Schiff Begins Another Witch Hunt Against President Trump

Posted on April 8, 2020 by LifeZette

Not satisfied by being beaten and humiliated on impeachment, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) wants another trip to the woodshed. This time over a minor presidential appointment. Last time it was over one phone call.

President Trump recently fired Intel Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Atkinson was the man who gave the absurd green light to the phone call informer that led to the impeachment hoax. Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell did the firing.

This was Schiff’s response to the firing of his buddy, “The (House Intel) Committee is reviewing the circumstances of Mr. Atkinson’s dismissal, including whether his termination was intended to curb any ongoing investigations or reviews being undertaken by his office… Trump’s dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing,” he tweeted. “It puts our country and national security at even greater risk.”

He sent a letter to Grenell on the issue: “President Trump did not nominate you for confirmation as permanent DNI, and it would be inappropriate for you to pursue any additional leadership, organizational, or staffing changes to ODNI during your temporary tenure. Any effort, moreover, to remove or otherwise initiate personnel actions against apolitical career officers based on their perceived loyalty to the President would contravene civil service protections.”

Schiff’s letter said Grenell was “pursuing organizational and personnel changes without consulting and seeking authorization from Congress and in a manner that undermines critical intelligence functions.” Schiff is blatantly trying to decide executive branch personnel decisions. He also wants no one in the way of his upcoming committee investigation, yet again, of the president.

Though that was a letter to Grenell, Schiff leaked it first. Grenell called him on it, “His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me. These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop.” But they won’t.

This piece was written by PoliZette Staff on April 8, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Schiff Begins Another Witch Hunt Against President Trump appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump suggests firing watchdog was payback for impeachment

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press

Trump called Michael Atkinson a "disgrace" after informing Congress late Friday night that he intended to fire him. In letters to the House and Senate intelligence committees, Trump wrote that he had lost confidence in Atkinson but gave little detail.

Schiff, Pelosi Trash President Trump On Intel IG Firing

Posted on April 5, 2020 by LifeZette

President Trump on Friday fired Intel community Inspector General Michael Atkinson. Atkinson had been long under fire for forwarding the corrupt and illegitimate report on the Ukrainian phone call that led to the impeachment hoax. The firing is long overdue.

At Saturday’s coronavirus briefing the president said of Atkinson, “He did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible… A total disgrace.” But the Democrats do not agree.

“Trump’s dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

“This latest act of reprisal against the Intelligence Community threatens to have a chilling effect against all willing to speak truth to power. The President must immediately cease his attacks on those who sacrifice to keep America safe, particularly during this time of national emergency,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said.

“Michael Atkinson is a man of integrity who has served our nation for almost two decades. Being fired for having the courage to speak truth to power makes him a patriot,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement.

The president responded, “As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General,” the president said in the letter announcing the firing. “That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”

The Democrats are going back to their losing impeachment script because that is all they have during this national crisis that has seen the president’s popularity soar.

They will try other tired, worn gambits. The American public isn’t listening to their propaganda. They have other things on their minds.

This piece was written by David Kamioner on April 5, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Schiff, Pelosi Trash President Trump On Intel IG Firing appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump fires watchdog who handled Ukraine complaint

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press

President Trump on Friday abruptly fired the inspector general of the intelligence community, sidelining an independent watchdog who played a pivotal role in his impeachment even as his White House struggled with the deepening coronavirus pandemic.