Thread by @jaketapper

1/ TEXT MESSAGES show a WH and administration determined to push Ukraine to investigate the 2016 election and undermine the Mueller report, and to investigate the Bidens. It becomes a key point of negotiation as Ukrainian President Zelensky seeks a WH meeting and military aid:

2/July 25, 2019, 8:36 am US Special Rep Kurt Volker for Ukraine to Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak:

"Heard from White House -- assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate/'get to the bottom of what happened' in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington."

3/ Then comes much coordination between Volker, Yermak, US Ambassador to EU Gordon Sundland, and Rudy Giuliani about a statement the Trump Team wants Zelensky to make.

4/ August 9, a.m. text from Volker to Giuliani and Sundland:

"Hi Mr Mayor! Had a good chat with Yermak last night. He was pleased with your phone call. Mentioned Z making a statement. Can we all get on the phone to make sure I advise Z correctly as to what he should be saying?"

5/ August 9 pm text:

Sondland: (NSC official Tim) "Morrison ready to get dates as soon as Yermak confirms.

Volker: "Excellent!! How did you sway him? :)

6/ Sondland: "Not sure I did. potus really wants the deliverable.

Sondland raises the issue of a statement by the Ukrainians committing to the "deliverable":

"....Might we ask Andrey for a draft statement (embargoed) so that we can see exactly what they propose to cover."

7/ August 10, Yermak to Volker after a phone call:

"Hi Kurt...I think it's possible to make this declaration and mention all these things...But it will be logic to do after we receive a confirmation of date..."

Volker: "...Let's iron out statement and use that to get date..."

8/ Yermak: "...Once we have a date, will call for a press briefing, announcing upcoming visit and outlining vision for reboot of US-UKRAINE relationship, including among other things Burisma and election meddling in investigations."

Burisma is the company that hired Hunter Biden

9/ Aug 13, Volker to Giuliani and Sondland re the statement to come from Ukraine, which would include: "We intend to initiate and complete a transparent and unbiased investigation of all available facts and episodes, including those involving Burisma and the 2016 U.S. elections..

10/ Sondland: "Perfect. Lets send to Andrey after our call."

Sondland Aug 17 to Volker: "Do we still want Ze to give us am unequivocal draft with 2016 and Boresma?

Volker: "That's the clear message so far.

11/ This text exchange establishes a clear linkage between the Ukrainians wanting a WH meeting, and the Trump Team wanting Ukraine to publicly announce it will investigate the company that hired Hunter Biden.

12/ August 28, Yermak texts Volker that he needs to talk to him about this Politico story, "Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia":

politico.com/story/2019/08/…

13/ On Aug 30, the US chargé d'affaires for Ukraine William Taylor Jr tells Volker that Trump has canceled his trip to Ukraine.

On Sept 1 Taylor texts Sondland: ""Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?"

Sondland: "Call me."

14/ On Sept 9 in the midst of another conversation with Sondland, Taylor -- seemingly trying to establish a paper trail -- texts: "As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign."

14/ Hours later, Sondland writes back a statement that reads as if lawyers wrote it: "Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intentions. The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind..."

He suggests they stop texting. And they do.

15/ Source for the above: the texts that Volker turned over to the House yesterday.

foreignaffairs.house.gov/_cache/files/a…