Schiff: “Today’s witnesses, like those who testified last week, are here because they were subpoenaed to appear, not because they are for or against impeachment. That question is for Congress, not the fact witnesses.”
Schiff: “More disturbing, word of the hold had reached Ukrainian officials prior to it becoming public. By mid-August, the Ukrainian Deputy Ambassador asked Vindman why the United States was withholding the aid.”
Schiff: “Although Vindman didn’t have an answer, Sondland made it explicit to the Ukrainians at a meeting in Warsaw: They needed to publicly commit to these two investigations if they hoped to get the aid.”
Nunes chalks up last week’s testimony to second and third-hand witnesses with a simple policy difference. “You saw three diplomats” who “disagreed” with Ukraine policy. He then launches into a denouncement into media’s coverage of hearings last week, which networks took live
Nunes attacks Dems for putting the whistleblower in their own “witness protection program”
Nunes statement launched into an attack against Democrats, media, Bidens and the theory (debunked by WH officials and others) that Ukraine sought to meddle in elections in 2016 to help Dems. Little discussion about the revelations from the investigation so far
Williams says State and Defense officials were lobbying for Ukraine aid to be released but Mulvaney “directed that the hold should remain in place.” She says the July call was “unusual” since it involved a “domestic political matter.” cnn.com/2019/11/19/pol…
Vindman says that in spring 2019, he became aware of the actions of two “disruptive actors” - Yuri Lutsenko and Rudy Giuliani, who was “promoting false information that undermined the United States’ Ukraine policy.”
“I stated to Ambassador Sondland that this was inappropriate and had nothing to do with national security,” Vindman says of Sondland emphasizing “importance” in July meeting of Ukraine investigating the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma. cnn.com/2019/11/19/pol…
Why did Vindman report his concerns about Trump’s July call with Zelensky? “My intent was to raise these concerns because they had significant national security implications for our country.” cnn.com/2019/11/19/pol…
First time an attorney has interjected. Williams attorney directs her not to speak about Sept. 18 Pence call because it’s classified and had been instructed by VP office not to talk about it. She says she will offer a classified submission in writing
John Bolton “abruptly” ended July 10 WH meeting after Sondland said that in order for Zelensky to get a meeting with Trump there had to be a “deliverable,” which is Ukraine announcement of the investigations, per Vindman testimony.
Vindman says “it was improper for the president to demand” probe into his political rivals by a foreign power and could undermine national security
Williams careful not to go too far in saying there was a link between aid and investigations, saying it was “noteworthy” when she learned about specific investigations Trump sought
Vindman says Trump’s ask for investigations was not part of the talking points he prepared for call. Asked if he’s aware of any evidence that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 elections: “I am not.” Asked by Goldman if he’s aware that Putin has pushed this theory: “I am well aware.”
Williams says she was on a dozen calls Trump had with foreign leaders but Ukraine call was “unusual” because of his specific requests for investigations
Nunes promoted this theory in his opening statement. But he was not there when Vindman said he knew of no evidence to support claim.
Both Williams and Vindman testified that they were unaware of evidence behind the theory Trump was pushing with Zelensky about Biden wrongdoing
Goldman drops in his questioning that Trump had a call with Putin in the same timeframe that Yovanovitch was removed from her post in Ukraine
Williams says: “I was not privy to that conversation,” referring to Pence discussing his Zelensky meeting in Warsaw with Trump. Neither Vindman nor Williams were informed why the hold on aid was lifted
Nunes asking Vindman and Williams whether they were sources to the press of July phone call. They say they were not.
Tense moments as Nunes pushes Vindman to name agencies of the two individuals with whom he spoke about the July call. Schiff interjects: “We need to protect the whistlblower .. These proceedings will not be used to out the whistleblower.” Vindman tells Nunes he doesn’t know WB.
This fight over identifying the whistleblower had been expected today since it led to a shouting match last month behind closed doors. cnn.com/2019/11/18/pol…
Investigations into Burisma or Bidens didn’t come up in September meeting between Pence and Zelensky in Warsaw, Williams says to GOP counsel Castor
“I don’t know much about Mr. Hunter Biden,” Vindman says under questioning from GOP counsel
When asked by Republicans, Vindman did say that “as far as I can tell, he didn’t seem to be” qualified for the Burisma gig
Vindman clarifies that “Burisma, Biden and 2016 elections” were discussed at July WH meeting
Castor asks Vindman whether there was a possible “conflict” given that Ukrainians offered him a minister of defense position. Vindman pushes back, and also called the whole notion “comical” and not something he entertained
“In my mind, there was none,” Vindman said when asked by Schiff if there was any ambiguity that Trump made a “demand” to Zelensky to probe the Bidens
Williams says Pence left quickly before Sondland had a meeting with Ukraine official after September meeting in Warsaw. Sondland raised quid pro quo in that sidebar meeting
Asked by Jordan about questions about his judgment raised by Morrison and Hill, Vindman reads from Fiona Hill’s evaluation commending his job performance. “I can’t say why Mr Morrison is questioning” my judgment.
Another flare-up over whistleblower. Jordan pushes Vindman on who he spoke with after the July call. Vindman says George Kent and another individual. Won’t say who. Schiff says he won’t allow any efforts to out the whistleblower.
“I would not,” Jennifer Williams says when asked if she considers herself a Never Trumper. She says she was surprised to be called out by name by Trump’s tweet. “I would call myself Never Partisan,” Vindman said when asked by Himes if he’s a Never Trumper
Himes bashes GOP counsel questioning Vindman about a Ukraine offer to get a defense job, saying it was designed to get “right-wing media” to question his loyalty, calling it “indefensible”
Ratcliffe brings out props - and prints 10 transcripts and a sign with Pelosi’s “bribery” comments last week - to note that witnesses have not used the word “bribery” in their testimony 
Vindman on Giuliani: “It certainly wasn’t helpful or didn’t advance national security interests”
Mike Turner trying to paint Vindman as out of the loop because he didn’t talk to Trump. Vindman notes he prepared briefing materials for Trump, convened policy meetings. Turner interrupts his answer
Schiff pushes back on Ratcliffe, saying witnesses shouldn’t be asked to say whether bribery occurred: “You’re a fact witness - it will be our job to determine whether the impeachable act of bribery occurred,” he says to Vindman and Williams
Wenstrup tries to say Vindman went outside the chain command by not informing Tim Morrison - his supervisor - by going to the NSC lawyer rather than Morrison. Morrison “didn’t avail himself,” Vindman says. Wenstrup says he did
“You always insist on civilians calling you by your rank?” GOP Rep. Stewart asks. Vindman says he said that because of media attacks seeking to “marginalize” his service
“To your knowledge, did anybody in the national security community support withholding that aid?” Quigley asks. Williams: “No.” Vindman, asked the same question, has same answer: “No.”
Stefanik says amid the “hysteria,” two key facts haven’t changed: Biden wasn’t investigated by Ukraine and the aid was released by US. Dems contend it was only released bc Congress began an investigation into the matter
“Certainly the potential, yes,” Vindman says to Stefanik when asked if Hunter Biden on Burisma board had the potential of an “appearance” of a conflict of interest. Williams agrees
“I hope your brother is nicer to you,” Castro tells fellow identical twin Vindman, “and doesn’t make you grow a beard”
Williams won’t say whether Trump made a “demand” to Zelensky, referring to transcript language instead that it was a “favor.” Ratcliffe says there’s daylight between Vindman and Williams, who didn’t report her concerns but provided transcript in Pence briefing book
Jordan presses Vindman again about why he didn’t report concerns to Morrison, and went to the NSC lawyer instead. “Mr. Jordan, I did my job,” Vindman said
Jordan: “This is scary what these guys are putting us through.”
Jordan uses his final five minutes to give a five-minute speech railing on the investigation. Doesn’t ask a question to the witnesses
“I’m concerned” the smears are coming against you “because you’re an immigrant,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, referring to questions about him since he immigrated from USSR at a young age. “I assume you are as proud as being an American as I am,” Krishnamoorthi said, choking up
“Act one of today’s circus is over,” Nunes says, adding that Democrats “poison” the American people with their “nonsense”
Pushing back on GOP, Schiff says complaints that Vindman didn’t follow chain of command in reporting his concerns about the call doesn’t take into account that Tim Morrison didn’t follow chain of command in raising his own concerns
