Kent told investigators his conversations w/fellow diplomats like U.S. amb. to the EU Sondland made it crystal clear what Trump wanted from Zelensky: "In sort of shorthand, he wanted nothing less than Pres. Zelensky to go to the microphone & say investigations, Biden & Clinton."
How about a handy thread where you can find the transcripts released thus far? I encourage dramatic reenactments or readings. Extra points to graphic artists who send me passages from the transcripts in illustrated form. (Where are you, courtroom sketch artists?)
@CourthouseNews
@CourthouseNews
Let's start with latest: George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6542…
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6542…
Then, former special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker. Transcript: documentcloud.org/documents/6542…
And released the same day as Volker, testimony from U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6542…
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6542…
Then, William Taylor, senior U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
Transcript:
documentcloud.org/documents/6541…
UPDATED:
Notable portion from transcript on Yovanovitch.
As her role hung in the balance, Kent revealed Sondland offered the suggestion that Yovanovitch curry favor by producing a video/tweeting full-fledged support of Trump admin’s foreign policy.
courthousenews.com/house-shares-t…
Notable portion from transcript on Yovanovitch.
As her role hung in the balance, Kent revealed Sondland offered the suggestion that Yovanovitch curry favor by producing a video/tweeting full-fledged support of Trump admin’s foreign policy.
courthousenews.com/house-shares-t…
Kent said he thought State Department counselor T. Ulrich Brechbuhl may have first made the suggestion Yovanovitch pledge fealty to the president but he wasn’t sure. Brechbuhl has steadily rebuffed requests to testify before the investigating committees.
Another key figure in the impeachment inquiry, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, has also ignored requests for testimony but Thursday’s transcript puts him back in the spotlight.
Kent testified that Sondland’s “connections” with Mulvaney earned the European Union ambassador unprecedented access to high-level meetings with Trump and access to matters involving Ukraine, even though the nation was not technically in his European Union portfolio.
This runs contrary to earlier testimony from Sondland, who described his relationship to Mulvaney as one mostly had in passing.
“We say hello, we walk by and wave,” Sondland said. “But I’ve never – I don’t believe I’ve sat down with him for a formal meeting on any subject.”
“We say hello, we walk by and wave,” Sondland said. “But I’ve never – I don’t believe I’ve sat down with him for a formal meeting on any subject.”
Sondland’s testimony, which he revised heavily this wk, has raised several q's under further scrutiny.
Among other details, Sondland told lawmakers the Ukrainian govt was told they would have to publicly commit to the political investigations Trump if they wanted military aid.
Among other details, Sondland told lawmakers the Ukrainian govt was told they would have to publicly commit to the political investigations Trump if they wanted military aid.
