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| Trump Ukraine call: What's this story all about? | Trump Ukraine call: What's this story all about? |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| There's a new political controversy in the US - involving Donald Trump, foreign nationals, questions about legal and ethical behaviour, and allegations against a political rival - and it's all led to an impeachment inquiry into the US president. | There's a new political controversy in the US - involving Donald Trump, foreign nationals, questions about legal and ethical behaviour, and allegations against a political rival - and it's all led to an impeachment inquiry into the US president. |
| The story can be difficult to follow, so here are some answers to the most pressing questions. | The story can be difficult to follow, so here are some answers to the most pressing questions. |
| Why is this important? | Why is this important? |
| Mr Trump's critics accuse him of using the powers of the presidency to bully Ukraine into digging up damaging information on a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden. | Mr Trump's critics accuse him of using the powers of the presidency to bully Ukraine into digging up damaging information on a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden. |
| Mr Trump and his supporters allege the former vice-president abused his power to pressure Ukraine to back away from a criminal investigation that could implicate his son, Hunter. | Mr Trump and his supporters allege the former vice-president abused his power to pressure Ukraine to back away from a criminal investigation that could implicate his son, Hunter. |
| Mr Biden is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to take on Mr Trump next year. | Mr Biden is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to take on Mr Trump next year. |
| In other words, it is nothing less than the White House at stake. | In other words, it is nothing less than the White House at stake. |
| Where does this row stem from? | Where does this row stem from? |
| Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation on 25 July this year. | Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone conversation on 25 July this year. |
| A rough transcript of the call shows that the US president pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate former Vice-President Biden and his son, who was a board member for a company owned by a Ukrainian oligarch. | A rough transcript of the call shows that the US president pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate former Vice-President Biden and his son, who was a board member for a company owned by a Ukrainian oligarch. |
| The call came after the Trump administration had delayed releasing US military funds to Ukraine until mid-September. | The call came after the Trump administration had delayed releasing US military funds to Ukraine until mid-September. |
| Mr Trump also referenced the 2016 hacking of the Democratic email server in the call to Mr Zelensky, and seemed to imply that the server still exists somewhere in Ukraine. | Mr Trump also referenced the 2016 hacking of the Democratic email server in the call to Mr Zelensky, and seemed to imply that the server still exists somewhere in Ukraine. |
| The US president says he has done nothing wrong, calling the impeachment proceedings a "joke". | The US president says he has done nothing wrong, calling the impeachment proceedings a "joke". |
| He has accused Democrats of themselves threatening Mr Zelensky by withholding their votes on US laws affecting Ukraine, and says the controversy was created in order to distract from Mr Trump's meetings at the United Nations. | He has accused Democrats of themselves threatening Mr Zelensky by withholding their votes on US laws affecting Ukraine, and says the controversy was created in order to distract from Mr Trump's meetings at the United Nations. |
| What are other US politicians saying? | What are other US politicians saying? |
| Congressional Democrats say the phone call - raised by a whistleblower in a formal complaint - is proof Mr Trump brought improper pressure on a foreign power for personal gain. | Congressional Democrats say the phone call - raised by a whistleblower in a formal complaint - is proof Mr Trump brought improper pressure on a foreign power for personal gain. |
| Democrats say the president wanted the Ukrainians to start the investigation into corruption because this could sully the reputation of Hunter and his father. | Democrats say the president wanted the Ukrainians to start the investigation into corruption because this could sully the reputation of Hunter and his father. |
| Several Republicans came forward after the partial transcript of the call was released to defend Mr Trump. This shows the partisan nature of the controversy, which has - like much else in Washington - been divided by party politics. | Several Republicans came forward after the partial transcript of the call was released to defend Mr Trump. This shows the partisan nature of the controversy, which has - like much else in Washington - been divided by party politics. |
| However, at least one Republican, Mitt Romney, a US senator from Utah, said he would like to know more. | However, at least one Republican, Mitt Romney, a US senator from Utah, said he would like to know more. |
| What was in the whistleblower's complaint? | What was in the whistleblower's complaint? |
| Citing information from "more than half a dozen" US officials, the whistleblower - who has not been named - alleges that President Trump solicited interference from Ukraine in the upcoming 2020 election. | Citing information from "more than half a dozen" US officials, the whistleblower - who has not been named - alleges that President Trump solicited interference from Ukraine in the upcoming 2020 election. |
| The nine-page document cites Mr Trump's 25 July call with President Zelensky, during which Mr Trump allegedly pressured Mr Zelensky to investigate Biden family activity, and to find and hand over any servers belonging to the Democratic National Convention. | The nine-page document cites Mr Trump's 25 July call with President Zelensky, during which Mr Trump allegedly pressured Mr Zelensky to investigate Biden family activity, and to find and hand over any servers belonging to the Democratic National Convention. |
| The whistleblower alleges that, after realising the gravity of discussions, White House officials tried to cover up details of the call by moving the transcript into a separate system used to store classified information. | The whistleblower alleges that, after realising the gravity of discussions, White House officials tried to cover up details of the call by moving the transcript into a separate system used to store classified information. |
| Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was reportedly a "central figure" in efforts to pressure Ukraine over Mr Trump's demands, and met several Ukrainian officials as the president's "personal envoy". | Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was reportedly a "central figure" in efforts to pressure Ukraine over Mr Trump's demands, and met several Ukrainian officials as the president's "personal envoy". |
| The complaint also alleges that in early July - weeks before his call with President Zelensky - Mr Trump ordered officials to cut US military aid to Ukraine without giving any explanation. | The complaint also alleges that in early July - weeks before his call with President Zelensky - Mr Trump ordered officials to cut US military aid to Ukraine without giving any explanation. |
| In their letter, the whistleblower admits that they did not directly witness the events, but said the accounts shared by other officials had been consistent. | In their letter, the whistleblower admits that they did not directly witness the events, but said the accounts shared by other officials had been consistent. |
| The complaint itself was released to the House and Senate Intelligence committees on Wednesday and reports suggest that negotiations are under way to allow the whistleblower to testify. | The complaint itself was released to the House and Senate Intelligence committees on Wednesday and reports suggest that negotiations are under way to allow the whistleblower to testify. |
| Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, has been testifying publicly before the House Intelligence Committee. | Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, has been testifying publicly before the House Intelligence Committee. |
| Earlier this week, President Trump pledged to release the transcript of his phone call with Mr Zelensky - which he said would prove the call was "totally appropriate". | Earlier this week, President Trump pledged to release the transcript of his phone call with Mr Zelensky - which he said would prove the call was "totally appropriate". |
| The transcript released, however, was not a full, verbatim account, but rather notes of the conversation taken by US officials who listened in. | The transcript released, however, was not a full, verbatim account, but rather notes of the conversation taken by US officials who listened in. |
| Did the president do something illegal? | Did the president do something illegal? |
| The most damning allegation is that the president pressured a foreign leader for damaging information about a political opponent while holding out the prospect of US military aid. | The most damning allegation is that the president pressured a foreign leader for damaging information about a political opponent while holding out the prospect of US military aid. |
| Is that illegal? We do have some very recent precedent. | Is that illegal? We do have some very recent precedent. |
| It certainly recalls the recently concluded two-year Robert Mueller investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russian election-meddling in 2016. | It certainly recalls the recently concluded two-year Robert Mueller investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russian election-meddling in 2016. |
| The special counsel's report detailed multiple contacts between the campaign and Russian nationals, including the June 2016 meeting between top campaign officials such as Donald Trump Jr and several Russians with ties to the Kremlin. | The special counsel's report detailed multiple contacts between the campaign and Russian nationals, including the June 2016 meeting between top campaign officials such as Donald Trump Jr and several Russians with ties to the Kremlin. |
| There has been some debate over whether soliciting opposition research from a foreign government constitutes a campaign finance violation, but Mr Mueller declined to file charges. | There has been some debate over whether soliciting opposition research from a foreign government constitutes a campaign finance violation, but Mr Mueller declined to file charges. |
| Mr Trump's Ukrainian call could also potentially run afoul of federal bribery statutes. The special counsel concluded that Justice Department policy guidelines prohibit a sitting president from being indicted, however, so even if Mr Trump did commit some kind of crime with his actions, he's safe at the moment from criminal prosecution. | Mr Trump's Ukrainian call could also potentially run afoul of federal bribery statutes. The special counsel concluded that Justice Department policy guidelines prohibit a sitting president from being indicted, however, so even if Mr Trump did commit some kind of crime with his actions, he's safe at the moment from criminal prosecution. |
| With this in mind, a more relevant question might be … | With this in mind, a more relevant question might be … |
| Did Mr Trump commit an impeachable offence? | Did Mr Trump commit an impeachable offence? |
| The constitutional process for handling a president who committed illegal and-or unethical acts is impeachment by a majority of the House of Representatives and conviction and removal by a two-thirds majority of the US Senate. | The constitutional process for handling a president who committed illegal and-or unethical acts is impeachment by a majority of the House of Representatives and conviction and removal by a two-thirds majority of the US Senate. |
| The US constitution outlines the grounds for impeachment as "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours". When it comes down to it, an "impeachable offense" is whatever a majority of the House says it is. | The US constitution outlines the grounds for impeachment as "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours". When it comes down to it, an "impeachable offense" is whatever a majority of the House says it is. |
| Ever since the conclusion of the Mueller investigation, the drumbeat for impeachment among Democrats - who hold a comfortable majority in the House - has been steadily increasing. Initially, however, the House Democratic leadership was loath to push ahead with a formal investigation that could lead to an impeachment vote. | Ever since the conclusion of the Mueller investigation, the drumbeat for impeachment among Democrats - who hold a comfortable majority in the House - has been steadily increasing. Initially, however, the House Democratic leadership was loath to push ahead with a formal investigation that could lead to an impeachment vote. |
| Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had suggested that such a move could damage the electoral prospects of Democrats in moderate congressional districts and would in the end be meaningless because the Republicans who hold the majority in the Senate would never vote to remove the president. | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had suggested that such a move could damage the electoral prospects of Democrats in moderate congressional districts and would in the end be meaningless because the Republicans who hold the majority in the Senate would never vote to remove the president. |
| But then on Tuesday, Ms Pelosi announced that Democrats were opening a formal impeachment inquiry. | But then on Tuesday, Ms Pelosi announced that Democrats were opening a formal impeachment inquiry. |
| She said the president had committed "a violation of the law", and called his actions "a breach of his constitutional responsibilities". She said he "must be held accountable". | She said the president had committed "a violation of the law", and called his actions "a breach of his constitutional responsibilities". She said he "must be held accountable". |
| Is there anything to these allegations about Joe Biden and his son? | Is there anything to these allegations about Joe Biden and his son? |
| The allegations against the Bidens pushed by Mr Trump and his lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, centre on the then-vice-president's successful effort to force out top Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin in 2016. | The allegations against the Bidens pushed by Mr Trump and his lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, centre on the then-vice-president's successful effort to force out top Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin in 2016. |
| From early 2014 Hunter Biden was on the board of an energy company Burisma Holdings. The following year Mr Shokin said that Burisma was among those companies he had in his sights on as he sought to tackle corruption. | |
| By 2016 there were concerns within the Obama administration that Mr Shokin had not aggressively enough pursued corruption cases and Vice-President Biden issued an ultimatum to Ukraine's parliament to dismiss Mr Shokin or lose US loan guarantees. | |
| At the time, by working closely with foreign owned entities while his father was playing a key foreign policy role in the White House, Hunter Biden was criticised for leaving his father exposed to suggestions of a possible conflict of interest. | |
| Mr Trump and Mr Giuliani allege Mr Biden was acting to protect his son but the vice-president was not the only high-profile figure calling for Mr Shokin's dismissal and at the time the Ukrainian prosecutor was accused of not doing enough to investigate Burisma rather than being too tough. | |
| In addition, Mr Shokin's replacement, Yuriy Lutsenko, continued to investigate Burisima for 10 months before ending all legal proceedings. | In addition, Mr Shokin's replacement, Yuriy Lutsenko, continued to investigate Burisima for 10 months before ending all legal proceedings. |
| No evidence has emerged that Mr Biden took any action to intentionally benefit his son nor is there any evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter. |