Thread by @jentaub

🍑 Here we go. Day 3 of the Trump Impeachment Hearings. Chair @RepAdamSchiff gaveled in at 9:08 am.

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https://twitter.com/jentaub/status/1196773141856559104

@RepAdamSchiff Chair Schiff begins with the same procedural comments and now starts his opening statement in the Impeachment Inquiry of Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States.

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff centers his remarks on the two investigations that Trump wanted announced by Ukraine in exchange for the aid.

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@RepAdamSchiff The two were investigation into Biden, his political rival. The other was investigation to make it falsely look like Ukraine (not Russia) had interfered in the 2016 US election.

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@RepAdamSchiff Policy Guiliani and others was promoting for Trump "at odds with the national interest"

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff mentions Holmes' testimony (the guy who sat at lunch in Ukraine on the 26th with Sondland) and overheard the convo with Trump no the cellphone. Holmes asked whether T "gave a sh*t about Ukraine." He didn't according to Sondland . . .

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@RepAdamSchiff Now he's introducing the witnessed, Lt. Col. Vindman and Jennifer Williams (aide to VP Pence). Also describing how fmr National Security Adviser John Bolton after a July 10 meeting told FIona Hill he objected to the "drug deal" Sondland and Mulvaney were cooking up.

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff is running through the basic facts on the shakedown by Trump of Zelensky on the July 25th phone call (and surrounding context).This is where Trump sought the bribe. "I need you to do us a favor though."

Both Jennifer Williams and Alexander Vindman were on the call

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@RepAdamSchiff On several occasions Vindman contacted Trump's national security lawyers with concerns about the call and surrounding apparent bribery and shakedown.

Williams was also concerned about call which shed light on withheld aid to Ukraine

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@RepAdamSchiff Mentioned Trump's tweet to Williams. "You are hear today and the American people are grateful."

To Vindman: "You have shed blood for America. . .I hope no one on this committee" will partake in the attacks that he's faced on Fox news etc.

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff also said that in Warsaw it was made clear that in order to get aid from US, Zelensky needed to make a public announcement of the investigation of rival Biden and investigation to make it look like Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in our election,

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@RepAdamSchiff Now Ranking Member Nunes is talking. It's all somewhat meta. He is going through news stories that he claims are false. LOL "Will Trump be meeting with his counterpart or handler?" I mean how is that false?

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@RepAdamSchiff Now Nunes is attacking the media as "puppets of the Democratic party."

Un-believable. Authoritarian, lying, corrupt, cow-suing fool.

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@RepAdamSchiff Now Nunes is attacking the whistleblower. Make sense, journalists and whistleblowers are saving our Democracy.

Congressman Nunes, you can't handle the truth.

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@RepAdamSchiff Sorry Rep. Nunes, the Democrats "didn't settle on bribery," President Trump did.

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@RepAdamSchiff No, Rep. Nunes the media did not "lurch from" Russia to Ukraine, Trump did. Seriously. The day after Mueller testified, Trump got on the phone with Ukrainian President Zelensky for the big "I need you to do us a favor though" shakedown to get a TV statement to smear Biden

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff is providing background on both witnesses Jennifr Williams and Alexander Vindman, now swearing them both in.

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@RepAdamSchiff Ms. Williams begins her opening statement. Foreign service officer for nearly 14 years for two Republican and one Democratic. "It is with great pride and conviction that" she took oath to support and defend the Constitution. Condoleeza Rice administered her oath.

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@RepAdamSchiff Williams covers her tours. "It was the greatest honor of my career to service as a special adviser to the Vice President on Europe and Russia.

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@RepAdamSchiff Summarizing events. April 21, Zelensky won election. On 23rd, VP accepted invite to attend the upcoming inauguration if scheduling worked out. Date would not be set until mid-May.

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@RepAdamSchiff On May 13, Williams received phone call that Trump instructed Pence not to attend.

She next learned (on date? missed it) that there was a hold on OMB on assistance to Ukraine.

On September 11, she learned hold had been released.

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@RepAdamSchiff "I found the July 25th phone call unusual" as it "involved discussion of a domestic political matter." She provided a memo about the call and "transcript" in daily briefing book to VP Pence.

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@RepAdamSchiff VP Pence met on September 1 in Warsaw with Zelensky. She said they did not discuss the conditions on releasing aid to Ukraine

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@RepAdamSchiff Now Lt. Col. Vindman is delivering his opening statement, generally running through his resume. In July 2018, he was asked to serve on the National Security Council. Core function is to coordinate policies with departments and agencies.

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@RepAdamSchiff Ukraine is important as a bulwark against Russian aggression, and this has been a bipartisan objective.

In spring of 2019, he learned about false narratives that undermined our Ukraine policy, spread by Rudy G. and corrupt prosecutor Lutshenko

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@RepAdamSchiff He listened to April call by Trump to congratulate Zelnsky on his election victory. Also Trump extended an invitation in May to Zelensky to visit White House (after the May debriefing).

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@RepAdamSchiff Recalls the July 10 meeting that John Bolton called short.

During debriefing, both Vindman and Fiona Hill told Sondland that what he was doing was inappropriate.

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@RepAdamSchiff "What I heard was inappropriate and I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg (the lawyer for the NSC).

Said what Trump was doing would undermine US strategic objective.

Reported this through official channels, through chain of command.

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@RepAdamSchiff After each reports to Eisenberg, he returned to work to focus on promoting America's national security interest.

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@RepAdamSchiff Denounce character attacks on fellow witnesses as "reprehensible." He said "we are better than personal attack."

We take the oath to support and defend the constitution. We don't support any political party, we support the country.

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@RepAdamSchiff His sense of duty and service (and his siblings as well) come from father's courage bringing their family to America.

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@RepAdamSchiff Said in Russia, providing public testimony against president "would surely cost me my life."

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@RepAdamSchiff Addresses his father. "Do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth."

(Not sure if his father is still with us).

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff begins his questioning. A call on September 18th that VP Pence was on. Asking Ms. Williams about it.

Wow. A lawyer interrupts claiming the call is classified. Said VP's office has advised her not to discuss beyond her deposition testimony.

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@RepAdamSchiff Huh. So Pence's office did not defend her at all faced with Trump's threatening tweets. And said only Jennifer Williams works for the State Department.

But now he is silencing her a bit about this September 18th call. Hmmmm

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@RepAdamSchiff Williams does not know why Trump instructed Pence not to attend,

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@RepAdamSchiff Vindman did attend and met with Zelensky and team. He gave Zelensky advice to be cautious. Two things. First be wary of Russia undermining Ukraine, Second, he should stay out of US domestic politics.

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff said they learned in early July of hold on security assistance. Williams said it was not specific. Just to ensure it remained consistent with administration policies is what both Williams and Vindman said.

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@RepAdamSchiff Bolton abruptly ended July 10 meeting, said Vindman, after Amb Sondland said Ukrainians was calling for the investigations and had coordinated with chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. That Zelensky would get meeting with Trump in white house if they undertook the investigations.

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@RepAdamSchiff Schiff asks Vindman about immediate reaction upon hearing the July 25 call.

He knew "it was my duty to report" his concerns to "proper people through the chain of command."

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@RepAdamSchiff Vindman said it was improper for the president to demand an investigation into a political opponent, especially where it would be a dubious investigation. Would be perceived as a partisan play. Would undermine our national security.

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@RepAdamSchiff Vindman was clear, even if phrased as a request by Trump of Zelensky, given the power imbalance between the two leaders, it was a demand.

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@RepAdamSchiff Williams: "It was the first time I had heard internally, the president discuss investigations" that she had only previously seen in Rudy G.'s press.

It was noteworthy in that regard. First I had heard of any requests of Ukraine which were that specific in nature.

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@RepAdamSchiff Both Williams and Vindman recall Burisma being mentioned, yet it did not appear in "transcript."

Maybe they did not catch the word. So, it was his responsibility to make it accurate. It was in his notes, Vindman pointed out that it was used, but the record was not updated

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@RepAdamSchiff As it was Zelensky who brought up Burisma, at the time Vindman thought either he had read about it in the news or he had been prepped for the call and advised to mentioned Burisma.

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@RepAdamSchiff It's @danielsgoldman's turn to ask questions on behalf of the Democratic committee members.

Vindman's job is to coordinate US policy. He provided talking points for the July 25 call. But what Trump said was not consistent with what Vindman provided.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Goldman reads from call "transcript."

Here's the passage he read in part

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said that "it's the consensus of the entire intelligence community" that Russia interfered in our election in 2016. So, this part about Trump asking about investigating Ukraine/crowdstrike was an unfounded conspiracy theory.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Neither Vindman nor Williams were aware that investigating Joe Biden was part of U.S. policy.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman "I though that the references to specific individuals" was "political in nature" because Biden was his political rival.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman "Didn't take a rocket scientist" to see the connection between investigating Biden and personal political objective for president Trump.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said Ukrainians at embassy in US in August timeframe, before it became public, they asked him about the reason for the security hold.

He does not recall what he said. Maybe he said something like "I'm not aware of it."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman He said Ukraine is in a war with Russia and absent that security assistance and the signal of report for Ukrainian security and integrity, would undermine Ukrainian sovereignty, European security and US security.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman agrees with Goldman that Ukraine is dependent on the US financially and militarily etc.

Speaks Russia, Ukrainian and English.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman says Andre Yermak is a senior adviser to president Zelensky. Goldman reads text message from Volker to Yermak within hours before the call on July 25. Here's a screenshot FYI

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman agreed that the above text between Zelensky and Yermak looks like the kind of pre-call prep that would have reminded Zelensky what he needed to say on the call (such as to specifically mention Burisma).

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman A bit earlier Goldman pointed to another excerpt from the call

The text that says "specifically to the company" was when Zelensky actually said Burisma.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman When Zelensky says "on the hand" could be taken that Zelensky was linking the White House visit to the investigations.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Very important for new president Zelensky to meet with Ukraine's most significant benefactor to help him back home.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman #ReadTheTranscript. Goldman asks and both Williams and Zelensky agreed that in return for his promise to investigate for the president's personal interests not the national interest in return for a much-desired meeting at the White House for Zelensky

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman He immediately reported call to NSC lawyer. Said legal shop there discussed how to handle the transcript.

"This was viewed as a sensitive transcript" and to avoid leaks "and to preserve the integrity of the transcript" wanted to keep it to a smaller group.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman had two substantive issues with the call record "transcript". Missing the word "Burisma." Also botered by leaving out the words "there are recordings" following "you can look into it" which was replaced with an ellipses.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman says the decision to use the secure system was "made on the fly" after Vindman conveyed his concerns to Eisenberg. When Ellis (another NSC lawyer) came in room.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said president Trump did not discuss corruption during the April 21 call.

Was this read-out false?

Vindman said "it's not entirely accurate." Said a call record is a messaging platform to indicate policy, even though President did not mention it.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Even though rooting out corruption was included in his talking points for April 21 call, it was in his talking points but not mentioned.

Also president did not express rooting out corruption in the July 25th call.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Zelensky invited Pence on April 21 call to attend inauguration. But informed by call on May 13 that Pence would not be going because Trump told him not to

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now Goldman is asking about event that transpired between April 21 - May 13th.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman was aware that Yovanovitz was abruptly recalled in that time frame. And he was aware that Trump had a phone call with Putin in that time period in early May. And Rudy G. planned trip to Ukraine to promote investigations

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Goldman returns to the July 10th meet that Bolton ended abruptly.

Vindman did not discuss with Bolton. But he did a photo op and then had a post-meeting huddle/de-brief

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Prior to Ukranian's leaving, when it appeared there was discord between Sondland and other WH staff including Fiona Hill and Vindman, the Ukrainians were asked to step out.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Attorney John Eisenberg took notes while Vindman was immediately reporting that the July 10 meeting was inappropriate. Then Eisenberg said he would look into it.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said July 10 was the first time he was aware that a government official (meaning Sondland) linked the
coveted White House meeting with Trump with the investigations.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Goldman asks Williams about the September 1 meeting between Pence and Zelensky in Warsaw.

"What was the first thing" Zelensky asked Pence?

He first asked about the status of the held up security assistance, as Zelensky had seen Politico reporting on that

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Zelensky told Pence the assistance was symbolic in nature as well. A show of US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Zelensky also indicated to Pence that Russia would see a sign of weakening US support as strengthening Putin's hand

Pence assured Zelensky of unwavering support for Ukraine and that Europe should step up as well

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Pence reported to President Trump that evening but she was not privy to the conversation

But security assistance hold was not lifted for another 10 days

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Neither Williams nor Vindman learned the reason why the hold was lifted on September 11th.

However, Goldman reminds us that demand from Congress for whistleblower complaint was made on September 10th.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now Rep. Nunes has his 45 minutes.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Willams rebuffs a bit of Nunes characterization of her role in Ukraine. Answers clearly, not falling into his take that it was an "extraordinary" amount of money and time

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman A line of questioning about Ukraine. Williams says, "I was not aware" or remarks that she was not covering Ukraine at the time.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Nunes now says he is asking Vindman about "Urkaine, Burisma, and the role of the Bidens."

Asking about anti-Trump efforts.

Vindman: "I am not aware of any of these interference efforts."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Good for Vindman for not agreeing with Nunes' unsubstantiated statements.

All he state as awareness is that "Vice President Biden was very engaged" on Ukraine.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman This is more of a speech. Trying to find Nunes' questions.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman I'd rather be getting a root canal right now.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Really, a root canal or even childbirth. Yes, an hour of unmedicated labor would be better than listening to Rep. Nunes. Maybe two hours.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now Nunes wants to know who spoke to press about the substance of the July 25th phone call.

Vindman said, "We have an NSC press shop." Thinks they would have fielded these types of questions.

But doesn't know any individual who did so

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Williams said, "I did not discuss the call with anyone inside or outside the White House."

And she says she has never access anyone's work computer without their permission.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman When asked by Nunes whether he discussed the call "with anyone inside or outside the White House."

He said two people, the Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent and an individual in the intelligence community.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Schiff says he does not want to out the whistleblower and advises the witness accordingly

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman: "I do not know who the whistleblower is."

But he won't answer questions about someone in intelligence community due to advice of counsel and just with instruction from Schiff.

Was someone with a "need to know"

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Nunes: "You can either answer the question or you can plead the fifth."

Counsel to Vidnman: "We are following the ruling of the Chair."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now Steve Castor, the counsel for the Republicans is asking questions of Vindman.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman This is my first time watching Castor live as last week I had to teach during his questioning (on W/F).

What a joy

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Maybe even a spinal tap would be better that this. It does not hurt as much as you would think.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman EU provides over $15 billion to Ukraine says Vindman

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman "I don't know much about Mr. Hunter Biden," say Vindman

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Real question: Is having a whining, grating, monotonal voice a legal strategy?

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Jennifer Williams is great at staying calm and clear and not answering questions for which she has no foundation of knowledge

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman In the Ward Room on July 10th after the meeting with the Ukrainians, Sondland mentioned Biden, Burisma and 2016 said Vindland

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now Castor is asking Vindland if he felt shut out or sidelined. Seems like a strategy to turn his honorable reporting of Trump's inappropriate behavior into something about being disgruntled

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman I'm a minute or two behind, but will try to catch up at the break

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said Ukrainian gov't asked him to be defense minister. He reported this through chain of command in US

"I'm an American. I came here when I was a toddler. And I immediately dismissed these offers. Did not entertain them . . .the whole notion is rather comical."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman said he did not keep the door open at all.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Two people witnessed this. David Holmes and Keith Bean

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman He told his boss, Dr. Hill. Then "I completely forgot about it" so he didn't brief Morrison when he came on board (after Hill left).

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Skipped ahead to catch up.

Time expired at 11:17, but taking a break at 11:18.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman What I missed before the break was Vindman never conferred with Guiliani. And that "I've never had any contact with the President of the United States."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Schiff gaveled back in at 11:17 am.

Having witnessed clarify that they had first hand knowledge of any of the Biden-Burisma questions Nunes posed

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman At time that President told Trump not to go to the inauguration in Ukraine, the did not know when it would be.

Thus, a supposed conflict with a Canadian trip that Castor tried to raise is ridiculous. There could be no conflict when they did not even know date

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Schiff notes that Rudy could not have been a freelancer on his two investigations as those were the two investigations that Trump was also pushing. Vindman said that is correct

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman There were 24 - 36 people on September 1 in Warsaw when Pence did not mention the investigations.

But after meeting, Schiff mentioned that Sondland after took Yermak aside to say conditions on release of assistance

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Were you aware that Bolton instructed his superior Dr. Hill to go speaker to the lawyers. Yes, Vindman learned this. But Vindman on his own also decided to talk to them too

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Vindman agreed that the very issues that concerned him on July 10th were the same ones that came up on July 25th. And, again Vindman went to the lawyers after the call due to those same concerns.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Oh, it's Jim Jordan in his shirtsleeves. What a contrast to Lt. Col. Vindman wearing his uniform.

He's suggesting that Morrison questioned his judgment.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Jordan is accusing Vindman of leaking information and suggested that his boss Hill didn't trust him.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Perfect. In response to this attack on his character, Vindman read from his most recent performance review by his boss Hill from July 13, 2019: "Alex is a top 1% military officer.. . .He is brilliant, unflappable, and exercises excellent judgment."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Schiff is handling Jordan's antics quite well

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman LOL LOL LOL. Jim Jordan is acting as if the call transcript exonerated the president.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Now it's Jim Himes (Dem-CT). He's starting by asking Williams some questions.

Mentioning the tweet on Sunday in which the President targeted her.

Here's the tweet

"Are you involved in a presidential attack? Are you a never Trumper?"

She said no

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Himes is asking about one of Vindman's badges, including his Purple Heart.

In 2014 outside of Fallujah, his vehicle was hit by IED and he was injured.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Rep. Himes: "Would you call yourself a Never Trumper?"

Vindman: "Representative, I'll call myself Never Partisan."

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman "I sir, thank you for your service" Himes ends after condemning the dual-loyalty charges that Castor was leveling at Vindman

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Here goes Ratcliffe (R-IL). He's the sharpest tool in the shed.

He should know that the same set of facts can give rise to several legal causes of action, including extortion and bribery.

Also that non-lawyer fact witnesses don't make legal characterizations is normal

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman How can one R committee member actually be more annoying that the last. Perhaps it's the accumulation of shameful partisan defense of their corrupt leader
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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Friends, witnesses at trial are not asked to make legal judgments. Even the jury is given questions that ask them to find the facts. They reach a verdict based on fact-findings. Witnesses are not juries.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Good Rep. Sewell (D-AL) is asking questions of the witnesses.

What did Ukrainians mean when they asked for help in responding to "Guliani's advances"?

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Sewell: Under whose authority with Guiliani acting?

Vindman: "Congresswoman, I do not know"

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Okay. Not gonna listen to the back-and-forth. Back this afternoon for the next round.

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@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman Sorry. No. It was not 117, but more like 1:26

@RepAdamSchiff @danielsgoldman TX, not IL