How do we know withholding aid was meant to pressure Ukraine to announce Trump's desired investigation?
@RepJasonCrow outlines five reasons, adding up to: "There was no legitimate policy reason for holding the aid, so the truth came out."
@RepJasonCrow outlines five reasons, adding up to: "There was no legitimate policy reason for holding the aid, so the truth came out."
@RepJasonCrow The July 25 call is far from the only evidence of Trump's corrupt quid pro quo. But his words on that call alone make it clear that he considered military aid a key part of his extortion of Ukraine.
@RepJasonCrow "By bringing up the investigations immediately after President Zelensky raised the issue of military support, [Trump] linked the two issues."
This isn't just Democrats speculating—it's what Jennifer Williams, a Pence aide who listened to the call in real time, concluded.
This isn't just Democrats speculating—it's what Jennifer Williams, a Pence aide who listened to the call in real time, concluded.
@RepJasonCrow "There is more evidence, of course, a lot more. In fact, there is so much evidence that according to witnesses, the fact that the security assistance was conditioned on investigations became as clear as two plus two equals four. Everyone knew it."
@RepJasonCrow Sondland's "2+2=4" conclusion wasn't just intuition—it was confirmed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ...
@RepJasonCrow ... and Pence. Neither of them had to "ask what Sondland meant" when he connected military aid and investigations, "because they all knew."
@RepJasonCrow In his September 7 call with Trump, Sondland asked an open-ended question about Ukraine.
Trump's immediate response: "No quid pro quo."
"The fact that the president immediately blurted out speaks volumes"—not of innocence, but of consciousness of guilt.
Trump's immediate response: "No quid pro quo."
"The fact that the president immediately blurted out speaks volumes"—not of innocence, but of consciousness of guilt.
@RepJasonCrow Sondland understood that perfectly clearly.
He came out of the conversation more convinced than ever that what Trump wanted was a quid pro quo—that military aid depended on Zelensky announcing Trump's desired investigations.
He came out of the conversation more convinced than ever that what Trump wanted was a quid pro quo—that military aid depended on Zelensky announcing Trump's desired investigations.
@RepJasonCrow "President Zelensky got the message. He succumbed to the pressure."
Zelensky would make the announcement Trump wanted—not because he wanted to, but because he knew it was necessary to receive U.S. aid that comprised 10 percent of his country's defense budget during an active war.
Zelensky would make the announcement Trump wanted—not because he wanted to, but because he knew it was necessary to receive U.S. aid that comprised 10 percent of his country's defense budget during an active war.
@RepJasonCrow "To get Ukraine to help him with his reelection campaign, the President of the United States violated the law by withholding nearly $400 million of taxpayer dollars intended to fight Russia. He put his own interests over the country, and that is why we are here."
