Ambassador Taylor lays out how Mick Mulvaney in OMB was personally undermining Ukraine (threatening its security and implicitly doing Putin's bidding)
Quoted Bolton: "This is a drug deal."
This was all about "domestic politics."
"A disaster."
1/
Quoted Bolton: "This is a drug deal."
This was all about "domestic politics."
"A disaster."
1/
2/ Ambassador Taylor:
"It was clear that Ukrainians would die because of this delay in American assistance."
Chilling.
"It was clear that Ukrainians would die because of this delay in American assistance."
Chilling.
3/ Taylor quotes Vindman, showing how clearly Giuliani's and Trump's request were pressing for merely a statement by Pres. Zelensky that Ukraine would open an investigation.
Not a real investigation. Not anti-corruption.
Just a foreign-donated negative campaign ad against Biden.
Not a real investigation. Not anti-corruption.
Just a foreign-donated negative campaign ad against Biden.
4/ Amb. Taylor:
"I told them that it is crazy to hold up security assistance in return for domestic political assistance."
"I told officials [Zelensky?] that it was a mistake to get involved with US domestic politics."
"Investigation" meant the 2016 election and Biden.
"I told them that it is crazy to hold up security assistance in return for domestic political assistance."
"I told officials [Zelensky?] that it was a mistake to get involved with US domestic politics."
"Investigation" meant the 2016 election and Biden.
4/ Ambassador Taylor:
"Trump was focused only on Biden."
"Trump was focused only on Biden."
5/ @RepAdamSchiff focuses on the new information:
Amb. Taylor's staff member overheard Trump talking to Sondland about "investigations."
Taylor affirms quote:
"President Trump cares more about the investigation of Biden and Burisma... More than about Ukraine [corruption]."
Amb. Taylor's staff member overheard Trump talking to Sondland about "investigations."
Taylor affirms quote:
"President Trump cares more about the investigation of Biden and Burisma... More than about Ukraine [corruption]."
@RepAdamSchiff 6/ @RepAdamSchiff: "You said Ukrainians would die without this armed assistance?"
Amb. Sondland: "Yes. It is difficult to pinpoint any death... But it is certainly true that the [arms] assistance deters Russia and protects Ukraine...
Ukrainians died will I was there..."
Amb. Sondland: "Yes. It is difficult to pinpoint any death... But it is certainly true that the [arms] assistance deters Russia and protects Ukraine...
Ukrainians died will I was there..."
@RepAdamSchiff 7/ Dem committee counsel @danielsgoldman (super smart former prosecutor) starts asking questions:
"What did you mean when you said 'I think it is crazy'"?
Taylor:
"It was crazy to withhold the arms for no good reason, no reason other than for help [Trump's] political campaign."
"What did you mean when you said 'I think it is crazy'"?
Taylor:
"It was crazy to withhold the arms for no good reason, no reason other than for help [Trump's] political campaign."
@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman 8/
@danielsgoldman asks why Taylor wrote the text
"Are [arms] assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?"
...after which Sondland texted "Call me."
"I was alarmed. It seemed they were conditioned."
@danielsgoldman asks why Taylor wrote the text
"Are [arms] assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?"
...after which Sondland texted "Call me."
"I was alarmed. It seemed they were conditioned."
