14 November 19
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14 November 19
EXCERPT:
“In the presence of my staff at a restaurant, Ambassador Sondland called President Trump and told him of his meetings in Kiev,” Taylor testified before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday morning. “The member of my staff could hear President Trump on the phone, asking Ambassador Sondland about ‘the investigations.’ Ambassador Sondland told President Trump that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward.”
The conversation, which allegedly occurred on July 26 and which Taylor told lawmakers he had been unaware of until last week and had therefore not included in his closed-door testimony, undercuts the notion that any attempt to pressure Volodymyr Zelensky was undertaken without Trump’s blessing, directly implicating the president in the extortion scheme. Republicans had been seeking to pin any “rogue” foreign policy moves on Giuliani, distancing Trump himself from the allegations. Republicans have also sought to dismiss tales of Trump’s wrongdoing as politically-motivated, claiming the president was merely trying to root out corruption. But, the Ukraine charge d’affaires testified Wednesday, what Trump actually seemed to care about was getting Zelensky to publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden. “Following the call with President Trump, the member of my staff asked Ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about Ukraine,” Taylor said. “Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for.”
The conversation—which, according to Taylor, occurred the day after Trump’s call with Zelensky that triggered the whistleblower complaint—was one of many details disclosed by Taylor and diplomat George Kent in their appearances on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Speaking in somber tones that contrasted with an opening statement from Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the committee, Kent and Taylor gave detailed accounts of how Trump associates, apparently at his direction, dangled military aid and a White House visit appearance over Ukraine. This effort undermined U.S. policy of support for Ukraine and endangered both Kiev and Washington’s strategic interests, the diplomats said.
