US: Nominee to be CIA watchdog says he'll stand up to Trump

President Donald Trump's minee to be CIA's chief watchdog is pledging independence, saying he will perform his role “in an unbiased and impartial manner, free of undue or inappropriate influences” by Trump or anyone else.

Peter Thomson, a New Orleans attorney and former federal prosecutor, faced skepticism about his ability to ward off presidential interference at a mination hearing Wednesday.

Thomson's mination as CIA inspector general comes as Trump is attacking inspector general and whistleblower system. Trump has fired or replaced inspectors general across federal government in recent months, including former watchdogs for intelligence community and State Department.

Trump's moves, me with little or explanation, have drawn bipartisan criticism and spurred fears that Republican president is moving to dismantle a post-Watergate network of watchdogs meant to root out corruption, fraud and or problems inside federal ncies.

“ job of an inspector general ... and protecting whistleblowers has never been more important,'' said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. “But just doing that job can get you fired.”

Thomson's ability to igre those threats "and aggressively pursue investigations wherever facts may le is at heart of this confirmation process,'' Wyden said at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

Thomson assured Wyden and or senators that he will be independent, even if it means he eventually gets fired. "If I was fired for doing my job in a lawful way, in an appropriate way, n I would be fired,'' Thomson said.

In a testy exchange with independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, Thomson denied that Trump or anyone else h asked him to pledge loyalty to president. White House Counsel's office interviewed him before his mination, but he did t speak personally with Trump, Thomson said.

"I never perceived any kind of loyalty test at all with regard to president,'' Thomson said.

King said Thomson's job is especially important w, following removal of Michael Atkinson, intelligence community IG, and Steve Linick, State Department watchdog. Atkinson, who was fired in April, vanced a whistleblower complaint that resulted in Trump's impeachment. Linick told Congress he was conducting investigations tied to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s use of government resources as well as Pompeo’s decision to approve a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia.

"This president has me plain his desire to politicize intelligence ncies — that he doesn’t like intelligence ncies,'' King said, citing a list of officials Trump has removed, including acting and deputy directors of national intelligence.

“All you can do is tell me that you will stand up to that, but I certainly hope that you will, because it’s important for country,” King said.

"If any such pressure was brought on office to alter its product, or how it evaluates something, I would consider that very serious,'' Thomson replied, ding that he would report such interference to CIA director and Intelligence panel.

While he and King don’t really don’t kw one ar, "I think within a short period of time after working with me ... you would be absolutely convinced that I’m t going to give in to any kind of under inappropriate pressure; that I will always, always stand firm to my convictions,'' Thomson said.

CIA has been without a Senate-confirmed inspector general since 2015. Former Acting IG Christopher Sharpley, who was minated by Trump for permanent post in 2017, withdrew in 2018 after his mination stalled in Senate. Two former CIA employees complained that Sharpley and or manrs retaliated against m after y alerted congressional committees and or authorities about alleged misconduct at ncy.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., acting chairman of intelligence panel, told Thomson that after listening to his testimony and reviewing his record, he's confident that "you would never endanger your 37-year career in public service and private practice for any reason,'' including pressure from president.

Thomson replied that he is “a straight shooter,'' ding that his reputation ”means everything to me, as well as rule of law.''