Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

The statute does not contend that the subject of the complaint be an employee within the intelligence community but Schiff says Maguire adopts a position that says Trump is above director, above IG, therefore, IG cant investigate. That was the IG's reading. Is that his reading?

The allegation, Maguire says, has to relate to intelligence.
Schiff, I'm trying to get to whether POTUS is beyond reach of law.
Maguire: No one is.
Schiff: yet IG has said he cannot look into it further because it involves the president and his beyond his jurisdiction

Maguire: we were waiting for exec priv to be determined. Not sure what can be done now. If I didn't send it forward within 7 days, then the statute would allow whistleblower to come to you and still be protected.

Schiff: The point is, the DOJ says because it doesn't meet statutory definition and it involves president, then the ICIG cant investigate. If that's the case, the effect and logic of that opinion means no inspector general, anywhere, can investigate the president.

So if the IGs cant do it, according to DOJ, FBI can't do it because it doesn't meet their threshold, so at this point, only this committee and this congress is in the position to investigate. Do you believe the allegations in the complaint are worthy for investigation?

Maguire: The horse has left the barn. you have all of the information. you have the complaint, the letter fro ICIG, the OLC opinion and ...
Schiff: Yes we do, but would you agree there should be an investigation?
Maguire: It's a matter to be determined by this committee.

Schiff, again: But do you believe if there's a credible allegation corroborated by multiple gov't officials that POTUS is using power of office to solicit interference in 2020 election?

Maguire: I dont believe it was corroborated, this is secondhand info, I'm not criticizing the whistleblower.
Schiff: But the IG found them credible
Maguire: I have no reason to doubt his opinion (Atkinson)

As head of the intel agencies, does he think Congress should talk to other whistleblower referred to in complaint?
Maguire hedges again, then says it is up to Congres to make determinations.

Maguire: The complaint was about a diplomatic conversation. I don't disagree it was a credible matter.
Schiff laughing at the splitting of hairs here: But what if the call is about election interference?

If Ukraine is talking about investigating Biden and his son - that should be investigated right?
Maguire - I did not say that, I complied with my responsibility to turn over the documents, I'm in no position to tell chair to do an investigation or not.

Schiff says he finds it "remarkable" that head of nat'l intel doesn't think someone seeking to interfere in an election is not an intelligence matter

Now about the whistleblower's allegation that records are stored secretly - Schiff says, that raises the question over existence of hand written notes that might exist. Maguire says Atkinson asked WH counsel to control and keep any info that pertained to the July 25 phone call

Schiff: But if there's a credible allegation from credible whistlebower that WH officials were moving records to cover up potential misconduct, you agree, that should be looked into?

Maguire: To the best of my knowledge, when this came forward, I have no idea what WH or Nat Sec council or anyone involved in convo, what they did with transcripts or where they put them

Whistleblower mention of Pence's cancelled trip to Ukraine in May. Secy of Energy led that delegation instead. Was Pence's trip pulled because Zelensky wasn't willing to play ball?
Maguire says he has no idea or awareness of any of that.

Schiff: But would you agree, if the trip was cancelled to increase pressure on Ukraine to manufacture dirt on Biden, would Maguire consider that unpatriotic or potentially a crime?
Maguire: I dont now if the allegation is accurate or not, Mr. Chairman.

Schiff: no one has any question of your devotion to the country. I think you're a good and honorable colleague. I don't agree with your decision, I agree with IG's view of law, and I'm deeply concerned about the message this has sent to other whistleblowers.

If the subject of that complaint can stop a complaint from getting to congress, then the most serious complaints may never get here, Schiff says.

Speaking to Ukraine: As your country fights to liberate itself from Russian oppression, what you would be treated to by POTUS ...

here would be highest form of corruption in this country. Instead of a champion of human rights and rule of law, he would be reinforcing a message with your newly elected president: you can use your Justice Dept, our Justice Dept to dig up dirt or as a lever for other illegality

And that concludes today's hearing with Joseph Maguire. I will update my story here shortly:
courthousenews.com/intelligence-c…