Speaking from the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, President Trump sought to defend his actions, saying he’d engaged in nothing improper and had held a “beautiful conversation” with Ukraine’s leader.
President Donald Trump: “And the witch hunt continues. But they’re getting hit hard on this witch hunt, because when they look at the information, it’s a joke. Impeachment for that?”
Trump’s problems are set to increase, after a whistleblower’s complaint against Trump’s interactions with Ukraine was declassified and is set to be released today. That complaint was initially withheld from Congress, even though the inspector general for the intelligence community found it to be “credible” and “urgent.” The man who refused to turn the complaint over to Congress as required by law — acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire — is set to testify before the House Intelligence Committee this morning. The Washington Post reported Maguire threatened to resign if the Trump administration tried to restrict his testimony to Congress, though Maguire later issued a statement strongly denying the report. The Washington Post’s executive editor says the paper stands by its reporting.