Declassified Docs Raise Questions on Trump Whistleblower

Newly declassified documents have raised fresh questions about the whistleblower complaint that triggered President Donald Trump's first impeachment in 2019.

The records, obtained by RealClear Investigations, show then-Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson knew the complainant was a registered Democrat with ties to then-former Vice President Joe Biden, yet still determined the complaint was "a matter of urgent concern that appeared credible."

The documents also indicate the whistleblower met with Democrat staff on the House Intelligence Committee, led, at the time, by then-Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., before filing the complaint in August 2019 — contacts he did not disclose to investigators or on official forms.

The more than 350 pages of classified briefings were released by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified them.

RCI reported, citing Justice Department sources, that the material is tied to a grand jury probe into a possible "grand conspiracy" by former Obama and Biden officials to target Trump.

Despite the whistleblower's political ties, Atkinson reportedly did not challenge his credibility or investigate whether his contacts with Schiff's office influenced the complaint, which alleged Trump "had clearly committed a criminal act" during a July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During that call, Trump said, "I would like you to do us a favor," while asking Ukraine to look into Hunter Biden's role in Burisma. The whistleblower was not on the call and relied on secondhand accounts.

Atkinson moved the complaint forward over objections from then-acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, who had a DOJ opinion stating it did not meet the threshold for an "urgent concern."

Still, Atkinson told lawmakers, "The complainant's allegations appear credible to me," and later testified, "The complainant was not politically biased in any way."

At the same time, he acknowledged the whistleblower had disclosed being "a registered member of the Democratic Party [and] had a prior professional relationship with one of the Democratic presidential candidates for the 2020 election."

Even so, Atkinson said, "There is no indication of any misconduct by the complainant related to this disclosure," adding that "the complainant has played by the rules."

The whistleblower — later identified as CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella — had worked closely with Biden on Ukraine policy. Records show he failed to disclose prior contact with Schiff's committee despite being required to list such outreach, including specifically, "the congressional intelligence committees."

Atkinson testified that "the whistleblower did not check the box for congressional intelligence committees." He added, "The complainant did not identify the congressional intelligence committees."

Former Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe, who is now the CIA director, said, "The whistleblower made statements to the inspector general under the penalty of perjury that were not true or correct."

After media reports revealed the undisclosed contacts, the whistleblower later acknowledged reaching out to Schiff's staff before filing the complaint.

Ratcliffe said, "The whistleblower got caught." He added, "The whistleblower made false statements. The whistleblower got caught with Chairman Schiff."

Schiff, now a U.S. senator, denied wrongdoing and said he merely "misspoke."

"Please do not suggest by that that I, or anyone else, had an intention to deceive," Schiff said in the declassified transcripts.

Critics say Atkinson's actions were central to launching the impeachment process.

"Michael Atkinson is a key anti-Trump conspirator who played a central role in transforming the 'whistleblower' complaint into the impeachment proceedings," Judicial Watch investigator Bill Marshall told RCI.