Anybody else. Im going to read from the transcript here. Why didnt you go to your direct report, mr. Morrison, your response, because mr. Eisenberg had told me to take my concerns to him. And then i asked you, did mr. Eisenberg tell you not to report, to go around mr. Morrison . And you said, actually, he did say that, i shouldnt talk to any other people. Is that right . Yes, but theres a whole theres a period of time in there between when i spoke to him and when he circled back around. It wasnt that long a period of time, but it was enough time for me to enough time for you to go to talk to someone who you wont tell us who it is, right . Ive been instructed not to, representative jordan. Heres what im getting. The lawyer told you not talk to any other people, and you interpret that as not talking to your boss, but you talk to your brother, you talk to the lawyers, you talk to scare keec kent and talk to the one guy schiff wont let us tell you who it is. Representative jordan, i did my
Discussing today which involved an irregular channel which is her request that went against u. S. Policy that would undermine the rule of law and our longstanding policy goals in ukraine as in other countries in the postsoviet space. Policies that were indeed championed by ambassador yovanovitch. You also testified in the deposition about fundamental reforms necessary for ukraine to fight corruption and to transform the country and you cited the importance of reforming certain institutions, notably security service. Was investigating President Trumps political opponents a part of those necessary reforms . Was it on that list of yours and was it on any list . No, they werent. In fact, historically is it not true than a major problem in the ukraine is bennetts misuse
of prosecutors, precisely to conduct an investigation of political opponents. Thats a legacy i dare suggest from the soviet era which as you said in your testimony prosecutors like the kgb were and i quote you now instrument
Instruments of oppression. I said that and believe its true. So finally, mr. Kent, for as long as i can remember. Policy predicated on principled interest in Democratic Values notely freedom of speech, pre and fair and other elections in the rule of law. Mr. Kent, when american leaders ask foreign governments to investigate their potential rivals, doesnt that make it harder for us to advocate on behalf of those Democratic Values . I believe it makes it more difficult for our diplomatic
representatives overseas to carry out those policy goals, yes. How is that, sir . Well, theres an issue of credibility. They hear diplomats on the ground saying one thing and they hear other u. S. Leaders saying something else. Ambassador taylor, would you agree with that, sir. I would. Is there anything youd like to add how it mike mate it more difficult for you to do your job, sir . Our credibility is based on a respect for the United States, and if we damage that respect, then it hurts our credibility
i believe so. sir, colonel vindman, last week, we heard a decorated military veteran, namely ambassador bill taylor come before us. you interacted regularly with ambassador taylor and you know him to be a man of integrity and he s a patriotic american, isn t that right? a superb individual. i asked ambassador taylor a series of questions based on his experience as an infantry commander. i asked him, quote, is an officer allowed to hold up action placing his troops at risk until someone provides them a personal benefit? ambassador taylor responded, no, sir. colonel vindman, do you agree with ambassador taylor? i do. i then asked ambassador taylor, quote, is that because they would be betraying their responsibility to the nation? ambassador taylor responded, yes, sir. colonel vindman, do you agree with ambassador taylor? i do. i then asked ambassador taylor, quote, could that type of conduct trigger a court-martial? ambassador taylor said, yes, sir.
in the call gave cause for concern. ambassador taylor? i agree. and what was the cause for concern for you? there was, part of the the discussion of the previous ambassador was a cause for concern. ambassador taylor, i want to draw on your experience finally as a west point cadet and infantry commander in vietnam. in a battlefield situation, is a commanding officer allowed to hold up action placing his troops at risk until someone provides him a personal benefit? no, sir. is that because if commanding officers did that they would be betraying their responsibility to the nation and the men and women under their command? yes, sir. if that happened and were found out could that person be subject to discipline? yes, sir. could that type of conduct trigger a court-martial? yes, sir. thank you. i yield back. mr. chairman.