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Trump-Ukraine scandal: Taylor transcript details direct quid pro quo via irregular channels – live | Trump-Ukraine scandal: Taylor transcript details direct quid pro quo via irregular channels – live |
(32 minutes later) | |
House has released the transcript of US diplomat Bill Taylor’s testimony, which describes the existence of a parallel foreign policy approach to Ukraine | House has released the transcript of US diplomat Bill Taylor’s testimony, which describes the existence of a parallel foreign policy approach to Ukraine |
The former attorney general that earned Donald Trump’s ire for recusing himself from Russia probe is planning to enter the Alabama senate race, according to reports. He’ll be running for his former senate seat, which is occupied for two decades, from 1997 to 2017. | |
Sessions would have to face-off against opponents in the Alabama GOP primaries and against Trump, doesn’t seem to have forgiven Sessions. | |
Kentucky’s Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is asking officials to double check the results of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election. Tallies last night put Democrat Andy Beshear ahead Bevin by just over 5,000 votes. | |
Bevin wants officials to recheck and recanvass of the voting machines and absentee ballots. He cited “irregularities” but didn’t provide any other details to journalists at a press conference. | |
Bevin’s campaign manager said, in a statement: “The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.” | |
Beshear has claimed victory and has indicated he’ll soon be naming members of his cabinet as he transitions to take the governor’s seat. But Bevin has refused to concede. | |
Recanvassing rarely yields different results. | |
Rudy Giuliani, who is not just a lawyer, but the president’s lawyer, has recruited three attorneys to represent him, as New York federal prosecutors look into his business dealings. | Rudy Giuliani, who is not just a lawyer, but the president’s lawyer, has recruited three attorneys to represent him, as New York federal prosecutors look into his business dealings. |
It doesn’t suggest Giuliani has that much confidence in his own law skills, but anyway it’s ok because according to Giuliani: “The evidence, when revealed fully, will show that this present farce is as much a frame-up and hoax as Russian collusion, maybe worse, and will prove the President is innocent.” | It doesn’t suggest Giuliani has that much confidence in his own law skills, but anyway it’s ok because according to Giuliani: “The evidence, when revealed fully, will show that this present farce is as much a frame-up and hoax as Russian collusion, maybe worse, and will prove the President is innocent.” |
Giuliani’s interactions with Ukrainian officials, including efforts to seek the removal of the US ambassador, have become entangled in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. | Giuliani’s interactions with Ukrainian officials, including efforts to seek the removal of the US ambassador, have become entangled in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. |
It seems Elizabeth Warren has lost that important Bill Gates demographic: | It seems Elizabeth Warren has lost that important Bill Gates demographic: |
Ps: regarding Warren sitting down “with someone who has as much money as he has”... Gates is the second richest person in the world. | Ps: regarding Warren sitting down “with someone who has as much money as he has”... Gates is the second richest person in the world. |
Here’s a stock statement from Amy Klobuchar’s campaign manager on her making the December debate. (By achieving 5% in a poll which had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.5%): | Here’s a stock statement from Amy Klobuchar’s campaign manager on her making the December debate. (By achieving 5% in a poll which had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.5%): |
Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, with Joe Biden in fourth place in the second poll in less than a week. | Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, with Joe Biden in fourth place in the second poll in less than a week. |
Warren was at 20% in the poll, released on Wednesday, with Buttigieg second on 19% and Sanders in third place with 17%. The poll had an error margin of 4.5%. | Warren was at 20% in the poll, released on Wednesday, with Buttigieg second on 19% and Sanders in third place with 17%. The poll had an error margin of 4.5%. |
Biden was the choice of just 15% of respondents – unwelcome news for the former vice-president after a New York Times/Siena College poll also found him in fourth place on November 1. That survey also found Warren in the lead. | Biden was the choice of just 15% of respondents – unwelcome news for the former vice-president after a New York Times/Siena College poll also found him in fourth place on November 1. That survey also found Warren in the lead. |
Amy Klobuchar was at 5%, which qualifies her for the December Democrat debate, while Tulsi Gabbard got 4%, meaning she makes the stage in November. | Amy Klobuchar was at 5%, which qualifies her for the December Democrat debate, while Tulsi Gabbard got 4%, meaning she makes the stage in November. |
Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan will visit the White House next week, Donald Trump has announced. | Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan will visit the White House next week, Donald Trump has announced. |
Erdogan, who has been widely condemned by the international community after launching a bloody assault on Kurdish forces in Syria, will travel to Washington on Wednesday, November 13. | Erdogan, who has been widely condemned by the international community after launching a bloody assault on Kurdish forces in Syria, will travel to Washington on Wednesday, November 13. |
By a quirk of fate – or otherwise – the high profile visit will coincide with the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry. | By a quirk of fate – or otherwise – the high profile visit will coincide with the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry. |
Turkey’s assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria – which came after Trump abruptly pulled out US forces – has been roundly criticized, including by a number of Republicans. | Turkey’s assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria – which came after Trump abruptly pulled out US forces – has been roundly criticized, including by a number of Republicans. |
The Kurds had been crucial allies to the US in the fight against Isis. In October the House of Representatives, including a majority of Republicans, voted overwhelmingly to condemn Trump for the troop withdrawal. | The Kurds had been crucial allies to the US in the fight against Isis. In October the House of Representatives, including a majority of Republicans, voted overwhelmingly to condemn Trump for the troop withdrawal. |
•There was a direct quid pro between the release of US military aid to Ukraine and a Ukrainian investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden, according to a transcript of the testimony by Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine. | •There was a direct quid pro between the release of US military aid to Ukraine and a Ukrainian investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden, according to a transcript of the testimony by Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine. |
•Taylor told the House he had a “clear understanding security assistance money would not come until the President [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the investigation”. His account matches that of others who have testified in the impeachment inquiry. | •Taylor told the House he had a “clear understanding security assistance money would not come until the President [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the investigation”. His account matches that of others who have testified in the impeachment inquiry. |
•Taylor’s testimony also supported accounts of a backchannel of communication between the White House and Ukraine. Taylor alleged that Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, was keen for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “say out loud” he would investigate the Bidens. | •Taylor’s testimony also supported accounts of a backchannel of communication between the White House and Ukraine. Taylor alleged that Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, was keen for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “say out loud” he would investigate the Bidens. |
•Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee, said Taylor’s testimony “reveals how, through a shadow foreign policy channel, Trump withheld military assistance and a White House meeting from Ukraine until Ukrainian officials agreed to announce investigations to help Trump politically”. | •Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee, said Taylor’s testimony “reveals how, through a shadow foreign policy channel, Trump withheld military assistance and a White House meeting from Ukraine until Ukrainian officials agreed to announce investigations to help Trump politically”. |
Bill Taylor sent reams of information, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and handwritten notes, to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an attempt to draw attention to the withholding of US assistance to Ukraine, Taylor testified. | Bill Taylor sent reams of information, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and handwritten notes, to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an attempt to draw attention to the withholding of US assistance to Ukraine, Taylor testified. |
According to three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry, the State Department then refused to hand that over to investigators. | According to three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry, the State Department then refused to hand that over to investigators. |
Taylor said that he sent a cable to Pompeo – at the suggestion of since-fired national security advisor John Bolton – about “security assistance” to Ukraine. | Taylor said that he sent a cable to Pompeo – at the suggestion of since-fired national security advisor John Bolton – about “security assistance” to Ukraine. |
Included in that cable, Taylor said, were texts he exchanged with US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker: texts where Taylor asked whether the US paying military aid to Ukraine was dependent on Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Taylor said the cable also included WhatsApp messages and handwritten, “careful notes”. | Included in that cable, Taylor said, were texts he exchanged with US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker: texts where Taylor asked whether the US paying military aid to Ukraine was dependent on Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Taylor said the cable also included WhatsApp messages and handwritten, “careful notes”. |
In a document of excerpts of Taylor’s testimony, the House committees on Intelligence, Oversight and Reform, and Foreign Affairs noted: | In a document of excerpts of Taylor’s testimony, the House committees on Intelligence, Oversight and Reform, and Foreign Affairs noted: |
“The State Department refused to produce to the Committees documents that Ambassador Taylor provided to the Department.” | “The State Department refused to produce to the Committees documents that Ambassador Taylor provided to the Department.” |
This is the take from Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee: | This is the take from Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee: |
No word from the White House yet. | No word from the White House yet. |