistleblower who set off the impeachment inquiry of President Trump is under federal protection because they fear for their safety”

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“60 Minutes” has obtained a letter that indicates the government whistleblower who set off the impeachment inquiry of President Trump is under federal protection because they fear for their safety https://t.co/UwLNvWdClT — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 29, 2019

The letter, addressed to DNI Joseph Maguire and dated September 28, states in part:

“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify you of serious concerns we have regarding our client’s personal safety. We appreciate your office’s support thus far to activate appropriate resources to ensure their safet “The events of the past week have heightened our concerns that our client’s identity will be disclosed publicly and that, as a result, our client will be put in harm’s way. On September 26, 2019, the President of the United States said the following: :I want to know who’s the person that gave the Whistleblower, who’s the person who gave the Whistleblower the information, because that’s close to a spy. You know what we used to do in the old days when we were smart. Right? With spies and treason, right? We used to handle them a little differently than we do now.” “The fact that the President’s statement was directed to “the person who gave the Whistleblower the information” does nothing to assuage our concerns for our client’s safety. Moreover, certain individuals a $50,000 “bounty” for “any information” relating to our client’s identity. Unfortunately we expect this situation to worsen, and to become even more dangerous for our client, and any other whistleblowers, as Congress seeks to investigate this matter.”

The letter was also sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), with an appeal for the “political leadership of both parties to speak out in favor of whistleblower protection and reiterate that this is a protected system where retaliation is not permitted, whether direct or implied. We further expect that political leaders from both parties condemn any intimidation against our client and others.”

The letter can read at the 60 Minutes report or this direct link at the whistleblower’s law firm, Compass Rose Legal Group.

President Trump independently on Sunday night demanded to face his accusers, including the whistleblower, saying:

“Like every American, I deserve to meet my accuser, especially when this accuser, the so-called “Whistleblower,” represented a perfect conversation with a foreign leader in a totally inaccurate and fraudulent way. Then Schiff made up what I actually said by lying to Congress……His lies were made in perhaps the most blatant and sinister manner ever seen in the great Chamber. He wrote down and read terrible things, then said it was from the mouth of the President of the United States. I want Schiff questioned at the highest level for Fraud & Treason…..In addition, I want to meet not only my accuser, who presented SECOND & THIRD HAND INFORMATION, but also the person who illegally gave this information, which was largely incorrect, to the “Whistleblower.” Was this person SPYING on the U.S. President? Big Consequences!”

Like every American, I deserve to meet my accuser, especially when this accuser, the so-called “Whistleblower,” represented a perfect conversation with a foreign leader in a totally inaccurate and fraudulent way. Then Schiff made up what I actually said by lying to Congress…… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2019

His lies were made in perhaps the most blatant and sinister manner ever seen in the great Chamber. He wrote down and read terrible things, then said it was from the mouth of the President of the United States. I want Schiff questioned at the highest level for Fraud & Treason….. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2019

….In addition, I want to meet not only my accuser, who presented SECOND & THIRD HAND INFORMATION, but also the person who illegally gave this information, which was largely incorrect, to the “Whistleblower.” Was this person SPYING on the U.S. President? Big Consequences! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2019

UPDATE: Another attorney for the whistleblower, Mark S. Zaid, disputes CBS’ interpretation of the letter. However the letter clearly states some level of activation has been taken to protect the whistleblower’s safety:

“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify you of serious concerns we have regarding our client’s personal safety. We appreciate your office’s support thus far to activate appropriate resources to ensure their safety.”

Zaid wrote on Twitter Sunday night, “NEWS ALERT: 60 Minutes completely misinterpreted contents of our letter, which is now published online at https://compassrosepllc.com/intelligence-community-whistleblower-matter/. Nor have we, as we stated earlier today, reached any agreement with Congress on contact with the whistleblower. Discussions remain ongoing.”