Published 12:56 IST, November 5th 2019
Ex-Ukraine Envoy was 'urged to tweet in support of President Trump'
The Ex-Ukraine Envoy, Marie Yovanovitch said during hearing that she was 'urged to tweet in support' of the President to take care of the 'American interests'
In the recent development in the United States President Donald Trump's official impeachment inquiry, the ex-Ukraine Envoy to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch said that she was 'urged to tweet in support' of the President to take care of the 'American interests'. Yovanovitch told the investigators that she was a target of a secret plot by President Trump along with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani for her immediate removal from the office on November 5. The US President had also referred to Yovanovitch during his controversial phone call with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky on July 25.
'I was very concerned'
The former US ambassador admitted that she was 'very concerned' to read her reference during the phonecall between both the US and Ukrainian leader. According to the transcripts released by House Foreign Affairs Committee, when Yovanovitch was asked is she feels threatened, she replied with saying 'yes'. This is the new phase of the impeachment inquiry which will also be expected to include public questioning of significant figures in the Trump administration. The former US ambassador's statements in the hearing have revealed the involvement of President Trump's personal attorney in the initial stages of what later became a coordinated campaign to convince the new leader of Ukraine to push an inquiry against former US Vice President, Joe Biden's son, Hunter. Yovanovitch was indirectly told to 'go big or go home' and tweet in support of the President.
Both transcripts provide fresh insights
A separate transcript was released of statements made by Michael McKinley, a former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who also resigned from his post last month because of the way others were treated from the government amidst the inquiry. While Yovanovitch felt isolated from the Trump administration, it became clear for McKinley that Pompeo had no intention of protecting the former US ambassador. Yovanovitch had also said that it was in late 2018 when she began to hear that Rudy Giuliani is in touch with Ukraine's then prosecutor general, Yuri Lutsenko and that the duo had some plans even regarding Yovanovitch's tenure in the office. Furthermore, the transcript also revealed that the US-Ukraine 'partnership' ran counter to US anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine and she said Lutsenko 'clearly wanted to work out of the system'.
Aide confirms signs of Quid Pro Quo
A National Security Council aide testified on October 31, that a senior diplomat who was also close to US President Trump and informed him about the military assistance package for Ukraine. The package was prohibited from release until Ukraine committed to investigating former Vice President, Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden. The ongoing impeachment probe revolves around the misuse of power by President Trump who asked the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky to start an inquiry on the government's political rival in exchange for armed assistance.
(With inputs from agencies)
Updated 13:22 IST, November 5th 2019