Democrats disclose new documents ahead of impeachment trial against Donald Trump

House Democrats have released documents y obtained from a close associate of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, including a handwritten te that mentions asking Ukraine’s president to investigate “ Biden case.” documents, obtained from Lev Parnas as part of impeachment investigation , show Parnas communicating with Giuliani before removal of Marie Yovavitch , who was U.S. ambassor to Ukraine. A man named Robert F. Hyde dispard Yovavitch in messs to Parnas and gave him updates on her location and cell phone use, raising questions about possible surveillance.

Democrats released files Tuesday as y prepared to send articles of impeachment to Senate for Trump’s trial. documents d new context to ir charges that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats as he withheld military aid. Parnas was in frequent communication with Giuliani and with Ukrainian officials, messs show. He appeared to be pushing unsubstantiated allegations that Democrat Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, were somehow engd in corruption in Ukraine.

Among documents is a screenshot of a previously undisclosed letter from Giuliani to Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskiy dated May 10, 2019, which was before Zelenskiy took office. In letter, Giuliani requests a meeting with Zelenskiy “as personal counsel to President Trump and with his kwledge and consent.” In letter, Giuliani said he would be accompanied at meeting by Victoria Toensing, a Washington attorney and Trump ally.

One of documents is a handwritten te on stationery from Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Vienna that says “get Zalensky to Annce that Biden case will be Investigated.” Trump asked Zelenskiy in a July call to investigate his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, and his son Hunter. Hunter Biden served on board of a gas company based in Ukraine. Democrats said that Parnas’ attorney confirmed that Parnas wrote tes.

documents — including phone records, texts and flash drives turned over by Parnas — were sent to House Judiciary Committee by three or House panels “to be included as part of official record that will be transmitted to Senate along with Articles of Impeachment,” according to a statement. Some of materials were me public while ors were marked as sensitive.

Parnas and his business partner, Igor Fruman, both U.S. citizens who emigrated from former Soviet bloc, were indicted last year on charges of conspiracy, making false statements and falsification of records. Prosecutors allege y me outsize campaign donations to Republican causes after receiving millions of dollars originating from Russia. men have pleed t guilty.

In several of documents, Parnas communicated with Giuliani about removal of Yovavitch. ambassor’s ouster, ordered by Trump, was at center of Democrats’ impeachment inquiry. Yovavitch testified in House impeachment hearings that she was victim of a “smear campaign.”

Trump on a July 25 call h promised Zelenskiy that Yovavitch was “going to go through some things.” Roughly two months earlier, she was recalled from her diplomatic post. On April 23, just before Yovavitch was directed to return to United States, Giuliani texted Parnas, “He fired her again.” Parnas texted back, “I pray it happens this time I’ll call you tomorrow my bror.” Parnas also received messs from Hyde, who referred to Yovavitch as a “bitch.” Hyde is w running for a U.S. House seat in Connecticut.

After texting about ambassor, Hyde gave Parnas detailed updates that suggested he was watching her. In one text, Hyde wrote: “She’s talked to three people. Her phone is off. Her computer is off.” He said she was under heavy security and “we have a person inside.”

Hyde at one point texted Parnas that ″y are willing to help if we/you would like a price,” and “guess you can do anything in Ukraine with money ... is what I was told.”

Parnas texted back: “lol.”

Lawrence Robbins, an attorney for Yovavitch, called for an investigation in to messs.

“Needless to say, tion that American citizens and ors were monitoring Ambassor Yovavitch’s movements for unkwn purposes is disturbing. We trust that appropriate authorities will conduct an investigation to determine what happened.”

On Twitter, Hyde dismissed claims as “laughable” and appeared to try to distance himself from Parnas. He said he would “welcome” an investigation.

text messs show that Parnas consulted Giuliani in Jan. 2019 after U.S. denied a visa for former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. Giuliani replied: “I can revive it.”

following day, Giuliani told Parnas: “It’s going to work I have 1 in it.” Giuliani n predicted “he will get one” before giving Parnas phone number for Jay Sekulow, leer of president’s personal legal team. Sekulow is expected to be part of Trump’s legal team during impeachment trial.

A federal judge earlier this month ruled that Parnas could provide materials to Congress as part of impeachment proceedings. Democrats voted in December to impeach Trump for abuse of power and for obstruction of Congress.