Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy MORE (R-Iowa) said Monday that it is up to the whistleblower at the center of the impeachment inquiry to decide whether or not to come forward after President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE urged the media to reveal the individual's identity.

"That's strictly up to the whistleblower," Grassley told reporters.

When asked if Trump's remarks on Sunday were appropriate, the Iowa Republican demurred.

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"All I want to do is make sure the law is followed," he said. "A person like me that has advocated for whistleblowers for a long period of time, including this whistleblower, I want maximum protection for whistleblowers."

Trump and some of his GOP allies on Capitol Hill have been publicly calling for the whistleblower to be unmasked, arguing that the president should be able to confront the individual, whose complaint helped spur the House inquiry.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that they "would be doing the public a service" if they disclosed the individual's identity.

"They know who it is. You know who it is. You just don't want to report it. CNN knows who it is, but you don't want to report it," Trump said. "You know, you’d be doing the public a service if you did."

Grassley has repeatedly defended the whistleblower, and said last month that the individual deserved to be "heard out and protected."

Lawyers for the whistleblower have said that the individual would be willing to answer questions from both the House and Senate Intelligence Committee in writing and under oath.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamLincoln Project mocks Lindsey Graham's fundraising lag with Sarah McLachlan-themed video The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error MORE (R-S.C.), an ally of the president's who is a member of neither committee, said on Monday that Trump "must have full right of confrontation regarding the whistleblower." Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Bipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs Rep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy MORE (R-N.C.) also told The Hill late last week that the offer, which was also outlined in The Washington Post last month, was "not acceptable."

House Democrats in September launched an impeachment inquiry amid reports that Trump pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate 2020 Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE and his son. No evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the Bidens has emerged.

Trump has repeatedly said he did nothing wrong.