One of the interesting revelations to come out of Lev Parnas's interviews is that he claims he told President Zelensky-elect's team in May that they had to announce the Biden investigations or VP Pence wouldn't attend his inauguration
There's a pretty clear timeline that, at least circumstantially, supports Parnas's claim.
- On April 23, Pence speaks to President-elect Zelensky and tells him he will attend his inauguration in May. Planning immediately begins intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
- On April 23, Pence speaks to President-elect Zelensky and tells him he will attend his inauguration in May. Planning immediately begins intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
May 8th: The Ukrainian Interior Minister tells George Kent that he is planning to meet with Giuliani as well as Parnas and Furman, who are accompanying him on a trip planned in the next several days. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
May 9: The NYT breaks the story of Giuliani's trip to Kiev and his efforts to dig up dirt on former vice president Biden
There's an immediate public backlash. nytimes.com/2019/05/09/us/…
There's an immediate public backlash. nytimes.com/2019/05/09/us/…
May 9-10: Giuliani speaks regularly to Parnas on the phone.
On May 10 he also speaks to an NSC official, Kash Patel, who has been pushing the Ukraine-Biden-Burisma story. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
On May 10 he also speaks to an NSC official, Kash Patel, who has been pushing the Ukraine-Biden-Burisma story. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
Then 5 minutes after speaking to Patel on May 10 he receives a call that lasts 17 minutes from an unidentified "-1" number that circumstantial evidence suggests could be President Trump. Shortly after that call he calls Parnas for a 12 minute call. nytimes.com/2019/12/03/us/…
May 10: Giuliani cancels his trip to Ukraine ... but Parnas and Fruman do not.
May 12: According to Parnas, he and Fruman meet with Serhiy Shefir, a member of the inner circle of Mr. Zelensky. This allegation first surfaced in November. Neither Fruman not Shefir dispute that the meeting occurred. nytimes.com/2019/11/10/nyr…
Parnas claims that he told Shefir that Zelensky had to announce an investigation into Biden or else Pence would not attend his inauguration "and the United States would freeze aid." This is according to Parnas's lawyer Joseph Bondy nytimes.com/2019/11/10/nyr…
Fruman has denied Parnas's claims. Shefir has confirmed the meeting but has not specifically denied Parnas's allegation. nytimes.com/2019/11/10/nyr…
Parnas reiterated this claim with Anderson Cooper - though he is fuzzy on the question of whether military aid was mentioned. He suggests it was more a general thing - that not playing ball on Biden would irreparably harm Zelensky's relationship with Trump
Parnas also claims that he called Giuliani that evening and said the Ukrainians weren't willing to announce the Biden investigation. Giuliani's response, according to Parnas, "they'll see."
May 13: Trump tells Pence to cancel his trip to the Zelensky inauguration. It's unclear as to whether Trump and Giuliani spoke on May 12th. intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
So here's a hypothetical on what went down ... Giuliani was planning to go to Ukraine to tell Zelensky's aides that if they didn't announce the Biden investigation it would impact the relationship with Trump and Pence wouldn't attend his inauguration
Giuliani is forced to cancel his trip because of the NYT report about it .. but he tells Parnas to communicate the message to Zelensky's people. On May 10th he coordinates this in back-to-back calls with Patel, possibly Trump, and then Parnas.
Parnas passes the message to Zelensky's aides. The Ukrainians balk. Parnas tells Giuliani they won't play ball .. and the next day Pence's trip is cancelled.
