Impeachment Update: House Investigators Release Transcripts

House Begins Releasing Transcripts Of Witness Testimony

House investigators began releasing transcripts of depositions of key witnesses in its impeachment inquiry into whether President Donald Trump inappropriately pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals in a July 25 phone call. The first of the transcripts detail the closed-door testimony of former Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and Michael McKinley, a former senior aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The inquiry centers around whether Trump used the power of his presidency to solicit a foregin government to influence the 2020 U.S. election. Specifically, he is accused of asking Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, now running for president, while withholding nearly $400 million in military aid approved by Congress.

Politico

Trump Says Whistleblower's Written Testimony Not Enough

The whistleblower who touched off Democrats’ impeachment inquiry offered over the weekend to questions submitted by House Republicans in writing and under oath. Trump and his Republican allies have insisted the whistleblower should appear in person.

The offer, made to Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the intelligence committee, came after Trump and his Republicans allies escalated their attacks on the inquiry. That would allow Republicans to ask questions without having to go through House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat.

The Associated Press

Trump Moves Closer To Outing Whistleblower

Citing unconfirmed reports about the identity of the whistleblowers and possible ties to former President Barack Obama and two of his top aides — former CIA director John Brennan and former national national security adviser Susan Rice — Trump on Sunday sought to discredit the whistleblower, while renewing calls that the individual’s identity be revealed. The president told reporters outside the White House that “there have been stories written about a certain individual, a male, and they say he’s the whistleblower … and he hates Trump.”

Politico

Witnesses Try To Stonewall Democrats

White House Office of Management and Budget head Russell Vought may defy a House subpoena to appear Monday before House investigators, who are pressing for details about why the OMB froze the Ukraine funds. Congressional Republicans also predict that White House acting chief of staff Nick Mulvaney’s top deputy, Robert Blair, will be a no-show for his scheduled appearance Monday. Several National Security Council and State Department witnesses have already testified that the president sought to withhold the nearly $400 million in security aid unless Ukraine launched politically motivated investigations that could benefit Trump.

The Washington Post

Several Other Witnesses Expected To Defy Subpoenas

None of the four witnesses called to testify Monday is expected to show up. Others include John Eisenberg, Trump’s deputy counsel for national security affairs; Michael Ellis, senior associate counsel to the president and deputy legal adviser to the National Security Council; and Brian McCormack, associate director for natural resources, energy and science at the OMB.
Trump tweeted Monday “there is reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning.”

CNN