Published 11:10 IST, November 14th 2019
US: Official who overheard Trump-Gordon Sondland call to testify
White House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said on Nov 11 that Democrats have scheduled a testimony with the person who said he heard the talks.
White House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that Democrats have scheduled a testimony with the person who said he heard the private conversation in which President Trump urged the US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland about investigations into the 2016 presidential elections and the Bidens. The confidential call was disclosed on November 11 by a top US diplomat in Ukraine, William Taylor at the time of first public impeachment hearings.
Schiff says the witness is very important
Schiff without mentioning the name of the witness said that he thinks the witness is very important and of course going to remove the witness from the office. He said they have already scheduled the deposition. After the hearings, Schiff said that the call indicates the same as other testimony has earlier indicated that the instructions are given by the US President. Trump said on November 3 that the name of the whistleblower whose actions spurred an impeachment inquiry should be revealed because he believes the person had given incorrect information. President Trump without citing any evidence said that the whistleblower could potentially be guilty of fraud. Trump said that the whistleblower made up a story and gave purely false information.
Impeachment inquiry initiated
An impeachment inquiry against President Trump was initiated on September 24 by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It started after a whistleblower alleged that President Trump and other top government officials had pressurized Ukraine to investigate former US Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter abusing the power of the presidency to advance Trump's personal and political interests. Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani took part in the quid pro quo campaign to pressure the Ukrainian government to take actions that would be beneficial to Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. Trump's government alleged that incorrect information was being given. The first whistleblower complain was given to the opposition on September 25, 2019, and released to the public the next day. The second whistleblower complains came on October 5 with additional information regarding the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Updated 12:42 IST, November 14th 2019