Strong bipartisan congressional support for ukraine, senator johnson cautioned president zelensky that President Trump has a negative view of ukraine and t that president zelensky would have a difficult time overcoming it. Senator johnson further explained he had been shocked by President Trumps negative reaction during an Oval Office Meeting on may 23rd. On september 8th ambassador taylor told me, now theyre insisting zelensky commit to the investigation in an interview with cnn, which i took to refer to the three amigos. I was shocked their request was so specific and concrete. While we advise our ukrainian counterparts to follow the rule of law in investigating corruption allegations, thfis ws a demand that president zelensky commit on a cable news channel to an investigation of President Trumps rival. The hold was finally lifted after significant press coverage and expressions of concern about the withholding of Security Assistance. Although we knew the hold was lifted we were stil
Testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . Let the record show that the witnesses answered in the affirmative. You may be seated. The microphones are sensitive so you will need to speak directly into them. Without objection, your written statements will made be made part of the record. Mr. Holmes, you are recognized for your Opening Statement and when you conclude, dr. Hill, you will be recognized thereafter for your Opening Statement. Mr. Holmes thank you. Good morning, mr. Chairman. Members of the committee. My name is david holmes. Im a Career Foreign Service officer with the department of state. Since august 2017, i have been a political counselor at the u. S. Embassy in ukraine. While it is an honor to appear before you today, i want to make sure make clear i did not seek this opportunity to testify today. Since you determined i may have something of value to these proceedings and issued a subpoena, it is my obligation
Officials with ukrainian counterparts for this reason ive been present in many of the meetings with president s alinsky and his administration some of which may be germane to this inquiry while im a political counselor at the embassy it is important to know that i am not a political appointee or engage in u. S. Politics in any way it is not my job to cover or advise on u. S. Politics on the contrary im in a political Foreign Policy professional and my job my job is to focus on the politics of the country in which i serve so that we can better understand the local landscape and better advance u. S. National interests there in fact during the period that will cover today my colleagues and i follow direct guidance for a mastery of on of it and ambassador taylor to focus on doing our jobs as Foreign Policy professionals and to stay clear of washington politics. I arrived in kiev to take up my assignment as political counsellor in august 2017 a year after ambassador you want to receive her
On september 5th i took notes as senator johnson and senator chris murphy meetings with president s alinsky and chief were present selenski asked about the Security Assistance although both senators stressed strong bipartisan congressional support for ukraine senator johnson cautioned president s alinsky that President Trump has a negative view of ukraine and that president selenski would have a difficult time overcoming Center Johnson further explained that he had been quote shocked by President Trumps negative reaction during an Oval Office Meeting on may 23rd when he in the 3 amigos propose that President Trump meet president selenski and show support for ukraine on september 8th ambassador taylor told me quote now theyre insisting zelinsky commit to the investigation in an interview with c. N. N. Which i took to refer to this 3 amigos i was shocked the requirement was so specific and concrete all we had advisor ukrainian counterparts. To voice a commitment to following the rule of
At senator Chris Murphys meetings with president zelensky where president zelensky asked about the Security Assistance. Although both senorteres stressed bipartisan support. It senator johnson further explained he been quote shocked by President Trumps negative reaction on mthe 23rd. On september 8, ambassador taylor told me quote now theyre insisting zelensky commit to the investigation in an interview, which i took to refer to the three amigos. I was shocked it was so concrete. While we advised the ukrainian counterparts to fall othe rule of law and this was a demand that president zelensky that president zelensky personally commit. On september 11 the hold was lifted after significant press coverage and bipartisan congressional concerns. We were still concerned zelensky committed an exchange to give the requested cnn interview. We several indications the interview would occur. First the sconference in kiev and farid zu carria was one of the moderators. My colleague text me that quot