The State Department’s inspector general briefed Congressional staffers Wednesday on what was reported to be “retaliation” aimed at State officials cooperating with House Democrats on the Ukraine investigation.

“The unusual nature and timing of the briefing – during a congressional recess – suggests it may be connected to a recent intelligence community whistleblower allegation which describes, in part, the State Department’s role in coordinating interactions between Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney, and Ukrainian officials,” says ABC News, citing “sources familiar” with the briefing.

The inspector general, Steve Linick, is State’s independent watchdog and internal investigator. He called today’s briefing “urgent.”

Engel, Schiff, and Cummings on the State IG briefing: "The briefing and documents raise troubling questions about apparent efforts inside and outside the Trump Admin to target specific officials, including former VP Joe Biden's son & then-U.S. Amb. to Ukraine Masha Yovanovitch."

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 2, 2019

“The State Department has faced criticism in recent weeks for connecting Giuliani to multiple Ukrainian officials about re-opening an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter,” ABC Says.

What’s characterized as a “rough” transcript of Trump’s July phone call urging Ukraine’s president to pursue the Biden investigation proved to be the trigger for House Democrats to launch an impeachment inquiry. Democrats want to see the full, word-for-word transcript that’s been placed in a secure national security computer system in the White House.

At a news conference Wednesday in Italy, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “confirmed that he listened in on the phone call and reiterated his complaint that the demands by Democrats for interviews with State Department officials amounted to an act of intimidation,” says the Washington Post.