NEW: State Dept officials Croft and Anderson offer new details on Trump’s Ukraine shadow diplomacy.
Anderson: “Senior White House officials” blocked State from issuing a statement condemning Russia after Moscow seized Ukrainian ships in Nov 2018.
#Maddow politi.co/2BRXx42
Anderson: “Senior White House officials” blocked State from issuing a statement condemning Russia after Moscow seized Ukrainian ships in Nov 2018.
#Maddow politi.co/2BRXx42
State Dept officials Catherine Croft and Christopher Anderson will describe to investigators the unusual intrusion into US foreign policy by Trump cronies, including his lawyer Giuliani and former GOP congressman turned lobbyist Robert Livingston.
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Croft learned of Trump's effort to withhold military aid to Ukraine prior to July 18, when it was officially revealed to agency officials.
“The only reason given [to withhold the aid] was that the order came at the direction of the president.”
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“The only reason given [to withhold the aid] was that the order came at the direction of the president.”
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Anderson: “Senior officials in the White House” blocked State from issuing a statement condemning Russia after Moscow seized Ukrainian ships in Nov 2018. Instead, “Amb Volker drafted a tweet condemning Russia’s actions, which I posted to his account.”
NEW: Trump NSA John Bolton warned US diplomats in JUNE that Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, could pose an obstacle to improving the White House's relations with Ukraine, according to Christopher Anderson's testimony.
by @rebeccaballhaus #Maddow on.wsj.com/2MYlsFo
by @rebeccaballhaus #Maddow on.wsj.com/2MYlsFo
@rebeccaballhaus Bolton’s warning—as described by Anderson—suggests the then-NSA was aware of Giuliani’s influence over Trump re Ukraine weeks before the July 25 call when Trump pressured Zelensky to investigate Biden and other matters to benefit Trump politically.
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