Watchdog Refuses to Detail Whistle-Blower Complaint About Trump

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — The internal watchdog for American spy agencies declined repeatedly in a briefing on Thursday to disclose to lawmakers the content of a potentially explosive whistle-blower complaint that is said to involve a discussion between President Trump and a foreign leader, according to two people familiar with the briefing.

During a private session on Capitol Hill, Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community, told lawmakers he was unable to confirm or deny anything about the substance of the complaint, including whether it involved the president, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door conversation. The meeting was still underway.

The complaint, which prompted a standoff between Congress and Mr. Trump’s top intelligence official, involves a commitment that Mr. Trump made in a communication with another world leader, according to a person familiar with the complaint. The Washington Post first reported the nature of the discussion. The acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, has refused to give the complaint to Congress, as is generally required by law, the latest in a series of fights over information between the Democratic-led House and the White House.

Few details of the whistle-blower complaint are known, including the identity of the world leader. And it is not obvious how a communication between Mr. Trump and a foreign leader could meet the legal standards for a whistle-blower complaint that the inspector general would deem an “urgent concern.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/us/politics/intelligence-whistle-blower-complaint-trump.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[kacekwl]

1. They better not let that guy out of the room without

the full complaint by the whistleblower. He's breaking the law damn it. Lock him up now. F this shit.

[bearsfootball516]

2. I menionted in the other thread that this is why I wonder if it'll go anywhere.

People with knowledge of the situation are going to shut up real fast. It’s going to be another Manafort/Flynn situation where the people who know about this phone call and have the knowledge to bring down the entire administration, but are going to zip their lips, fall on their swords and get a slap on the wrist 6-month jail sentence.

[saidsimplesimon]

5. Not even a slap,

a pardon for you and you and you who lie or withhold information that would lead to impeachment.

May the current pResident and his family live the rest of their lives answering to criminal charges and loss of all wealth or income.

[LonePirate]

3. The whistle blower needs to keep blowing that whistle by speaking publicly.

Even at the risk of losing their job or facing a criminal trial, the whistle blower needs to speak publicly about the incident, spilling all of the details. The court of public opinion will back this person. If the incident is strong enough (which it seems to be), then it might light a fire under Pelosi regarding impeachment and maybe start chipping away at Republican resistance.

[wiggs]

4. Reality Winner did it. 5 year jail term. But she seems at peace w her choice. nt

[RKP5637]

6. People are placing themselves above the country. It needs to come out what this is all about.

There is too damn much pussyfooting around with this monstrous president we have and a cow-tailing administration and the GOP party. This country could fail with all of the BS going around. I also wish the democrats would really take some hard-core hard-nosed action. My fear is the democratic party is going to look weak and ineffective against tRump and his outrageous activities ... and perception is often what voters go on, right or wrong.

[in2herbs]

7. Why can't Schiff's committee hold the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire,

in contempt of Congress under Congresses inherent authority for contempt? After all the law is clear the complaint should have been turned over to Schiff et al, within 7 days. Lawrence read the statute last night and there is no provision allowing the DOJ (Barr) to be involved.

What do the rules say that Congress can do to fire an acting DNI? Is Congress impotent on this?

[crimycarny]

8. color me shocked

Not. I'm so exhausted from the constant frustration/rage/depression/despair...all those range of emotions I feel when it seems that no one, NO ONE, in this Administration is held accountable no matter what they do. Now we're talking potential treason and it gets swept under the rug with Dems doing the equivalent of writing a strongly worded letter.

So sick of this. If you or I didn't pay a speeding ticket we'd be in jail. The powerful can do pretty much anything and not even get a slap on the wrist.

[herding cats]

9. Atkinson Is bound by law not to reveal the contents until the DNI submits the complaint.

Joseph McGuire, the acting DNI, has refused so far to do so, which is in violation of the law.

Joseph McGuire Is the one stonewalling this from going forward, not Michael Atkinson.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Michael Atkinson

IC INSPECTOR GENERAL

Michael Atkinson

Michael K. Atkinson was sworn in as the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community on May 17, 2018, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. As Inspector General, Mr. Atkinson oversees a workforce of special agents, auditors, inspectors, attorneys, and support staff whose mission is to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration and implementation of programs and activities within the responsibility and authority of the Director of National Intelligence and to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in such programs and activities. He also serves as the Chair of the Intelligence Community Inspectors General Forum, which consists of the twelve inspectors general with oversight responsibility for elements of the intelligence community. The Forum serves as a mechanism for informing its members of the work of individual members of the Forum that may be of common interest and discussing questions that may involve or be of assistance to more than one of its members.

Prior to his Senate confirmation, Mr. Atkinson worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for over fifteen years. He worked as a Trial Attorney in DOJ’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, from 2002 through 2006. He then served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2006 through 2016, where he was the Acting Chief and Deputy Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section. In 2012, he was awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for his work on a significant public corruption case. Thereafter, he served in DOJ’s National Security Division as the Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Asset Protection and as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General.

His awards also include the Executive Office for United States Attorneys’ Director’s Award for Superior Performance by an Assistant United States Attorney, and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s Gaston L. Gianni Jr. Better Government Award for his work prosecuting the largest domestic bribery and bid steering scheme in the history of federal contracting.

Prior to his public service, Mr. Atkinson was a partner at Winston & Strawn, where he focused his practice on white collar defense, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation.

Mr. Atkinson earned his Juris Doctorate from Cornell University and his Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University.

The bio at ProPublica is out of date. It says he hasn't been confirmed yet.