April 5, 2020 - Washington - Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Saturday released the following statement on the firing of Michael Atkinson, the inspector 
general for the intelligence community:
“President Trump last night fired Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community’s inspector general. This is another example of retaliation against a U.S. official who faithfully executed the duties of his office.
“Mr. Atkinson demonstrated courage and integrity when he notified Congress last September about the president’s efforts to press Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. He shared this information with Congress despite knowing that it would invite retaliation from the president.
“An inspector general is charged with rooting out government waste, fraud and abuse, and it is clear that the president wants someone in that role who is loyal to him, not the Constitution.
“I am deeply concerned by President Trump’s purge of longstanding and respected career officials across our government. Weakening our national security institutions is bad enough during a time of global calm; during the current instability we’re faced with, it’s particularly dangerous.”
Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein
Harris Statement on Firing of Intelligence Community Inspector General
April 5, 2020 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on Saturday released a statement following President Trump’s firing of Michael Atkinson as Inspector General of the Intelligence Community. Last year, Atkinson alerted Congress to the whistleblower complaint that ultimately led the House to impeach the president.
“The firing of the Intelligence Community’s Inspector General, just months after ousting the Acting Director of National Intelligence, is further evidence Trump will do anything he can to escape oversight and will punish anyone he believes isn’t sufficiently loyal to him personally,” said Harris. “The men and women who serve their country within the Intelligence Community must be able to fulfill their duties free of political interference. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I will continue to insist on vigorous oversight of this administration’s management of our intelligence agencies.”
“This firing also shows that even in the midst of a deadly pandemic, the president is obsessed with settling scores over impeachment. Americans must be able to trust that their leaders are focused on solving problems and saving lives, not political revenge,” Harris added.
Source: Senator Kamala D. Harris
