Transcripts released on Friday in the impeachment inquiry show Republicans and Democrats repeatedly skirmishing over GOP questions that appeared aimed at drawing out the identity of the whistleblower who filed the initial complaint against President Donald Trump.

Trump himself speculated that the whistleblower “should be sued. And maybe for treason.”

During questioning last month of Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, a top Trump national security adviser, Republicans repeatedly asked questions that could reveal the whistleblower’s identity — leading to sharp exchanges with Democrats and Vindman’s lawyer.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., finally intervened, saying: “It is the ruling of the chair that the witness shall not identify employees, detailees or contractors of the intelligence agency, or provide information that may lead to the revelation of the identity of the whistleblower, someone whose life has been put at risk.”

Democrats “are determined to protect the right of that whistleblower to remain anonymous,” Schiff said, “and we will not allow bad-faith efforts to out this whistleblower.”

Vindman’s lawyer, Michael Volkov, said his client would not answer questions about how many people, other than State Department official George Kent, he told about concerns he had over Trump’s July 25 call with the president of Ukraine. The call, and Trump’s request for a “favor” from Ukraine are the basis of the impeachment inquiry.

Pressed repeatedly, Volkov said of his client: “Look, he came here. He tells you he’s not the whistleblower, okay? He says he feels uncomfortable about it. Try and respect his feelings at this point.”