U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan is one of Donald Trump’s most ardent defenders on Capitol Hill. The Ohio Republican, though, has difficulty answering direct questions, such as whether it was appropriate for Trump to ask China to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.

Jordan, an Ohio Republican, had the chance this past weekend to answer that question on national TV. He dodged it many times.

Oh, but now he says we need to know the identity of the whistleblower who has, um, blown the whistle on what he or she believes has happened in the White House.

Jordan said this: “Frankly I think the American people have a right to know who this whistleblower is. If we’re talking about the impeachment of the President of the United States, I think that’s important.”

No, it’s not critical, congressman, for us to know the ID of the individual who has put his or her career on the line.

All the public needs to know is whether this individual’s allegations are credible, that they can be proven, that he or she has told the truth to what he or she understands.

Federal law protects the identity of these folks who step forward to tell the nation when the witness wrongdoing or corruption within our government. Revealing these people’s identity strips away the intent of the law and deters others in a position to reveal wrongdoing from doing the right thing.

If Jim Jordan is going to “defend” the president against charges that he has violated his oath of office and put our national security at risk by inviting foreign interference in our elections, then let him make the case on its merits.

That is, if he can find any merits on which to base his defense.