What we know? That President Trump says he’s authorized the release of a transcript of his phone conversation with the president of Ukraine. Here’s where it gets murky. Originally, Trump tweeted that it will be a complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript of his conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy and it'd be released today.
It was also reported that the “whistleblower complaint” that both House Democrats AND Senate have been calling for would be getting released. What’s different now? Word is we’re still getting the call transcript, but that the White House only wants a redacted version of the whistleblower complaint released. House Democrats want everything – and they want it unredacted.
As we told you before, the President has admitted to freezing scheduled military aide to that country a week before the infamous call – he’s just shifted his reasons for doing so. There are reports he repeatedly asked Zelenskiy to start an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter during the call.
In a statement, Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire says he's committed to "protecting whistleblowers" and making sure each complaint is handled appropriately. He added that he has upheld his responsibility to "follow the law every step of the way."
That said, Democratic Chairman Adam Schiff says the whistleblower is willing to speak to the House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors – and it could happen as soon as tomorrow. In a statement on Twitter, Schiff said the whistleblower's counsel says their client would like to speak to the committee and "has requested guidance from the Acting DNI as to how to do so." Democratic Ranking Member Mark Warner says the whistleblower's counsel has also reached out to the Senate Intel Committee to coordinate a meeting. Senator Warner said "we're going to take this one step at a time and I think it's terribly important to get the facts."
President Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Source: CBS News