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Trump 'cared more about investigations of Biden' than Ukraine policy, says impeachment witness – live Trump 'cared more about investigations of Biden' than Ukraine policy, says impeachment witness – live
(32 minutes later)
Bill Taylor says that his staffer overheard Trump asking about ‘investigations’ in Ukraine, during testimony in first day of public impeachment hearingBill Taylor says that his staffer overheard Trump asking about ‘investigations’ in Ukraine, during testimony in first day of public impeachment hearing
Trump’s press secretary is trumpeting efforts by Republicans on the House intelligence committee to paint Bill Taylor and George Kent’s testimony as the result of hearsay, emphasizing that neither ever spoke with the president.
However, a number of commentators responded to Grisham’s argument by noting that the White House has tried to block the testimony of officials who regularly speak to Trump.
Representative Mike Turner’s combative questioning of Bill Taylor and George Kent represented quite a reversal from a September hearing with the acting director of national intelligence, during which the Republican congressman expressed concern about Trump’s Ukraine call.
Representative Mike Turner, a more moderate Republican on the House intelligence committee, just grilled Bill Taylor and George Kent and dismissed their testimony as the result of hearsay.
The combative performance by one of the more moderate Republicans on the committee demonstrated once again that the likely eventual vote on articles of impeachment against Trump will almost certainly fall along party lines.
Bill Taylor has had to repeatedly emphasize his nonpartisan position while taking questions from the Republican members of the House intelligence committee.
Representative John Ratcliffe, whom Trump previously planned to nominate as director of national intelligence, asked Taylor and George Kent whether they believed anything impeachable had occurred.
“I’m not here to do anything having to do with, to decide about impeachment,” Taylor said. “That is not what either of us are here to do. This is your job.”
Jim Jordan belittled the testimony of Bill Taylor and expressed bafflement that his Democratic colleagues consider the longtime diplomat to be their “star witness.”Jim Jordan belittled the testimony of Bill Taylor and expressed bafflement that his Democratic colleagues consider the longtime diplomat to be their “star witness.”
Taylor responded by again emphasizing he was not testifying to help the political fortunes of either party. “I don’t consider myself a star witness for anything,” Taylor said. “I’m not here to take one side or the other.”Taylor responded by again emphasizing he was not testifying to help the political fortunes of either party. “I don’t consider myself a star witness for anything,” Taylor said. “I’m not here to take one side or the other.”
Taylor, who currently serves as the acting US ambassador to Ukraine, was first nominated to the post in Kyiv by former Republican president George W. Bush. Taylor, who currently serves as the acting US ambassador to Ukraine, was first nominated to the post in Kyiv by former Republican president George W Bush.
Jim Jordan, a Trump ally, echoed Republican messaging by trying to paint Bill Taylor’s knowledge of a potential quid pro quo as relying on secondhand information.Jim Jordan, a Trump ally, echoed Republican messaging by trying to paint Bill Taylor’s knowledge of a potential quid pro quo as relying on secondhand information.
However, this argument may fall apart next week, when a number of people who do have direct knowledge of the pressure campaign on Ukraine -- namely Gordon Sondland and Alexander Vindman -- testify publicly.However, this argument may fall apart next week, when a number of people who do have direct knowledge of the pressure campaign on Ukraine -- namely Gordon Sondland and Alexander Vindman -- testify publicly.
That said, Jordan appears to have succeeded at his short-term goal of creating a clip of Taylor acknowledging he did not listen to Trump’s Ukraine call or discuss a potential announcement of investigations with the Ukrainian president. It seems likely that exchange will play on Fox News tonight.That said, Jordan appears to have succeeded at his short-term goal of creating a clip of Taylor acknowledging he did not listen to Trump’s Ukraine call or discuss a potential announcement of investigations with the Ukrainian president. It seems likely that exchange will play on Fox News tonight.
The Democratic and Republican counsels have concluded their questioning, and the hearing has moved on to five-minute questioning from each member of the committee.The Democratic and Republican counsels have concluded their questioning, and the hearing has moved on to five-minute questioning from each member of the committee.
Representative Jim Jordan, one of the president’s closest allies, is now pressing Bill Taylor on his testimony that Ukraine’s military aid was tied to public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.Representative Jim Jordan, one of the president’s closest allies, is now pressing Bill Taylor on his testimony that Ukraine’s military aid was tied to public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
The Republican counsel appeared to be trying to get Bill Taylor to justify the Trump administration’s odd decision-making structure around Ukraine policy, prompting looks of bafflement of bemusement from the longtime diplomat.The Republican counsel appeared to be trying to get Bill Taylor to justify the Trump administration’s odd decision-making structure around Ukraine policy, prompting looks of bafflement of bemusement from the longtime diplomat.
The counsel for Republican members of the House intelligence committee, Steve Castor, is pressing Bill Taylor and George Kent on Hunter Biden’s qualifications to join the board of the Ukrainian company Burisma.The counsel for Republican members of the House intelligence committee, Steve Castor, is pressing Bill Taylor and George Kent on Hunter Biden’s qualifications to join the board of the Ukrainian company Burisma.
Given their decades of experience in public service, Taylor and Kent are unsurprisingly unfamiliar with the resume of Biden, the son of former vice president Joe Biden. Kent and Taylor responded to a number of Castor’s questions about Biden’s qualifications by simply saying, “I don’t know.”Given their decades of experience in public service, Taylor and Kent are unsurprisingly unfamiliar with the resume of Biden, the son of former vice president Joe Biden. Kent and Taylor responded to a number of Castor’s questions about Biden’s qualifications by simply saying, “I don’t know.”
Kent has testified he raised concerns in 2015 about the appearance of a conflict of interest in the younger Biden’s work for Burisma, but he emphasized he had seen no evidence of US officials hesitating to examine the company because of Biden’s role on the board.Kent has testified he raised concerns in 2015 about the appearance of a conflict of interest in the younger Biden’s work for Burisma, but he emphasized he had seen no evidence of US officials hesitating to examine the company because of Biden’s role on the board.
As Bill Taylor began his testimony this morning, there was a a stark difference in the coverage on Fox News and elsewhere. A box appeared next to Taylor onscreen, nominally giving background information on the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.As Bill Taylor began his testimony this morning, there was a a stark difference in the coverage on Fox News and elsewhere. A box appeared next to Taylor onscreen, nominally giving background information on the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.
Intriguingly, that background information was sourced from Donald Trump and the GOP’s criticism of Taylor.Intriguingly, that background information was sourced from Donald Trump and the GOP’s criticism of Taylor.
“President Trump dismissed Taylor as a ‘never Trumper’,” Fox News informed its viewers. It added: “White House called Taylor’s closed-door testimony ‘triple hearsay’.”“President Trump dismissed Taylor as a ‘never Trumper’,” Fox News informed its viewers. It added: “White House called Taylor’s closed-door testimony ‘triple hearsay’.”
Fox News offered less information on the actual substance of Taylor’s testimony: in which he said he had a “clear understanding” that the release of US aid was tied to Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Specifically, it offered no information.Fox News offered less information on the actual substance of Taylor’s testimony: in which he said he had a “clear understanding” that the release of US aid was tied to Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Specifically, it offered no information.
Other than that, Fox News has so far done its best to present Bill Taylor’s testimony as un-explosive.Other than that, Fox News has so far done its best to present Bill Taylor’s testimony as un-explosive.
As the rest of the media has marveled at Bill Taylor’s statement that Trump “cared more about investigations of Biden” than Ukraine policy, and that a Taylor staffer overheard a Trump phone call where the president asked about “the investigations”, much of Fox News’ coverage has adopted a “nothing to see here” approach.As the rest of the media has marveled at Bill Taylor’s statement that Trump “cared more about investigations of Biden” than Ukraine policy, and that a Taylor staffer overheard a Trump phone call where the president asked about “the investigations”, much of Fox News’ coverage has adopted a “nothing to see here” approach.
Across television news coverage, CNN, ABC and MSNBC have repeatedly changed their chyrons to represent the latest revelations from Taylor and George Kent’s testimony, Fox News has kept its own on-screen text staunchly neutral: “TAYLOR AND KENT TESTIFY IN FIRST IMPEACHMENT HEARING.” It was also the only channel to cut to an adbreak as Adam Schiff began questioning the two officials.Across television news coverage, CNN, ABC and MSNBC have repeatedly changed their chyrons to represent the latest revelations from Taylor and George Kent’s testimony, Fox News has kept its own on-screen text staunchly neutral: “TAYLOR AND KENT TESTIFY IN FIRST IMPEACHMENT HEARING.” It was also the only channel to cut to an adbreak as Adam Schiff began questioning the two officials.
Ari Fleischer, a former press secretary for George W. Bush, criticized the questioning of the lawyer speaking for the Republican members of the House intelligence committee. Ari Fleischer, a former press secretary for George W Bush, criticized the questioning of the lawyer speaking for the Republican members of the House intelligence committee.
Republicans on the House intelligence committee appear to be using their questioning time to add credibility to the baseless conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. (The US intelligence community has thoroughly confirmed that Russia interfered in the election.)Republicans on the House intelligence committee appear to be using their questioning time to add credibility to the baseless conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. (The US intelligence community has thoroughly confirmed that Russia interfered in the election.)
But it is worth noting that Republicans have not yet sought to counter Bill Taylor and George Kent’s testimony outlining a months-long campaign by Trump’s allies to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.But it is worth noting that Republicans have not yet sought to counter Bill Taylor and George Kent’s testimony outlining a months-long campaign by Trump’s allies to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
Representative Mark Meadows, one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, spoke to reporters during the recess of the first public impeachment hearing.
Asked about Bill Taylor’s testimony that one of his staffers overheard Trump asking about “investigations” in Ukraine, Meadows said, “Everybody has their impression of what truth is.”
It looks like the White House and its allies may be resuscitating “alternative facts” to push back against the impeachment inquiry.
The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has resumed, and the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, Devin Nunes, has started his questioning.
But “questioning” is a pretty loose term here because Nunes is currently using his time to accuse Democrats of misrepresenting Trump’s communications with Ukraine without posing questions to Bill Taylor or George Kent.
During her morning caucus meeting, House speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats need a “common narrative” as they continue with public impeachment hearings.
Pelosi once again emphasized the message around the hearings should be that no president, including Trump, is “above the law.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived at the White House for his visit with Trump, and the pair will have a joint press conference at 3.10pm ET.
When asked by pool reporters about the public impeachment hearing, Trump said, “It’s a witch hunt, it’s a hoax. I’m too busy to watch it. I have not been briefed.” He added, “They’re using lawyers that are television lawyers.”
One of the biggest new lines to come out today’s impeachment hearing so far comes from Bill Taylor’s testimony that US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, told one of Taylor’s aides in July that Trump cared more about “investigations of Biden” than US policies towards Ukraine.
Here’s the moment in Taylor’s testimony:
And here’s how some political commentators have responded:
The first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry has paused for a five-minute recess. When the hearing resumes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee and the minority’s lawyer will get the chance to question Bill Taylor and George Kent.
The Republican National Committee is already criticizing the testimony of Bill Taylor, emphasizing the diplomat was told secondhand that Ukraine’s military assistance was held up to demand public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
However, that argument may not last long considering one of the people who told Taylor this, Gordon Sondland, will testify publicly next week.
Bill Taylor’s testimony that his staffer overheard a phone call between Trump and the US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, in which the president asked about “investigations” in Ukraine casts great doubt on Sondland’s testimony to the House intelligence committee.
The White House Twitter account just shared a video of Trump slamming the impeachment inquiry as the “single greatest scam in the history of American politics.”
“We’re fighting to drain the swamp, and that’s exactly what I’m doing,” Trump said in the video as longtime diplomats simultaneously testified to efforts by the president’s allies to have Ukraine launch an investigation of Joe Biden.
Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, similarly sent a tweet calling the public hearing with Bill Taylor and George Kent a “sham” and a “colossal waste of taxpayer time & money.”
Bill Taylor told impeachment investigators that he was particularly alarmed by White House efforts to leverage Ukraine’s military assistance as Trump’s allies sought investigations into Joe Biden and his son.