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Trump impeachment hearing: Yovanovitch testifies as White House releases new transcript – live Trump smears Yovanovitch's reputation as she testifies at impeachment hearing – live
(32 minutes later)
The former US ambassador to Ukraine was recalled abruptly in May despite a distinguished career as the president pushed for Kyiv to investigate his rivalsThe former US ambassador to Ukraine was recalled abruptly in May despite a distinguished career as the president pushed for Kyiv to investigate his rivals
It looks like the Democrats on the House intelligence committee intend to incorporate Trump’s disparaging tweet about Maria Yovanovitch into today’s impeachment hearing.
Ironically, Trump’s tweet came shortly after the White House issued a statement claiming the president would not watch the hearing beyond the opening statement of Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the intelligence committee.
Maria Yovanovitch said she was “shocked” and “devastated” when she read the White House memo on Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president, in which he called the longtime diplomat “bad news.”
“A person who saw me actually reading the transcript said the color drained from my face,” Yovanovitch told impeachment investigators.
Asked about Trump’s comment to Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Yovanovitch was “going to go through some things,” Yovanovitch said it “felt like a vague threat.”
Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, 35, is becoming a “break-out star” of the impeachment inquiry hearings, at least in rightwing media circles.After Wednesday’s hearing, Matthew Dowd, chief political analyst for ABC News, tweeted: “Elise Stefanik is a perfect example why just electing someone because they are a woman or a millennial doesn’t necessarily get you the leaders we need.” He apologised following an online backlash.The fracas was gleefully highlighted by Fox News, where Stefanik appeared as an interviewee.Early today, along with colleague Jim Jordan, she tried to interrupt chairman Adam Schiff but was swatted away. She tweeted in response: “Adam Schiff #RegimeofSecrecy continues. He is making up the rules as he goes along and not only interrupts and limits Republican questions. But also our important parliamentary questions.”We can expect to hear more from her.
Trump has sent off a two-part tweet questioning the professional reputation of Maria Yovanovitch as the former US ambassador to Ukraine publicly testifies in the impeachment inquiry.
Yovanovitch, a longtime diplomat, has served in several “hardship posts,” including Somalia as the country was suffering a civil war.
“Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad,” Trump tweeted. “She started off in Somalia, how did that go?”
In reality, Yovanovitch has been widely lauded by her fellow diplomats as a model civil servant, and even deputy secretary of state John Sullivan told her she had “done nothing wrong” when he dismissed her from Kyiv.
In her opening statement, Maria Yovanovitch also criticized the current leadership of the state department for not defending its staffers amid attacks.
“At the closed deposition, I expressed grave concerns about the degradation of the Foreign Service over the past few years and the failure of State Department leadership to push back as foreign and corrupt interests apparently hijacked our Ukraine policy,” Yovanovitch said.
“The State Department is being hollowed out from within at a competitive and complex time on the world stage. This is not a time to undercut our diplomats. It is the responsibility of the Department’s leaders to stand up for the institution and the individuals who make that institution the most effective diplomatic force in the world.”
Yovanovitch did not mention Mike Pompeo by name, but the longtime diplomat’s testimony was clearly aimed at the secretary of state and will likely spark more questions about his leadership at the department.
Maria Yovanovitch closed her opening statement by offering a robust defense of foreign service officers and their commitment to the United States.
“We are professionals, public servants who by vocation and training pursue the policies of the President, regardless of who holds that office or what party they affiliate with,” Yovanovitch said.
“We handle American Citizen Services, facilitate trade and commerce, work security issues, represent the U.S., and report to and advise Washington, to mention just a few of our functions. And we make a difference every day.”
In her opening statement, Maria Yovanovitch criticized the Americans willing to partner with corrupt Ukrainians to orchestrate her ouster, in an apparent reference to Rudy Giuliani.In her opening statement, Maria Yovanovitch criticized the Americans willing to partner with corrupt Ukrainians to orchestrate her ouster, in an apparent reference to Rudy Giuliani.
“How could our system fail like this? How is it that foreign corrupt interests could manipulate our government?” Yovanovitch asked. “Such conduct undermines the U.S., exposes our friends, and widens the playing field for autocrats like President Putin.”“How could our system fail like this? How is it that foreign corrupt interests could manipulate our government?” Yovanovitch asked. “Such conduct undermines the U.S., exposes our friends, and widens the playing field for autocrats like President Putin.”
The former US ambassador to Ukraine also denied that she had circulated a “do not prosecute” list in connection to Ukrainian corruption or that she instructed staffers to ignore Trump’s wishes, as some far-right websites alleged.The former US ambassador to Ukraine also denied that she had circulated a “do not prosecute” list in connection to Ukrainian corruption or that she instructed staffers to ignore Trump’s wishes, as some far-right websites alleged.
Yovanovitch went on to specifically address Giuliani’s efforts to have her removed. “I do not understand Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me, nor can I offer an opinion on whether he believed the allegations he spread about me,” Yovanovitch said.Yovanovitch went on to specifically address Giuliani’s efforts to have her removed. “I do not understand Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me, nor can I offer an opinion on whether he believed the allegations he spread about me,” Yovanovitch said.
“What I can say is that Mr. Giuliani should have known those claims were suspect, coming as they reportedly did from individuals with questionable motives and with reason to believe that their political and financial ambitions would be stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine.”“What I can say is that Mr. Giuliani should have known those claims were suspect, coming as they reportedly did from individuals with questionable motives and with reason to believe that their political and financial ambitions would be stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine.”
Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has been sworn in and is now delivering her opening statement to the House intelligence committee.Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has been sworn in and is now delivering her opening statement to the House intelligence committee.
Yovanovitch opened her statement by recounting her family’s history of fleeing the Soviet Union and her own career serving in several “hardship” posts as a diplomat.Yovanovitch opened her statement by recounting her family’s history of fleeing the Soviet Union and her own career serving in several “hardship” posts as a diplomat.
The White House said in a statement that Trump was only briefly watching today’s public impeachment hearing and would then return to work.The White House said in a statement that Trump was only briefly watching today’s public impeachment hearing and would then return to work.
“The President will be watching Congressman Nunes’ opening statement, but the rest of the day he will be working hard for the American people,” said Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s press secretary.“The President will be watching Congressman Nunes’ opening statement, but the rest of the day he will be working hard for the American people,” said Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s press secretary.
However, the White House made a similar statement on Wednesday before Trump went on to repeatedly retweet messages from Republicans about the hearing.However, the White House made a similar statement on Wednesday before Trump went on to repeatedly retweet messages from Republicans about the hearing.
Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to criticize the impeachment inquiry and accuse his Democratic colleagues of scheming to remove Trump from office.Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to criticize the impeachment inquiry and accuse his Democratic colleagues of scheming to remove Trump from office.
The California Republican said Democrats were engaging in “day-long TV spectacles” to “fulfill their Watergate fantasies,” even though many members of the House Democratic caucus only came around to supporting an impeachment inquiry after the September revelation of the whistleblower complaint on the Ukraine call.The California Republican said Democrats were engaging in “day-long TV spectacles” to “fulfill their Watergate fantasies,” even though many members of the House Democratic caucus only came around to supporting an impeachment inquiry after the September revelation of the whistleblower complaint on the Ukraine call.
Nunes also read the full transcript of Trump’s first call with the Ukrainian president, which was released just as the hearing began. Nunes’ reading of the transcript minutes late indicates that the document’s release may have been coordinated with Republicans on the House intelligence committee.Nunes also read the full transcript of Trump’s first call with the Ukrainian president, which was released just as the hearing began. Nunes’ reading of the transcript minutes late indicates that the document’s release may have been coordinated with Republicans on the House intelligence committee.
Echoing Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi applauded the long diplomatic career of Maria Yovanovitch moments before the former US ambassador to Ukraine was set to start testifying in the second public impeachment hearing.Echoing Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi applauded the long diplomatic career of Maria Yovanovitch moments before the former US ambassador to Ukraine was set to start testifying in the second public impeachment hearing.
Trump was also tweeting minutes before the hearing began, accusing Pelosi of ignoring other priorities as the impeachment inquiry advances.Trump was also tweeting minutes before the hearing began, accusing Pelosi of ignoring other priorities as the impeachment inquiry advances.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, is using his opening statement to applaud Maria Yovanovitch’s efforts to crack down on Ukrainian corruption.
“In her time in Kyiv, Ambassador Yovanovitch was tough on corruption, too tough on corruption for some, and her principled stance made her enemies,” Schiff said. “As George Kent told this committee on Wednesday, ‘you can’t promote principled anti-corruption action without pissing-off corrupt people.’”
However, Schiff noted that Yovanovitch’s anti-corruption efforts also angered some of Trump’s allies, including Rudy Giuliani, as they sought investigations into the Democrats.
“Getting rid of Ambassador Yovanovitch helped set stage for an irregular channel that could pursue the two investigations that mattered so much to the President, the 2016 conspiracy theory, and most important, an investigation into the 2020 political opponent he apparently feared most, Joe Biden,” Schiff said.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, has gaveled in the second public hearing of the impeachment inquiry against Trump.
Schiff and the top Republican on the panel, Devin Nunes, will be allowed to make opening statements before turning things over to today’s witness, Maria Yovanovitch.
The former US ambassador to Ukraine will also be given the chance to make an opening statement before taking questions from committee lawyers and members.
Moments before the second public impeachment hearing was set to begin, the White House released a transcript of Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president.
According to the transcript, the call was rather unremarkable, with Trump simply offering his congratulations to the newly elected president and promising to send a US representative to his inauguration.
About 10 minutes before the next impeachment hearing was set to begin, Trump sent a tweet slamming the inquiry and calling Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco district a “disgusting Slum.”
It has been a frequent Republican talking point that the impeachment inquiry has prevented Democrats from getting other legislative work done. However, Pelosi said yesterday that believed a deal on the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement was “imminent.”
Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in today’s public impeachment hearing.
Yovanovitch first testified in the impeachment inquiry on Oct. 11 behind closed doors. According to her opening statement, the diplomat told impeachment investigators that she was removed from her post in Kyiv because of “unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives.”
The line to get into the House hearing room where Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, will soon testify already stretches down the hallway.
Republicans on the House intelligence committee have set up their exhibits for today’s impeachment hearing, and they have added a new sign since Wednesday. It features a quote from Ukraine’s foreign minister claiming he never saw a link between US military aid and investigations into the Democrats.
After the first public impeachment hearing, some commentators complained that Bill Taylor and George Kent’s appearance featured few explosive moments, even though Taylor testified about a previously unknown call in which Trump asked about “the investigations” in Ukraine.
However, it appears that past impeachment hearings have been similarly subdued. The front page of the Washington Post after the first Watergate hearings in 1973 described the event as “not exactly high drama.”
As Capitol Hill prepares for the second public impeachment hearing, the ratings have come in for the first hearing, and they are ... lackluster.
Axios reports:
However, as Axios notes, this dip in viewership may be because the impeachment hearings are expected to play out over several days, so Americans might be waiting to tune in.
Good morning, live blog readers!
And welcome to Day Two. The second public hearing in the House impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump begins at 9am ET with the testimony of Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.
Yovanovitch is a career diplomat who was recalled from her post in May, even though she was widely respected by her fellow state department employees. (For more on Yovanovitch’s long government career, read Julian Borger’s excellent profile of her from last month.)
Yovanovitch testified to impeachment investigators last month that when she was recalled in May, even deputy secretary of state John Sullivan told her she had “done nothing wrong”. The diplomat, as well as some her colleagues, contend she was the victim of a smear campaign by Rudy Giuliani. The president’s personal lawyer was reportedly dissatisfied that Yovanovitch was becoming a barrier in his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate one of Trump’s political rivals, Joe Biden.
In the White House memo on Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president, the commander-in-chief is quoted as calling Yovanovitch “bad news” and predicting she was “going to go through some things”. Today, the longtime civil servant will have a chance to share her side of the story with the public.