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Trump-Ukraine scandal: memo shows president pushed for Biden investigation – live Trump-Ukraine scandal: memo shows president pushed for Biden investigation – live
(32 minutes later)
It seems likely that the transcript released by the White House does not include all of the conversation that took place between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Representative Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, compared Trump’s comments to the Ukrainian president to “a classic mob shakedown.”
The transcript of the call reads like a classic mob shakedown:– We do a lot for Ukraine– There’s not much reciprocity– I have a favor to ask– Investigate my opponent– My people will be in touch Nice country you got there.It would be a shame if something happened to her.
Some of Trump’s congressional allies are rushing to claim that the White House memo proves Democrats’ fears about the Ukraine call were baseless – a claim directly contradicted by the memo itself.
From the top Republican on the House judiciary committee:
The transcript between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky reveals that Democrats have again leapt to conclusions before looking at the facts. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/7R1YhH308z
From the chairman of the House freedom caucus:
I've read the transcript and the Democrat spin was wrong... again- President Zelensky initiated the Giuliani convo and asked the WH to send him to Ukraine- ZERO discussion of foreign aid quid pro quoThat's it? THAT'S what Democrats are impeaching on?Give me a break.
It is true that the Ukrainian president was the first to bring up Rudy Giuliani, according to the memo the White House released. But Trump then pushed Zelenskiy to talk to Giuliani and specifically referenced a possible investigation of Joe Biden, which the Ukrainian president had not mentioned at all.
At least one Republican lawmaker is openly voicing his discomfort with the memo’s contents. Senator Mitt Romney, who previously voiced concern about the Ukraine allegations, said he found the transcript “deeply troubling.”
He asks Romney, what do you do beyond being troubled by it?ROMNEY: “Well there’s a process that the House is pursuing, the Senate is also looking at the testimony of the whistleblower so there is an evaluation of gathering more facts.”
Speaking to reporters in New York, Trump insisted the White House memo proved his conversation with the Ukrainian president was a “nothing call” – an argument directly contradicted by the contents of the document.
“The way you had that built up, that call, it was going to be the call from hell,” Trump said. “It turned out to be a nothing call, other than a lot of people said I never knew you could so nice.”
In first remarks after release of Ukraine transcript, Pres. Trump says, "The way you had that built up, that call, it was going to be the call from hell. It turned out to be a nothing call, other than a lot of people said I never knew you could so nice." https://t.co/EU63L2mY3R pic.twitter.com/zPcbq3NApT
But the White House memo, which again is not a verbatim transcript of the call, clearly shows that Trump brought up a possible investigation of Joe Biden in a discussion about providing military aid to Ukraine.
Close readers of the memo put out by the White House note that Trump appears to ask for “a favor” from the Ukrainian president immediately after the subject of military aid is raised.
That raises the possibility that Trump was posing a possible investigation of Joe Biden as a “quid pro quo” for the funding.
That "though" from Trump, coming right after the Ukranian leader raises "next steps" in military aid, may be the single key word in transcript. It directly connects Trump's desire 4 an investigation w/the Ukranian desire for military aid. You want something: I need a favor first https://t.co/XmM6Fbvjdu
It’s important to remember that the document the White House released does not represent a verbatim readout of the conversation between Trump and the Ukrainian president.
In fact, the document includes repeated ellipses at points where the conversation appeared to turn to an investigation of Joe Biden.
These are not randomly timed ellipses. This cuts out words at the exact moment of the ask and exactly whey the full transcript is vital. pic.twitter.com/twec50QSf7
Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren said the transcript of Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president is, in and of itself, a “smoking gun.”
This "transcript" itself is a smoking gun. If this is the version of events the president's team thinks is most favorable, he is in very deep jeopardy. We need to see the full whistleblower complaint and the administration needs to follow the law. Now. https://t.co/b56nLZZpRi
It is likely that many Democrats will soon echo the argument that the transcript proves the need for lawmakers to see the full whistleblower complaint.
Speaking in New York, Trump appeared to stick to his argument that the memorandum of the Ukraine call reflected very well upon him.
On how people were reacting to the memo, Trump said, “A lot of people said, ‘I never knew you could be so nice.’”
He blamed coverage of the memo, which clearly shows that Trump brought up an investigation of Joe Biden with the Ukrainian president in a conversation about military aid to the country, on “corrupt” journalists.
It seems likely that the memo released by the White House does not include all of the conversation that took place between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The transcript text is right around 2,000 words, and the call took exactly 30 min — that's about 66 words per minute.That's quite slow — roughly half normal speaking rate. (Zelensky is fluent in English.)Could suggest how much text isn't included. https://t.co/xoU7r6bxgrThe transcript text is right around 2,000 words, and the call took exactly 30 min — that's about 66 words per minute.That's quite slow — roughly half normal speaking rate. (Zelensky is fluent in English.)Could suggest how much text isn't included. https://t.co/xoU7r6bxgr
Even before the transcript was released, journalists and national security experts warned that the transcript released would not be a verbatim readout of the conversation. Even before the memo was released, journalists and national security experts warned that the document released would not be a verbatim readout of the conversation.
Reminder: It’s not actually a transcript. The “transcript” of this call will be more like the Barr Summary of the Mueller Report—simplified and spun positively. It’s why the president wants to release the transcript before anyone sees the underlying complaint.... https://t.co/HFsaY0XnfeReminder: It’s not actually a transcript. The “transcript” of this call will be more like the Barr Summary of the Mueller Report—simplified and spun positively. It’s why the president wants to release the transcript before anyone sees the underlying complaint.... https://t.co/HFsaY0Xnfe
But that fact really sparks the question: if this is the positive spin on the conversation, what incriminating information is in the whistleblower complaint?But that fact really sparks the question: if this is the positive spin on the conversation, what incriminating information is in the whistleblower complaint?
The criminal division of the Justice Department declined to open an investigation into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine after a whistleblower raised concerns about his communications, according to the New York Times.The criminal division of the Justice Department declined to open an investigation into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine after a whistleblower raised concerns about his communications, according to the New York Times.
The Times reports:The Times reports:
After a whistle-blower raised concerns about Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the director of national intelligence and the inspector general for the intelligence community each referred the complaint for a possible criminal investigation into the president’s actions, according to a Justice Department official.After a whistle-blower raised concerns about Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the director of national intelligence and the inspector general for the intelligence community each referred the complaint for a possible criminal investigation into the president’s actions, according to a Justice Department official.
The department’s criminal division reviewed the matters and concluded that there was no basis for a criminal investigation into Mr. Trump’s behavior. Law enforcement officials determined that the transcript of the call did not show that Mr. Trump had violated campaign finance laws by soliciting from a foreign national a contribution, donation or thing of value.The department’s criminal division reviewed the matters and concluded that there was no basis for a criminal investigation into Mr. Trump’s behavior. Law enforcement officials determined that the transcript of the call did not show that Mr. Trump had violated campaign finance laws by soliciting from a foreign national a contribution, donation or thing of value.
The Justice Department has released a statement asserting that the attorney general, William Barr, has not spoken with Trump about urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.The Justice Department has released a statement asserting that the attorney general, William Barr, has not spoken with Trump about urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.
According to the memorandum of his call with the Ukrainian president, Trump repeatedly encouraged Volodymyr Zelenskiy to work with Barr and Rudy Giuliani on an investigation.According to the memorandum of his call with the Ukrainian president, Trump repeatedly encouraged Volodymyr Zelenskiy to work with Barr and Rudy Giuliani on an investigation.
"The President has not spoken with the Attorney General about having Ukraine investigate anything relating to former Vice President Biden or his son. The President has not asked the Attorney General to contact Ukraine – on this or any other matter" pic.twitter.com/HQYgP0NxR2"The President has not spoken with the Attorney General about having Ukraine investigate anything relating to former Vice President Biden or his son. The President has not asked the Attorney General to contact Ukraine – on this or any other matter" pic.twitter.com/HQYgP0NxR2
Republican lawmakers are surprised that the White House chose to release this memorandum of the Ukraine call, particularly after Trump insisted it would exonerate him. The president even said this morning that Democrats would “apologize” after seeing it.Republican lawmakers are surprised that the White House chose to release this memorandum of the Ukraine call, particularly after Trump insisted it would exonerate him. The president even said this morning that Democrats would “apologize” after seeing it.
Several Senate Republicans I've spoken with in the last hour are stunned that the WH is releasing this transcript. They do not think it helps the president's cause. And they expect today's Senate GOP lunch to be quite the get-together.Several Senate Republicans I've spoken with in the last hour are stunned that the WH is releasing this transcript. They do not think it helps the president's cause. And they expect today's Senate GOP lunch to be quite the get-together.
A HuffPost reporter mocked Trump’s repeated assertions that the memorandum would clear him of any wrongdoing in his communications with Ukraine.A HuffPost reporter mocked Trump’s repeated assertions that the memorandum would clear him of any wrongdoing in his communications with Ukraine.
So this is the summary of the transcript that the White House thinks exonerates Trump?That’s interesting. I just find that position so INTERESTING.So this is the summary of the transcript that the White House thinks exonerates Trump?That’s interesting. I just find that position so INTERESTING.
Trump repeatedly mentioned his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in his phone call with the Ukrainian president and encouraged Zelenskiy to work with him in an investigation.Trump repeatedly mentioned his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in his phone call with the Ukrainian president and encouraged Zelenskiy to work with him in an investigation.
“Mr. Giuliani is a highly respected man. He was the mayor bf New York City, a great mayor, and I would like him to call you,” Trump said, according to the memorandum.“Mr. Giuliani is a highly respected man. He was the mayor bf New York City, a great mayor, and I would like him to call you,” Trump said, according to the memorandum.
“I will ask him to call you along with the Attorney General. Rudy very much knows what’s happening and he is a very capable guy. If you could speak to him that would be great.”“I will ask him to call you along with the Attorney General. Rudy very much knows what’s happening and he is a very capable guy. If you could speak to him that would be great.”
Trump repeated his suggestion for Zelensky to talk to Giuliani before concluding the call. “I will tell Rudy and Attorney General Barr to call,” Trump said.Trump repeated his suggestion for Zelensky to talk to Giuliani before concluding the call. “I will tell Rudy and Attorney General Barr to call,” Trump said.
Hillary Clinton announced in the wake of the memorandum’s release that she supported impeaching Trump.
The president of the United States has betrayed our country. That’s not a political statement—it’s a harsh reality, and we must act. He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.
Trump specifically asked the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to launch an investigation, invoking special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony a day before the call took place.
“I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike,” Trump said.
“I would like to have the Attorney General call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it. As you saw yesterday, that whole nonsense ended with a very poor performance by a man named Robert Mueller, an incompetent performance, but they say a lot of it started with Ukraine. Whatever you can do, it’s very important that you do it if that’s possible.”
The reference to Crowdstrike is unclear, although a cybersecurity firm by that name conducted an analysis of the Democratic National Committee hack in 2016 and determined that two groups connected to the Russian government were behind the attack.
A newly released memorandum from the White House shows Trump discussed Joe Biden, Rudy Giuliani and special counsel Robert Mueller in his conversation with the Ukrainian president.
“There’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the attorney general would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it ... It sounds horrible to me,” Trump said.
The blog briefly interrupts impeachment coverage to provide a critical update on another important matter: whether Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, was asleep during the president’s speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday.
It certainly looked that way to many viewers of the speech. At one point, a camera panned to Ross and other senior White House officials in the audience for several moments, during which the commerce secretary never opened his eyes.
Wilbur Ross appears to be sleeping. #unga pic.twitter.com/VGAwtFQAhc
Ross has now provided a statement to the Guardian in which he clarified that he was not asleep, merely “concentrating” on the president’s speech.
“This is fake news,” Ross said. “I wear hearing aids and, during President Trump’s inspiring speech, which covered in detail the entire range of significant issues facing the world, was concentrating on what was being said.”
Meanwhile, over on Capitol Hill – a shining example of the depth and maturity of US government – House Republicans are handing out impeachment Mad Libs in their morning caucus meeting.
.⁦@SteveScalise⁩ is handing out MAD LIBS IMPEACHMENT GAMES at GOP conference this am. Stands to show: House Rs are salivating over the prospect of using impeachment against the majority, politically -> pic.twitter.com/J2Dsu5ERnu
Many Republicans believe impeachment could be beneficial for them politically, activating their base and aggravating centrist voters who turned away from them in the 2018 midterms.
There has already been some anecdotal evidence to substantiate that argument. Trump’s reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee raised around $1 million yesterday by sending emails to supporters, encouraging them to join the “Official Impeachment Defense Task Force.”
Trump was reportedly taken aback by Nancy Pelosi’s impeachment announcement, incorrectly believing that his morning phone call to the House speaker yesterday had assuaged her concerns.
Pelosi mentioned the phone call in her appearance at the Atlantic Festival yesterday. She said Trump called to discuss gun legislation but that the conversation veered into “other things.” The speaker declined to elaborate on what those “other things” were.
CNN reports:
He had felt confident after phoning Pelosi earlier that morning. ... It was after that call that Trump made the decision to release an ‘unredacted’ version of the transcript of his July call -- against the advice of aides such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who warned him it would set a risky precedent. Trump wanted to undercut the argument from Democrats that he acted inappropriately, he said, and felt he had nothing to hide.
But when the announcement he would release the transcript did little to quell the growing calls for his impeachment, Trump was in disbelief.
Trump is still tweeting away, insisting that Democrats should “apologize” after they see the transcript of his phone call with the Ukrainian president, which is expected to be released as soon as this morning.
Will the Democrats apologize after seeing what was said on the call with the Ukrainian President? They should, a perfect call - got them by surprise!
But Democrats have consistently said since reports of the call emerged that seeing the transcript would not be enough. They want the full whistleblower complaint, which may rely on more information than just one phone call between the two presidents.
Trump and his allies are likely to argue once the transcript is released that it totally answers any and all questions Democrats might have. But Pelosi and her caucus members have already made clear that it will not stop their investigation into the call.
Trump has been consistently tweeting since Nancy Pelosi made her impeachment announcement yesterday evening.
“The Democrats have been talking about Impeaching Donald Trump since before he was inaugurated.” @SteveDoocy @foxandfriends And for no reason other than the great success we are having with the Economy, the Military, Vets, Tax and Regulation Cuts, HealthCare, and so much more!
The president has shared several clips from Fox News with sympathetic hosts and commentators arguing that impeachment is a desperate ploy on the part of Democrats who are hell-bent on ousting Trump.
"They (Dems) are scrambling for a theme and narrative. They've gone everywhere from Russian Hoax to Russian Collusion...and now they've come to this...they think they should have won the 2016 election, they think in their bizarre brains that they did..." pic.twitter.com/xqYFEAzT8D
Of course, Pelosi said herself yesterday that she had tried to avoid launching a formal impeachment inquiry, despite ardent urging by many members of her caucus.
The House speaker previously said she would not take this step unless she felt her caucus members had the strongest possible case to make on impeachment. Apparently she thinks that now they do.
Trump continues to lash out against Democratic lawmakers in the wake of Nancy Pelosi’s impeachment announcement, retweeting allies and accusing House Democrats of pursuing a “Witch Hunt.”
There has been no President in the history of our Country who has been treated so badly as I have. The Democrats are frozen with hatred and fear. They get nothing done. This should never be allowed to happen to another President. Witch Hunt!
Good morning, live blog readers!
Well, here we are: the day after the official start of House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry. With her announcement, Nancy Pelosi signaled her caucus is entering a new phase of its investigations of Donald Trump – and the president’s team is already giving the House speaker plenty of material to work with.
Appearing on “Fox and Friends” this morning, Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, said the transcript of the president’s call with the leader of Ukraine had been read to him. When asked whether he had heard the whole transcript, Giuliani replied, “I hope.”
Here is Rudy Giuliani, who is not a government official, saying on Fox & Friends that the transcript of Trump's call to president of Ukraine -- one that's at the heart of a whistleblower complaint -- was read to him. Congress still hasn't been able to see it. pic.twitter.com/CpioFcAsqX
The answer is sure to spark concerns for House Democrats. Why, they might ask, was a private citizen allowed to hear the transcript of the call before the elected lawmakers who have specifically requested information on whether Trump tried to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden?
Giuliani’s comments come on the heals of a Washington Post report asserting that the president’s personal lawyer was deeply involved with pressuring Ukraine in the hopes of politically benefiting Trump.
The Post reports:
‘Rudy — he did all of this,’ one U.S. official said. ‘This s---show that we’re in — it’s him injecting himself into the process.’
Several officials traced their initial concerns about the path of U.S.-Ukrainian relations to news reports and interviews granted by Giuliani in which he began to espouse views and concerns that did not appear connected to U.S. priorities or policy.
The former New York mayor appears to have seen [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy, a political neophyte elected president of Ukraine in April and sworn in in May, as a potential ally on two political fronts: punishing those Giuliani suspected of playing a role in exposing the Ukraine-related corruption of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and delivering political ammunition against Biden.
It seems virtually certain that Giuliani will soon be dragged in front of one (or more) House committees to answer questions on these allegations. But whether the White House will actually let him answer is far less certain.
Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today:
Trump is still in New York and will meet with the Ukrainian president at 2:15 p.m. EST.
The House Democratic caucus will hold a meeting this morning, where members will surely discuss next steps in the impeachment inquiry.
Senator Mitt Romney and representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, will appear at the Atlantic Festival today.
That’s all still coming up, so stay tuned.