Trump aide curbed access to Ukraine call, fearing fallout

A top US official restricted access to summary of Donald Trump's Ukraine call that triggered an impeachment probe, fearing it would dam president, testimony released Saturday showed.

White House Ukraine expert Timothy Morrison told House investigators he knew immediately how sensitive call was when he heard Trump press Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former US vice president Joe Biden.

"I recommended... that we restrict access to pack," said Morrison, who left National Security Council day before testifying.

conversation, which took place on July 25 while White House was withholding military aid to Ukraine, is central to House impeachment inquiry into Trump.

Democrats leing probe say call summary shows president abused his office by bullying a vulnerable ally into interfering on his behalf in 2020 US election.

" testimony released today shows that President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky immediately set off alarm bells throughout White House," am Schiff, congressman leing inquiry, said in a statement released jointly with or senior Democrats.

Morrison said however summary h been placed on a highly classified system due to a "mistake" by White House staff -- casting doubt on allegations that it was squirreled away as part of a deliberate cover-up.

He also broke with or witnesses who have spoken out against call, telling House investigators he heard thing wrong.

"In your view re was thing improper that occurred during call?" Republican's le counsel asked Morrison.

"Correct," he replied.

House investigators also released testimony from Jennifer Williams, Vice President Mike Pence's special visor for Europe and Russia, who told lawmakers Trump's push for Ukraine to open investigations was "unusual and inappropriate."

Williams listened in on July 25 call and said requests appeared to have been me to furr Trump's "personal political nda" rar than US foreign policy goals.