The Whistleblower: A Timeline of Events
The following is a timeline of the events surrounding the complaint filed by a whistleblower within the intelligence community in regards to a call made between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The content of the complaint has since been declassified and is available for viewing here (Via CNN).
July 25th, 2019
A call takes place between President U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The transcript of this call has been released to the public and is available for viewing here (Via Fox News).
The majority of the call consists of congratulatory comments on the new President’s election victory. Later in the call, President Trump suggests that the new Ukrainian President should investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in regards to dealings that they may have had in Ukraine during Joe Biden’s time as Vice President.
August 12th, 2019
An unnamed member of the intelligence community files a complaint with the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community, Michael Atkinson. The complaint (can be read here) alleges that “the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference in the 2020 U.S. election.”
August 26th, 2019
Fourteen days after the complaint is filed, the Inspector General of Intelligence, Michael Atkinson, forwards the complaint to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Joseph Maguire. Micheal Atkinson later states that he described the complaint as an “urgent concern”.
August 30th, 2019
President Donald Trump temporarily pauses the disbursement of $250 Million in military aid destined for the country of Ukraine. This takes place during a formal review process. President Trump has since insisted that these funds were not held back in retaliation for anything connected to the suggested investigation of Joe Biden.
September 2nd, 2019
Assuming the whistle-blowers complaint was considered of “urgent nature” by the DNI, by law, the complaint must have been presented to Congress within seven days. The seven-day time period ending on September 2nd and the complaint was not presented to Congress in that time span.
September 9th, 2019
The Inspector General of Intelligence notifies the House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff of the existing whistle-blower complaint. The complaint has still not been released to Congress by the DNI, Joseph Maguire. Joseph Maguire later testifies to Congress that the complaint was withheld at the behest of the White House due to Executive Privilege over the content described within the complaint.
On the same day, several committees in the House launch investigations into alleged misconduct that occurred on the call between President Trump and the Ukrainian President.
September 12th, 2019
The hold on the $250 Million dollars in military aid to the Ukrainian government is lifted and the money is delivered.
September 18th, 2019
For the first time publicly, it is reported by the press that the complaint in question is centered around a “favor” or “promise” made on a call between the two Presidents.
On the same day, the Inspector General of Intelligence and the Director of National Intelligence inform the House Intelligence Committee that they will brief them on the matters involving the whistle-blower and the Ukraine call.
September 20th, 2019
The press releases reports that the misconduct alleged in the call between the two Presidents centers around Trump’s pressuring of Zelensky to investigate Trump’s political rival, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter Biden.
September 22nd, 2019
President Trump publicly acknowledges that he discussed Biden with the President of Ukraine during the call in question.
September 24th, 2019
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, publicly announces a formal impeachment inquiry stating that six House committees will begin investigating.
It is also reported that the whistle-blower may be interested in coming forward and testifying before Congress.
September 25th, 2019
The White House releases their transcript of the call in question to the public. The transcript available for viewing here (Via Fox News).
September 26th, 2019
The whistle-blower’s complaint is declassified and released to the public. The complaint is viewable here (Via CNN).
The Director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, testifies in front of the House Intelligence Committee on the events surrounding the submission of the complaint and the content of the complaint itself. Mcguire states that he believes that the whistle blower is “acting in good faith”, and that he has not yet investigated the validity of the content of the complaint. Mcguire also testifies that he had no awareness that military aid intended for Ukraine was being withheld by the Trump administration.
(This story is still developing and will be updated when new information is available)
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