Yahoo News Donald Trump denies making 'troubling' promise to foreign leader that led to formal complaint from US spy
President Donald Trump’s alleged “promise” to a foreign leader deepened today with reports that the country at the centre of the mystery was Ukraine.
The commitment allegedly made by Mr Trump was so alarming that a US intelligence official at the White House reported it to Michael Atkinson, the director general of America’s spy services, according to the Washington Post.
While the exact nature of the supposed pledge remains a mystery, and it is not yet clear how Ukraine or its president Volodymyr Zelensky fits in, the episode has renewed scrutiny over Mr Trump’s dealings with foreign governments.
In a tweet, Mr Trump said: "Another Fake News story out there - It never ends!
Another Fake News story out there - It never ends! Virtually anytime I speak on the phone to a foreign leader, I understand that there may be many people listening from various U.S. agencies, not to mention those from the other country itself. No problem!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
"Virtually every time I speak on the phone to a foreign leader, I understand that there may be many people listening from other various US agencies, not to mention those from the other country itself."
Some US media reports say the complaint was related to Ukraine, according to officials.
Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson said the complain consists of "a serious or flagrant problem, abuse or violation of the law" that involves classified information, Axios reported.
The complaint was filed on August 12 while Mr Trump was at his golf result in New Jersey, according to the Post.
....Knowing all of this, is anybody dumb enough to believe that I would say something inappropriate with a foreign leader while on such a potentially “heavily populated” call. I would only do what is right anyway, and only do good for the USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
It noted five foreign leaders with whom Mr Trump had interactions in the preceding five weeks.
During that time he phoned Russia's Vladimir Putin, received two letters from Kim Jong Un, and met with leaders of Pakistan, the Netherlands and Qatar at the White House.
In a following tweet, Mr Trump later added: "Knowing all of this, is anybody dumb enough to believe that I would say something inappropriate with a foreign leader while on such a potentially "heavily populated" call.
"I would only do was is right anyway, and only do good for the USA!"
Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire has so far refused to share any details of the complaint with politicians, leading to an outcry among Democrats.
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House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democratic California Congressman, praised the whistleblower for coming forward after a closed hearing with Mr Atkinson on Thursday.
He also accused the White House and Justice Department of trying to block the complaint from being shared with Congress.
"I believe that there is an effort to prevent this information getting to Congress," said Mr Schiff, according to the BBC.
"And if the assertion is accurate... then at one level or another, it likely involves either the president or people around him."
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