Schiff & Pelosi Vent Their Irritation Over President Trump Booting ICIG Michael Atkinson

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Posted By: Lindsey Michelle April 4, 2020

Democrats on Friday vented their frustration over President Trump’s decision to fire the intelligence community inspector general who informed Congress about the Ukraine whistleblower complaint last year.

The Commander in Chief notified both the Senate and House intelligence committees in a letter that he was booting ICIG Michael Atkinson, effective in 30 days.

“As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have the power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General,” President Trump stated in the letter. “That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”

ICIG Michael Atkinson had received a complaint from the anonymous whistleblower about President Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last July.

In letters to lawmakers after receiving the complaint in August, 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.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) immediately took to Twitter to vent their irritation over President Trump’s decision to fire Atkinson. Continued Below

Pelosi claimed in a statement: “The shameful late-night firing of Inspector General Atkinson is a brazen act against a patriotic public servant who has honorably performed his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security, as required by the law and by his oath.”

“This latest act of reprisal against the Intelligence Community threatens to have a chilling effect against all willing to speak truth to power. The President must immediately cease his attacks on those who sacrifice to keep America safe, particularly during this time of national emergency,” she added.

“Trump’s dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing. It puts our country and national security at even greater risk,” Schiff alleged, attaching the president’s letter with his tweet. Continued Below

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) fired back on Twitter Saturday writing: “Of course, Adam Schiff is complaining about ICIG Atkinson being fired. He was Schiff’s key impeachment enabler. – Let the Whistleblower lie about meeting with Schiff’s staff – Didn’t disclose the fact that the WB worked for Biden. Schiff still won’t release Atkinson’s transcript!”

“Remember Schiff and Atkinson’s staff are the ONLY people who met with the anonymous Whistleblower. The Whistleblower: – Who had no firsthand knowledge – Was biased against the President – Worked for Joe Biden,” Rep. Jordan pointed out.

Rep. Adam Schiff’s official tweet:

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement:

Rep. Jim Jordan’s official tweets:

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In January, Fox News reported that Atkinson was being investigated by Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee for his handling of the Ukraine matter. A source told Fox News that Republicans are also looking at the veracity of Atkinson’s testimony about the whistleblower complaint, and the explanations he offered for changes made to the ICIG’s guidance on accepting second-hand information, Fox News reported.

Schiff on MSNBC Friday claimed the president is “retaliating against the people that are on his enemies list”:

(Related: Rep. Elise Stefanik Humiliates Schiff, Cites His Own Interviews About Whistleblower Testimony)