The White House's response was to clamp down the lid further, and keep the aid on hold—always citing Trump's personal authority to do so.
Senators expressed concerns to the administration.
Trump refused to budge—or explain his rationale.
That started a frantic effort to create an after-the-fact rationale for the hold—the records of which the administration has continued to hide from Congress and the American people.
There is no evidence whatsoever that he pushed Ukraine for anti-corruption reforms, or pushed the EU to increase its donations.
He would have succeeded, had somebody not blown the whistle.