reputation had been maligned repeatedly, on television and in all kinds of exchanges. i felt that was completely unnecessary. the president wanted to remove and ambassador, which he did quite treacly there were a number who were removed to or not political but career officials. that was done, but without these kinds of interventions. i wondered what message was being sent. on the second front, it was very clear at this point that there was, let s just say, a different channel in operation in relation to ukraine. when that was domestic and political in nature, and it was very different from the channel or the loop, however you like it, that i and my colleagues were in. we were focused on bilateral relations and u.s. foreign policy toward ukraine. these two things had diverged at this point. in the run-up to ambassador yovanovitch separation from post, did you have any communich officials that the state department about your concerns? i did. who did you relate those concerns to?