NEW: I texted with Rudy about the frozen Ukraine aid before it was publicly known — and he denied knowing anything about it.
But the figures who Rudy dealt with on Ukraine - Volker/Sondland - had known for weeks. And it never came up?
politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
But the figures who Rudy dealt with on Ukraine - Volker/Sondland - had known for weeks. And it never came up?
politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
Volker and Sondland knew about the aid freeze on July 18 and both dealt routinely w/ Rudy in the coming days weeks. In fact, on July 19, Volker helped put Rudy in touch with a top Ukrainian official by text.
politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
If Rudy knew about the aid, it would’ve given him a crucial point of leverage in his talks with Ukrainians over the next few weeks, including at his Aug. meeting w/ Yermak. politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
Here’s the brief Aug. 28 exchange I had with Rudy (our normal Rudy whisperer @dsamuelsohn was out). At the time we only knew about the $250m freeze on Pentagon aid (not the other $140m in State aid).
Politico would tell the world about it 2 hours later. politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
Politico would tell the world about it 2 hours later. politico.com/news/2019/11/1…
NOTABLE: Trump has attacked every witness who appeared as a Never Trumper, and Democrats have teed up each of them under oath to say they are not, in fact, Never Trumpers.
Republicans have not attempted to back up the president's charge.
Republicans have not attempted to back up the president's charge.
REMARKABLE: The White House attacks its own Ukraine adviser on the National Security Council -- yes, he's still employed by the entity attacking him.
