Tag: impeachment transcripts

Live updates: Democrats release transcripts of testimony from three officials ahead of first impeachment inquiry public hearing

Washington Post logoDemocrats on Monday released the testimony of three Trump administration officials, two days before public hearings are set to begin in the House impeachment inquiry.

In one of the testimonies, Laura Cooper, a senior defense official, told House impeachment investigators last month that the Pentagon sought clarification from the Trump administration on July 18 about the holdup of aid to Ukraine.

Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said that at a July 23 meeting, the Office of Management and Budget told agencies that “the White House chief of staff has conveyed that the president has concerns about Ukraine and Ukraine security assistance.”

View the complete November 11 article by Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner, Elise Viebeck and Brittany Shammas on The Washington Post website here.

Top 5 Revelations From Ukraine Transcripts Portend Trouble For Trump

It’s been reported for weeks now that Trump wanted Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee in exchange for $400 million in military defense funds that Congress promised the country for its fight against Russia. A meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky was also predicated on Ukraine announcing the investigations.

The rough phone transcript Trump released, text messages between top Trump administration officials, and even an explicit admission from acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney all confirmed the existence of a quid pro quo.

The four witness depositions released last week by the House Intelligence Committee add further direct confirmation of that arrangement.

View the complete November 10 article by Emily Singer on the National Memo website here.

House Intel releases transcript of interview with ex-Pompeo aide

Axios logoThe House Intelligence Committee on Monday released the transcript of its interview with Michael McKinley, a career diplomat and former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who resigned last month.

Why it matters: McKinley testified to impeachment investigators, “The timing of my resignation was the result of two overriding concerns: the failure, in my view, of the State Department to offer support to Foreign Service employees caught up in the impeachment inquiry; and, second, by what appears to be the utilization of our ambassadors overseas to advance domestic political objectives.”

Key excerpts:

  • McKinley testified that he asked former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who alleges that Rudy Giuliani led a campaign to oust her from her position, if she would welcome a statement of support from the State Department.

View the complete November 4 article by Zachary Basu on the Axios website here.