Impeachment proceedings a 'sham and should not be allowed': Trump

By Lalit K Jha



Washington, v 14 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has said that impeachment proceedings against him in Democratic-led House of Representatives are a "sham and should t be allowed."

public hearing of probe kicked off on Wednesday as William Taylor, acting ambassor to Ukraine and George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, testified for more than five hours before House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Trump is facing allegations of using his office to pressure Ukraine officials for personal political gain against Democratic presidential aspirant Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who served on board of a Ukrainian gas company.

This is a sham and shouldn't be allowed. It was a situation that was caused by people that shouldn't have allowed it to happen, Trump told reporters at White House during a joint press conference with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Trump, who was in meetings with Erdogan for most of day at White House said that he did t watch public hearing on his impeachment.

Are you talking about witch hunt? Is that what you mean? Is that what you're talking about? I hear it's a joke, he said when a reporter asked about his general reaction to impeachment hearing.

I haven't watched. I haven't watched for one minute because I've been with (Turkish) President, which is much more important, as far as I'm concerned, Trump said, ding that he would want to find out who is whistleblower.

It is whistleblower, he said, who gave a lot of very incorrect information, including that of his call with President of Ukraine in July, which he asserted was a perfect call and highly appropriate.

He wrote something that was much different than fact. I want to find out why IG -- why would he have presented that, when, in fact, all he h to do was check call itself and he would have seen it, he said.

Trump said that he would be releasing transcripts of ar call with Ukrainian President on Thursday.

I'm going to be releasing -- I think, on Thursday -- a second call, which actually was first of two. And you'll make a determination as to what you think re. But I've heard -- just a report -- y said it's all third-hand information. thing direct at all. It can't be direct because I never said it, he said.

And all y have to do is look very, very simply at transcript. If you re transcript -- this was analyzed by great lawyers. This was analyzed by Gregg Jarrett. It was analyzed by Mark Levin. It was analyzed by everybody. y said this statement that I me -- whole call that I me with President of Ukraine was a perfect one, he said.

I hear that it's a hoax, and it's being played as a hoax. That's what I hear, but you'll have to tell me, Trump said.

According to Wall Street Journal, witnesses said re was little merit to investigations president sought.

Kent, asked for basis for allegations by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani against Biden and his son Hunter, saying he h ne whatsoever.

He also said former vice president's anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine while he was in office were important, though he ackwledged that reputation of a Ukrainian company whose board Hunter Biden served on was mixed.

He also said re was factual basis for allegations of Ukrainian election interference, daily reported.

Taylor reiterated that he saw a link between aid to Ukraine and investigations Trump wanted country to pursue.

In a new disclosure, Taylor said that since testifying behind closed doors, he h heard from a member of his staff who was present for a July 26 call between Gordon Sondland, ambassor to European Union, and president, daily said.

White House later alleged that Democrats in Congress have been selling ir far-left base on impeachment since Hillary Clinton lost 2016 presidential race.

After nearly 3 years of coming up empty including USD32 million of taxpayer money spent on Russia collusion hoax Democrat leers knew y needed to do something to appease ir party's left fringe.

House Democrats are effectively shutting down Congress yet again over ir impeachment sham. thing substantive can get done while left remains fixated on undoing 2016 election. y have repeatedly igred opportunities to work with President Trump and take action on issues that will help very people y represent, White House alleged.

According to Hill, Democrats entered Wednesday hoping to man tone, and y largely succeeded.

But re were real fireworks or bombshells during 5 1/2 hours of testimony. Taylor and Kent are obscure figures, unkwn in most households. And issue involves Ukraine, a country that most Americans couldn't find on a map, it said.

All of that explains why Wednesday's hearing isn't likely to move sceptical Republicans or public opinion in favour of impeachment, Hill reported.