Committee. This seems more appropriate for the subcommittee on Human Resources at the Foreign Affairs committee, if theres issues with implement, disagree was with the administration it would seem like it would be more appropriate setting instead of at impeachment hearing where the ambassador is not a material fact witness to anything, any of the accusations that are being hurled at the president for this impeachment inquiry. I have several questions i think, mr. Castor wants to get to. I know ms. Stefanik him give a few quick question for the ambassador. Yield to you, ms. Stefanik. Thank you, mr. Nunes. Ambassador yovanovitch, the gentlewoman will suspend. What is the interruption for this time . It is our time. You are not recognized. Mr. Nunes, you are i just recognize under 660 youre not allowed deal time except to spin is the Ranking Member yield a time to another thats not accurate. That is accurate. Ambassador yovanovitch, i want to thank you for being here today. You are not re
Inquiry, without objection the chairman reserves the right to call recess. make an Opening Statement and representative nunes will make an Opening Statement and well turn to the witness for Opening Statement and then to questions. For audience members we welcome you and respect your interest in being here. In turn, we ask for your respect as we proceed with todays hearing. It is the intention of the committee to proceed without disruptions. As chairman ill take all necessary and appropriate steps to maintain order to ensure that the committee is run in accordance with house rules and House Resolution 660. With that i now recognize myself to give an Opening Statement in the impeachment inquiry into donald j. Trump, the 45th president of the United States. In april, 2019 the United States ambassador to ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was in kiev when she was called by a Senior State Department official and told to get on the next plane back to washington. Upon her return to d. C. She was infor
Toluca had reported at least according to her and according to politico was trying to work with the Ukrainian Embassy in d. C. To trade information, to share leads of that sort of thing . I saw the article. I didnt have any further information about that. Did you see the article at the time or did you only come did that only come to your attention subsequently . It has certainly been brought to my attention subsequently. I think i did see something to that effect at the time. You are the ambassador in country at this point. Did you aim to get to the bottom of that . If the reporting is true if what was told, is accurate, that would be concerning, correct . Well, i was ambassador in ukraine starting in august 2016, and what youre describing, if true as you said, what youre describing took place in the United States. So if there were concerns about what he was doing, i think that wouldve been handled here. Do you know her . I doubly so. Have you ever met her . I dont think so. She works
I would say that all ambassadors deal with other countries including aspiring countries. Unusual to name u. S. Ambassador to the eu to be responsible for all aspects of ukraine. I will take your answer. Its still in his portfolio which was my question. A man of great integrity. One of our our most successful ambassadors. You would agree hes a man of great reputation. Right . Yes. Would it surprise you if an 2004 john kerry had a member of his campaign who was a Foreign Policy advisor, traveling to ukraine in july and met with ukrainian officials and the ukraine ambassador, with that surprise you . A member of john kerrys campaign for president of the United States in 2004 travel to ukraine met with the u. S. Ambassador in july. Not necessarily. If a member of the campaign traveled to the ukraine, would you have taken that meeting . I guess it would depend on what the purpose of the meeting was. That meeting actually occurred. It was with john holbrook. A private citizen. Went to went t