Thread by @IAmAmnaNawaz

.@RepAdamSchiff closes his opening statement quoting Benjamin Franklin at the close of the Constitutional Convention, when asked what sort of country the US would be.

"A Republic, if you can keep it."

#ImpeachmentHearingsPBS #ImpeachmentPBS

@RepAdamSchiff .@DevinNunes attacking Democrats' credibility and intentions in his opening statement.

Dismisses #impeachmenthearings as a "sham," a "televised theatrical performance," the "low rent Ukrainian sequel" to "the Russia hoax."

Also defends Pres. Trump's firing of Amb Yovanovitch.

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes Who are George Kent and Bill Taylor, testifying in today's #ImpeachmentHearings ?

A reminder from my @NewsHour colleague @cjnorwoodwrites...

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites Read the full opening statement of George Kent, testifying now in today's #ImpeachmentHearings, here

pbs.org/newshour/polit…

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites From the opening statement of George Kent, testifying now in today's #ImpeachmentHearings

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites Bill Taylor now, on his hesitancy to step in as top US diplomat in Ukraine when asked by Pompeo: "The former Ambassador Masha Yovanovitch had been treated poorly"...caught in political machinations in Ukraine and US. Worried same forces still at play.

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites From the opening statement of Bill Taylor, testifying now in today's #ImpeachmentHearings

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites Bill Taylor on his reaction when OMB official informed him that military aid to Ukraine was being held up, and that directive had come from President to Chief of Staff to OMB...

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites Bill Taylor adds new info to his previous closed-door testimony, about a call between Amb Sondland and Pres Trump he learned of through a staffer, and Sondland saying that Trump "cares more about the investigations of Biden" than Ukraine. 👇🏾

#ImpeachmentHearings

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites Taylor on importance of US military aid:
"allows Ukrainian military to deter further incursions by the Russians into Ukrainian territory"...if that occurred, "more Ukrainians would die." Also allows Ukrainians to negotiate with Russians from a position of "a little more strength"

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites .@RepAdamSchiff asking why Ukrainian sovereignty key to *US* security.
Taylor: our national defense strategy id's Russia & China as adversaries...Russia has violated regional order...
and if we don't push back on that...that will continue...that affects us, it affects the world

@RepAdamSchiff @DevinNunes @NewsHour @cjnorwoodwrites George Kent on US view of political investigations in other countries: "as a matter of policy, we often raise concerns - often in private - with countries we feel are engaged in selective prosecution of their opponents."

Taylor on why he was he "alarmed" that military aid held up:
"It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House, it's another thing- I thought -to leverage security assistance...to a country at war, dependent on both the security assistance & the display of support"

Goldman (counsel): is there any factual basis to support the allegation that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election?

Kent: to my knowledge - there is no factual basis - no.

Back from break, Ranking Member @DevinNunes :
military aid to Ukraine has actually improved under President Trump.

Makes point that security assistance was eventually provided to Ukraine, despite the fact that they never did the things Democrats allege they were pressured to do

@DevinNunes Republican counsel Steve Castor now questioning Taylor and Kent. Began by asking about run-up to 2016 election...now asking about circumstances around July call between Trump and Zelensky.

@DevinNunes Castor points out, and Taylor agrees, that Zelensky seemed to be looking forward to a meeting with Giuliani, according to the call memo from July, between Trump and Zelensky.

@DevinNunes Castor now asking about Hunter Biden's qualifications to join the board of a Ukrainian company while his father was VP. Both Kent and Taylor say they have no knowledge.

@DevinNunes Castor: Did State Dept express concerns about VP Biden visiting Ukraine, while his son was on board of Ukrainian company?
Kent: reported concern about possibility of perception of conflict to VP office.
Castor: what did they do about it?
Kent: no idea, you'd have to ask them.

@DevinNunes Castor spent a good amount of time asking about the "regular" versus "irregular" channels of US foreign policy that Taylor expressed concern about -- where the two paths diverged, why Taylor never "wrested" control, how "unusual" the involvement of certain officials would be

@DevinNunes Jordan questions Taylor about the chain of communication through which he grew concerned about US policy in Ukraine...
Taylor responds: I'm not here to take one side over the other... My understanding is only coming from people I talk to.

@DevinNunes Jordan also lays out (Taylor agrees) that Zelensky never expressed concerns to him about a link btwn US aid and investigations into Bidens, in 3 diff meetings

Rep. Jordan to Taylor: and you're their star witness!
Taylor: i don't consider myself a star witness for anyone.

@DevinNunes .@RepRatcliffe reading down list of statements by Ukrainian Pres Zelensky, saying he never felt pressured by US to take action

Amb Taylor: i have no reason to doubt anything the president said.

@DevinNunes @RepRatcliffe RepTurner: Isn't it possible the things that you heard were not true? that you might be mistaken about the things that you heard?

AmbTaylor: i'm here to tell you what i know. what others told me.

Turner: they could've heard it wrong?

Taylor: people make mistakes.

.@RepAdamSchiff asking why Zelensky might be reluctant to say publicly he felt pressured to announce an investigation into Bidens...

Taylor: he cannot afford to be seen to be deferring to any foreign leader.