Trump Fires Watchdog Who Flagged Whistle-Blower’s Complaint

Democrats react with fury to dismissal of Michael Atkinson
Complaint over Ukraine call eventually led Trump’s impeachment

Michael Atkinson, right, leaves a closed briefing with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in 2019. — Michael Atkinson, right, leaves a closed briefing with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in 2019.
Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg

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By Erik Wasson

April 4, 2020 at 2:52 AM UTC

Updated on

April 4, 2020 at 3:50 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

President Donald Trump fired the U.S. intelligence community inspector general who raised the alarm over a whistle-blower’s complaint that led ultimately to Trump’s impeachment.

Michael Atkinson alerted Congress about the complaint regarding Trump’s demand that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. He later testified in the House impeachment inquiry.