Late Friday night, President Trump made a major move in his administration that has Dems and the liberal media standing on its head.
Michael Atkinson, the Intelligence Community Inspector General, has been put on a 30-day leave pending termination.
No Confidence
Atkinson was the IG that brought the whistleblower complaint to Congress that started the entire impeachment process against Trump.
President Trump has never taken this lightly and considering how it all played out, this move was expected by many, just not now.
Trump, while not naming Atkinson’s successor, stated that he had lost confidence in Atkinson and was removing him from his post.
Trump stated, “As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have the power of appointment … it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as inspectors general.
“That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
Media and Democrat Outrage
The reaction from the media and Democrats was exactly as expected.
Trump had no sooner made the announcement when the media started to spin this as Trump using the coronavirus as a cover for more revenge against those that started the impeachment against him.
Democrats were no better, slamming Trump for making such a move during a national crisis.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) demanded Trump “immediately cease his attacks on those who sacrifice to keep America safe, particularly during this time of national emergency.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) called it “another blatant attempt by the President to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing.
“This retribution against a distinguished public servant for doing his job and informing Congress of an urgent and credible whistleblower complaint is a direct affront to the entire inspector general system.”
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) stated, “In the midst of a national emergency, it is unconscionable that the President is once again attempting to undermine the integrity of the intelligence community by firing yet another an intelligence official simply for doing his job.”
The timing of the move is suspect, but it is reasonable to assume the move will be backed by Trump’s allies in Congress.
Remember, when Atkinson first brought the complaint to Congress, he did so against the wishes of then-Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, who did not feel the complaint drew the urgency Atkinson determined.
Atkinson was also under fire from numerous GOP members of Congress, many of whom thought the complaint was very thin at best.
Due to the timing of the firing, we can expect the media to have a field day with this at the Saturday coronavirus briefing.
Source: CNN
We depend on our readers to help us get the word out. So, if you agree with this article, please like and share the article on your favorite social media outlet. You are also encouraged to sign up for our newsletter to ensure you can stay informed. To sign up for our newsletter, click here.