What weve been discussing w today, which involved in a regular channel, was a request that went against u. S. Policy that have have undermined the rule of law and our longstanding policy goals in ukraine, as in other countries in the postsoviet space. Those policies which were indeed championed by ambassador yovanovitch. You also testified on october 15th in the deposition about fundamental reforms necessary for ukraine to fight corruption and to transform the country. And you t cited the importance reforming certain institutions, notably was investigating President Trumps political opponents a part of those necessary reforms . Was it on that list of yours or indeed was it on any list . No, they werent. In fact, historically, is it not true that a major problem in the ukraine has been its misuse
of prosecutors, precisely to conduct investigation of political opponents. Thats a legacy i dare suggest from the soviet era when, as you stated in your testimony, prosecutors like the kgb were
Truth. Those facts. This is so far off field, this is ispolitical. This is totally political. And it is a dangerous moment for our country that the doj has i mean, doesnt the meeting on the tarmac with bill clinton and the airplane look quaint now . Actually, thats a perfect it looks quaint. We have been talking about what feels like a frantic publicrelations effort. Two statements released from william barr on a report hes had for some time. An extraordinary report about ao open,t ongoing investigation. Some of the most sensitive intelligence and Law Enforcement in our country. And now, guess whos weighing in . Guess. Guess. Guess. Donald j. Trump. Lets listen. Okay. Thank you very much. The ig report just came out. And i was just briefed on it and its a disgrace whats happened with respect to the things that were done to our country. It should never again happen to another president. It is incredible. Far worse than i would have ever thought possible. And its its an embarrassment to
Whatwe that means, its to use e power of the office to obtain an improper personal benefit while ignoring orfi injuring the national interest, or acts in ways that are grossly inconsistent with and undermine the separation of powers that is the foundation of our democratic system. Now, this question of whether the president engaged in abuse of power came up before when this congress considered the impeachment of president nixon. And president nixon famously said, if the president does it, it is notde illegal. And this body rejected that because thats not so. That goes directly contrary to what the founders said. But President Trump has said the same thing in responding to the prior investigation by the Department Of Justice and defending his conduct. Heres what he said. I have an article 2 where i have the right to do whatever i want as president. That he has the right to do whatever he wants as president. That is as wrong as when president nixon said a similar thing. That is not what
details of £300 million in extra military support from the uk for ukraine which will include electronic warfare equipment and night vision devices. the liberal democrats have questioned the timing of mrjohnson s announcement, two days before the local elections. in other developments, president zelensk has used his nightly address to accuse russia s foreign minister of blaming the jewish people for nazi crimes . it comes after sergei lavrov claimed adolf hitler had jewish roots, while trying to justify russia s portrayal of ukraine as nazi despite the fact that mr zelensky isjewish. in mariupol, the ukrainian defenders of the azovstal steel works say russian troops are using planes, tanks and warship missiles to pound the site. the un and red cross hope to oversee more civilian evacuations from the steel plant today hundreds are still left inside.
yes. and trump s handpicked ukraine operator, gordon sondland, testified that they faced a choice. either work with giuliani or abandon the goali of a white house meeting. what choice did they make, mr. goldman? they decided to work with mr. giuliani. right. and six days later, on may 29th, president trump sent the new ukrainian president a letter that said america stood with ukraine. andwi invited president zelensk to visit the white house. isn t that correct? yes. that was the second time that he invited him s to the white hous so at this point, the ukrainian president expected thatpo meeting. correct. but then they learn that they ve got to do something more for the president. sondland testified that there was a prerequisite of investigations. isn t that right? yes. and nsc staffer lieutenant colonel vindman testified that sondland told the ukrainians in a july 10th meeting that investigation of the bidens was