A Pentagon official who sought the release of U.S. military aid to Ukraine — withheld by the White House amid attempts to persuade Ukraine to investigate President Donald Trump’s political rivals — testified Wednesday to House impeachment investigators about her knowledge of the episode amid attempts by the Trump administration to block her appearance.
Laura Cooper — the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia — appeared despite an effort by the Pentagon to block her cooperation. Her testimony was also delayed for more than five hours Wednesday after dozens of House Republicans stormed the secure facility inside the Capitol where investigators were set to depose her.
An official who works on the impeachment inquiry said Cooper testified for more than three hours behind closed doors under subpoena — a repeat of the tactic lawmakers have used to circumvent other attempts by the Trump administration to block witnesses from complying with interview requests.