(Thread) David Hale Deposition
Over the Cliff Notes (with this, I’m caught up).
Hale’s deposition was mostly about the recall of Ambassador Yovanovitch from the viewpoint of the top level at the State Department.
docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG…
Over the Cliff Notes (with this, I’m caught up).
Hale’s deposition was mostly about the recall of Ambassador Yovanovitch from the viewpoint of the top level at the State Department.
docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG…
1/ Hale, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (since 2018) and foreign service officer for 35 years, served as an Ambassador for three administrations, both Democratic and Republican.
Fall: 2018: Sen. Sessions wrote a letter to the Secretary of State alleging that. . .
Fall: 2018: Sen. Sessions wrote a letter to the Secretary of State alleging that. . .
2/ . . . Yovanovitch said derogatory things about Trump.
The Secretary dismissed the complaint because there was no evidence to back it up.
March 5: Hale asked Yovanovitch if she would remain longer in her position. He asked her to stay because she “was doing a very good job.”
The Secretary dismissed the complaint because there was no evidence to back it up.
March 5: Hale asked Yovanovitch if she would remain longer in her position. He asked her to stay because she “was doing a very good job.”
3/ March 24: Yovanovitch emailed Hale and told him that the tempo of social media and other criticism leveled against her were such that she could no longer function as ambassador unless the State Department issued a strong statement supporting her.
4/ When it emerged that Giuliani was behind a smear campaign against Yovanovitch, Hale found it hard to believe.
Why, Hale wondered, did Trump’s personal lawyer need to launch a smear campaign? At any time the president can recall an ambassador.
Why, Hale wondered, did Trump’s personal lawyer need to launch a smear campaign? At any time the president can recall an ambassador.
5/ Hale was informed that Trump retweeted John Soloman’s article “As Russia Collusion Fades, Ukrainian plot to help Clinton emerges.”
Hale was still amazed. He implied that this is the kind of thing that happens in corrupt environments where information is manipulated. See👇
Hale was still amazed. He implied that this is the kind of thing that happens in corrupt environments where information is manipulated. See👇
6/ Pompeo (Secretary of State) asked Brechbuhl (a dept. lawyer) to “get in touch with Americans” who were spreading false information about Yovanovitch.
Hale understood that Pompeo called Sean Hannity and said if there are allegations, we need to see the evidence.
Hale understood that Pompeo called Sean Hannity and said if there are allegations, we need to see the evidence.
7/ Hale testified that nobody at the State Dept. believed there was any evidence to back up these allegations.
At one point, upper level State Dept officials considered putting out a robust defense of Yovanovitch. At the same time, Yovanovich would issue her own statement.
At one point, upper level State Dept officials considered putting out a robust defense of Yovanovitch. At the same time, Yovanovich would issue her own statement.
8/ Her statement would be a public statement proclaiming her loyalty to the President and the Constitution.
Ultimately, though, the State Dept. decided not to issue a statement in support of Yovanovitch.
Hale was asked who made that decision.
Ultimately, though, the State Dept. decided not to issue a statement in support of Yovanovitch.
Hale was asked who made that decision.
9/ He said: “Given my position in the State Department, it could only have been someone senior to me. The Secretary most likely would have been that person.”
Hale was then asked why the Secretary decided not to issue a statement in support of Yovanovitch.
Hale was then asked why the Secretary decided not to issue a statement in support of Yovanovitch.
10/ He said, “The impression we had was that it would only fuel further negative reaction. Our plan at that point was to try to contain this and wait it out.”
“One point of view was that it might even provoke a public reaction from the President himself about the ambassador.”
“One point of view was that it might even provoke a public reaction from the President himself about the ambassador.”
11/ [Narrator: The State Dept. was successfully bullied into silence.]
March 25: Pompeo announced that there would be no statement. After that, Pompeo made two calls to Giuliani. Hale doesn’t know what was discussed.
March 25: Pompeo announced that there would be no statement. After that, Pompeo made two calls to Giuliani. Hale doesn’t know what was discussed.
12/ April 25: Hale learned that Trump had “lost confidence” in Yovanovitch. He and other top State Dept. officials discussed how to “end her assignment in a way that brought this matter to a conclusion.”
They were given no reason for why Trump lost confidence in her.
They were given no reason for why Trump lost confidence in her.
13/ When the state Dept issued the statement that she was being recalled, they wrote “as planned.” Hale didn’t like it; it wasn't accurate. But his deletion wasn’t implemented (he assumed his suggestion was too late.)
Trump put the 3 Amigos in charge of Ukrainian affairs.
Trump put the 3 Amigos in charge of Ukrainian affairs.
14/ [Narrator: Interestingly, in June, Pompeo tapped Bill Taylor to go to Ukraine to head the embassy.
Because Taylor was sent by Pompeo instead of the president he wasn't the ambassador. His title was Chargé d'Affaires
So Pompeo caved to Trump, but sent Taylor . . .
Because Taylor was sent by Pompeo instead of the president he wasn't the ambassador. His title was Chargé d'Affaires
So Pompeo caved to Trump, but sent Taylor . . .
15/ . . . who caught on to what Trump and Guiliani were up to, pushed back, and became an important witness against Trump.]
Hale first heard about the freeze on aid to Ukraine on June 21.
By late July, Hale understood that the president was holding up the aid.
Hale first heard about the freeze on aid to Ukraine on June 21.
By late July, Hale understood that the president was holding up the aid.
16/ @MarkMeadows in this deposition, as he did today, asked whether the witness had any knowledge of a direct connection between investigations and the hold up of the aid.
He also asked if, to the best of Hale's knowledge, Pompeo knew of a direct connection 👇
He also asked if, to the best of Hale's knowledge, Pompeo knew of a direct connection 👇
@MarkMeadows 17/ @MarkMeadows then tweeted this:
Because if Hale had no direct knowledge of a link, that definitively proves that no link exists🙄
Because if Hale had no direct knowledge of a link, that definitively proves that no link exists🙄
@MarkMeadows 18/ Yes, error.
Many apologies. That was Rep. Sessions, not Sen. Sessions in Tweet #1
[Where is that edit button?]
Many apologies. That was Rep. Sessions, not Sen. Sessions in Tweet #1
[Where is that edit button?]
