WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week’s events led up to a whistleblowers complaint and the testimony from Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire.
New information shows the whistleblower is a Central Intelligence Agency officer and that the White House, along with the Justice Department, learned about the whistleblower’s concerns around the same time the complaint was filed, back in August.
Lawmakers and officials are going to be scrutinizing the Trump administration’s handling of the accusations. The whistleblower's background also brings more credibility to the nine-page complaint.
The original call between President Trump and Ukraine’s leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky happened July 25, and the complaint was filed August 12 to the CIA. Then the White House and DOJ found out about the whistleblower’s complaint just two days later.
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Reportedly, the administration initially blocked Congress from seeing the complaint, citing presidential privilege, and finally released a redacted version of the report to lawmakers this week after the impeachment inquiry started.
California Congressman Jimmy Gomez, who represents the heart of Los Angeles, said this is just more grounds for impeachment and that more Republicans should be concerned.
“It was stunning on what we found out,” said Gomez. “We had the Republicans who were saying this was partisan politics. No it’s not partisan politics, this is based on trying to protect our country, this is about trying to make sure the rule of law is respected, and I think that’s why we saw a lot Democrats come out for an impeachment inquiry because they know the one way we’re going to get to the bottom of this is an investigation.”
Maguire testified on Capitol Hill Thursday to the House Intelligence Committee saying the complaint is “credible” per the Inspector General assessment. Gomez said the Acting DNI was just the “tip of the ice burg."
But President Trump reiterated on Twitter Friday that he hasn’t done anything wrong and that the phone call was honorable saying: “Nice call with the new President of Ukraine, it could not have been better or more honorable, and the Fake News Media and Democrats, working as a team, have fraudulently made it look bad. It wasn’t bad, it was very legal and very good. A continuing Witch Hunt!”
Now the impeachment inquiry moves forward with Speaker Pelosi leading the charge. Six committees will be investigating the president further which could lead to an impeachment vote in the House.
Democrats would have to secure 218 votes in the House and a 2/3 vote in the Senate, which would be nearly impossible. But Rep. Gomez said Democrats aren’t relying on the Senate to move forward.
“My district knows that something is at stake here, our democracy. They know that we need to take steps to hold this president accountable and they have always asked me to do that,” said Gomez. “That’s why they want me to be on the Oversight Committee where I can ask the tough questions and the ways and means at the same time so I can fight for better healthcare, you know, lower taxes for working Americans fight for the environment, so they want me to do it all, but when it comes to holding this President accountable I think that is our number one priority and that’s what I’m doing.”