Article snippet: The New York Times on Thursday defended the paper's decision to disclose key details about the whistleblower whose complaint against MORE has sparked an impeachment inquiry. In a note published Thursday afternoon, the Times said it was aware of criticism of its decision to include what detractors have said could serve as identifying details and make the person a target for retaliation. The newspaper wrote that it took the concerns to executive editor Dean Baquet, who argued that the information — including the fact that the whistleblower is allegedly a CIA officer — was necessary context to allow readers to draw conclusions about the whistleblower's reliability. "The president and some of his supporters have attacked the credibility of the whistle-blower, who has presented information that has touched off a landmark impeachment proceeding. The president himself has called the whistle-blower’s account a 'political hack job,'" Baquet said. "We decided to publish limited information about the whistle-blower — including the fact that he works for a nonpolitical agency and that his complaint is based on an intimate knowledge and understanding of the White House — because we wanted to provide information to readers that allows them to make their own judgments about whether or not he is credible," he added, according to the Times. Baquet offered a similar justification in a statement tweeted by the Times earlier Thursday. "The role of the whistle-blower, including his c... Link to the full article to read more