Courtney Elwood Courtney Elwood testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee during her confirmation hearing to be general counsel of the CIA. Photo: C-SPAN

Central Intelligence Agency general counsel Courtney Elwood has emerged as a key figure in the whistleblower's decision to file a complaint about President Donald Trump's alleged abuse of power, triggering a historic impeachment inquiry. 

The agent first submitted his concerns anonymously to Elwood, according to The New York Times, which has identified the anonymous whistleblower as a CIA agent. Elwood discussed the agent's accusations with Justice Department officials and White House counsel John Eisenberg before determining that the concerns had a "reasonable basis." 

Elwood was following government policy, but the CIA agent interpreted her contact with the White House as an indication that the "CIA was not taking his allegations seriously," the NYT reported, citing "two people familiar with the matter." 

The unnamed sources reportedly said Elwood's contact with the White House spurred the agent to file a whistleblower complaint with Michael Atkinson, inspector general for the intelligence community—without Elwood's knowledge.    

The CIA referred questions to the inspector general's office, which declined to comment on the situation.  

Elwood, a Yale Law School alum who clerked for late Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, spent nearly a decade as a partner at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick in Washington, D.C., before Trump nominated her in 2017 to serve as the CIA's chief lawyer.

In support of her nomination, Elwood received bipartisan praise from a list of high-profile government lawyers and officials, including Caroline Krass, former CIA general counsel for the Obama administration. 

"Courtney is an excellent choice for this demanding position. She is intelligent and level-headed and will be inheriting a highly experienced and dedicated team," Krass said in a written statement at the time. 

Ken Wainstein, who served as President George W. Bush's Homeland Security adviser, described Elwood as an "exceptional lawyer with extensive experience in the private sector and government, she has a well-deserved reputation for professionalism, integrity and commitment to the rule of law. " 

He added, "The agency could not ask for a better lawyer and counselor to help guide it through the many national security challenges facing our country today."

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