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Impeachment hearings: witnesses to give firsthand accounts of Trump's Ukraine call – live news Vindman tells impeachment hearing he reported 'improper' Trump call immediately – live
(32 minutes later)
Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams to testify publicly about Trump’s July conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy – get the latest live Key witness testifies publicly on Trump’s Ukraine call and says ‘vile’ character attacks on those testifying ‘reprehensible’ – follow the latest live
Lt Col Alexander Vindman said he believed the Ukrainian president may have been briefed on Burisma and its connection to the Bidens, given Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s awareness of the company during his July call with Trump.
If Zelenskiy were briefed, it could indicate the Ukrainian president was already aware of Trump allies pushing for the investigations before the July call.
Jennifer Williams added that she believed Trump’s reference to the Bidens during the July call sounded “political.”
Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams, who listened to Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, testified they both recalled hearing a reference to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company with ties to Hunter Biden.
Burisma was not mentioned in the White House memo on the July call, even though Vindman said he notified officials that he heard Trump say the company’s name. However, the lieutenant colonel said he did not consider the omission of Burisma to be “significant.”
Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, has weighed in on the impeachment inquiry -- falsely claiming that the constitution requires the president to root out corruption in countries that receive US aid.
In his opening statement, Lt Col Alexander Vindman shared his concerns that Giuliani’s unofficial efforts to shape US-Ukrainian policy could jeopardize national security.
“In the Spring of 2019, I became aware of two disruptive actors–-primarily Ukraine’s then-Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, President Trump’s personal attorney— promoting false information that undermined the United States’ Ukraine policy,” Vindman said.
“The NSC and its inter-agency partners, including the State Department, grew increasingly concerned about the impact that such information was having on our country’s ability to achieve our national security objectives.”
Responding to questions from committee chairman Adam Schiff, Lt Col Alexander Vindman said he immediately reported Trump’s Ukraine call because he feared it could have implications on US national security.
“Without hesitation, I knew I had to report this to the White House counsel,” Vindman said of the July call, saying he believed he had a “duty” to share his concerns.
“It was improper for the president to request, to demand an investigation into a political opponent,” Vindman said, warning that Trump’s wishes could “undermine our national security.”
Lt Col Alexander Vindman outlined his family’s history of fleeing from the Soviet Union and applauded the courage of his colleagues who have testified in the impeachment inquiry.
“I want to state that the vile character attacks on these distinguished and honorable public servants is reprehensible,” Vindman said. “It is natural to disagree and engage in spirited debate, this has been our custom since the time of our Founding Fathers, but we are better than callow and cowardly attacks.”
The Iraq war veteran went on to directly address his father, who made the decision to flee to the United States. “Dad, my sitting here today, in the US Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision forty years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family,” Vindman said. “Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.”
In his opening statement at this morning’s impeachment hearing, Lt Col Alexander Vindman said he immediately reported Trump’s Ukraine call to White House lawyers “out of a sense of duty” because the conversation was “improper.”In his opening statement at this morning’s impeachment hearing, Lt Col Alexander Vindman said he immediately reported Trump’s Ukraine call to White House lawyers “out of a sense of duty” because the conversation was “improper.”
“I was concerned by the call, what I heard was improper, and I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg,” Vindman said, referring to a senior White House lawyer. “It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and political opponent.”“I was concerned by the call, what I heard was improper, and I reported my concerns to Mr. Eisenberg,” Vindman said, referring to a senior White House lawyer. “It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen and political opponent.”
Vindman stressed that the call could jeopardize US-Ukrainian relations. “It was also clear that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the 2016 election, the Bidens, and Burisma, it would be interpreted as a partisan play,” Vindman said. “This would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing bipartisan support, undermine U.S. national security, and advance Russia’s strategic objectives in the region.”Vindman stressed that the call could jeopardize US-Ukrainian relations. “It was also clear that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the 2016 election, the Bidens, and Burisma, it would be interpreted as a partisan play,” Vindman said. “This would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing bipartisan support, undermine U.S. national security, and advance Russia’s strategic objectives in the region.”
In her opening statement, Jennifer Williams recounted her memory of Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, which kicked off the impeachment inquiry.In her opening statement, Jennifer Williams recounted her memory of Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, which kicked off the impeachment inquiry.
“On July 25th, along with several of my colleagues, I listened to a call between President Trump and President Zelensky—the content of which has since been publicly reported,” Williams, an aide to the vice president, said. “During my closed-door deposition, Members of the Committee asked about my personal views and whether I had any concerns about the July 25th call. As I testified then, I found the July 25th phone call unusual because, in contrast to other presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter.”“On July 25th, along with several of my colleagues, I listened to a call between President Trump and President Zelensky—the content of which has since been publicly reported,” Williams, an aide to the vice president, said. “During my closed-door deposition, Members of the Committee asked about my personal views and whether I had any concerns about the July 25th call. As I testified then, I found the July 25th phone call unusual because, in contrast to other presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter.”
Williams also noted that she was told acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney maintained the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance. The longtime foreign service officer said that she learned of the hold in early July, and that hold was discussed at subsequent Policy Coordination Committee meetings.Williams also noted that she was told acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney maintained the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance. The longtime foreign service officer said that she learned of the hold in early July, and that hold was discussed at subsequent Policy Coordination Committee meetings.
“During those meetings, representatives of the State and Defense Departments advocated that the hold should be lifted, and OMB representatives reported that the White House Chief of Staff had directed that the hold should remain in place,” Williams said.“During those meetings, representatives of the State and Defense Departments advocated that the hold should be lifted, and OMB representatives reported that the White House Chief of Staff had directed that the hold should remain in place,” Williams said.
Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams have now been sworn in to testify in today’s public impeachment hearing. Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, is currently delivering her opening statement.Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams have now been sworn in to testify in today’s public impeachment hearing. Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, is currently delivering her opening statement.
Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to denounce the media for allegedly spreading false reports about Trump and his aides -- even though a number of the articles Nunes cited were far from false.Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, used his opening statement to denounce the media for allegedly spreading false reports about Trump and his aides -- even though a number of the articles Nunes cited were far from false.
Nunes applauded pieces from the Hill’s former columnist John Solomon, whose writings about Ukraine are now being reviewed and corrected when necessary.Nunes applauded pieces from the Hill’s former columnist John Solomon, whose writings about Ukraine are now being reviewed and corrected when necessary.
As a New York Times reporter pointed out, the strategy of attacking the media may be far easier for Republicans than attacking today’s witnesses.As a New York Times reporter pointed out, the strategy of attacking the media may be far easier for Republicans than attacking today’s witnesses.
Adam Schiff emphasized in his opening statement that Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams are not political figures and are not testifying today to argue for or against impeachment.Adam Schiff emphasized in his opening statement that Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams are not political figures and are not testifying today to argue for or against impeachment.
“Ms. Williams, we all saw the President’s tweet about you on Sunday afternoon and the insults he hurled at Ambassador Yovanovich last Friday,” Schiff said, referring to the president’s tweet calling Williams a “Never Trumper.” “You are here today, and the American people are grateful.”“Ms. Williams, we all saw the President’s tweet about you on Sunday afternoon and the insults he hurled at Ambassador Yovanovich last Friday,” Schiff said, referring to the president’s tweet calling Williams a “Never Trumper.” “You are here today, and the American people are grateful.”
Schiff continued, “Col. Vindman, we have seen far more scurrilous attacks on your character, and watched as certain personalities on Fox have questioned your loyalty. I note that you have shed blood for America, and we owe you an immense debt of gratitude.Schiff continued, “Col. Vindman, we have seen far more scurrilous attacks on your character, and watched as certain personalities on Fox have questioned your loyalty. I note that you have shed blood for America, and we owe you an immense debt of gratitude.
“Today’s witnesses, like those who testified last week, are here because they were subpoenaed to appear, not because they are for or against impeachment.“Today’s witnesses, like those who testified last week, are here because they were subpoenaed to appear, not because they are for or against impeachment.
“That question is for Congress, not the fact witnesses.”“That question is for Congress, not the fact witnesses.”
Committee chairman Adam Schiff used his opening statement at this morning’s impeachment hearing to defend the reputations of Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams.
“Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, whose family fled oppression in the Soviet Union when he was a toddler, is a career Army officer, an Iraq War veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart, and an expert in Russia and Ukraine who has worked at the highest levels of the Pentagon,” Schiff said.
“Jennifer Williams is a career Foreign Service Officer who is currently detailed to the Office of the Vice-President and responsible for Europe and Eurasia issues.”
Republicans on the House intelligence committee reportedly intend to try to undermine Vindman’s testimony by questioning his motives and his loyalty to Trump.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, has gaveled in this morning’s public impeachment hearing.
The hearing’s witnesses, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams, have taken their seats. Williams will deliver her opening statement first, followed by Vindman.
Lt Col Alexander Vindman’s twin brother -- Lt Col Yevgeny Vindman, who serves as a lawyer handling ethics issues on the national security council -- will also be in attendance at today’s hearing and will similarly be wearing his military uniform.
Hello from the velvet-draped hearing room where we will soon hear testimony from Lt Col Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, and Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence.
Republicans are up with new signage, hoisted high enough to be seen each time a GOP lawmaker speaks. Today’s posters attempt to wield Democrats’ words against them.
One sign features a tweet from Intelligence chairman Adam Schiff in September, which states that his team had been in touch with the whistleblower about testifying before the committee. Republicans have demanded the whistleblower, whose complaint touched off the impeachment inquiry, testify. But Democrats have resisted, insisting that it’s unnecessary to risk exposing the whistleblower’s identity because many of the central claims in the complaint have been corroborated by testimony from other witnesses.
“We’re in touch with counsel and look forward to the whistleblower’s testimony as soon as next week,” Schiff wrote in the tweet.
Another signs says “99 days since Adam Schiff learned the identity of the whistleblower.” Schiff has repeatedly denied that he knows the identity of the whistleblower, a claim that drew snickers from Republicans in the audience on the first day of impeachment hearings last week.
The last sign is a quote from Congressman Jeff Van Drew, a Democrat from New Jersey and one of the only members of his party to vote against a resolution formalizing the procedures of the impeachment inquiry.
“We’ve spent millions of dollars in my opinion, tons of money, tons of time, tons of hurt, fracturing the nation apart,” Van Drew said, referring to the inquiry. In big bold, highlighted letters, the rest of his quote states: “I haven’t seen this to be a good thing.”
According to a new poll out this morning, Americans remain split on impeachment as the second week of hearings begins.
The PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll found that 45% of US adults believe Trump should be impeached and removed from office, compared to 44 percent who say he should not be.
However, there is much more of a consensus when it comes to whether it’s acceptable for a president to ask a foreign country to investigate one of his political rivals, the central allegation in the impeachment inquiry. The poll found that 70% of Americans would consider this unacceptable, compared to 22% who called it acceptable.
Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, has also arrived to testify in this morning’s impeachment hearing.
Like Vindman, Williams listened in on Trump’s Ukraine call, and the veteran foreign service officer later told impeachment investigators that she was alarmed by the president’s requests of an investigation into Joe Biden and his son. Williams said the nature of the July conversation with the Ukrainian president struck her as “unusual and inappropriate.”
Republicans reportedly intend to try to undermine Lt Col Alexander Vindman’s testimony by questioning the Purple Heart recipient’s motives and loyalty to the president.
The Washington Post reports:
It will be interesting to see how the public responds if Republicans choose to challenge the credibility of an Iraq war veteran as he testifies in his military uniform. It will be ... quite the visual.
Lt Col Alexander Vindman has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in this morning’s impeachment hearing -- wearing his military uniform, as he did for his closed-door testimony.
Some of Trump’s allies tried to smear Vindman’s reputation after the Purple Heart recipient testified that the president’s Ukraine call alarmed him, forcing a number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to defend the longtime public servant and Iraq war veteran.
There will actually be two impeachment hearings held on Capitol Hill today. Vindman and Williams will testify starting at 9 a.m. ET, and Kurt Volker and Tim Morrison will testify at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Volker, Trump’s former envoy to Ukraine, previously denied knowledge of efforts to pressure Kyiv to investigate Joe Biden. However, since his closed-door testimony, at least eleven other officials have contradicted details of his account. Although Volker may offer more favorable testimony for Trump, Democrats on the House intelligence committee will almost certainly grill him on why his memory differed so drastically from some of his colleagues’.
Morrison, the former top Russia expert on the national security council, previously testified that Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, was the one trying to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden, but he told impeachment investigators that Sondland said “the president was giving him instruction.” Morrison also listened in on Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president and told lawmakers he believed that nothing illegal or improper occurred.
Good morning, live blog readers!
The second round of impeachment hearings kicks off in about an hour, when Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams are scheduled to testify publicly before the House intelligence committee.
Vindman is the top Ukraine expert on the national security council and previously told impeachment investigators behind closed doors that Donald Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president so alarmed him that he immediately informed White House lawyers.
Williams is an aide to Vice President Mike Pence and also listened in on the Ukraine call, telling the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry that it “shed some light on possible other motivations behind a security assistance hold.” The president attacked Williams in a tweet on Sunday -- calling her a “Never Trumper,” as he has labeled other witnesses who have testified in the inquiry.
Vindman and Williams’ firsthand accounts of the Ukraine call will severely test Republicans’ defense strategy of portraying witness testimony as hearsay, which is how they described the accounts of the diplomats who testified last week. That tension might push Trump’s allies to other, more personal attack strategies, so it’s likely today’s hearing will get ugly fast.
The live blog will be providing updates and analysis as the hearing gets underway, so stay tuned.