Trump Whistleblower Complaint Update: Senior Administration Official Confirms Key Point

A senior administration official Friday confirmed a key point in the whistleblower complaint that triggered an impeachment inquiry against President Trump for alleged abuse of power.

The Associated Press reported the official acknowledged a rough transcript of Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was moved into a highly classified National Security Council computer even though it did not qualify.

The whistleblower complaint, released Thursday by the House Intelligence Committee, alleges the White House moved to “lock down” details of the call, suggesting White House officials were troubled by the content.

Trump argued again Friday that his call with Zelensky, in which he asked for help investigating former Vice President Joe Biden and offered assistance by his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and Attorney General William Barr, was “perfect,” and if it wasn’t, future presidents wouldn’t be able to talk with any foreign leaders.

Days before the call, Trump froze military aid to Ukraine.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who authorized an impeachment inquiry Tuesday, said she was concerned about Trumps remarks about the whistleblower, whom the president tried to paint as a partisan operative.

Thursday he likened those who provided information to the whistleblower to spies and said they should be dealt with accordingly.

House Democrats began outlining their impeachment inquiry Friday with the first hearing possible as early as next week despite being in the midst of a two-week recess. Members had a list of talking points in hand as they headed home with the leadership instructing them to keep it simple when voters asked questions.

The Washington Post reported Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been hit with subpoenaes for documents related to Trump's Ukraine request and been advised depositions have been scheduled with five State Department employees.

“This is not complicated. This is misconduct that the president has admitted to,” Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island told the New York Times.

As impeachment talk ramped up, an enraged Trump demanded House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff resign. Schiff’s committee plans to meet with the whistleblower in a secure setting as soon as possible and to identify other possible witnesses. Members also plan to meet a second time with Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community, who was precluded last week from sharing details of his investigation into the complaint, which he had deemed “urgent” and “credible.”

Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois said he also expected Barr and Giuliani to be subpoenaed.

Two-hundred-23 House Democrats have expressed support for the impeachment inquiry with 12 remaining holdouts. Of the 12, 11 represent districts Trump carried in 2016.

A Morning Consult poll taken after Pelosi announced the inquiry indicates voters are split evenly over impeachment, 43% for and against. Sixty-six percent of Democrats favor impeachment versus just 5% of Republicans.