Page 244 - Dod News Today

>> what exactly had you learned from the state department, i believe, that prompted you to draft the notice on july 3rd? >> on or about july 3rd, i became aware of inquiries into security assistance funding in general. there are two typical pots, state department and d.o.d., and i believe it was around that date that omb put a hold on congressional notification. >> had you had any earlier indications that this might be the case? >> prior to that, there were some general inquiries on how the fund...

Had to make the statement and he had to want to do it. >> and by that point, did you understand that the statement related to the biden in 2016 investigations? >> i think i did, yes. >> and that was essentially a condition for the security assistance to be released? >> i understood that that is what ambassador sondland believed. >> after speaking with president trump? >> what he represented. >> you said it gave me a sinking feeling. why was that? >> if we are all on september 7th, the end of the...

Made all of his preparations for the calls. >> but youve never spoken to the president and told him it advice on the ukraine? >> thats correct. >> he said i attended the inauguration of president zielinski, and the members of the delegation provided president trump a debriefing. thats not really accurate, because you werent in that meeting, or you? >> we just have a note there that that meeting occurred without you. you said that you are responsible for coordinating the u.s. policy. >> ambassado...

>> on or about july 3rd. >> and one exactly had you heard from the state department i believe that prompted you to draft the notice on july 3rd? >> on or about july 3rd, i became aware of inquiries into assistance funding in general. there are two typical pots, the state department and dod. i believe that was around that date that omb put a hold on congressional notification. >> prior to that there were some general inquiries on how the funds were being spent. no hold certainly. no one from the ...

>> and what exactly had you learned from the state department, i believe, that prompted you to draft the notice on july 3rd? >> so on or about july 3rd i became aware of inquiries into security assistance funding in general. there are two typical pots, state department and dod. and i believe it was around that date that omb put a hold on congressional notification. >> and had you had any earlier indications that this might be the case? >> prior to that, there were some general inquiries on how t...

>> no one from the department of defense? >> correct. did anybody in your understanding raise the legality of withholding the assistance? >> it was raised on several occasions. >> and who raised those concerns? >> so the -- following the july 18th sub-pcc which is, again, what i coordinate, what i convene at my level, there was a july 23rd pcc that would have been conducted by mr. morrison. there were questions raised as to the legality of the hold. over the subsequent week, the issue was analyz...

You report to tim morrison, correct? >> in my -- >> your direct report is tim morrison, correct? >> just to clarify, only in my advisory capacity. i advise up through the chain of command. thats what i do. >> and the chain of command is tim morrison to ambassador john bolton, national security adviser to the president of the united states? >> right. >> and do you agree the president sets the policy as commander in chief as you testified previously? >> absolutely. >> thank you. my time has expire...

>> if i recall this conversation correctly, he this is where ambassador sondland related there was no quid pro quo but president zelenskyy had to make the statement and he had a it want to do it. >> and by that point did you understand that the statement related to the biden and 2016 investigations? >> i think i did, yes. >> and that was essentially a condition for this security assistance to be released? >> i understood thats what ambassador sondland believed. >> after speaking with president t...

And they were talking about what the president has done for them. >> the president of the united states is paying attention. that he is not going to be backed off by, you know, institutional elements of the dod that are going to try to, you know, retain their ability to do certain things and force outcomes. and weaponize the military justice process. and then hide behind process. >> the president has shown the nation he has been a man of his word this whole time since he took office. he will wan...

Had a president who had their back. >> you mentioned all the war fighters. as you know, first lieutenant clint lorance was released from prison the same day, got a phone call from the president, as well as matt goldstein got the phone call and was cleared. we had matt on the p program yesterday. heres what he said. listen. >> i think it sends a clear signal that the president of the united states is paying attention, that hes not going to be backed off by institutional elements of the dod that a...