To the Editor:

President Trump has fired the intelligence community watchdog who was critical in fielding the whistle-blower complaint that triggered the impeachment (news article, April 4).

As Cornell Law classmates of Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community, we are deeply dismayed that late last Friday President Trump fired Michael in retaliation for his decision to advise Congress of the complaint.

By alerting Congress to concerns regarding President Trump’s call with the president of Ukraine, Michael acted in full accord with his duties under federal law and Cornell Law’s motto, “Lawyers in the Best Sense.”

We view this politically motivated termination as undermining the critical role of inspectors general and the essential values of transparency and accountability in government. Inspectors general are appointed to impartially ensure that no official, including the president, abuses his office. Michael did his job as inspector general and was fired for it.