The Ukraine Depositions Have Destroyed Trump’s “Corruption” Defense
55 years ago

The Ukraine Depositions Have Destroyed Trump’s “Corruption” Defense

Slate  

According to Republican senators, President Donald Trump had a very good reason to press Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and other Democrats. Sondland, during his Oct. 17 deposition, was asked whether he knew of “any aid being withheld to the other 28 countries in your portfolio under President Trump in 2018 or 2019.” He said he didn’t. By contrast, Taylor testified that Volodymyr Zelensky, who took office as Ukraine’s president this year, “appointed reformist ministers,” opened an anti-corruption court, abolished lawmakers’ immunity to prosecution, and “supported long-stalled anti-corruption legislation.” On May 23, Sondland and other U.S. officials personally told Trump about Zelensky’s anti-corruption initiatives. Volker testified that Biden, when he was vice president, demanded Shokin’s removal because Shokin, according to every Western government, “was not pursuing corruption cases.” Trump and Giuliani responded by lambasting Biden and defending Shokin. Volker recalled that in his May 23 meeting with Trump, Sondland, and other officials, the president “gave the example of hearing from Rudy Giuliani that they’re all corrupt, they’re all terrible people, that they tried to ‘take me down’—meaning the president—in the 2016 election.” When the intelligence committee’s director of investigations asked Volker whether Trump gave “any specific examples other than the fact that they tried to ‘take him down,’ ” Volker said no.

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History of this topic

Treasury official says budget assistance designed to help Ukraine anti-corruption efforts
7 months ago

Treasury official says budget assistance designed to help Ukraine anti-corruption efforts

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Just back from a visit to Ukraine, a U.S. Treasury official on Tuesday described a country whose wartime economy has proven resilient in the face of Russia’s invasion and said U.S. and allies’ budget assistance is designed to help the nation combat corruption and increase transparency. Brent Neiman, deputy undersecretary for international finance, said in a speech that …

Trump calls again for blackmailing Ukraine – echoing what got him impeached
1 year, 5 months ago

Trump calls again for blackmailing Ukraine – echoing what got him impeached

Raw Story  

Donald Trump demanded Saturday that Congress reprise his 2019 conduct – blackmailing Ukraine at the political expense of Joe Biden – that led to one of his two impeachments, according to reporting by the Washington Post. Speaking at a rally in Pa., Trump “called on congressional Republicans to withhold military support for Ukraine until the Biden administration cooperates with their …

Ukraine confronts two enemies: Russia and corruption
1 year, 10 months ago

Ukraine confronts two enemies: Russia and corruption

Al Jazeera  

While the US, EU and NATO have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine, worries remain over rampant corruption in the country. “There is definitely a connection between the anti-corruption moves and Zelenskyy’s desire to keep Western military aid flowing,” Volodymyr Dubovyk, professor of international relations at Mechnikov National University in Odesa, Ukraine, told Al Jazeera. “Zelenskyy understood that he should address …

Ukraine corruption scandal claims several top officials
1 year, 11 months ago

Ukraine corruption scandal claims several top officials

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Several senior Ukrainian officials, including front-line governors, lost their jobs Tuesday in a corruption scandal plaguing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government as it grapples with the nearly 11-month-old Russian invasion. Ukraine’s biggest government shake-up since the war began came as U.S. officials said Washington was poised to approve supplying Kyiv with M1 Abrams tanks, with international reluctance eroding …

How much of a problem is corruption in Ukraine?
2 years, 6 months ago

How much of a problem is corruption in Ukraine?

Al Jazeera  

Analysts say that Ukraine has long suffered from systemic corruption but that Russia, which often weaponises the issue, is in no position to judge. According to Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranked 122nd out of 180 countries, near countries such as Zambia, Gabon and Mexico, while nations like Denmark and Finland ranked first. “This is particularly the case …

Trump Jr calls Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries on Earth’ and says US shouldn’t give it money
2 years, 8 months ago

Trump Jr calls Ukraine ‘one of the most corrupt countries on Earth’ and says US shouldn’t give it money

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump Jr, the son of the 45th United States …

Ukraine focuses on uprooting corruption amid US scrutiny
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine focuses on uprooting corruption amid US scrutiny

Associated Press  

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rode into office this year on a pledge to tackle the corruption that was rife under his two most recent predecessors. Vadim Karasev, head of a Kyiv-based independent think tank, said remarks by President Donald Trump and his defenders that Ukraine remains mired in corruption have belittled Zelenskiy’s actions. “Trump sees it as …

Former Trump Adviser Undercuts GOP Impeachment Defence
5 years, 1 month ago

Former Trump Adviser Undercuts GOP Impeachment Defence

The Quint  

A former White House official said on Thursday, 21 November, that President Donald Trump’s top European envoy was sent on a “domestic political errand" seeking investigations of Democrats, stunning testimony that dismantled a main line of the president’s defence in the impeachment inquiry. In a riveting appearance on Capitol Hill, Fiona Hill also implored Republican lawmakers — and implicitly Trump …

AP FACT CHECK: Trump, GOP claims on Ukraine corruption
5 years, 1 month ago

AP FACT CHECK: Trump, GOP claims on Ukraine corruption

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and his GOP allies pressed a defense Thursday that he acted appropriately in withholding military aid to Ukraine out of concern over the country’s corruption and claimed the House impeachment hearings amounted to a rogue process. A look at some of the remarks on Day 5 of public hearings in the impeachment inquiry by the …

Diplomat David Holmes Outlines Corruption, Hypocrisy Of Trump’s Ukraine Shakedown
5 years, 1 month ago

Diplomat David Holmes Outlines Corruption, Hypocrisy Of Trump’s Ukraine Shakedown

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON ― The career foreign service official who overheard President Donald Trump speaking with his donor-turned-ambassador about investigations that would benefit Trump’s political campaign said Thursday that the Trump administration’s effort to pull the Ukrainian government into American politics made United States government officials look like hypocrites. David Holmes, testifying before the House Intelligence Committee, pointed out …

Official: Ukraine asked about aid on day of Trump call
5 years, 1 month ago

Official: Ukraine asked about aid on day of Trump call

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a blow to GOP defenses of President Donald Trump, a Defense Department official said Wednesday the Ukrainian government asked “what was going on” with U.S. military aid as early as July 25 — the very day that Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate Democrats. Cooper said her staff received an email on July 25 from a Ukrainian …

A Diplomat With A History Of Voicing Concerns Set To Testify In Impeachment Inquiry
5 years, 1 month ago

A Diplomat With A History Of Voicing Concerns Set To Testify In Impeachment Inquiry

NPR  

A Diplomat With A History Of Voicing Concerns Set To Testify In Impeachment Inquiry Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Jose Luis Magana/AP A career diplomat who overheard a U.S. ambassador's phone chat with President Trump this summer in which Trump allegedly referred to "investigations" to be carried out by Ukrainian officials is set to testify in the …

Followed Trump's orders on pressuring Ukraine, says senior US diplomat
5 years, 1 month ago

Followed Trump's orders on pressuring Ukraine, says senior US diplomat

Business Standard  

Followed Trump's orders on pressuring Ukraine, says senior US diplomat The ambassador testified that he told Vice President Mike Pence in September that US security aid to Ukraine had been stalled apparently because of Trump's demand for the investigations Premium Gordon Sondland testifies before the US House Intelligence Committee as part of the impeachment inquiry Photo: Bloomberg Reuters Washington A …

Trump reacts to damning testimony by claiming he barely knows Sondland: 'He seems like a nice guy'
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump reacts to damning testimony by claiming he barely knows Sondland: 'He seems like a nice guy'

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump has responded to shocking testimony that he personally …

Ukraine scandal: U.S. ambassador to European Union Gordon Sondland says he followed Donald Trump’s orders
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine scandal: U.S. ambassador to European Union Gordon Sondland says he followed Donald Trump’s orders

The Hindu  

In what is likely to be an inflection point in the public impeachment inquiry into whether U.S. President Donald Trump violated his oath of office in his dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. At the House Intelligence Committee impeachment hearing on Wednesday, Mr. Sondland also confirmed the existence of a quid pro quo, which is at the heart of the impeachment …

Donald Trump impeachment inquiry: Gordon Sondland ties US president to Ukraine pressure campaign; EU envoy kept Pompeo informed
5 years, 1 month ago

Donald Trump impeachment inquiry: Gordon Sondland ties US president to Ukraine pressure campaign; EU envoy kept Pompeo informed

Firstpost  

Gordon Sondland, the diplomat at the center of the House impeachment inquiry, kept Secretary of State Mike Pompeo apprised of key developments in the campaign to pressure Ukraine’s leader into public commitments that would satisfy President Donald Trump, two people briefed on the matter said. Washington: Gordon Sondland, the diplomat at the center of the House impeachment inquiry, kept Secretary …

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s dubious claim about Sondland
5 years, 1 month ago

AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s dubious claim about Sondland

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump sought to defend against accusations that he pushed Ukraine’s president for a political “favor” by making a dubious claim that he had little involvement with the U.S. ambassador who testified in House impeachment hearings. Trump distanced himself Wednesday from Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union who had direct conversations with the president …

Gordon Sondland Directly Implicates Trump, Top Aides In Ukraine Shakedown
5 years, 1 month ago

Gordon Sondland Directly Implicates Trump, Top Aides In Ukraine Shakedown

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON ― In devastating testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, the hotel executive President Donald Trump appointed as an ambassador after he donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration said that Trump gave him “express direction” to work with Rudy Giuliani, who was pressuring Ukraine to announce an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. He said …

Trump impeachment: Republican witness says Biden corruption claims 'not credible'
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump impeachment: Republican witness says Biden corruption claims 'not credible'

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “As I said, I don’t find it plausible …

Sondland Says Top Trump Officials Knew Of Push For Ukraine Investigations
5 years, 1 month ago

Sondland Says Top Trump Officials Knew Of Push For Ukraine Investigations

NPR  

Sondland Says Top Trump Officials Knew Of Push For Ukraine Investigations Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images Get Caught Up Ambassador Gordon Sondland has finished testifying, and the hearings have continued with Defense Department official Laura Cooper and State Department official David Hale. In his opening statement, Sondland says Rudy Giuliani's requests for Ukraine to …

Is Gordon Sondland credible enough to be a good impeachment witness for either side?
5 years, 1 month ago

Is Gordon Sondland credible enough to be a good impeachment witness for either side?

LA Times  

Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, center, arrives for a joint interview with House committees investigating President Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine on Capitol Hill on Oct. 17. But Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, has already had to change the story he presented to impeachment investigators – the result of reading other witnesses’ opening statements that he said …

Trump and bribery claim: Does the shoe fit? (opinion)
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump and bribery claim: Does the shoe fit? (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Richard Ben-Veniste was a member of the 9/11 Commission and a former federal prosecutor and assistant Watergate prosecutor; Kelly B. Kramer is a defense attorney who has represented members of Congress, ranking executive branch officials, and lobbyists in significant public corruption scandals over the past 20 years. … It sounds horrible to me.” The public record suggests President …

Gordon Sondland Returns To Impeachment Inquiry As A Key Witness With An Updated Story
5 years, 1 month ago

Gordon Sondland Returns To Impeachment Inquiry As A Key Witness With An Updated Story

NPR  

Gordon Sondland Returns To Impeachment Inquiry As A Key Witness With An Updated Story Enlarge this image toggle caption Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, who has emerged as the impeachment inquiry's most pivotal witness, is set to make a much-anticipated appearance before House investigators on Wednesday. It's this assignment that …

Calling the witnesses ‘never Trumpers’ won’t get Trump off the hook (opinion)
5 years, 1 month ago

Calling the witnesses ‘never Trumpers’ won’t get Trump off the hook (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Samantha Vinograd is a CNN national security analyst. Former National Security Council Senior Director for Europe and Russia Fiona Hill and NSC Director for European Affairs Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman were hand-picked by the President’s personnel team to serve in Trump’s White House. Hill’s private deposition documents the efforts she took to report these concerns and others, including …

READ: State Department Official David Holmes' Impeachment Inquiry Testimony
5 years, 1 month ago

READ: State Department Official David Holmes' Impeachment Inquiry Testimony

NPR  

READ: State Department Official David Holmes' Impeachment Inquiry Testimony Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose Luis Magana/AP Jose Luis Magana/AP On Monday evening, House committees released the transcript of a State Department official who testified in the impeachment inquiry Nov. 15 that he overheard the president tell the U.S. envoy to the European Union that he was seeking political investigations …

Trump's lawyer accuses Joe Biden of BRIBERY for his own Ukraine dealings
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump's lawyer accuses Joe Biden of BRIBERY for his own Ukraine dealings

Daily Mail  

Rudy Giuliani made new accusations Sunday that Joe Biden has committed bribery in his own dealings with Ukraine. President Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani has said that Joe Biden committed bribery in his own dealings with Ukraine Trump's defenders have frequently pointed to a January 2018 video in which Biden seems to brag about threatening to withhold military …

Aide recounts actions tying Trump to delay in Ukraine funds
5 years, 1 month ago

Aide recounts actions tying Trump to delay in Ukraine funds

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Gordon Sondland, President Donald Trump’s emissary to the European Union, had a message when he met with a top Ukrainian official. Morrison’s testimony ties Trump more closely to the central charge from Democrats pursuing impeachment: that Trump held up U.S. military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into Democrats and Biden’s family. While some, including Trump himself, …

Testimony Ties Trump Closer To Pressure On Ukraine
5 years, 1 month ago

Testimony Ties Trump Closer To Pressure On Ukraine

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Gordon Sondland, President Donald Trump’s emissary to the European Union, had a message when he met with a top Ukrainian official. Morrison’s testimony ties Trump more closely to the central charge from Democrats pursuing impeachment: that Trump held up U.S. military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into Democrats and Biden’s family. Morrison said …

Transcripts released during Donald Trump's impeachment hearing show Ambassador Gordon Sondland's played key role in president's efforts to push Ukraine to conduct political probes
5 years, 1 month ago

Transcripts released during Donald Trump's impeachment hearing show Ambassador Gordon Sondland's played key role in president's efforts to push Ukraine to conduct political probes

Firstpost  

Transcripts released Saturday in the impeachment inquiry show Ambassador Gordon Sondland playing a central role in President Donald Trump’s effort to push Ukraine to conduct political investigations Washington: Transcripts released Saturday in the impeachment inquiry show Ambassador Gordon Sondland playing a central role in President Donald Trump’s effort to push Ukraine to conduct political investigations as a condition for receiving …

Ukraine scandal is a microcosm of what we already know: Trump’s presidency is a failure
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine scandal is a microcosm of what we already know: Trump’s presidency is a failure

LA Times  

It’s easy to get drawn into the drama of the Ukraine story, to be mesmerized by that country’s war against Russia and its brazen corruption, by characters like Hunter Biden and Paul Manafort and Lev and Igor and the ever-shifting cast of presidents, prosecutors, diplomats and criminals. We’re all learning more than we ever thought we’d know about Kyiv and …

Gordon Sondland kept Trump administration officials briefed on Ukraine dealings, Wall Street Journal reports
5 years, 1 month ago

Gordon Sondland kept Trump administration officials briefed on Ukraine dealings, Wall Street Journal reports

CNN  

Washington CNN — The US Ambassador to the European Union kept several Trump administration officials briefed on his attempts to get Ukraine to launch investigations later discussed in Trump’s July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emails reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/AP The emails reviewed by the Journal show Gordon Sondland – who testified …

Two New Testimonies Put Sondland At Center Of Trump Ukraine Block
5 years, 1 month ago

Two New Testimonies Put Sondland At Center Of Trump Ukraine Block

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Transcripts released Saturday in the impeachment inquiry show Ambassador Gordon Sondland playing a central role in President Donald Trump’s effort to push Ukraine to conduct political investigations as a condition for receiving needed military aid. While some, including Trump himself, have begun to question Sondland’s knowledge of events, Morrison said the ambassador “related to me …

The Latest: Diplomat describes Trump ‘investigations’ call
5 years, 1 month ago

The Latest: Diplomat describes Trump ‘investigations’ call

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Latest on the deposition of State Department official David Holmes : 6:30 p.m. President Donald Trump was talking so loudly that Ambassador Gordon Sondland had to hold the phone from his ear, which allowed others at a restaurant in Kyiv to overhear a conversation about “investigations” that’s now part of the impeachment inquiry. The impeachment inquiry centers …

Trump releases rough transcript of April call with Ukraine’s president
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump releases rough transcript of April call with Ukraine’s president

LA Times  

President Trump on Friday released the summary transcript of his April congratulatory call with Ukraine’s president-elect, the latest salvo in the White House effort to blunt Democratic allegations that Trump abused his power by pressuring a foreign leader to get involved in U.S. politics. While the first readout of the call said Trump had expressed his commitment to help Ukraine …

Timeline: The curious release of military aid to Ukraine
5 years, 1 month ago

Timeline: The curious release of military aid to Ukraine

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Military aid promised by the U.S. to Ukraine — and the strange circumstances under which it was held up and eventually released — is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. A look at key dates involving the nearly $400 million in military assistance that had been approved for release in the early months …

Ukraine’s young corruption fighters struggle against elites — and Donald Trump
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine’s young corruption fighters struggle against elites — and Donald Trump

LA Times  

From her second-story walk-up office in Kyiv’s old Perchersk neighborhood, Daria Kaleniuk has been fighting the fire-breathing dragons of Ukrainian corruption — oligarchs and politicians and judges on the take. According to testimony before the House impeachment inquiry by Kurt Volker, the former U.S. special representative to Ukraine, Trump once said of Ukrainians, “They are all corrupt, they are all …

Ukraine-Trump: Quick timeline of events that led to impeachment hearings
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine-Trump: Quick timeline of events that led to impeachment hearings

CNN  

CNN — The impeachment inquiry centers on claims that President Donald Trump used US tax dollars as bait to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open investigations that could damage former Vice President Joe Biden heading into the 2020 election. July 10 – White House meeting between US and Ukrainian officials This meeting has emerged as a key moment because …

In Impeachment Hearing, Taylor Says Trump Asked About Ukraine 'Investigations'
5 years, 1 month ago

In Impeachment Hearing, Taylor Says Trump Asked About Ukraine 'Investigations'

NPR  

In Impeachment Hearing, Taylor Says Trump Asked About Ukraine 'Investigations' Enlarge this image toggle caption Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images Updated at 5:21 p.m. ET A State Department staffer overheard President Trump asking a top diplomat about "investigations" he wanted Ukraine to pursue that he believed might help him in the 2020 election, another senior diplomat told Congress. Kent …

READ: Taylor Reveals New Trump Phone Call On 'Investigations' In Opening Statement
5 years, 1 month ago

READ: Taylor Reveals New Trump Phone Call On 'Investigations' In Opening Statement

NPR  

READ: Taylor Reveals New Trump Phone Call On 'Investigations' In Opening Statement Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Updated at 1:06 p.m. ET William Taylor, acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, is presenting fresh information in the first public hearing of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, telling lawmakers that Trump had asked Gordon Sondland, the …

Don't Get Confused By The Ukraine Scandal: Here Are The Key Facts
5 years, 1 month ago

Don't Get Confused By The Ukraine Scandal: Here Are The Key Facts

Huff Post  

It seems like the Ukraine scandal keeps getting more and more complicated. Making the entire scandal seem messy and complicated is exactly what Trump and his allies are aiming to do in advance of this week’s first House hearings in the impeachment investigation. According to a White House-released transcript, Trump said he wanted Ukraine to investigate two matters: first, whether …

The Latest: Witness describe Trump dealing with Ukraine
5 years, 2 months ago

The Latest: Witness describe Trump dealing with Ukraine

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the House impeachment inquiry : 8:45 p.m. Key White House officials told impeachment investigators that President Donald Trump’s deal with Ukraine was a straight-out trade: If Ukraine’s new leader wanted an Oval Office welcome he would have to open a public probe into Joe Biden and his son. Lt. Col. Alexander …

Trump impeachment inquiry: What 2,677 pages of testimony reveal about Trump’s Ukraine scandal
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump impeachment inquiry: What 2,677 pages of testimony reveal about Trump’s Ukraine scandal

CNN  

CNN — To President Donald Trump, the whole flap with Ukraine is over a “perfect” phone call. Hill, who was the former top White House Russia adviser, and the National Security Council’s Ukraine expert, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testified that the Ukrainians were told on July 10 that the White House meeting with Trump they were seeking was conditioned on …

Bill Taylor: Top US diplomat says Giuliani pushed Ukraine to ‘intervene’ in US politics in impeachment transcript
5 years, 2 months ago

Bill Taylor: Top US diplomat says Giuliani pushed Ukraine to ‘intervene’ in US politics in impeachment transcript

CNN  

CNN — The top US diplomat in Ukraine told House impeachment investigators that President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani was pressing Ukraine “to intervene in US domestic policy or politics” by launching investigations into Trump’s political rivals, according to a transcript of Bill Taylor’s deposition released Wednesday. Taylor also testified that it was his “clear understanding” US security aid …

Trump ally Sondland admits tying Ukraine aid to Biden probe
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump ally Sondland admits tying Ukraine aid to Biden probe

Al Jazeera  

Sondland says he told Ukraine official that military aid would likely not be released until Kyiv said it’d probe Biden. A top ally of US President Donald Trump admitted that he told a Ukrainian official that the release of United States military aid was contingent on Kyiv investigating Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden, testimony released on Tuesday showed. Gordon Sondland, …

Gordon Sondland changes testimony and admits quid pro quo with Ukraine
5 years, 2 months ago

Gordon Sondland changes testimony and admits quid pro quo with Ukraine

CNN  

CNN — In a significant reversal, a top US diplomat revised his testimony to impeachment investigators to admit a quid pro quo linking US aid to Ukraine with an investigation into President Donald Trump’s political rival. Asked if it was illegal, Sondland said: “I’m not a lawyer, but I assume so.” In his own testimony, Volker said that the Ukrainians …

Former Russia and Europe advisor to US confirms military aid to Ukraine was held up by Donald Trump to demand probe into Joe Biden
5 years, 2 months ago

Former Russia and Europe advisor to US confirms military aid to Ukraine was held up by Donald Trump to demand probe into Joe Biden

Firstpost  

A former top White House official confirmed Thursday that military aid to Ukraine was held up by President Donald Trump’s demand for the ally to investigate Democrats and Joe Biden Washington: A former top White House official confirmed Thursday that military aid to Ukraine was held up by President Donald Trump’s demand for the ally to investigate Democrats and Joe …

John Bolton warned that Rudy Giuliani was 'obstacle' to White House progress in Ukraine
5 years, 2 months ago

John Bolton warned that Rudy Giuliani was 'obstacle' to White House progress in Ukraine

Daily Mail  

John Bolton warned in June that Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani was an 'obstacle' to White House progress with the Ukraine, according to the opening statement of a career diplomat testifying in Wednesday's closed-door impeachment inquiry. Christopher Anderson, a State Department employee who was a special adviser on the Ukraine, will testify that Bolton cautioned in a June 13 …

New Trump Impeachment Witness Shakes Up White House
5 years, 2 months ago

New Trump Impeachment Witness Shakes Up White House

The Quint  

Vindman says in the prepared testimony that a senior US diplomat close to Trump, ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, was the first person he witnessed pressing Ukraine for the investigations, in a 10 July meeting with Ukraine national security official Oleksandr Danylyuk. Sondland emphasized the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election, the Bidens and …

READ: Christopher Anderson's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry
5 years, 2 months ago

READ: Christopher Anderson's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry

NPR  

READ: Christopher Anderson's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry Enlarge this image toggle caption Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images Christopher Anderson is testifying in the ongoing House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday, along with Catherine Croft. In his prepared opening statement obtained by NPR, Anderson says senior officials at the White House blocked State Department officials from releasing a statement that …

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