Whistleblower complaint, reportedly on Trump 'promise' to foreign leader, touches off DC firestorm

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Congress, White House at standstill over whistleblower complaint reportedly over alleged Trump 'promise' to foreign leader
A whistleblower complaint that reportedly involved allegations President Trump made a troubling and unspecified "promise" to a foreign leader has triggered a standoff between the White House and Congress as both the acting director of national intelligence and intelligence community’s top watchdog refused to share the details of the complaint with lawmakers and the president adamantly denied the accusations. Both the Washington Post and the New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported Thursday evening that at least part of the complaint involves Ukraine. Fox News has not confirmed the report, and White House officials have not offered additional comment on the claims.

The Post reported that a U.S. intelligence official filed the formal complaint in regard to Trump’s communications with the unnamed foreign leader. Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire would not share details of it with lawmakers. Those lawmakers pressed intelligence community Inspector General Michael Atkinson for details during Thursday’s closed-door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee. The Associated Press reported, though, that he would not discuss the substance of the complaint.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., voiced concerns about not having access to the information and warned Congress could use legal action or budgetary powers as leverage to force the White House to open up about the complaint. Click here to read more about our top story.