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| Impeachment hearing: Volker says he now realizes 'corruption' inquiry was tied to Biden – live | Impeachment hearing: Volker says he now realizes 'corruption' inquiry was tied to Biden – live |
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| Former Ukraine envoy appears to amend his earlier testimony in opening statement to lawmakers | Former Ukraine envoy appears to amend his earlier testimony in opening statement to lawmakers |
| Time Magazine is reporting that Mike Pompeo has told three prominent Republicans that he plans to resign as secretary of state to run for senate in Kansas in the 2020 election. | |
| The Republicans told Time that Pompeo initially planned to stay on as secretary of state until next year, but is now rethinking his decision amid the impeachment inquiry. | |
| More from Time: | |
| As the afternoon’s testimony approaches its conclusion, here are some striking images from inside the hearing room. | |
| Members of the House intelligence committee are now taking short turns questioning the witness. | |
| Donald Trump, it appears, has been following along too. | |
| Trump fiercely attacked impeachment witness Maria Yovanovitch during her testimony on Friday. Democrats described his tweets as “witness intimidation”. This afternoon Trump has spent his time retweeting favorable clips from Fox News and from fellow Republicans. | |
| He shared an exchange between Republican counsel Steve Castor and Kurt Volker in which Castor asked Volker to confirm that he had “in no way shape or form” received indication of anything that resembled a quid-pro-quo. Volker replied that was correct. | |
| In non-impeachment news, California governor Gavin Newsom halted approval for hundred of fracking permits until independent scientists can approve them. | In non-impeachment news, California governor Gavin Newsom halted approval for hundred of fracking permits until independent scientists can approve them. |
| Newsom also temporarily banned new wells using a high-pressure steam to extract oil – a process that regulators believe is linked to the spill at a Chevron oil field in the Central Valley. | Newsom also temporarily banned new wells using a high-pressure steam to extract oil – a process that regulators believe is linked to the spill at a Chevron oil field in the Central Valley. |
| More from the AP: | More from the AP: |
| Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chair, questioned Volker about a 10 July meeting with Ukrainian officials, in which he was present alongside Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador, and John Bolton, the former national security adviser. | Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chair, questioned Volker about a 10 July meeting with Ukrainian officials, in which he was present alongside Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador, and John Bolton, the former national security adviser. |
| Schiff asked Volker why he did not mention in his deposition that Sondland made a “generic comment” about “investigations” at the meeting. | Schiff asked Volker why he did not mention in his deposition that Sondland made a “generic comment” about “investigations” at the meeting. |
| Volker said the testimony of others reminded him that it came up. He added that “I think all of us thought it was inappropriate” to bring it up and described it as an “eye roll” moment. | Volker said the testimony of others reminded him that it came up. He added that “I think all of us thought it was inappropriate” to bring it up and described it as an “eye roll” moment. |
| In news relating to the earlier testimony of Jennifer Williams this morning, the White House has released a statement from Keith Kellogg, the national security advisor to vice-president Mike Pence. | In news relating to the earlier testimony of Jennifer Williams this morning, the White House has released a statement from Keith Kellogg, the national security advisor to vice-president Mike Pence. |
| Williams was Kellogg’s direct report at the vice-president’s office, and she testified she found the 25 July phone call “unusual” since it “involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter”. | Williams was Kellogg’s direct report at the vice-president’s office, and she testified she found the 25 July phone call “unusual” since it “involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter”. |
| “I heard nothing wrong or improper on the call. I had and have no concerns,” Kellogg wrote in his statement today. “Ms Williams was also on the call, and as she testified, she never reported any personal or professional concerns to me, her direct supervisor, regarding the call.” | “I heard nothing wrong or improper on the call. I had and have no concerns,” Kellogg wrote in his statement today. “Ms Williams was also on the call, and as she testified, she never reported any personal or professional concerns to me, her direct supervisor, regarding the call.” |
| My colleague Tom McCarthy rounded up the key top things to know from this morning’s hearings. | My colleague Tom McCarthy rounded up the key top things to know from this morning’s hearings. |
| For the first time, witnesses who listened to a 25 July phone call in which Donald Trump asked for a “favor” from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy testified publicly, confirming the facts of the call and the widespread concern it prompted.* Vindman, a combat veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, appeared in his US army dress uniform – but found himself under attack from Republicans who questioned his loyalty to the United States. | For the first time, witnesses who listened to a 25 July phone call in which Donald Trump asked for a “favor” from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy testified publicly, confirming the facts of the call and the widespread concern it prompted.* Vindman, a combat veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, appeared in his US army dress uniform – but found himself under attack from Republicans who questioned his loyalty to the United States. |
| One witness requested by Republicans, Kurt Volker, a former special envoy to Ukraine, said that Trump’s request of an investigation of Joe Biden made him realize that he failed to equate discussions of the gas company Burisma with Biden. | One witness requested by Republicans, Kurt Volker, a former special envoy to Ukraine, said that Trump’s request of an investigation of Joe Biden made him realize that he failed to equate discussions of the gas company Burisma with Biden. |
| Testimony on Tuesday provided evidence of Trump’s direct role in the plot. Volker and a fellow witness, the National Security Council official Tim Morrison, both testified that Sondland was in regular communication with Trump. Three witnesses confirmed that they had heard the president personally request, in his July call with Zelenskiy, an investigation of Joe Biden and coordination with Giuliani. | Testimony on Tuesday provided evidence of Trump’s direct role in the plot. Volker and a fellow witness, the National Security Council official Tim Morrison, both testified that Sondland was in regular communication with Trump. Three witnesses confirmed that they had heard the president personally request, in his July call with Zelenskiy, an investigation of Joe Biden and coordination with Giuliani. |
| Witness after witness has described Sondland as a key figure pressing the Ukrainians at various moments for specific “investigations”. When he was originally deposed last month, Sondland said he took Trump at his word that “there was no quid pro quo” involving US military aid. Sondland is scheduled to testify on Wednesday morning. | Witness after witness has described Sondland as a key figure pressing the Ukrainians at various moments for specific “investigations”. When he was originally deposed last month, Sondland said he took Trump at his word that “there was no quid pro quo” involving US military aid. Sondland is scheduled to testify on Wednesday morning. |
| And we’re back! | And we’re back! |
| The House intelligence committee has called for a short break in the impeachment hearing, which will likely become more like a 20-minute recess. | The House intelligence committee has called for a short break in the impeachment hearing, which will likely become more like a 20-minute recess. |
| Morrison, the National Security Council director for Russia, has criticized an earlier impeachment inquiry witness, Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who testified just this morning. | Morrison, the National Security Council director for Russia, has criticized an earlier impeachment inquiry witness, Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who testified just this morning. |
| Morrison answered “yes” when asked whether he was concerned that Vindman had taken his concerns about the 25 July call between Trump and Zelenskiy directly to National Security Council lawyers and had not notified him first. | Morrison answered “yes” when asked whether he was concerned that Vindman had taken his concerns about the 25 July call between Trump and Zelenskiy directly to National Security Council lawyers and had not notified him first. |
| “If he had concerns about the content of the call I would expect to have been notified,” he said, adding that he is Vindman’s superior in the chain of command. | “If he had concerns about the content of the call I would expect to have been notified,” he said, adding that he is Vindman’s superior in the chain of command. |
| Republican counsel Steve Castor asked the witnesses about the US decision to delay a military aid package to Ukraine. | Republican counsel Steve Castor asked the witnesses about the US decision to delay a military aid package to Ukraine. |
| Morrison said that during a meeting in which he was present with Ukrainian officials, in which Zelenskiy raised the issue of the aid, the US vice-president, Mike Pence, told Zelenskiy that the US was examining what more Europe could do for Ukrainian security and taking a look at how Ukraine was reforming a history of corruption. He said there was no mention of Burisma, Biden and the 2016 election. | Morrison said that during a meeting in which he was present with Ukrainian officials, in which Zelenskiy raised the issue of the aid, the US vice-president, Mike Pence, told Zelenskiy that the US was examining what more Europe could do for Ukrainian security and taking a look at how Ukraine was reforming a history of corruption. He said there was no mention of Burisma, Biden and the 2016 election. |
| Volker testified that he did not know about the hold on aid until he was made aware of it by a Politico article. He says when he became aware of it, he “immediately” raised objections. | Volker testified that he did not know about the hold on aid until he was made aware of it by a Politico article. He says when he became aware of it, he “immediately” raised objections. |
| He said he thought it was “a bad decision” to hold up aid to Ukraine as it weakened the US’s position with Russia. Asked if he believed the aid was held up in connection with the investigations Trump had requested, he said: “No, I did not.” | He said he thought it was “a bad decision” to hold up aid to Ukraine as it weakened the US’s position with Russia. Asked if he believed the aid was held up in connection with the investigations Trump had requested, he said: “No, I did not.” |
| Trump’s views on Ukraine are “chronically negative”, Volker testifies. | Trump’s views on Ukraine are “chronically negative”, Volker testifies. |
| He says he saw it as his job to convince Trump that Ukrainian president Zelenskiy was on his level. He says that after Zelenskiy was elected, Trump said Ukraine was filled with “terrible people”. | He says he saw it as his job to convince Trump that Ukrainian president Zelenskiy was on his level. He says that after Zelenskiy was elected, Trump said Ukraine was filled with “terrible people”. |
| Kurt Volker testified that he found the allegations against Joe Biden “self-serving and not credible”. | Kurt Volker testified that he found the allegations against Joe Biden “self-serving and not credible”. |
| Democratic committee chairman Adam Schiff asked: “Why was it that you found the allegations against Joe Biden related to his son and Burisma not to believed?” | Democratic committee chairman Adam Schiff asked: “Why was it that you found the allegations against Joe Biden related to his son and Burisma not to believed?” |
| Volker responded: “Simply because I’ve known former vice-president Biden for a long time and I know how he respect the duties of his higher office.” | Volker responded: “Simply because I’ve known former vice-president Biden for a long time and I know how he respect the duties of his higher office.” |
| Hello readers, Mario Koran here taking over the blog. | Hello readers, Mario Koran here taking over the blog. |
| Opening statements have been made and Volker and Morrison are now taking questions from Democrats and Republicans. | Opening statements have been made and Volker and Morrison are now taking questions from Democrats and Republicans. |
| According to his prepared opening statement, Kurt Volker only later came to appreciate that an investigation of Burisma was connected to an investigation of Joe Biden and his son. | According to his prepared opening statement, Kurt Volker only later came to appreciate that an investigation of Burisma was connected to an investigation of Joe Biden and his son. |
| “At no time was I aware of or knowingly took part in an effort to urge Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden,” Volker’s statement reads. “ I was not made aware of any reference to Vice President Biden or his son by President Trump, until the transcript of that call was released on September 25, 2019. | “At no time was I aware of or knowingly took part in an effort to urge Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden,” Volker’s statement reads. “ I was not made aware of any reference to Vice President Biden or his son by President Trump, until the transcript of that call was released on September 25, 2019. |
| “Throughout this time, I understood that there was an important distinction between ‘Burisma’ and ‘Biden’, and urged the Ukrainians to maintain such a distinction. I did not know that President Trump or others had raised Vice President Biden with the Ukrainians, or had conflated the investigation of possible Ukrainian corruption, with investigation of the former Vice President. In retrospect, for the Ukrainians, it clearly would have been confusing. | “Throughout this time, I understood that there was an important distinction between ‘Burisma’ and ‘Biden’, and urged the Ukrainians to maintain such a distinction. I did not know that President Trump or others had raised Vice President Biden with the Ukrainians, or had conflated the investigation of possible Ukrainian corruption, with investigation of the former Vice President. In retrospect, for the Ukrainians, it clearly would have been confusing. |
| “In hindsight, I now understand that others saw the idea of investigating possible corruption involving the Ukrainian company, ‘Burisma,’ as equivalent to investigating former Vice President Biden.” | “In hindsight, I now understand that others saw the idea of investigating possible corruption involving the Ukrainian company, ‘Burisma,’ as equivalent to investigating former Vice President Biden.” |
| Kurt Volker appeared to be using his opening statement to impeachment investigators to amend his closed-door testimony in which he denied knowledge of any quid pro quo in connection to the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance. | Kurt Volker appeared to be using his opening statement to impeachment investigators to amend his closed-door testimony in which he denied knowledge of any quid pro quo in connection to the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance. |
| The former Ukraine envoy claimed US officials were offering a very positive view of Ukraine as Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, painted a very different picture for Trump. | The former Ukraine envoy claimed US officials were offering a very positive view of Ukraine as Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, painted a very different picture for Trump. |
| “The problem was that despite the unanimous, positive assessment and recommendations of those of us who were part of the U.S. Presidential Delegation that attended the inauguration of President Zelenskyy, President Trump was receiving a different, negative narrative about Ukraine and President Zelenskyy,” Volker said. | “The problem was that despite the unanimous, positive assessment and recommendations of those of us who were part of the U.S. Presidential Delegation that attended the inauguration of President Zelenskyy, President Trump was receiving a different, negative narrative about Ukraine and President Zelenskyy,” Volker said. |
| “That negative narrative was fueled by accusations from Ukraine’s then-Prosecutor General and conveyed to the President by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.” | “That negative narrative was fueled by accusations from Ukraine’s then-Prosecutor General and conveyed to the President by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.” |
| In his opening statement, Tim Morrison emphasized he would not use his testimony to raise doubts about the judgement of any of his former national security council colleagues. | In his opening statement, Tim Morrison emphasized he would not use his testimony to raise doubts about the judgement of any of his former national security council colleagues. |
| “I have great respect for my former colleagues from the NSC and the rest of the interagency,” Morrison said. “I am not here today to question their character or integrity.” | “I have great respect for my former colleagues from the NSC and the rest of the interagency,” Morrison said. “I am not here today to question their character or integrity.” |
| However, Morrison did express doubts about Lt Col Alexander Vindman’s judgement in his closed-door testimony, which the White House cited in a tweet attacking Vindman. | However, Morrison did express doubts about Lt Col Alexander Vindman’s judgement in his closed-door testimony, which the White House cited in a tweet attacking Vindman. |
| The lieutenant colonel responded to Morrison’s doubts this morning by reading from former White House official Fiona Hill’s glowing performance review of him. | The lieutenant colonel responded to Morrison’s doubts this morning by reading from former White House official Fiona Hill’s glowing performance review of him. |
| Former NSC official Tim Morrison used his opening statement to lay out some parameters he intends to follow during his testimony today. | Former NSC official Tim Morrison used his opening statement to lay out some parameters he intends to follow during his testimony today. |
| “I do not know who the whistleblower is, nor do I intend to speculate as to who the individual may be,” Morrison told impeachment investigators. Adam Schiff has accused some of the House intelligence committee’s Republican members of trying to use their witness questioning to identify the whistleblower. | “I do not know who the whistleblower is, nor do I intend to speculate as to who the individual may be,” Morrison told impeachment investigators. Adam Schiff has accused some of the House intelligence committee’s Republican members of trying to use their witness questioning to identify the whistleblower. |
| Morrison, who listened in on Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, said he feared reports of the conversation could heighten polarization. “As I stated during my deposition, I feared at the time of the call on July 25th how its disclosure would play in Washington’s political climate,” Morrison said. “My fears have been realized.” | Morrison, who listened in on Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, said he feared reports of the conversation could heighten polarization. “As I stated during my deposition, I feared at the time of the call on July 25th how its disclosure would play in Washington’s political climate,” Morrison said. “My fears have been realized.” |
| Tim Morrison and Kurt Volker have been sworn in for this afternoon’s public impeachment hearing and will now deliver their opening statements. | Tim Morrison and Kurt Volker have been sworn in for this afternoon’s public impeachment hearing and will now deliver their opening statements. |