Instead of dealing with previous testimony from diplomats about Trump and bribery and Ukraine, @DevinNunes starts the impeachment hearing by complaining about the media being "puppets" of the Democratic Party (they aren't).
Pence advisor Jennifer Williams' opening statement on Trump's phone call with Ukraine: "I found the July 25th phone call unusual because, in contrast to other presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter."
Alexander Vindman opening statement on Trump's Ukraine phone call: "What I heard was improper, and I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg. It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and political opponent."
Vindman, after discussing his family coming to America and testifying: "Dad my sitting here today, in the US Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof
that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and
come here to the United States of America"
that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and
come here to the United States of America"
Vindman testifies that Ambassador Sondland said that to get a meeting with Trump, the Ukrainians would have create an "investigation" of Joe Biden - that is the exchange at the heart of the "quid pro quo."
Vindman says that when he heard Trump's call with Ukraine, "without hesitation" he felt it was his duty to report the call. "It was inappropriate -- improper for the president to demand an investigation into a political opponent, especially with a foreign power."
Jennifer Williams testifies that when Trump referenced Biden in his call with Ukraine it sounded "political in nature" and that it concerned her because Biden is a potential political opponent of Trump's.
As part of the GOP campaign to out the whistleblower, @DevinNunes repeatedly asks both Williams and Vindman if they know of anyone on the Ukraine phone call who spoke to the media. Republicans have been obsessed with the whistleblower, while minimizing verified facts.
.@RepAdamSchiff holds up @DevinNunes as he questions Vindman. Schiff explains to Vindman that if he feels the line of questioning from the GOP will unmask the whistleblower he can avoid answering.
GOP counsel Castor goes into "dual loyalty" territory by asking Vindman about job offer from Ukraine government. Vindman makes it clear he didnt take any offer seriously and immediately rejected it. GOP and Fox News have tried to smear Vindman for having dual loyalties.
Lt Col Vindman cites a performance evaluation with high praise for his service to counter testimony brought up by @Jim_Jordan questioning his judgement and ability to make the assessments he has about Trump.
.@Jim_Jordan tries again to out the whistleblower while questioning Vindman. Vindman's lawyer objects, prompting @RepAdamSchiff to say "This committee will not be used to out the whistleblower."
Jennifer Williams testifies she would not describe herself as a Never Trumper and notes that she was surprised when Trump attacked her on Twitter. "I was not expecting to be called out by name."
@jahimes notes that it appeared to be an attempt to intimidate a witness.
@jahimes notes that it appeared to be an attempt to intimidate a witness.
Vindman relays the story of how and why he received a purple heart. Asked by @jahimes if he is a "Never Trumper" like Trump said he was in a tweet, Vindman says he would describe himself as "Never Partisan."
.@jahimes slams the GOP's attempt to accuse Vindman of having dual loyalties: "That was designed exclusively to give the right-wing media an opening to question your loyalties ... It's the kind of thing you say when you're defending the indefensible."
.@RepChrisStewart goes after Lt. Col Vindman for wearing his military uniform and correcting a member to call him by his rank. Vindman points out that right-wing attacks against him have prompted him to assert his service against Republican smears.
.@Jim_Jordan seems to think he caught Lt Col Vindman in a contradiction of when he spoke up about Trump's phone call, but Vindman calmly explains that Jordan's sequence of events is not accurate.
.@Jim_Jordan complains during impeachment hearings that @SpeakerPelosi called Trump an "impostor." Then he claims Trump shouldn't be impeached because he won an electoral vote "landslide." (Reality: Trump won the electoral college by 77 votes, over 100+ behind Obama/Clinton)
.@RepSeanMaloney goes through with both Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams that they heard "first hand" what Trump said on the call. Republicans have repeatedly claimed witnesses should be ignored because they learned details secondhand.
Lt. Col Vindman testifies that he does not have the fear of telling the truth that his father had in his home country because in America "right matters." The hearing room applauds his response.
