Searchable doc for Williams transcript: documentcloud.org/documents/6551…
Williams excerpt: She thought the political conditions were improper 
VP Pence aide spells it out:
Burisma was discussed, corroborated *again*
The White House should release the real deal full transcript of the July 25 call for once and all.
The White House should release the real deal full transcript of the July 25 call for once and all.
In Bill Taylor's cable urging against any delay to military aid, he calls the delay "folly" and Williams told lawmakers she agreed with the characterization.
Searchable transcript for Tim Morrison:
documentcloud.org/documents/6551…
documentcloud.org/documents/6551…
Critical from Morrison: he names Trump as the party responsible for giving EU Amb. Gordon Sondland the direction to talk with Ukr. officials re: investigations for Burisma and Bidens
Morrison says the 2nd track led by Sondland, Giuliani.
The second track being the covert channel for Ukr. dealings operated outside of traditional State Dept diplomatic procedure
Morrison affirms nothing in transcript warranted placement on classified server. NSC legal advisor John Eisenberg said transcript of July 25 call move to classified server a "mistake" and didn't ask for it to be there. Note: It stayed there thru September.
Morrison says of Trump discussions on Bidens, Burisma, 2016 election investigation, it had "nothing to do with the issues" or policies of official, on the level Ukr.-US engagement
During the Sept. 1 meeting in Warsaw, Morrison witnesses Sondland talk to Zelensky aide Yermak, then Sondland comes and tells Morrison directly that the aid is conditioned on Zelensky making an announcement about Ukr. opening invstgn into Bidens/Burisma
After Sondland tells Morrison about the aid conditions, Morrison reports it to John Bolton. Bolton says: brief the lawyers.
This entire exchange is just a minefield for the president:
Mick Mulvaney has a lot of explaining to do for Congress.
NOTABLY: Bolton was out on Sept. 10. Aid to Ukraine finally approved Sept. 11.
Full key excerpts from Tim Morrison here.
documentcloud.org/documents/6551…
documentcloud.org/documents/6551…
So, if history teaches us anything, it is fairly likely that the President will attack Morrison or Williams via tweet at some point in coming weeks if not sooner. Making the mire deeper.
Ladies first, would be my best educated guess.
Ladies first, would be my best educated guess.
I am looking forward to covering this in depth as we move ahead but for now, time to "Saturday night" and relax before this week's full block of back to back impeachment inquiry hearings, coming to you live Tues thru Thurs.
"It was a shame" - Jennifer Williams, VP Pence aide on ousted Ambassador #MarieYovanovitch.
Also not aware of any reason she would be recalled "for cause."
Also not aware of any reason she would be recalled "for cause."
Reading Williams testimony convinces me Keith Kellogg, Pence's nat sec adviser, who was on the July 25 call, should testify. Williams said she never raised concerns about the call being improper w/Kellogg since he was on it as well & she thought it redundant.
But.
But.
In Williams testimony, Kellogg's name appears 36 times. So let's run down what we know simply based on her disclosures here.
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Williams says:
- Pence and Kellogg, given Kellogg's role as nat sec adviser, debrief often
- Williams & Kellogg debrief each other far less, even though their roles intersect and they witness many of the same things before/during/after the July 25 call
- Pence and Kellogg, given Kellogg's role as nat sec adviser, debrief often
- Williams & Kellogg debrief each other far less, even though their roles intersect and they witness many of the same things before/during/after the July 25 call
Part of Williams job is to flag information relevant to US/foreign nat sec policy that would be useful for the Office of the Vice President
- But even when she flags something, she admits, she doesnt know the extent to which Pence actually responds or reacts to info she shares.
- But even when she flags something, she admits, she doesnt know the extent to which Pence actually responds or reacts to info she shares.
During testimony she says the following items were flagged and/or shared with Pence but *she* doesn't know what the VP ultimately did w/any of it:
- Media reports about Giuliani's backchannels in Ukr.
- The readout and transcript of July 25 Trump-Zelensky call
- Media reports about Giuliani's backchannels in Ukr.
- The readout and transcript of July 25 Trump-Zelensky call
- The July 18 letter from Sen Lankford urging support of Ukr
- An August presidential decision memorandum indicating aid would be unfrozen
- Info on how the rough call transcript released by the WH was edited
Who could know more? Kellogg.
He took notes for at least 1 event.
- An August presidential decision memorandum indicating aid would be unfrozen
- Info on how the rough call transcript released by the WH was edited
Who could know more? Kellogg.
He took notes for at least 1 event.
Here is what else we know from Williams testimony:
- She says Trump's draft letter inviting Zel to WH was not circulated at Office of Vice President first, instead by the National Security Council. (Kellogg = greater proximity to NSC since he is at a higher level than Williams)
- She says Trump's draft letter inviting Zel to WH was not circulated at Office of Vice President first, instead by the National Security Council. (Kellogg = greater proximity to NSC since he is at a higher level than Williams)
Williams says she never discussed the invite letter w/Kellogg and Kellogg didn't mention to her.
We also know:
- Williams knew of the hold by July 3
- There's a 40 min mtg on July 9 in Kellogg's office where bringing the Ukr. delegation to US is discussed and...
We also know:
- Williams knew of the hold by July 3
- There's a 40 min mtg on July 9 in Kellogg's office where bringing the Ukr. delegation to US is discussed and...
Williams says to best of her recollection, the mtg is about Ukraine negotiating conflict with Russia and security assistance.
Williams learned of the aid freeze from Alex Vindman in an email/internal memo. He also said State notified OMB it wasn't clearing aid.
Williams learned of the aid freeze from Alex Vindman in an email/internal memo. He also said State notified OMB it wasn't clearing aid.
Now about the transcript of the July 25 call. Williams affirms no discussion between her and Kellogg re: accuracy of the transcript, she just knows the transcript went right into VP Pence daily briefing book.
She doesn't know if Pence reviewed it.
Again, Kellogg might.
She doesn't know if Pence reviewed it.
Again, Kellogg might.
Ahead of Pence's Sept 1 trip to Poland - Williams testified Kellogg requested an update on nat sec assistance matters before they left. Prudent. Standard. But I wonder: did Pence ask for that? If so, why? What conversations were had leading up to the request. Are there notes?
Williams also reveals Sondland had mtg w/Pence before the bilateral visit to Poland on Sept 1. She confirms Pence rec'd an intel briefing before trip too.
Williams says she doesnt think the July 25 call was discussed at mtgs but doesnt know.
Who may? You guessed it. Kellogg.
Williams says she doesnt think the July 25 call was discussed at mtgs but doesnt know.
Who may? You guessed it. Kellogg.
Pence goes to Poland Sept. 1, while there, meets with Zel. Pence does not make a "concrete promise" about aid, William testifies. Pence gets back to U.S. He calls Trump. Gives him the rundown on Zel, saying its positive.
10 days later the aid is released.
10 days later the aid is released.
So, I could be wrong and perhaps Kellogg wouldn't be helpful for testimony. But my gut tells me he would be. Kind of like how Williams' gut told her that the July 25 call would be problematic.
Stay tuned.
@CourthouseNews
Stay tuned.
@CourthouseNews
