For US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, this is going to be a big day today: At the White House, they will welcome Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to a glittering state dinner.
The political operation in the US capital, however, electrifies a very different matter: It is the question in the room, whether President Trump could have disclosed state secrets in his communication with a previously unknown foreign politician. Or if he has made a promise that could possibly be problematic in another way.
The story has the potential to plunge Donald Trump's government into the next major crisis. Or not, you have to say. That's open. Because the paradox is: Only a few initiates in Washington really know. It falls the keyword Ukraine. But actually it is so far completely unclear what is at issue. It's a mystery mystery surrounded by a mystery.
But there is one thing: It is clear that a whistleblower, apparently a member of the US intelligence community, heard, saw or experienced things that he or she saw as a great deal while working in the Trump administration a few weeks ago was alarming. Instead of going to a newspaper or to the opposition, the person chose the official route.
He or she informed the Inspector General for Intelligence, Michael Atkinson, on 12 August. This is a kind of internal supervisor in the Washington Intelligence apparatus, who is supposed to investigate and detect grievances, regardless of political directions. Following a ruling issued before Trump's term in office, the Inspector General is also the first point of contact for internal informants who are whistleblowers.
Why is the publication blocked?
The Inspector General examines whether the available information about possible misconduct or security-related offenses in the government is so "credible" and "urgent" that a referral to the congress is required. In the present case, Inspector General Atkinson said so in the affirmative and, correctly, ordered the acting secret service director, Joseph Maguire, to forward the case to the appropriate intelligence committees in Congress.
The Intelligence Director is primarily responsible for the coordination of the major intelligence services CIA, FBI and NSA. Things got stuck with him. Although the Director of Intelligence, according to the existing regulations, was actually required to forward the Whistleblower's information with the Inspector General's report to the relevant control committees in Congress within seven days, Maguire decided otherwise: He did not report the allegedly explosive information to Congress out. He apparently did not consider this justified or necessary.
Unprecedented refusal of Congress
The Democrats in the House of Representatives have now got wind of the matter. They have been trying for some days to figure out what it's all about. They suspect that Maguire is acting on his orders from the very top in his blockade: the Ministry of Justice should be involved, possibly also the White House.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Democrat Adam Schiff: If necessary, come to the suit on details
The secret service director's refusal to give the information to the congress is "unprecedented," laments the chairman of the intelligence committee, Democrat Adam Schiff. Maybe someone "on a higher level" is trying to manipulate the system to deny important information to Congress.
Someone at a higher level? Both the "New York Times" and the "Washington Post" report that US President Trump is involved in the whole thing. It is about Ukraine, writes the "Post", citing intelligence circles.
Trump: At least part of the allegation deals with Ukraine, 2 people familiar with it said https://t.co/pwVSLx9Uiy
- The New York Times (@nytimes) September 20, 2019Less than three weeks before the whistleblower approached the Inspector General, Trump spoke to new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky.
Keyword Ukraine - the Democrats are listening
The Times also reports on a connection with Ukraine, "at least in part". According to the paper, Trump is said to have made a hitherto unknown promise to "a leading foreign politician". In this context, the Times also mentions $ 250 million of US military aid to Ukraine. They were recently released by the White House.
The key words Trump and Ukraine should be heard by some Democrats, especially presidential candidate Joe Biden. Already a few months ago, US media reported that close Trump confidant Rudolph Giuliani was trying to collect campaign ammunition against Biden in Ukraine.
His goal was to persuade the Kiev government to investigate Biden's son's business in Ukraine for irregularities. So is there a connection here? Did Trump possibly link the payment of funds to Kiev with the initiation of investigations into the Biden case?
Trump ironed the topic off - but is that enough?
The Democrats in the House of Representatives now want to receive the report of the whistleblower, if necessary, on the legal action. In addition, intelligence director Maguire will answer the questions before the congress next week.
President Trump for his part has already explained the whole thing as a precaution to the "Fake News".
Another Fake News story out there - It never ends! Virtually anytime I speak on the phone to a foreign leader, I understand that there are many people in the United States. No problem!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2019It would be stupid to assume that he would say inappropriate things in a telephone conversation with a foreign politician, Trump said. Especially if other people would listen to it. And anyway: "I would anyway only do what is right, for the benefit of the United States."