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| Impeachment hearings: Pentagon official testifies that Ukraine asked about stalled military aid weeks before hold was known – live | Impeachment hearings: Pentagon official testifies that Ukraine asked about stalled military aid weeks before hold was known – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Schiff delivers damning verdict in closing statement after Gordon Sondland’s bombshell testimony that blew holes in Trump’s defense – follow live | Schiff delivers damning verdict in closing statement after Gordon Sondland’s bombshell testimony that blew holes in Trump’s defense – follow live |
| It seems the White House is trying to defend Trump in real-time, even as Cooper’s testimony tears down the defense that no bribery occurred. | |
| Testimony from Laura Cooper, the Pentagon official who is currently testifying before lawmakers, undercuts an argument that Trump’s supporters have often made in defending the president. | |
| Republicans have said that no bribery or quid pro quo could have occurred because the Ukrainians were unaware that aid was being withheld. | |
| Cooper said he staff received an from the State Department on July 25 saying that the Ukrainian embassy and House foreign affairs committee were asking about the security assistance. Two hours later, Cooper said her staff got another email from the State Department regarding aid. | |
| This was the same day as the infamous July 25 phone call, during which Trump asked the Ukrainian president to investigate his political opponents. | |
| Cooper also said “a member of my staff got a question from a Ukraine embassy contact asking what was going on with Ukraine security assistance”. | |
| Hale also said that an Office of Management and Budget official told him that the aid was being withheld because “the president had so directed, though the acting chief of staff”. | Hale also said that an Office of Management and Budget official told him that the aid was being withheld because “the president had so directed, though the acting chief of staff”. |
| He added that the “State Department advocated, as I did in a meeting, for proceeding with all of the assistance, consistent with our policies and interests in Ukraine”. | He added that the “State Department advocated, as I did in a meeting, for proceeding with all of the assistance, consistent with our policies and interests in Ukraine”. |
| Hale said a hold on foreign aid wasn’t “normal” but said it does happen. | Hale said a hold on foreign aid wasn’t “normal” but said it does happen. |
| “It is certainly an occurrence. It does occur,” he said. | “It is certainly an occurrence. It does occur,” he said. |
| Asked again, “Would you agree though that it would be very unusual to place a hold of military aid in order to leverage a foreign country to get them to investigate a political opponent?” | Asked again, “Would you agree though that it would be very unusual to place a hold of military aid in order to leverage a foreign country to get them to investigate a political opponent?” |
| Hale replied affirmatively. “It’s certainly not what I would do”, he said. | Hale replied affirmatively. “It’s certainly not what I would do”, he said. |
| Cooper said that after her closed-door testimony, her staff brought two emails to her attention, both of which were received on the same day as the Trump-Ukraine call. | Cooper said that after her closed-door testimony, her staff brought two emails to her attention, both of which were received on the same day as the Trump-Ukraine call. |
| “One was received on July 25, at 2:31 pm. That email said that the Ukrainian embassy and House Foreign Affairs Committee are asking about security assistance. The second email was received July 25th at 4:25 pm,” Cooper said. | “One was received on July 25, at 2:31 pm. That email said that the Ukrainian embassy and House Foreign Affairs Committee are asking about security assistance. The second email was received July 25th at 4:25 pm,” Cooper said. |
| Meanwhile... | Meanwhile... |
| Moments ago, Adam Schiff opened the second half of today’s impeachment proceedings by emphasizing that Cooper and Hale have worked under both Republican and Democratic presidents. | Moments ago, Adam Schiff opened the second half of today’s impeachment proceedings by emphasizing that Cooper and Hale have worked under both Republican and Democratic presidents. |
| David Hale did not deliver a prepared opening statement. | David Hale did not deliver a prepared opening statement. |
| Laura Cooper did. The “human toll continues to climb in this ongoing war, with 14,000 Ukrainian lives lost since Russia’s 2014 invasion” she said. “These sacrifices are continually in my mind as I lead the efforts to provide vital training and equipment, including defensive lethal assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” | Laura Cooper did. The “human toll continues to climb in this ongoing war, with 14,000 Ukrainian lives lost since Russia’s 2014 invasion” she said. “These sacrifices are continually in my mind as I lead the efforts to provide vital training and equipment, including defensive lethal assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” |
| Cooper also emphasized her public service. “My strong sense of pride in serving my country and dedication to my Pentagon colleagues were cemented in the moments after I felt the Pentagon shake beneath me on September 11, 2001,” she said. | Cooper also emphasized her public service. “My strong sense of pride in serving my country and dedication to my Pentagon colleagues were cemented in the moments after I felt the Pentagon shake beneath me on September 11, 2001,” she said. |
| Hale, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, is the third-highest-ranking official at the State Department. | Hale, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, is the third-highest-ranking official at the State Department. |
| Hale may be able to share more information on why ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was dismissed. Yovanovitch, who testified publicly last week, said that she had asked Hale to defend her against attacks on her credibility. | Hale may be able to share more information on why ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was dismissed. Yovanovitch, who testified publicly last week, said that she had asked Hale to defend her against attacks on her credibility. |
| According to Yovanovitch, Hale reassured her but never issued a statement of support. | According to Yovanovitch, Hale reassured her but never issued a statement of support. |
| In his closed-door testimony, Hale said ultimately decided not to issue a statement because he worried “it would only fuel negative reaction,” possibly from Trump. | In his closed-door testimony, Hale said ultimately decided not to issue a statement because he worried “it would only fuel negative reaction,” possibly from Trump. |
| Adam Schiff is delivering his opening statement now. Follow along for live updates. | Adam Schiff is delivering his opening statement now. Follow along for live updates. |
| This hearing was scheduled for 2:30 pm ET but was delayed after Sondland’s hearing ran long. | This hearing was scheduled for 2:30 pm ET but was delayed after Sondland’s hearing ran long. |
| Cooper is the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia and the Western Balkans. | Cooper is the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia and the Western Balkans. |
| She was one of several Pentagon officials who warned the White House against withholding aid to Ukraine. Delaying Congressionally appropriated aid for an extended time could violate the Impoundment Control Act which prevents the executive branch from unilaterally deciding on such holds. | She was one of several Pentagon officials who warned the White House against withholding aid to Ukraine. Delaying Congressionally appropriated aid for an extended time could violate the Impoundment Control Act which prevents the executive branch from unilaterally deciding on such holds. |
| In a closed-door testimony, which was delayed after Republican storming the secure area where she was interviewed, Cooper said the White House began inquiring after the aid nearly a month before it was frozen. | In a closed-door testimony, which was delayed after Republican storming the secure area where she was interviewed, Cooper said the White House began inquiring after the aid nearly a month before it was frozen. |