Trump fires intelligence watchdog who was involved in impeachment case
- Michael Atkinson was the first to inform Congress about a whistle-blower complaint that described the US president’s pressure on Ukraine
- His firing is part of a larger shake-up in the intelligence community, as Trump replaces former officials with known loyalists
Donald Trump has fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community who handled the whistle-blower complaint that triggered the US president’s impeachment.
Trump informed the Senate intelligence committee on 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 programmes and activities,” and that inspectors general are critical to those goals.
Atkinson was the first to inform Congress about an anonymous whistle-blower 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.