Schiff opens: "The questions presented by this impeachment inquiry are whether ... President Trump sought to condition official acts ... on Ukraine’s willingness to assist with two political investigations that would help his reelection campaign"
Schiff: “A scheme to condition official acts or taxpayer funding to obtain a personal political benefit does not become less odious because it is discovered before it is fully consummated”
Schiff invokes Mulvaney's now-infamous phrase - "must we simply “get over it?” Is that what Americans should now expect from their president? If this is not impeachable conduct, what is?"
Ranking Member Nunes begins with attacks on Democrats and the "corrupt media": "After the spectacular implosion of their Russia hoax… On July 25th they turned on a dime," he says
Nunes: "This is a carefully orchestrated media smear campaign"
Nunes, addressing Kent and Taylor: "You've been cast in the low-rent Ukrainian sequel."
He concludes: "This is nothing more than an impeachment process in search of a crime."
He concludes: "This is nothing more than an impeachment process in search of a crime."
Several interruptions & parliamentary inquiries thus far; Rep. Conaway now moving to have the whistleblower subpoenaed to testify in a closed hearing.
Schiff addresses them briefly in turn, moves on to invite witnesses to begin their opening statements .
Schiff addresses them briefly in turn, moves on to invite witnesses to begin their opening statements .
George Kent: "For the past five years, we have focused our united efforts across the Atlantic to support Ukraine in its fight for the cause of freedom, and the rebirth of a country free from Russian dominion and the warped legacy of Soviet institutions and post-Soviet behavior."
Kent: "It was unexpected and most unfortunate to watch some Americans - including those who allied themselves with corrupt Ukrainians ...launch attacks on dedicated public servants ...those attacks undermined ...national interests and damaged our critical bilateral relationship"
Kent's full opening remarks here: intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Kent says he, in 2015, "raised my concern" that Hunter Biden’s status as board member of Burisma could create "the perception of a conflict of interest."
Adds he did "not witness any efforts by any U.S. official to shield Burisma from scrutiny."
Adds he did "not witness any efforts by any U.S. official to shield Burisma from scrutiny."
Taylor begins his remarks by stressing he is "not here to take one side or the other," then offers a detailed and methodical explanation of why it is in the U.S. national interest to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine
Taylor describes sitting “in astonishment” as, on a secure call, a member of OMB staff said the President issued a directive to Mulvaney and thereafter to OMB not to approve spending on Ukraine security assistance.
“One of the key pillars of our strong support...was threatened”
“One of the key pillars of our strong support...was threatened”
Taylor also describes how Secretaries of State and DoD, CIA Director and National Security Advisor (all officials understood to maintain influence with POTUS) sought a meeting with Trump to convince him to release the hold
Taylor's full opening statement here: intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Taylor makes news, testifying a member of his staff was told by Sondland that Trump “cares more about the investigations of Biden”
(Sondland expected to testify publicly next week)
(Sondland expected to testify publicly next week)
Republican counsel Steve Castor asks Amb. Taylor whether Hunter Biden's addition to the Burisma board "raises questions," but moves on before Taylor, who had paused, offered an answer
Jordan, of Sondland's addendum to clarify his testimony: "I've seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than this." Makes the argument there's no way Taylor got a "clear understanding" from that sequence of events. (Taylor notes it's Sondland's own correction)
"If they impeach President Trump...they have to call President Zelensky a liar to do it," Rep Ratcliffe argues, pressing Taylor to admit Zelensky has himself said he didn't feel pressure from Trump. Taylor attempted to elaborate, ultimately relented to aggressive overtalk
Amb. Taylor, on the damaging consequences of the suspended aid - "We shook the confidence of a close partner in our reliability"
.@RepSwalwell: You testified the withholding of aid was "crazy." Can we also agree it was just wrong?
Amb. Taylor: Yes.
Amb. Taylor: Yes.
@RepSwalwell Swalwell asks Kent and Taylor if they are Never-Trumpers. Both say no.
@RepSwalwell Rep. Maloney asks Taylor how many times in his 50+ year career he has sent a first-person cable of the sort he wrote to Pompeo relaying his concerns.
"Once," Taylor said - this time.
"Once," Taylor said - this time.
@RepSwalwell Rep. Krishnamoorthi: You don't believe the July 25 call was 'perfect' do you?
After a pause, Kent says there was 'cause for concern.' Taylor agrees.
After a pause, Kent says there was 'cause for concern.' Taylor agrees.
@RepSwalwell Schiff excuses witnesses, says committee will resume after a recess to take up a motion by Rep. Conaway to subpoena the whistleblower. The first public impeachment hearing is otherwise mostly a wrap.
@RepSwalwell The motion is tabled and the committee adjourns. Day 1 is done.
