Washington (CNN) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter on Monday to all 74 federal government Inspectors General requesting investigations into "any and all instances of retaliation" against witnesses who have made "protected disclosures of presidential misconduct." The letter comes days after President Donald Trump fired two key impeachment witnesses , Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the national security council, and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. An adviser to Trump told CNN the firings of the major impeachment witnesses was meant to send a message that siding against the President will not be tolerated. "Flushing out the pipes," the adviser told CNN. Acting Department of Defense Inspector General Glenn Fine was among the IGs who were contacted by Schumer.

Source: CNN February 10, 2020 10:34 UTC