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Ousted US intelligence inspector general urges others to speak out and defend whistleblowers Ousted US intelligence inspector general urges whistleblowers not to be 'silenced' by Trump
(about 8 hours later)
Donald Trump fired Michael Atkinson, a pivotal figure in his impeachment last year, on Friday Michael Atkinson, a pivotal figure in Trump’s impeachment, makes rare and highly pointed rebuttal after president fired him
The ousted US inspector general of the intelligence community has said he is “disappointed and saddened” that Donald Trump fired him, but he also encouraged other inspectors general to continue to speak out when they are aware of wrongdoing. The US inspector general of the intelligence community has issued a withering criticism of Donald Trump who fired him on Friday night, accusing the president of removing him because he “faithfully discharged” his legal obligations in relation to the whistleblower behind the president’s impeachment.
The US president notified Congress late on Friday evening that he intended to fire Michael Atkinson, a pivotal figure in his impeachment last year, because he had lost confidence in him. On Saturday, Trump made it clear that the move had been retaliatory, telling reporters that Atkinson was a “disgrace” and had done “a terrible job” because he had provided an anonymous whistleblower complaint to Congress – a move that was required by law. Michael Atkinson is an independent watchdog whose handling of the complaint last September prompted an impeachment inquiry. In a letter to Congress, Trump said Atkinson no longer had his “fullest confidence” and would be removed in 30 days’ time.
Atkinson said in the statement, sent to reporters late on Sunday, that “it is hard not to think that the president’s loss of confidence in me derives from my having faithfully discharged my legal obligations as an independent and impartial inspector general, and from my commitment to continue to do so”. Atkinson’s statement in response, released to reporters on Sunday night, upped the stakes. His removal has provoked outcry from Democrats and led to a call for inquiries from some senior Republicans.
Atkinson was required by law to notify Congress of the complaint, which was written by an anonymous intelligence official and detailed Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrats. The inspector general had deemed it urgent and credible, meaning that he was required to share it with the House and Senate intelligence committees. But the acting director of national intelligence at the time, Joseph Maguire, overruled him for several weeks. Atkinson said he was “disappointed and saddened”. He went on to make a rare and highly pointed rebuttal to Trump, ending in an appeal to future whistleblowers not to be cowed by the president’s actions.
After a firestorm sparked by media reports of the complaint, it was turned over and made public in September, and a congressional inquiry into the matter led to Trump’s impeachment by the House in December. The GOP-led Senate acquitted Trump in February. “Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices,” he said.
Atkinson said in the email that he was legally obligated to “ensure that whistleblowers had an effective and authorized means to disclose urgent matters involving classified information to the congressional intelligence committees,” and that such whistleblowers were protected against reprisal. Trump repeatedly called for the whistleblower’s name to be revealed. Trump made it clear on Saturday that Atkinson was dismissed as a reprisal for his handling of the whistleblower complaint.
Atkinson also directed his message to other inspectors general, saying that he knows they will “continue to do everything in their power” to continue to protect whistleblowers. “I thought he did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible. That man is a disgrace to IGs,” Trump said at the White House briefing on coronavirus.
“Please do not allow recent events to silence your voices,” Atkinson wrote. Atkinson was the first official to alert Congress to the fact that an anonymous whistleblower within the intelligence services had come forward with a complaint relating to Trump’s dealings with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Atkinson’s statement was sent to reporters by email on Sunday evening and was copied to Alan Boehm, the executive director of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Boehm confirmed the authenticity of the letter in a follow-up email exchange with The Associated Press. The watchdog deemed the complaint “urgent” and “credible” and decided to pass it on to the intelligence committees, as he was legally obliged to do under whistleblower protection laws.
On Saturday, Trump questioned why Atkinson didn’t speak to him about the complaint, though the inspector general’s role is to provide independent oversight. After resistance from within the White House, the complaint initiated a firestorm that led to Trump’s impeachment by the House in December. The president was acquitted by the Senate, voting on party lines, in February.
“Never came in to see me, never requested to see me,” Trump said. He added: “That man is a disgrace to IGs.” In the complaint, the whistleblower highlighted a 25 July phone call between Trump and Zelenskiy. The call generated fears Trump was leaning on Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political rival, former vice-president Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden.
In his statement, Atkinson insisted he scrupulously abided by the law. He was, he said, under two clear legal obligations: to pass on information from whistleblowers involving classified information to the congressional intelligence committees, and to safeguard the identity of the whistleblower “as a guard against reprisals”.
Stressing the independence of his position, he said: “I have spent my entire 17-year career as a public servant acting without regard to partisan favor or political fear.”
Atkinson also made pointed remarks about the need to keep whistleblowers anonymous. In the wake of the Ukraine complaint, Trump made repeated attempts to identify the whistleblower, going so far as to share a name on Twitter.
At the briefing on Saturday, Trump said: “He’s a fake whistleblower, and frankly someone oughta sue his ass off.”
Atkinson countered: “Those of us who vowed to protect a whistleblower’s right to safely be heard must, to the end, do what we promised to do, no matter how difficult and no matter the personal consequences.”
The statement ended with an impassioned plea to US officials who come across evidence of wrongdoing in government and wonder whether to come forward.
“The American people are counting on you to use authorized channels to bravely speak up – there is no disgrace in doing so. Our government benefits when individuals are encouraged to report suspected fraud, waste and abuse.”
Atkinson’s removal is part of a larger shakeup of the intelligence community under Trump, who has long been skeptical of intelligence officials and information. Atkinson is at least the seventh intelligence official to be fired, ousted or moved aside since last summer.Atkinson’s removal is part of a larger shakeup of the intelligence community under Trump, who has long been skeptical of intelligence officials and information. Atkinson is at least the seventh intelligence official to be fired, ousted or moved aside since last summer.