I've joined @MiriamElder in the hearing room -- just in time for recess! Members are voting. Follow along here for more on Amb. Yovanovitch's testimony. 
We're back!
Rep. Devin Nunes, the ranking member, congratulates Yovanovitch for “graduating” from the secret impeachment chambers in the basement (also known as the committee SCIF where most of the committee’s business is done) where depositions are held.
Nunes says he doesn’t have many questions for Yovanovitch and says her issue would be more appropriately handled by the subcommittee on Human Resources on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Bit of a back and forth between Nunes and Chairman Schiff as Rep. Stefanik tries to start asking questions during the 45-minute slot designated for Nunes & minority counsel. Schiff bangs the gavel, eventually Nunes and Stefanik relent, and Nunes turns it over to counsel.
Now Steve Castor, Republican counsel, is questioning the ambassador. He begins by saying the hearing room has been turned into a “television studio” (as if hearings are never televised). This after Republicans constantly complained that depositions were being held in private.
Interesting that a couple times now, when Yovanovitch mentions Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, she also immediately points out that they’ve been recently indicted in SDNY.
Yovanovitch is now talking about when she first became aware of the Giuliani-led campaign by Parnas and Fruman to have her removed. She said she first heard rumors in Nov/Dec 2018 then it became clear in early 2019.
"I didn’t understand that at all because I had never met Mr. Parnas or Mr. Fruman,” Yovanovitch said.
Here are the signs Republicans have behind them.
Suggestion from Castor seems to be that maybe Yovanovitch didn’t alert the State Department enough that there was a campaign underway to undermine her? She says sure, maybe she could have done more, but ultimately pushes back, saying the State Dept. did know.
Castor posits that the president is concerned about corruption in Ukraine.
“That’s what he says,” Yovanovitch says.
“That’s what he says,” Yovanovitch says.
Before that, Castor asked a few questions about Hunter Biden & Burisma, but Yovanovitch notes she got to Ukraine in 2016.
Castor suggests that because officials criticized him, that it’s fair Trump felt Ukraine was out to get him.
Yovanovitch says it didn’t seem like “a plot” by the Ukrainian govt, that they were “isolated” incidents.
Yovanovitch says it didn’t seem like “a plot” by the Ukrainian govt, that they were “isolated” incidents.
Public criticism “doesn’t mean that a government is…interfering in elections,” she says.
Then she points out that the US intelligence community has “conclusively determined” that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.
Then she points out that the US intelligence community has “conclusively determined” that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.
The Republicans’ 45 minutes is over. Back to Schiff, who responds to Nunes’ argument that this is an HR matter. Schiff says the person who involved Yovanovitch is Trump himself, per the White House call summary with the new Ukrainian president.
Me in this hearing when Ottawa got mentioned!!
Rep. Stefanik asked several quick questions about Hunter Biden and Burisma, while also praising Yovanovitch for her service (which apparently included a posting in the Canadian capital).
Rep. Jim Himes asks if Yovanovitch would have supported the three month delay of congressionally approved aid to Ukraine. She says no.
Rep. Mike Conaway is now asking Yovanovitch about her work at Georgetown University, like how many students are in her class.
Conaway asks if Yovanovitch has been shunned at the school as a result of her treatment by the president.
“Ive actually received an outpouring of support,” she says.
“Ive actually received an outpouring of support,” she says.
Rep. Sewell asks how Yovanovitch’s recall has affected her family.
"I really don’t want to get into that, but thank you for asking,” she replies.
"I really don’t want to get into that, but thank you for asking,” she replies.
Schiff intervenes after Rep. Mike Turner cuts off Yovanovitch, preventing her from finishing her answer to him about whether Ukraine falls in the portfolio of the US ambassador to the EU.
Yovanovitch said yes, but — and this is the part she wanted to clarify — it’s “unusual to name” the ambassador to the EU as responsible for Ukraine.
Rep. Wenstrup uses his time to mostly argue that presidents are allowed to recall and name ambassadors.
After he’s done, Yovanovitch asks if she can supplement her answer affirming that the president has this power.
"Why was it necessary to smear my reputation?” she asks.
After he’s done, Yovanovitch asks if she can supplement her answer affirming that the president has this power.
"Why was it necessary to smear my reputation?” she asks.
“Tres amigos” has entered the congressional record thanks to Rep. Speier.
By the way, if you want to watch live, you can do so here:
buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe…
buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe…
And here’s a story on Trump’s tweet/Yovanovitch’s reaction by @addysue, @kadiagoba, and @o_tilli_a:
buzzfeednews.com/article/otilli…
buzzfeednews.com/article/otilli…
@addysue @kadiagoba @o_tilli_a Rep. Mike Quigley opens his questioning by referencing Conaway’s questions: "It's like a hallmark movie, you ended up at Georgetown, its all ok!”
[room laughs]
[room laughs]
Schiff: What do you say to people who argue didn’t you fight your own smear harder?
Yovanovitch notes that foreign service, like the military, has its own culture, chain of command.
“I did everything that I could to address these issues,” she says.
Yovanovitch notes that foreign service, like the military, has its own culture, chain of command.
“I did everything that I could to address these issues,” she says.
Stefanik is now using her five minutes to read into the record news clippings about Schiff’s comments about the whistleblower testifying before the committee.
Reminder, again: Republicans have said they’ll leak the whistleblower’s ID so they’ve offered to answer written Qs.
Reminder, again: Republicans have said they’ll leak the whistleblower’s ID so they’ve offered to answer written Qs.
Rep. Swalwell now giving an animated response to Stefanik, citing news stories about the president’s threatening language toward the whistleblower.
Swalwell also notes that much of the whistleblower’s complaint has been corroborated by other witnesses.
Accurate lol:
Rep. Will Hurd, a Republican and former CIA officer, begins his questions by lauding Yovanovitch: "You’re tough as nails, you’re smart as hell..you are an honour to this country."
Earlier, Swalwell had Trump's tweet about Yovanovitch displayed on the screens.
Hurd is basically arguing that Giuliani didn’t meet with many Ukrainian officials. One of them, Lutsenko, wasn’t very influential in the Zelensky govt.
But it’s worth mentioning the campaign against Yovanovitch began way back in May 2018, a YEAR before Zelensky was inaugurated.
But it’s worth mentioning the campaign against Yovanovitch began way back in May 2018, a YEAR before Zelensky was inaugurated.
More here: buzzfeednews.com/article/mikesa…
That was mainly Parnas and Fruman, it seems. But Giuliani got involved later in 2018 and spoke with Lutsenko in February 2019, before the Ukrainian election took place.
Democratic seats looking emptier now. (I can't see the Republican side very well because of a cameraman.)
Yovanovitch is asked by Rep. Ratcliffe if former VP Biden urging the firing of Viktor Shokin was concerning because of the previous investigation into Burisma.
She says no, she doesn’t, hinting at the widespread concern about Shokin’s performance.
She says no, she doesn’t, hinting at the widespread concern about Shokin’s performance.
But asked whether Hunter Biden’s role with Burisma more broadly was problematic, she says: “I think it creates a concern” [of a possible conflict of interest].
Rep. Denny Heck is MAD
A Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee responds to Nunes’ earlier argument that this issue should be handled by them:
Nunes is delivering closing remarks. One one hand he calls this a “show trial,” on the other he laments that the committee will now go to the SCIF for a witness deposition behind closed doors.
Schiff is delivering closing remarks now. He express gratitude toward Yovanovitch, George Kent, and Bill Taylor, who have shown the public the faces of the State Dept, “extraordinary public servants who work all around the world.”
“You were viewed as an obstacle,” Schiff says to Yovanovitch of Trump’s view of her.
As Schiff gavels out and Conaway tries to speak, the members of the public rise and begin applauding.
And we're done.
