Doing their business. This might actually start on time. Mike pompeo doesnt get enough attention. There is two scenarios, he was helping to orchestrate the off book Political Campaign run by donald trump and Rudy Giuliani, or he was oblivious to what was being done to all of his employees. He was asked repeatedly to defend her, and we have on the record in testimony a call from the State Department to yovanovitch at 1 00 in the morning where they say we need to get you out on the next plane. What did he do . I think the fact pattern is just as par real for mike cpompeo as trump. We know that mike pompeo was listening in on the phone call of which donald trump said of that former ambassador. That bad woman, bad things are going to happen to her and her former boss, secretary pompeo didnt do anything. Lisa, you work at the State Department for a republican administration. What impact does this have on the state Department Today and in the future. I agree with nicole that i think pompeo will ultimately suffer as much fallout as trump. You hear from former colleagues who are just horrified by what is going down in the building, and Rex TillersonsAdministration May not have been that popular, but now, you hear people saying well, he decimated the Foreign Service, but it wasnt like he was just out w d outwardly hostile. People are pet trrified of retribution, of the lawlessness, and if you step up against that
youre punished. So youre punished for upholding the value you took to protect american interests. Were waiting for the beginning of the Impeachment Inquiry. Devin nunez sat down along with the council for majority. Nicole this week the white house is saying this is much to do about nothing. They have said it has been not quite exciting enough. I found this to be about as gripping as anything i have ever seen in washington dc. You have people who are just laying out the facts and theyre slowly but surely putting together this puzzle. So we can see, just how badly jump and his administration operated in ukraine. And maybe were just old enough to remember the drama of the post cold war and national
security movies that saw people like ambassador kent who stood on that line. Making sure that america didnt tip in the wrong direction, and that just a word, a nod, the release or the speed with which Military Aide flows to russias enemie enemies, these were things watch s ed to carefully around the room. He smashed decades of work. This is not about democratic witnesses or the republicans have been such jerks, they say they are nobodys star witness. Theyre american diplomats there to protect American National security. Your father and mikas father dedicated their lives to promoting American Values across the globe. Defending american interests
across the globe against the soviet union. And russia, a russia who now, they want to go back to the middle east, they want the world to believe that you craukraine part of the soviet union. They have said that ukraine is not a real country. In terms of his own political interests we just celebrated by dads 99th birthday. And his generation, people who were Public Servants. They believed in americas purpose, we just celebrated the fall of the berlin wall. A moment in which caall of thos years of Dedication Lead to a kind of victory. I hope as people watch
ambassador yovanovitch this morning, think of her out there on the front lines. She was an ambassador for 33 years and had that continually year after year. This is a wonderful moments and i hope americans think about their service. Out there, serving their country. There she is walking into the room, mika, and the lineage is coming directly from your father, henry kissinger. All of the Men And Women, republican and democratics alike that dedicated their lives to protecting america and democratic values. Their lifes work obliterated in the last three years. And you get a sense when you
hear her story of the insidiousness of it all and when it played out. I dont know if it is a crime or what it is, within the overall crime that the president will be impeached for, but tow have a sitting president threaten the life of an Ambassador Serving in a country in the middle of a hot war i dont know what i would call that, but that certainly adds to the very gripping nature and serious nature of what happened here. Theyre about to start here, well listen to Chairman Schiff as soon as he begins. I think the strength of the witnesses is reflected in the criticism, we heard theyre boring, or on fox news making fun of their appearance or their water bottles. These are severe diplomats that served under democrats or republicans. Theyre not never trumpers or deep staters, that woman there is there to tell the truth. Lets listen in. Good morning, everyone. This is the second in a series of public hearings that the committee will be holding as part of the houses Impeachment Inquiry. The chair is able to declare recess at any time. We will proceed today in the same way as our first hearing. We will have Opening Statements and then turn to the statement for Opening Statement and questions. Audience members, we respect your being here and we ask for your respect during this he hearing. As chairmanly maintain order to ensure the committee is ran with house rules and house resolution
660. I recognize myself to give an Opening Statement in the Impeachment Inquiry to donald j. Trump. In april 2019 the United States ambassador to ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch was called and told to get on the first plane back to washington. She was informed by her superiors that although she did Nothing Wrong she could not serve as ambassador to ukraine because she didnt have the confidence of the president. It was a stunning change of events nor diplomat. Ambassador yovanovitch has been in the Foreign Service for 33 years and served much of that time in the former soviet union. Her parents fled stalin, and then hitler, and ended in the United States. She known as an anticorruption champion whose tour in kiev was viewed as very successful. Michael mckinley said that from her first days, she was excellents with serious, and committed. I remember her being one of those people destined for greater things. Her successor, acting chief, described her as very frank. She was very direct, made points clearly, and she was indeed tough on corruption and she named names. She was a strong person and made those charges. In her time in kiev, ambassador
yovanovitch was tough on corruption, too tough for some and it made her enemieenemies. You cant promote principaled anticorruption action without pissing off corrupt people, and she did not just piss off construct ukrainians. But also, certain americans like Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trumps personal attorney, and two individuals now dietindicted wi them. They had come to include the president s own son, don junior, promoted a Smear Campaign on her based on false allegations. There was an effort to push back to get a statement of support from secretary pompeo, but they
failed when it became clear that President Trump wanted her gone. So have argued that the president can nominate and remove whoever head wants. And that is true. The question is not whether or not he could recall an ambassador with a stellar reputation for fighting corruption in you yukraine, but would he want to. Why did Rudy Rudy Giuliani want gone. And why would they want to work with the same man that Rudy Giuliani played such a key role in the Smear Campaign against her. Rudy giuliani made no secret about the question to open an
investigation against the bidens. As he said in one interview, were not meddling in an election, were meddling in an investigation which we have a right to do. More recently he told cnns chris cuomo, of course i did when asked if he pressed ukraine to investigate joe biden. And he has never been shy about who he is doing this work for, his client, the president. One powerful ally was the corrupt former promise cue tor general. The one powerful adversary lusenko had was named Marie Yovanovitch. In the july 25th call, trump brings up a corrupt prosecutor and praises him. He says he was very good and he
was shut down and that is really unfair. But the woman known for fighting corruption, his own former ambassador, the woman smeared and driven from her post, the president does nothing but disparage, or worse, threaten. Well, he have go through some things the president declares. That tells you a lot about the president s priorities and intentions. Getting rid of ambassador yovanovitch help set the channel. Most importantly, the 2020 political opponent that he apparently feared the most. They heard from acting
ambassador taylor that they would press ukraine into these investigations and would push back but for the fact also that someone blue the witness. Ambassador yovanovitch was serving our nations interest, but she was considered an obstacle. For that she was smeared and cast aside. The powers of the presidency are immense. But they are not absolute. And they cannot be used for corrupt purpose. The American People expect their president to use the authority they grant him in the service of the nation. Not to destroy others to advance his personal or political interests. And now i recognize Ranking Member nunes for his remarks. I thank the gentleman. It is unfortunate that today and
for most of next week we will continue engaging in the democratics day long Tv Spectacles instead of involving the problems that we were all sent to washington to address. We have a major Trade Agreement with canada and mexico ready for approval. Awe deal that would create jobs and boost our funding. We have a job for the government that expires next week along with funding for Men And Women in uniform. We have been convened once again to topple a dually elected president. Ill note that five, five democratics on this committee, had voted to impeach this president before the Trump Zelensky phone call occurred. They have vowed to get rid of
him since he was elected. So he was used as an excuse for them to serve their water gate fantasies. But im glad that on wednesday after the democrats staged six weeks of secret depositions in the basement of the capital like a strange cult the American People got to see this as far as f farce for themselves. They saw hours of hearsay testimony. In other words, rumors. The problem of trying to overthrow a president based on this type of evidence is obvious. But that is what their whole case relies on. Secondhand and third Hand Information cited by the whistleblower. Thats why democrats were forced to make the absurd argument that hearsay can be better evidence than direct evidence. Committee republicans received a memo from the democrats threatening ethics reversals. No republicans here know the whistleblowers hit because the whistleblower only met with democrats. Not with republicans. Chairman schiff claimed he didnt know who it was and he blocked us from asking questions that could reveal his or her identity. Republicans are left wondering how it is possible for him to
block the questions of the claims of people that he claims not to know. Republicans on this dias are used to them. Any top i think aside from the ridiculous Conspiracy Theories that President Trump is a russian agent. When you find yourself on the phone, like the democrats did with russian prank stesters offg you nude pictures of trump, as the democrats also did. That it might be time to ask yourself if you have gone out too far on a limb. And the funding of the steel dossier. The democrats were cooperating with that operation. This was the subject of a July 20th 2017 letter sent by senator grassly to then Deputy Attorney general rod rosenstein. It raised concerns about the activity of a contractor for the Democratic National committee. Who worked with Ukrainian Embassy officials to spread dirt on the trump campaign. At Senator Grassley wrote, her actions appear to show she was multi simultaneously working on behalf of the campaign. On an effort to influence the u. S. Voting population and u. S. Government officials. Democrats on this committee ignore ukrainian Election Meddling even though chalupa admitted to the democrats scheme. Like wide their blind to the blaring signs of corruption surrounding Hunter Bidens wael paid position while his father was Vice President. But the Democrats Media hacks only cared about that issue wre briefly when they were trying to stop joe biden from running against Hillary Clinton in 2015. As i previously stated, these hearings should not be occurring at all until we get the answers to three crucial questions that the democrats refuse to ask. First, what is the full extent of the democrats prior coordination with the whistleblower and who else do
the whistleblower coordinate this effort with. Second what is the full extent of ukraines Election Meddling against the trump campaign. And third, why did buresma hire hunter biden, what did he do for them, and did he affect any Government Actions under the Obama Administration. House democrats vowed they would not put the American People through a Wrenching Impeachment Process without bipartisan support and they have not. Add that to their ever growing list of broken promises and destructive deceptions. In closing, mr. Chair, the president of the United States released his transcript right before the hearing began. I think it is important that we read this into the record yet so there is no confusion over this first phone call that occurred on april 21st with president
elect zelensky. I would like to congratulate you on a Job Well Done and congratulations on a fantastic collection. Zelensky, good to hear from you, i appreciate the congratulations. The president that was an incredible election. Zelensky thank you very much, as you see we tried very hard to do our best. We had you as a great example. The president i think yi think you will do a great job, i have many friends from ukraine that know you and like you and expected you to win and its really an amazing thing that youve done. I guess in a way i did something similar. Were making tremendous progress in the u. S. We have the most tremendous economy ever. I just want today congratulate you. I have no doubt you will be a fantastic president. Zelensky first, thank you so much for the congratulations, we in ukraine are independent and were going to do everything for the people. You are, as i said, a great example. Were hoping we can expand on our jobs as you did. You will also be a great example for many. Youre a great example for our new managers. I also would like to invite you if possible to the inauguration. I know how busy you are, but if it is possible for you to come to the Inauguration Ceremony that will be great. Great for you to do to be with us on that day. The president that is very nice, ill look into that and give us a date at the very minimum well have a great representative or more from the United States will be with you on that great day. Well have somebody at a minimum, a very, very high level, and will be with you. Really an incredible day for an incredible achievement. Zelensky thank you, were looking forward to your visit of a high level delegation, no words that can describe our country, how warm our people are, and how tasty our food is. It would be best for you to see it for yourself. If you could come, that would be great so again i invite you to come. The president i agree with you about your country. When i had ms. Universe, ukraine was always very well represented with nice people. When youre settled, i would like to invite you to the white house. Well have a lot to talk about but were with you all of the way. Zelensky thank you for the invitation, we look forward to the visit, the whole team and i
are looking forward to the visit. I think it will still be great if you can come be with us on this important day, the results are incredible. Theyre very impressive for us, it is absolutely fantastic if you could come on that day. The president very good, well let you know very soon and when see you soon regardless. Say hello to your family and let them know i send my best regards. Zelensky thank you very