Published 20:40 IST, October 23rd 2019
Donald Trump launches attack on Diplomat Bill Taylor after testimony
US President Donald Trump hit out at US diplomat William Taylor for his testimony, saying it can not be a quid pro quo if Ukraine was unaware of withheld aid.
US President Donald Trump hit out at US diplomat Bill Taylor for his testimony on Capitol Hill where he told the House impeachment investigators that Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine. Trump, quoting Texas Republican congressman John Ratcliffe, claimed that it can not be a quid pro quo if Ukraine was not aware of the military aid being withheld.
Explosive testimony by William Taylor
Bill Taylor, in a 15-page opening statement, said that it was a pressure campaign against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate into dealings of Joe Biden, a Democrat and potential rival for 2020 presidential elections.
"During that phone call, Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelenskiy to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U. S. election,” Taylor said in the statement.
Taylor, in an explosive testimony, said that he was kept in dark about US President’s call to Zelenskiy on July 25. He revealed that there was an unusual arrangement for policymaking involving Ukraine and a highly “irregular channel” was working along. The US diplomat named Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer; Gordon Sondland, US Ambassador to European Union; Kurt Volker, U.S. special representative for Ukraine; and Energy Secretary Rick Perry, as a part of the ‘irregular channel’.
“It was also clear that this condition was driven by the irregular policy channel I had come to understand was guided by Mr. Giuliani,” Taylor said.
Pelosi intensifies attack
The US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has intensified the attack against Trump.
Pelosi has asked people to sign an emergency petition to condemn Trump’s corruption before October 23 midnight.
(With AP Inputs)
Updated 20:59 IST, October 23rd 2019