Intel chief Maguire defends handling of Trump call complaint, calls issue ‘unprecedented’

Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, in tense testimony Thursday on Capitol Hill, defended his handling of the explosive whistleblower complaint alleging President Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate the Biden family -- while calling the issue "unprecedented."

Maguire defended himself as "not partisan" and "not political," reminding the House Intelligence Committee that he served under eight presidents and has taken the oath of office 11 times.

"I have served and led through turbulent times," he said. "... My integrity has never been questioned until now."

However, he maintained, "I believe that I handled this matter in full compliance with the law at all times.”

Maguire has come under fire from Democrats for initially withholding a copy of the complaint from lawmakers. That standoff was resolved when the complaint was declassified, and released to the public, in advance of the hearing. But Maguire was still pressed for answers from Democratic committee members on why his office did not hand over the complaint at first.