Trump rails against whistleblower, impeachment inquiry | TheHill – The Hill

President TrumpDonald John TrumpGordon Sondland expected to appear for House deposition Ivanka Trump on impeachment: ‘Everything’s a question of priorities’ Second intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report MORE on Saturday lashed out against House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry while blasting the U.S. intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint has helped fuel the probe.

Trump asserted in a tweet that the whistleblower’s complaint was “way off” and claimed that key Democrats didn’t think he would release a transcript of his call with the Ukrainian president, which sparked the scrutiny.

“The so-called Whistleblower’s account of my perfect phone call is ‘way off,’ not even close,” he tweeted.

“Schiff and Pelosi never thought I would release the transcript of the call. Got them by surprise, they got caught,” Trump added, referring to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffSecond intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report Trump mocks Schiff with Pinocchio-themed video Democrats claim new momentum from intelligence watchdog testimony MORE (D-Calif.) and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiBiden: Trump has ‘indicted himself by his own statements’ House Democrats subpoena White House for Ukraine documents House conservatives press Schiff over knowledge of whistleblower complaint MORE (D-Calif.). “This is a fraud against the American people!”

The so-called Whistleblower’s account of my perfect phone call is “way off,” not even close. Schiff and Pelosi never thought I would release the transcript of the call. Got them by surprise, they got caught. This is a fraud against the American people!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2019

Trump’s tweet came the morning after The New York Times reported that a second intelligence official was considering whether to file their own whistleblower complaint over concerns about the president’s dealings with Ukraine.

The person reportedly has more direct information than the first whistleblower, who did not have direct knowledge but cited “multiple White House officials with direct knowledge.”

Pelosi last week announced that Democrats would launch a formal impeachment inquiry into Trump over his dealings with Ukraine. The probe is being handled by the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Reform committees.

The inquiry is largely centered around the whistleblower complaint filed over Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. The complaint alleged that Trump tried to seek foreign help in the 2020 election, including by pushing Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenGordon Sondland expected to appear for House deposition Ivanka Trump on impeachment: ‘Everything’s a question of priorities’ Second intel official considering filing complaint over Trump: report MORE and the Democratic presidential candidate’s son Hunter Biden.

The White House released a rough transcript of the July 25 call that matched key details from the whistleblower complaint. Trump was quoted in the memo as asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “look into” the former vice president. Trump this week also publicly encouraged Ukraine and China to launch probes into Biden. 

“I would think that if they were honest about it they’d start a major investigation into the Bidens,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Ukraine.

House Democrats have ramped up their impeachment probe in recent days, issuing a subpoena on Friday for Ukraine-related documents from the White House and issuing a request for similar information from Vice President Pence.

“We deeply regret that President Trump has put us—and the nation—in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena,” Schiff, in addition to Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah CummingsElijah Eugene CummingsOvernight Defense: House Dems subpoena White House for Ukraine documents | Pence pulled into inquiry | GOP senator says he confronted Trump over Ukraine aid | Iran hackers target 2020 campaign House Democrats subpoena White House for Ukraine documents House panels seek Ukraine docs from Pence for Trump impeachment inquiry MORE (D-Md.) and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelOvernight Defense: House Dems subpoena White House for Ukraine documents | Pence pulled into inquiry | GOP senator says he confronted Trump over Ukraine aid | Iran hackers target 2020 campaign House Democrats subpoena White House for Ukraine documents House panels seek Ukraine docs from Pence for Trump impeachment inquiry MORE (D-N.Y.), wrote to acting White House chief of staff Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyOvernight Defense: House Dems subpoena White House for Ukraine documents | Pence pulled into inquiry | GOP senator says he confronted Trump over Ukraine aid | Iran hackers target 2020 campaign House Democrats subpoena White House for Ukraine documents Ex-senior Trump administration official joins lobbying shop MORE on Friday.

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoGordon Sondland expected to appear for House deposition Democrats claim new momentum from intelligence watchdog testimony Overnight Defense: House Dems subpoena White House for Ukraine documents | Pence pulled into inquiry | GOP senator says he confronted Trump over Ukraine aid | Iran hackers target 2020 campaign MORE had already received a subpoena. Pompeo said Saturday that he has made contact with the committees on the matter. A Foreign Affairs Committee official confirmed that the panel had been contacted but said that Pompeo missed the Friday deadline for documents. 

Updated: 11:29 a.m.