Wt is the full extent cleared away. Chuck rosenberg. Of the democrats prior senator mccains former coordination with the whistleblower, and who else did colleague, jeff flake, retired the whistleblower coordinate senator from arizona, surmised this effort with . That if a secret impeachment second, what is the full extent vote were held, 3035 of the of ukraines Election Meddling Senate republican members would against the Trump Campaign . Vote to impeach. And i thought how sad, how sad, and third, why did burisma hire that it takes a secret vote to hunter biden, and what did he do for them, and did his position make a courageous vote. Affect any u. S. Government actions under the obama it should be 3035 if they administration . These questions will remain believe thats the right thing to do. I know im sounding naive, but i outstanding because republicans were denied the right to call witnesses that know these remember being saddened by that. I feel the same way. Answers. What we will witness today is a and were about to hear from ambassador bill taylor and i remember when his 15page televised theatrical Performance Opening statement was released staged by the democrats. Less than a week ago, it was marked by some coverage about Ambassador Taylor and mr. Kent, standing on ukraines border and i like to welcome you here, i looking across at the enemy, would like to congratulate you russia. It used to be a common enemy, not a democratic enemy, not a for passing the democrats star republican enemy, but Americas Chamber auditions held for the last weeks in the basement of enemy. I think were nearing the the capitol. Time here where were going to it seems you agreed witting or
hear from the chairman. Is there any are the mics up unwittingly to participate in a drama. But the main performance, a in the room . Can we sample any of this . Russia hoax, has ended, and not yet, im told by the control youve been cast in the lowrent room. Theres dan goldman on the left. Ukrainian sequel. Msnbc former legal analyst, ill conclude by noting the immense damage the politicized now serving his country. Bureaucracy has done to americans faith in government. He left our employ, wondering the Executive Branch employees how he could ever find work are charged with implementing again. He was, i believe, left the the policies set by our Southern District of new york president , who is elected and u. S. Attorneys office in 2017, responsible to the American People. Elements of the Civil Service have decided that they, not the prosecuted securities cases. President , are really in charge. Knows what hes doing. And to the degree that we know what ambassador bill taylor will say, its because of what we thus as well learn in these learned from that transcript of hearings, after expressing dan goldman and chairman skepticism of foreign aid and concern about foreign corruption schiffs questioning. On the campaign trail, president that transcript will be used for crossexamination. Trump outraged the bureaucracy i mean, the best friend for a by accounting skeptically about foreign aid and expressing cross examiner, is being able to concerns about foreign corruption. Officials alarmed at the president s actions was
typically based on secondhand, tie the witness to what they said in a sworn deposition. So youll hear from that transcript a lot. Thirdhand and even fourthhand rumors and innuendo. They believed it was an outrage for the president to fire an ambassador, even though the president has full authority to. Hes not someone who is out retain or remove diplomats for there gloating and i think the any reason at any time. Democrats have to be very careful about recognizing the officials show the surprising lack of interest in the indications of ukrainian solemnity of these proceedings. Election meddling that deeply its done not because some concerned the president , at democratic staffer wants to, but whose pleasure they serve. Because the president s own despite all of their white house officials have come forth and blown the whistle on dissatisfaction with president him. Thats the start of this. But i think the tone has to be trumps ukraine policy, the president approved a supply of weapons to ukraine, unlike the maintained throughout this. All the calls that come from inside the house, the previous administration, which whistleblower complaint was compiled of concerns from people provided blankets as defense inside the Executive Branch. Against invading russians. And further, the Foreign Service will be members of my undermining the president who they are supposed to be serving, the elements of the fbi, the the Foreign Service will be the stars and the hero of this Story Department of justice, and now starting today. Heres some of what the State Department, have lost
Ambassador Taylor talked about. The confidence of millions of you speak of solemnity. Americans who believed that this is from the deposition. Their vote should count for Ambassador Taylor said in response to a question, something. It will take years, if not ambassador volker and i could decades, to restore faith in see the hostile russianled these institutions. Forces on the other side of the damaged bridge. Over 13,000 ukrainians have been this sptekt cool is doing damag killed in the war, one or two a week. More ukrainians would undoubtedly die without the u. S. To our country. Assistance. Those are the stakes. As people listen to i yield back. Ambassador taylor today, just a today we are joined by Ambassador William Taylor and few things to keep in mind. West point, u. S. Army, Ranger Deputy assistant Secretary Of State george kent, both of whom are appearing under subpoena. School, 100 first airborne, Ambassador William Taylor has vietnam, bronze star, comes home served our country for over half a century. And has worked almost he attended u. S. Military academy at west point, exclusively for the federal graduating in the top 1 of his government since then. And i think you reported on class, before serving as an your program that this last tour of duty, and thats what it is for these lifelong diplomats, Infantry Officer, including with was one that Secretary Of State the 100 division during the pompeo, Donald Trumps National Vietnam war. He was awarded the bronze star medal in the air medal for
security adviser at theo his valor. Following his military service, he worked at the department of employ, dispatched him to energy as a staffer in the u. S. Ukraine. Despite taylors wife being, senate, as an adviser, as well lets say, against the move. To u. S. Ambassador to nato. Jim comeys wife had some in the 1990s, Ambassador Taylor misgivings about his coordinated u. S. Assistance to interactions with donald trump. Eastern europe under former think about it. Soviet union and later served in pompeos name, mike pence, the afghanistan, iraq, and worked on number of prominent republicans The Middle East peace process. Who are now implicated, who are now mentioned, who are mentioned in 2006, president bush nominated him as ambassador to throughout the transcripts. Ukraine, where he served until well hear their names today. 2009, and then was appointed by witnesses coming into the room president barack obama to be special coordinator for middle now. East transitions. Kent, his attorneys, and theres Ambassador Taylor was serving as the executive Vice President of the nonpartisan u. S. Institute taylor. For peace when in june 2019, Secretary Of State mike pompeo asked him to return to lead the u. S. Embassy in kiev. Mr. George kent, currently serves as Deputy Assistant secretary in the department of states brew of european and
eurasia affairs, he has served twice in ukraine from 2004 to 2007. He was the deputy political counselor, including during the orange revolution. And from 2015 to 2018, he served as Deputy Chief Of Mission in kiev. Since joining the Foreign Serviceed in poland and thailan. He oversaw programs to strengthen the rule of law. All Witness Depositions as part of this inquiry were unclassified in nature and all open hearings will also be at the unclassified level. Any information that may touch on Classified Information will be addressed separately. Congress will not tolerate any reprisal, threat of reprisal or attempt to retaliate against anyone testifying before congress. If you would both rise and raise your right hand, i will begin by swearing you in. Do you wear or affirm that the 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 meeting will come to order. Good morning, everyone. Affirmative. This is the first in a series of thank you and please be seated. Mr. Chairman, before we hear from the witnesses, i have a Public Hearings The Committee will be holding as part of the parliamentary inquiry. Houses Impeachment Inquiry. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess mr. Chairman, when can we anticipate a response to our for the committee at any time, november 9th letter requesting there is a quorum present. Certain individual witnesses to be called . Here is how the committee will proceed for this hearing. The gentle woman who be aware i will make an Opening Statement and then ranking neb nunes will that three of the witnesses are scheduled for next week. Those were your witnesses, mr. Chairman. What about the additional six have an opportunity to make a statement. For our audience, we welcome you witnesses . The gentle woman may inquire and we respect our interest in about additional witnesses or being here. Make a request for a vote on in turn, we ask for your respect additional witnesses following as we proceed with todays the witness testimony. And mr. Chairman, i have a hearing. Mr. Chairman Point Of Order under h rez 660. It is the intention of the committee to proceed without mr. Chairman, would you be prohibiting witnesses from interruptions. If i may make an inquiry . Answering members questions as you have in the closeddoor this is our first hearing under these new set of rules. Depositions . House resolution 660 gives you as the gentle woman should know, she was present for the the discretion to allow yourself and the Ranking Member periods depositions which i was. For some of them, yes. Of extended questions of up to correct. The only times i prevented witnesses from answering 45 minutes each before other questions, along with our members are allowed to ask counsel, was when it was apparent that members were questions. Seeking to out the if possible, we would like to know the Rules Of Engagement whistleblower. We will do everything necessary to protect the whistleblowers before we get started. Have you made a decision yet as identity, and im disturbed to to how many 45minute rounds you hear members of the committee will allow yourself and the who have in the past voiced Ranking Member . I have not as we informed the strong support for whistleblower protections, seek to undermine those protections minority yesterday, we will see by outing the whistleblower. How the first period goes and mr. Chairman, only one member how much material were able to get through. And their staff on this at that point the chair will announce the period, if there is committee has direct knowledge of the identity of the a period of a second round, which may be up to 45 minutes, whistleblower. The gentle woman will or well go straight to 5minute suspend. I am responding. Questions by members. We will not permit the outing of for Audience Members again, we the whistleblower and questions welcome you and your interest. Along those lines. In turn, we expect and will counsel will inform their clients not to respond to. If necessary, i will intervene. Insist on decorum in the otherwise, i want members to
feel free to ask any questions they like. Committee. As kpachairman ill take all mr. Chairman, i would like to make a motion. Necessary steps to maintain order and make sure the im sorry, this is an committee is run in accordance opportunity for members to ask any questions they like. The gentleman is not recognized. With rules 660. I recognize myself to give a i am responding to the gentle statement in the Impeachment Inquiry into donald j. Trump, womans Point Of Order. The 45th president of the united otherwise, members will have an opportunity to ask any questions states. They like. Mr. Con weigh, you seek in 2014, russia invaded the recognition for what purpose . United states ally ukraine. To make a motion that we to reverse that nations embrace subpoena the whistleblower for a closeddoor Secretary Deposition so the questions that of the west and to fulfill should be appropriately asked of the whistleblower by our side Vladimir Putins desire to and your side may be asked, and rebuild a russian empire. I would prefer that rather than in the following years, 14,000 it be your single decision, that ukrainians died as they battled the committee speak to that issue rather than just the superior russian forces. Chairman. And i move that we earlier this year, president i think the gentleman it wont be my decision. It wont be my single decision. Zelensky was elected president we will entertain a motion to of the ukraine. He was a new Comer To Politics subpoena any witness. But after the witnesses have had and immediately sought to an opportunity to testify. Establish a relationship with the motion will be in order, the ukraines most powerful patron, motion will be suspended until after the witnesses have the United States. The questions presented by this testified. Mr. Chairman, do you anticipate when we would vote on that . I would like to ask a clarifying Impeachment Inquiry are whether President Trump sout to exploit question. Do you anticipate when we might that allys vulnerability and vote on the ability to have the invite ukraines Enter Feens Inn whistleblower in front of us, something you, the 435 members of congress, you are the only member who knows who that our elections, whether he sought acts such as a white house individual is, and your staff is the only staff of any member of meeting or assistance on congress who has had a chance to ukraines willingness to assist talk with that individual. We would like that opportunity. When might that happen in this proceeding today . To help his Reelection Campaign. First, as the gentlemen and if President Trump did knows, thats a false statement. Either, whether such an abuse of i do not know the identity of his power is compatible with the the whistleblower and im determined to make sure the office of the presidency. Identity is protected. But as i said to mr. Conway, the matter is as simple and as terrible as that. Youll have an opportunity after our answer to these questions the witnesses have testified to make a motion to subpoena any will affect not only the future witness and compel a vote. Of this presidency, but the and with that, i now recognize future of the presidency itself, and what kind of conduct or the witnesses. And before i do, i want to just misconduct the American People may come to expect from their commander in chief. There are a few actions as emphasize the microphones aseit consequential as the impeachment of a president. While the founders did not directly into them. Intend that impeachment be without objection, your written statements will be made part of
employed for mere differences the record. Over policy, they also made and with that, Deputy Assistant impeachment a constitutional secretary kent, you are process that the Congress Must recognized for your Opening Statement, Ambassador Taylor, you are recognized immediately utilize as necessary. The facts in the present inquiry thereafter for your opening will not seriously contested. Statement. Good morning. Beginning in january of this my name is george kent, and i am year, the president s personal the Deputy Assistant secretary attorney, rudy giuliani, pressed of state for Eastern Europe and ukrainian authorities to the caucuses. Investiga i have served proudly as a investigate burisma and the nonpartisan career Foreign Service officer for more than 27 years under five president s, bidens, since Vice President joe biden was seen as a strong potential challenger to trump. Three republican and two democrat. Giuliani also promoted a as i mentioned in my opening comments last month in the conspiracy that was ukraine, not russia, that hacked the 2016 closeddoor deposition, i represent the Third Generation u. S. Election. Of my family to have chosen a the nations intelligence career in Public Service and sworn the oath of office that agencies have stated all u. S. Public servants do, in unequivocally that it was russia, not ukraine, that interfered in our election. But giuliani believed this Conspiracy Theory referred to as defense of our constitution. Indeed, there has been a george crowd strike, shorthand for the kent sworn to defend the company that discovered the constitution continuously for russian hack, would aid his nearly 60 years, ever since my clients reelection. Father reported to annapolis. Giuliani also conducted a smear
campaign against the u. S. After graduating first in his ambassador to ukraine, marie Navel Academy class in 1965, the yovanovitch. On april 29, a senior state year best known for his heisman Department Official told her winning class mate, my father that although she had done nothing wrong, President Trump served a full honorable 30 had lost confidence in her. Years, including as a captain of with the sidelining of yovanovitch, the stage was set a Nuclear Ballistic sub marine for the establishment of an during the height of the cold irregular channel in which war. Five great uncles served giuliani and later others, honorably in the navy and army in world war ii. Including gordon sondland, a in particular, tom tag ert was donor to the president s stationed in the philippines at the time of the attack on pearl inauguration, could advance the president s personal and harbor. He survived the brutal baton political interests. Yovanovitchs replacement, death march and three and a half years in a japanese prisoner of ambassador bill taylor, is a west point graduate and a war camp unbroken. Vietnam veteran. As he began to better understand he returned to service as an the scheme through the summer of Pair Force Judge Advocate up holding the rule of law until 2019, he pushed back, informing his death in 1965. Today i appear before you once Deputy Assistant secretary kent again, under subpoena, as a fact and others about a plan to witness, ready to answer all of condition u. S. Government actions and funding on the your questions about the events performance of political favors and developments examined in by the Ukrainian Government. This inquiry. To the best of my ability and favors intended for president recollection, subject to the trump that would undermine our limits placed on me by the law
security and our elections. Several key events in this exami scheme took place in the month and this process. I will begin with some opening of july. Commence on the key principles on july 10th ambassador sondland at the heart of what brings me informed a group of u. S. And before you today. Ukrainian officials meeting at to wit, principled public the white house that, according to Chief Of Staff Mick Mulvaney, service in pursuit of our enduring National Interests and a white house meeting the place of ukraine in our desperately sought by the National Security interests. For the past five years we have ukrainian president with trump, would happen only if ukraine focused our united efforts took an investigation into the across the effort to support emergency sector, which was ukraine in its fight for the understood to mean burisma and cause of freedom and the rebirth specifically the bidens. Of a country free from russian National Security adviser bolton abruptly ended the meeting and dominion and the warped legacy said afterwards that he would of soviet institutions and not be, quote, part of whatever postsoviet behavior. As i stated in my closeddoor drug Deal Sondland and mulvaney deposition last month, you dont are cooking up on this, end step into the public arena of quote. International diplomacy in a week later, on july 18th, a active pursuit of principled u. S. Interests without expecting vigorous pushback, including representative of the office of management and budget, the personal attacks. Agency that oversees spending, such attacks came from the announced on a videoconference, russians, their proxies, and that mulvaney, at the direction of the president , was freezing Corrupt Ukrainians. That tells me our efforts were nearly 400 million in security
hitting their mark. Assistance authorized and it was unexpected and most appropriated by congress, in which the entirety of the u. S. Unfortunate, however, to watch some americans, including those National Security establishment who aligned themselves with Corrupt Ukrainians, in pursuit supported. One week after that, donald trump would have the now of private agendas, launch infamous july 25th phone call attacks on dedicated public with ukrainian president servants advancing u. S. Zelensky. During that call, trump complained that the u. S. Interests in ukraine. In my opinion, those attacks relationship with ukraine had not been reciprocal. Undermined u. S. And ukrainian later, Zelensky Thanks Trump for National Interests and damaged his support in the area of our critical bilateral defense and says that ukraine is ready to purchase more javelins. Relationship. The United States has a very an antitank weapon that was clear National Interest at stake in ukraine. Among the most important ukraines success is very much deterrents of further russian in our National Interest, in the military action. Trumps immediate response, i would like you to do us a favor, way we have defined our National Interests broadly in europe for the past 75 years. Though. Trump then requested that zelensky investigate the after world war ii, u. S. Leadership furthered farsighted discredited 2016 crowd strike policies like the marshal plan in the creation of a rules based Conspiracy Theory and even more international ordered, protected ominously look into the bidens. By the collective security neither of these investigations provided by nato, Western Europe was in the u. S. National recovered and thrived after the
carnage of world war ii, interest. And neither was part of the notwithstanding the shadow of the iron curtain. Official preparatory material for the call. Both, however, were in donald euro europes security and prosperity trumps personal interests and contributed to our security and in the interest of his 2020 process expert. Support ofukraines success Reelection Campaign. Also fits squarely into our and the ukrainian president knew about both in advance, because strategy for central and Eastern Europe since the fall of the sondland and others had been pressing ukraine for weeks about wall 30 years ago this past week. Investigations into the 2016 a europe truly whole, free and at peace, our strategic aim for the entirety of my foreign election, burisma and the bidens. After the call, multiple service career, is not possible without a ukraine whole, free individuals were concerned enough to report it to the and at peace, including crimea, National Security councils top lawyer. The white house would then take the extraordinary step of moving territories currently occupied by russia, represented by the the call record to a highly red on the map. Looking forward, the Trump Classified server, exclusively administrations National Security strategy makes clear reserved for the most sensitive that global strategic challenge now before us. Intelligence matters. In the weeks that followed, Great Power Competition with Ambassador Taylor learned new rivals such as russia and china, facts about a scheme that and the need to compete for sondland, even sondland would positive influence, without describe as becoming more taking countries for granted. Insidious. Taylor texted sondland, quote, in that sense, ukraine has been are we now saying that security
on the front lines, not just of russias conventional war in assistance and a white house Eastern Europe since 2014, and meeting are conditioned on its Broader Campaign of ma lined influence, but of the greater investigations . As summer turned to fall, it kept getting more insidious, geopolitical challenges now mr. Sondland testified. Facing the United States. Mr. Taylor, who took notes of ukraines popular revolution of his conversations, said dignity in 2014 forced a ambassador told him in a September 1st phone call that corrupt, prorussian leadership everything was dependent on the to flee to moscow. Public announcement of after that, russia invaded ukraine, occupying 7 of its investigations, including Security Assistance. Territory, roughly equivalent to President Trump wanted the size of texas for the united mr. Zelensky in a public box. States. At that time, ukraines State Institutions were on the verge President Trump is a of collapse. Businessman, sondland said Ukrainian Civil Society answered later, when a businessman is the challenge. About to sign a check to someone they formed volunteer ba tal who owes him something, the yens of citizens, including businessman asks that person to Technology Professionals and pay up before signing the check. Medics. They crowd sourced funding for their own weapons, bod hey weap in a sworn declaration after taylors testimony, sondland and supplies. Would admit to telling they were buying time for a ukrainians at a September 1st regular army to reconstitute. Meeting, quote, a resumption of since then, more than 13,000 u. S. Aid would likely not occur ukrainians have died on until ukraine provided the ukrainian soil defending their public anticorruption statement territorial integrity and that we have been discussing for sovereignty from russian aggression. Many weeks. The president s Chief Of Staff americas support in ukraines own War Of Independence has been confirmed trumps efforts to critical in this regard. Coerce ukraine by withholding by analogy, the americcollinys aid. When Mick Mulvaney was asked publicly about it, his answer was breathtaking. We do that all the time with foreign policy, he said. Not have lasted through 1776. I have news for everybody, get in assistance to general George Washingtons army and admiral over it. Theres going to be political John Paul Jones navy, congress influence in foreign policy. Has generously proeptd over that is going to happen. The video of that confession is 1. 5 billion over the past five plain for all to see. Years in Security Assistance to some have argued in the ukraine. These funds increase ukraines president s defense that the aid strength and ability to fight was ultimately released, and russian aggression. That is true. Ultimately, ukraine is on a path but only after congress began an to become a full Security Partner of the United States within nato. Investigation. Only after the president s lawyers learned of a whistleblower complaint. And only after members of similar to valley forge, u. S. Congress began asking
and nato ally trainers uncomfortable questions about quid pro quos. Established Training Units near a scheme to condition official the polish border and elsewhere. Acts or Taxpayer Funding to they help rewrite education for obtain a personal political benefit does not become less the next generation. Odious because it is discovered supporting ukraines brave before it is fully consummated. Resistance to russian aggression, we have a frontrow in fact, the Security Assistance seat to the russian way of war had been delayed so long, it in the 21st century, gaining would take another Act Of Congress to ensure that it could priceless insights that contribute to our own security. Still go out. And that Oval Office Meeting this year in 2019, ukrainian that zelensky desperately citizens passed the political sought, it still hasnt torch to a new generation, one happened. Although we have learned a great that came of age not in the deal about these events in the final years of the soviet union, last several weeks, there are still missing pieces. But in an independent ukraine. The president has instructed the president ial and parliamentary State Department and other elections swept out much of ukraines previous elite and agencies to ignore Congressional Subpoenas for documents. He has instructed witnesses to seated 41yearold president zelensky, a cabinet with an average age of 39 and a defy subpoenas and refuse to appear. Parliament with the average age and he has suggested that those of 41. Who do Expose Wrongdoing should at the heart of that change be treated like traitors and mandate, five years after ukraines revolution of dignity, spies. These actions will force
congress to consider as it did with president nixon, whether is a thirst for justice. Trumps obstruction of the constitutional duties of congress constitute additional without a sector that has grounds for impeachment. If the president can simply justice for all, Ukraine Society refuse all oversight, will remain unsettled, foreign particularly in the context of investors, including american an impeachment proceeding, the investors, will not bring the Balance Of Power between our two great investment needed to ensure that ukraines longterm branches of government will be prosperity is secured. This is why the principled promotion of the rule of law and irrevocably altered. That is not what the founders institutional integrity is so intended. Necessary to our strategy for a and the prospects for further corruption and abuse of power in successful ukraine. This administration or any other it is also true for other former captive nations still recovering will be exponentially increased. From the ashes of soviet and communist misrule. This is what we believe the it is why acting inconsistently testimony will show. Both as to the president s with the core principle of the conduct and as to his rule of law comes at great obstruction of congress. Peril. I am grateful to all of the the issue that we confront is members of congress and the one posed by the president s staffers, including many of you sitting here today, who have acting Chief Of Staff, when he traveled to ukraine over the past five years and appropriated challenged americans to get over billions of dollars of assistance in support of our it. Primary policy goals. If we find that the president of those funds increase ukraines the United States abused his power and invited foreign ability to fight russian aggression in the defense,
interference in our elections, energy, cyber and information or if he sought to condition, spheres, and they also empower coerce or extort or bribe an State Institutions and Civil Society to undertake systemic ally into conducting reforms and tackle corruption. Investigations to aid his Reelection Campaign and did so i believe all of us can be proud of our efforts in ukraine over by withholding official acts, a the past five years, even though much remains to be done. White house meeting by millions of dollars of military aid, must and by all of us, i mean those we simply get over it . Of us in the legislative and Executive Branches, in both is this what americans should parties, the enteragency expect from their president . Community working out of our if this is not impeachable embassy in kiev, with ukrainians in government, the military and conduct, what is . Civil society, and our does the oath of office itself transatlantic allies and partners. We cannot allow our resolve to requiring that our laws be waiver, since too much is at faithfully executed, that our stake. Not just for ukraine and the president defend a constitution future of european security, but that balances the powers of its for the National Interests of branchs, Setting Ambition the United States broadly against ambition, so we become defined. My prior deposition covered a no monarchy, still have meaning . Lot of ground over ten hours. These are the questions we must here are the main ten themes ask and answer. From my testimony. I outlined my experience with longstanding u. S. Interest in without rank, if we can. Without delay regardless. Supporting anticorruption efforts in ukraine. This work gave me a frontrow and without party favor and seat to problematic activities
without prejudice if we are true by successive prosecutors to our responsibilities. General in ukraine. For many of the issues this Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of a country america was to committee is investigating, my knowledge and understanding is sometimes firsthand, and become. A republic, he answered, if you sometimes comes from others can keep it. The fundamental issue raised by involved in specific conversations and meetings. This is no different than how the Impeachment Inquiry into donald j. Trump is can we keep anyone learns and carries out his or her job responsibilities. It . I now recognize Ranking Member i have been and remain willing to share my factual observations nunes for any remarks he may wish to make. With the committee and will make clear when those are based on thank you. Personal knowledge or from in a july open hearing of this information gleaned from others. Committee, following publication of the mueller report, the u. S. Efforts to counter democrats engaged in a corruption in ukraine focus on lastditch effort to convince the American People that building Institutional Capacity so that the Ukrainian Government President Trump is a russian has the ability to go after corruption and effectively agent. That hearing was the pitful investigate, prosecute and judge finale of a threeyear long operation by the democrats, the activities using appropriate corrupt media, and partisan mechanisms, that is to create and follow the rule of law. That means that if there are bureaucrats to overturn the results of the 2016 election. Criminal activity in the united after the spectacular implosion states, u. S. Law enforcemeve th
of the russia hoax on july 24th, in which they spent years denouncing any republican who institutional mechanisms to ever shook hands with a russian, address that. It could be through the justice on july 25th, they turned on a department, fbi agents assigned dime and now claim the real overseas or through Treaty Mechanisms such as the mutual malfeasance is republicans Legal Assistance treaty. Dealings with ukraine. As a general principle, i do not believe the United States should in the blink of an eye, were asked to simply forget about ask other countries to engage in selective politically associated democrats on this committee, investigations or prosecutions falsely claiming they had more against opponents of those in than circumstantial evidence of power because such selective collusion between president actions undermine the rule of trump and russians. Law, regardless of the country. We should forget about them the pervasive and longstanding Breeding Fash breeding fabrications of problem of corruption in ukraine included exposure to a situation involving the Energy Company trump russian collusion of the steel dossier into the burisma. The primary concern of the u. S. Government was burismas owner, congressional record. We should forget about them trying to obtain nude pictures whose frozen Assets Abroad we had attempted to recover from of trump from russian prank ukraines behalf. In early 2015, i raised sters who pretended to be questions about the deputy ukrainian officials. Prosecutor general about why the we should forget about them leaking a false story to cmn investigation had been
terminated, based on our belief while he was still testifying claiming that donald jump jr. That prosecutors had accepted was colluding with wikileaks. Bribes to close the case. Later, i became aware that hunter biden was on the board of burisma. Soon after that, in a Briefing Call with a National Security and forget about these things staff of the office of the Vice President in february of 2015, i with them to hurl preposterous raised my concern that Hunter Bidens status as a board member accusations at their political could create the perception of a opponents. And yet now here we are. Conflict of interest. Let me be clear, however, i did were supposed to take these not witness any effort by any people at face value when they u. S. Official to shield burisma trod out a new batch of from scrutiny. In fact, i and other u. S. Allegations, but anyone familiar officials consistently advocated with the democrats skarched reinstituting an investigation of burismas founder, as well as earth war against president holding the corrupt prosecutors trump would see that this is a who closed the case to account. Carefully orchestrated media over the course of 2018 and smear campaign. Example, after vowing publicly 2019, i became increasingly aware of an effort by rudy that impeachment requires bipartisan support, democrats giuliani and others, including are pushing Impeachment Forward without the backing of a single his associates lev par nas to republican. Run a campaign to smear the witnesses deemed suitable for television by the democrats ambassador yovanovitch and were put through a closeddoor others at the embassy in kiev. Audition process in a cultlike they were some of the same atmosphere in the basement of former prosecutors i the capitol, where democrats encountered. They were now pedaling false conducted secret depositions, released a flood of misleading and onesided leaks, and later information in order to extract revenge against those who had selectively released transcripts exposed their misconduct, in a highlystaged manner. Including u. S. Diplomats, ukrainian officials and Civil Society groups in ukraine. Violating their own guidelines, democrats repeatedly redacted during the late spring and summer of 2019, i became alarmed from the transcripts the name of as those efforts bore fruit. Alexand they led to the ouster of alexander chalupa, a contractor who worked with Ukrainian Ambassador yovanovitch. Officials who collect dirt on in mid august, it became clear the Trump Campaign, which she to me that giulianis efforts to provided to the dnc and the Hillary Clinton campaign. The democrats rejected most of gin up politically motivated the republicans witness investigations were now requests, resulting in a affecting u. S. Engagement with ukraine, leveraging president horrifically onesided process zelenskys desire for a white where the crucial witnesses are house meeting. There are and always have been denied a platform if their conditionality placed on our testimony does not support the sovereign loan guarantees for democrats absurd accusations. Ukraine. Conditions include anticorruption reforms, as well notably, they are trying to as meeting larger stability impeach the president for goals and social safety nets. Inquiring about Hunter Bidens the International Monetary fund
does the same thing. Activities. Congress and the executive yet they refuse our requests to hear from biden himself. Branch worked together to put conditionality on some security the whistleblower was assistance in the ukraine acknowledged to have a bias against President Trump and his Security Assistance initiative. Regarding my testimony today, i will do my best to answer your attorney touted a coo against questions. Questions that will involve issues, conversations and documents that spanned a number the president and call for his of years. I may be limited by three impeachment just weeks after the considerations. First, the State Department has election. A t a prior hearing democrats collected all materials in response to the September 27th read out a purely fix tissues subpoena that may contain facts rendition of the president s relevant to my phone call with president that may contain facts relevant zelensky. They clearly found the real conversation to be insufficient to my testimony. For their impeachment narrative, vi no such documents with me so they just made up a new one. Today. I will do my best to answer as accurately, completely and truthfully as i can to the best and most e egregiously, the of my recollection. Staff of the democrats on this second, as this committee knows from Deposition Testimony committee had direct discussions throughout this process, there with the whistleblower before have been concerns that his or her complaint was questions may be asked about submitted to the inspector Classified Information. We have asked the State Department for guidance about classification concerns related general. Republicans cant get a full to the public release of my account of these contacts deposition, and the state because democrats broke their department has declined to promise to have the whistleblower testify to this provide any. So if im asked a question today committee. Democrat members hid these that i believe may implicate
contacts from republicans and Classified Information, i will then lied about them to the American People on national respectfully decline to answer in this public forum. Television. Ive noted before the democrats third, there may be questions have a long habit of accusing focusing on the identity of people in the intelligence republicans of offenses they, community. These questions were redacted themselves, are committing. From My Deposition transcript. If such a question arises today, lets recall for years they i will follow my counsels accused the Trump Campaign of advice and decline to answer. Colluding with russia, when they i would like to conclude my themselves were colluding with opening remarks with an russia by funding and spreading observation about some of my the steel dossier which relied fellow Public Servants who have on russian sources. Come und attacks. And now they accuse President Trump of malfeasance in ukraine, ambassador yovanovitch, when they themselves are culpable. Lieutenant colonel vin manned the democrats cooperated in the and dr. Hill. Ukrainian Election Meddling and masha, alex and fionna were bor they defend Hunter Bidens they themselves prmly chose to position with a Corrupt Ukrainian company. All while his father served as immigrate to the United States. They made the professional choice to serve the United States as public officials, Vice President. Helping shape our National Security policy towards russia in particular, and we and our despite this hypocrisy, the National Security are the better democrats are advancing their impeachment sham. For it. In this sense they are the 21st but we should not hold any
hearings at all until we get century eras of two giants of answers to three crucial National Security policy who also were born abroad. My former professor and fellow immigrant henry kissinger. The yovanovitchs and vindmans fled nazi and communist oppression to contribute to a stronger and more secure america. That honorable tradition of transatlantic ties goes back to the very founding of other republic. Our 18th century independence would not have been secured without the choice of european officers, the french Born Lafayette and la sham bow and the pols to come to the new world and fight for our cause of freedom and the birth of a new country free from imperial dominion. It is my privilege to sit next to my former boss, Ambassador Taylor today and it is my honor to serve with all of these patriotic americans. Thank you. Thank you, Ambassador Taylor. Mr. Chairman, im appearing today at the committees request to provide my perspective on the events that are the subject of the inquiry. I want to emphasize at the outset while im aware that the committee has requested my testimony as part of impeachment proceedings, i am not here to take one side or the other or to advocate for any particular outcome of these proceedings. My sole purpose is to provide faktsd as i know them ability the incidents in question as well as my views about the strategic importance of ukraine to the United States. But way of background, it has been a privilege for me to serve our country and the American People for more than 50 years starting as a cadet at west point, Infantry Officer for six years including with the 101st Air Bosh Division in vietnam and then at the department of energy, then as a member of a senate staff, then at nato, then with the State Department here
and abroad, in afghanistan, iraq, jerusalem and ukraine. I retired from the State Department in 2009 to join the United States institute of peace. Im neither a Career Member of the Foreign Service nor of the Civil Service. Im nonpartisan and have been appointed to my positions by every president from President Reagan to President Trump. Let me summarize my main points. First, ukraine is a Strategic Partner of the United States, important for the security of our country as well as europe. Ukraine is on the front line in the conflict with a newly aggressive russia. Second, even as we sit here today, the russians are attacking ukrainian soldiers in their own country and have been for the last four years. I saw this on the front line last week. The day i was there, a ukrainian soldier was killed and four were
wounded. Third, the Security Assistance we provide is crucial to ukraines defense and to the protection of the soldiers i met on the front line last week. It demonstrates to ukrainians and russians that we are ukraines reliable Strategic Partner. It is clearly in our National Interest to defer further russian aggression. And finally, as the committee is aware, i wrote that withholding Security Assistance in exchange for help with a domestic Political Campaign in the United States would be crazy. I believe that then and i believe it now. Let me tell you why. On may 28th of this year i met with Secretary Of State mike pompeo who asked me to rejoin the State Department and return to kiev to lead our embassy in ukraine. It was and is a critical time for u. S. Ukraine relations. I served as ambassador to ukraine from 2006 to 2009. Having been nominated by george w. Bush and in the intervening ten years had stayed engaged with ukraine. Across the responsibilities i have had in Public Service, ukraine is the highlight and so secretarys pompeos offer was compelling. Since i left ukraine in 2009 the country had continued to turn toward the west, but in 2013 Vladimir Putin was so threatened by the prospect of ukraine joining the European Union that he tried to bribe the ukrainian president. This triggered mass protests in the winter of 2013 that drove the president to flee to russia in 2014 but not before his forces killed 100 ukrainian protesters in central kiev. Days later mr. Putin invaded crimea at the point of russian army rifles. The russians absurdly claimed that 97 voted to join russia. In early april putin sent his army and Security Forces into southeastern ukraine to generate illegal Arm Formations and puppet governments in what we know as dombas. You can see this on the map, in the righthand portion, the eastern portion of the country. 14,000 ukrainians have died in the war and more die each week. In july 2014 these russian Led Airliner En Route From Amsterdam To malaysia killing all 298 people on board. We, the europeans and most of the west impose economic sanctions and kicked the russians out of the g8. Beginning in 2014 we and nato began to provide Military Assistance to Ukraines Armed forces in the form of training,
advice, Military Equipment and weapons. It is this Security Assistance thats at the heart of the controversy that we are discussing today. The prorussian president who was run out of kiev in 2014 let the Russian Armed forces detear eight to teight to the point of ruin. The knew authorities with an amazing outpouring of support from regular ukrainian people rebuilt the army nearly from scratch, spending more than 5 of ukrainian gdp on Defense Tins The War started. The whole ukrainian nation fiercely responded to the russian attack. The nation united like never before, a ragtag Army Developed into a strong fighting force and the United States played a vital role. Since 2014 you and congress have provided over 1. 6 billion in Military Assistance to ukraine. The Security Assistance provides small unit training at an army
base in the western of the country. It provides ambulance, night vision devices, communications equipment, counterbattery radar, navy ships and finally weapons. The Security Systems demonstrate our commitment to resist aggression and defend freedom. During the 2014 to 2016 period i was serving outside of government and joined two other former ambassadors to ukraine in urging the Obama Administration officials at the State Department, Defense Department and other agencies to proceed lethal assistance to ukraine in order to deter further russian aggression. I also supported much stronger sanctions on russia. I was pleased when the Trump Administration provided javelin antitank missiles and enacted stronger sanctions. All to say, i cared about ukraines future and the important u. S. Interests there. When Secretary Pompeo asked me
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