Michael Atkinson

Michael Atkinson is an American attorney who served as the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community from 2018 to 2020. Appointed by President Donald Trump, he gained national prominence for his role in handling the whistleblower complaint that triggered the first impeachment of Donald Trump. His subsequent dismissal by the president sparked significant political and legal controversy regarding the independence of inspectors general.

Early life and education

Atkinson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan. He then attended Cornell Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor and served as an editor for the Cornell Law Review. Following law school, he clerked for Judge Richard F. Suhrheinrich of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, gaining early experience in the federal judiciary.

Career

Before his appointment as Inspector General, Atkinson built a lengthy career in federal law enforcement and national security. He served as a senior attorney in the National Security Division of the United States Department of Justice, focusing on counterintelligence and export control matters. He also worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia, where he prosecuted cases involving fraud, public corruption, and national security. His background included significant detail to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Security Law Branch.

Inspector General tenure

Atkinson was confirmed by the United States Senate as the fourth Inspector General of the Intelligence Community in May 2018. In August 2019, he received a whistleblower complaint from a member of the United States Intelligence Community regarding a July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. After a preliminary review, Atkinson determined the complaint to be both credible and of "urgent concern," a statutory designation requiring transmission to the United States Congress. His decision to forward the complaint, despite initial resistance from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was a pivotal event leading to the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump and his subsequent impeachment by the United States House of Representatives.

Dismissal and aftermath

On April 3, 2020, President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intent to remove Atkinson from his position, citing a lost of confidence. The dismissal was widely criticized by members of Congress from both parties, including Senators Chuck Grassley and Susan Collins, who expressed concerns over protecting whistleblowers and preserving the independence of inspectors general. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence both sought explanations for the action. Following his removal, Atkinson returned to private legal practice and has occasionally testified before Congress on matters related to whistleblower protections and inspector general authorities.

Personal life

Details regarding Atkinson's personal life are kept private. He is married and maintains a residence in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Virginia State Bar.

Category:American inspectors general Category:United States Department of Justice officials Category:American whistleblowing