The House has released the transcript of its closed-door deposition with Bill Taylor, who testified in detail about Trump's extortion of Ukraine: docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG…
The majority has also released key excerpts from Taylor's testimony, including his direct confirmation that Trump's scheme was a quid pro quo. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/… 
According to Taylor, for a planned June 2019 call between Trump and Zelensky, Sondland made sure "most of the regular interagency participants" weren't included so there wouldn't be anybody taking notes.
That's not something you do for a "perfect call." intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
That's not something you do for a "perfect call." intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Taylor also testified that, in a July 10 meeting with Ukrainian officials, Sondland explicitly "connected 'investigations with an Oval Office meeting for President Zelensky"—prompting Bolton to cut the meeting short. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Taylor also fills in one of the gaps in Sondland's testimony, released yesterday: In one of Taylor's phone calls with Sondland, Sondland confirmed that Trump himself had instructed him to demand that Ukraine investigate Trump's political opponents. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
A key detail: Trump didn't just want Zelensky to open the investigation; he wanted Zelensky to *publicly announce* the investigation. That's more proof that it was never about corruption—it was always about making news that would hurt Trump's opponent. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Sondland and Volker didn't even pretend it wasn't a quid pro quo, until Trump told them to. Instead, they justified it by saying that making demands for Trump's own personal benefit in exchange for military aid was just how Trump did business. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
UPDATE: The original link provided in this tweet appears to no longer be working. An updated link will be posted as soon as it is available.
While Taylor was considering whether to return to his diplomatic work in Ukraine, The New York Times started reporting on Giuliani's work in Ukraine (linked below).
The report was enough to make Taylor worried he was walking into a "snake pit."
nytimes.com/2019/05/09/us/…
The report was enough to make Taylor worried he was walking into a "snake pit."
nytimes.com/2019/05/09/us/…
Taylor was worried that Giuliani's work might signal a shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, which might include ceding Crimea to Russia (p. 55)—and why wouldn't he, given how much Trump has parroted Putin's talking points on Ukraine? washingtonpost.com/news/democracy…
Bill Taylor arrived in Kyiv as the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine on June 17. Within 10 days, Sondland read Taylor in on his and Volker's efforts to pressure Ukraine into opening investigations on Trump's behalf. (62-63)
On July 21, Taylor texted Volker and Sondland that Ukrainian officials worried Ukraine was being used as "an instrument in Washington domestic reelection politics."
Taylor confirmed to Congress that "was a reference to the investigations that Mr. Giuliani wanted to pursue" (p 74)
Taylor confirmed to Congress that "was a reference to the investigations that Mr. Giuliani wanted to pursue" (p 74)
Initially, Taylor supported the idea of setting up a meeting between Trump and Zelensky.
But by the end of July, he was worried that it wasn't worth it if Zelensky had to meet Trump and Giuliani's demands to interfere in the 2020 election to make it happen (p. 74-75).
But by the end of July, he was worried that it wasn't worth it if Zelensky had to meet Trump and Giuliani's demands to interfere in the 2020 election to make it happen (p. 74-75).
A working link to Taylor's testimony has been posted, and can be found here: documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
Sondland: Trump said it wasn't a quid pro quo.
Also Sondland: If Zelensky doesn't announce an investigation, we will be at a stalemate, and Ukraine will not receive military aid (p. 39).
Also Sondland: If Zelensky doesn't announce an investigation, we will be at a stalemate, and Ukraine will not receive military aid (p. 39).
Sondland danced around whether he understood "Burisma" was Trump and Giuliani's code for investigating the Bidens.
Taylor makes it clear that the Ukrainians understood—and had concerns about being asked to meddle in the 2020 election (p. 135-136). documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
Taylor makes it clear that the Ukrainians understood—and had concerns about being asked to meddle in the 2020 election (p. 135-136). documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
According to Taylor, even on its face, Trump's demand that Ukraine "conduct an investigation based on violations of their own law" was improper—and that's before factoring in the quid pro quo or the targets of the investigation (p. 136-137). documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
Schiff and Taylor debunk one of House Republicans' more ludicrous arguments: Yes, Ukraine did understand that the Trump administration was withholding military aid while demanding investigations of Trump's political opponents (p. 137). documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
According to Taylor, Sondland made the quid pro quo extremely clear:
Trump wanted Zelensky "in a public box" by publicly announcing an investigation into the Bidens. In exchange, Zelensky would get a face-to-face meeting and military aid (p. 143-144).
Trump wanted Zelensky "in a public box" by publicly announcing an investigation into the Bidens. In exchange, Zelensky would get a face-to-face meeting and military aid (p. 143-144).
