Thread by @mkraju

Schiff starts by asking a question if the whistleblower complaint alleges “serious wrongdoing” by the committee. Realizes he didn’t recognize the acting DNI for his opening statement. The acting director, Maguire, says he’s not political and has served under eight presidents

Joe Maguire says the WH counsel’s office told his office that the Ukraine phone call was covered by executive privilege, which was why the acting DNI would not initially release the complaint to Congress

“That is the subject of the allegation of the complaint,” Maguire says when asked by Schiff if complaint alleges “serious wrongdoing” by Trump. Maguire says “it’s not for me to judge” it’s credible but then seems to agree with Schiff the IG made a sound judgment

Maguire is sidestepping under questioning from Schiff to disclose the order of events. Then acknowledges his office “went to the WH first” before talking to the DOJ’s office of legal counsel, which is why the complaint wasn’t initially released

Schiff is trying to make the case that the DNI shouldn’t have went to the subjects of the complaint - the WH and DOJ - before going to Congress, suggesting Trump and Barr were trying to cover it up. “Sir, I have to work with what I got,” Maguire says

Breaking with Trump, acting DNI Maguire was doing the “right thing” and not betraying the country. “I believe the whistleblower followed the statute every step of the way,” Maguire said. “I think the whistleblower did the right thing.”

Nunes railing on leaks to the media of Trump’s phone calls with foreign leaders. “Be careful what you say because they are going to use your words against you,” Nunes warns Maguire

Under questioning from Himes, Maguire won’t say if he spoke with Trump about the whistleblower complaint: “My conversations with the president” are privileged, saying it would be inappropriate to talk about those conversations

Dems so far focusing their questioning on the process of the handling of the complaint - not the substance of the complaint, much of which has been declassified.

Maguire gives assurances that when the whistleblower testifies WH attorneys or other admin officials won’t be sitting behind him or her to direct the whistleblower on what he or she can answer

“We’ve seen this movie before,” says GOP Rep. Mike Turner. “The complaint is based on hearsay.”

IG did a “thorough” investigation of the whistleblower complaint, saying the IG found “his complaint to be credible.” Maguire says he’s “unaware” who else Atkinson spoke with.

Maguire says he has no knowledge if Trump sought to withhold military aid to Ukraine

In exchange about Rudy, Quigley asks: “Do you have any issues with civilians without approval, without vetting, without clearance taking on those roles?”

MAGUIRE: Yes, I do, congressman.

QUIGLEY: And why would you have those concerns?

MAGUIRE: Well, in order to be able to handle sensitive information, whether it be diplomatic or certainly, intelligence information, one must be vetted.

Maguire says he will not allow the whistleblower to be retaliated against

Nunes call today’s hearing “legal word challenge charade”

Maguire says he has no knowledge if whistleblower complaint is accurate that WH lawyers improperly sought to conceal other presidential transcripts