Senate intelligence panel, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, said it was “unconscionable” that Trump would fire Atkinson in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump fires intelligence community inspector general over impeachment whistleblower complaint
Trump fires intelligence community inspector general over impeachment whistleblower complaint
By MARY CLARE JALONICK ASSOCIATED PRESS | APR 03, 2020
Trump informed the Senate intelligence committee Friday of his decision to fire Atkinson, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
Trump said in the letter that it is “vital” that he has confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general, and “that is no longer the case with regard to this inspector general.”
He did not elaborate, except to say that “it is extremely important that we promote the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs and activities," and that inspectors general are critical to those goals.
Atkinson was the first to inform Congress about an anonymous whistleblower complaint last year that described Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden and his son. That complaint prompted a House investigation that ultimately resulted in Trump's impeachment.
In letters to lawmakers in August and September, Atkinson said he believed the complaint was “urgent” and “credible.” But the acting Director of National Intelligence at the time, Joseph Maguire, said he did not believe it met the definition of “urgent,” and tried to withhold the complaint from Congress.
READ MORE
1 comment:
Atkinson was the chief attorney for the agency that handled all four FISA applications on Carter Page. Given the recent preliminary report of the FISA abuse there were a whole lot of reasons to fire him.
Post a Comment