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THREAD. House and Intel Committees released some incredibly damaging texts, which make clear Trump's wrongful attempt to leverage his public office for personal election gain. But now we know that he had a lot of help ! /1
I read the disclosed information closely and provided some context so you don't have to. BLUF: Trump had help in leveraging an Oval office visit and military assistance to seek Ukrainian government's help for Trump's reelection in 2020. /2
The quid pro quo bluntly stated by Ambassador Kurt Volker: "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." CLEAR AS DAY. /3
Amb Soundland was not satisfied with Zelensky announcing an investigation. He wanted it in writing: "To avoid misunderstandings, might be helpful to ask Andrey [Zelensky aide] for a draft statement so that we can see exactly what they propose to cover." /4.
Remember, Gordon Sundland is a real estate developer, not career diplomat, a major Trump donor, rewarded for his money to Trump with the position of US Ambassador to the EU. Why he is involved in these Ukrainian negotiations is mysterious to me. /5
Zelensky aide Yermak: "I thinks its possible to make this declaration and mentions all these things. Which we discussed yesterday. But it will be logic to do after we receive a confirmation date [of Oval office meeting with Trump]." Zelensky ready to deliver on quid pro quo. /6
Acting US ambassador in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, expressed Ukrainian concern of delivering the quid before the quo is in hand: "The nightmare is they give the interview [announcing investigation of Biden] and don't get the security assistance. The Russians love.(And I quit)." /7
Ambassador Taylor is a real professional. Had served as US ambo to Ukraine before, appointed by President Bush. He clearly is pushing back on the schemes of Giuliani, Sondland and Volker. (Maybe Volker was elsewhere, as reported in press, but not in these texts.) /8
Amb Taylor (USMA grad, longtime USG public servant) to Amb Sondland (Trump funder, real estate businessman, serving in Brussels, not Kyiv or DC): "As I said on the phone , I think its crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign." MONEY QUOTE ! /9
These texts also show that the Trump call to Zelensky was just ONE of many different actions to compel Ukraine to investigate both (1) Bidens & (2) Ukraine "interference" in 2016 US election. Multiple people -Giuliani, Pompeo, Sondland, Volker - all involved in the operation. /10
Bottom line: overwhelming confirming evidence about Trump AND TEAM'S use of public office & US taxpayer money for private electoral gains. /11
Very depressing read. Maybe I'm just a naive, idealistic optimist. But when you sign up to serve in the USG, you take an oath to defend the United States of America, and not any one individual. Hoping we might get back to the honorable idea someday in the future. END THREAD /12.
