Declassified Documents Identify ‘Witness 2’ as Anti-Trump Intel Official Who Assisted Ukraine Whistleblower and Co-Authored Russia Collusion Assessment

WASHINGTON — Newly declassified memos and transcripts from the Intelligence Community Inspector General’s 2019 investigation have identified the anonymous “Witness 2” who helped advance the Ukraine whistleblower complaint — the foundation of President Donald Trump’s first impeachment — as Gavin Wilde, a former National Security Agency and National Security Council official with longstanding anti-Trump views and direct ties to the Russia collusion probe.

According to reporting by Just The News, which first confirmed Wilde’s identity from government sources and matching biographical details in the declassified records, Wilde served as a key backer for the primary whistleblower, identified in prior reporting as Eric Ciaramella. Wilde spoke with investigators on August 21, 2019, and his input was pivotal in convincing then-ICIG Michael Atkinson to deem the complaint “credible” despite its reliance on second- and third-hand information.

Wilde, a former FBI linguist with expertise in Russia and information warfare, co-authored the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) that claimed Russian interference favored Trump over Hillary Clinton. That assessment, directed under the Obama administration and involving figures such as John Brennan, James Clapper, and James Comey, has since been criticized by the CIA itself for faulty intelligence and tradecraft failures.

Declassified memos explicitly noted potential bias: “If someone were to try to discredit information provided by Witness 2, they might focus on Witness 2 being the co-author of the 2017 ICA.” The documents also recorded that Wilde “worked with Peter Strzok,” the FBI agent fired for anti-Trump text messages during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation he helped launch.

In his interview, Wilde admitted he lacked firsthand knowledge of the July 25, 2019, Trump-Zelensky call and stated he would not have filed the complaint himself. He described reading the transcript for “situational awareness” while covering for another NSC official and said he had to “read between the lines” to infer a quid pro quo for election assistance. Wilde told investigators he assisted Ciaramella out of a “moral and patriotic duty” so both could “sleep the sleep of the just.”

The complaint, filed August 12, 2019 — one day after Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony on the failed Russia probe — alleged Trump pressured Ukraine for political gain. House Democrats used it to impeach Trump in December 2019 on abuse of power and obstruction charges. He was acquitted by the Senate in February 2020.

Wilde’s post-government career includes roles as a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he has publicly criticized Trump and “MAGA conspiracy theories.” He has deleted social media accounts that highlighted his focus on Russia and information warfare.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s office has referred both the primary whistleblower and Atkinson for potential criminal review, citing concealed biases and procedural irregularities.

The declassified records, released earlier this month at Just The News’ request, provide the clearest public evidence yet of how internal intelligence community dynamics shaped the impeachment process.