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Trump pressed Ukraine leader to investigate Biden, memo reveals Trump pressed Ukraine leader to investigate Biden, memo reveals
(30 minutes later)
Donald Trump pressed the Ukrainian president to work with the US attorney general to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a damning White House memo revealed on Wednesday, raising the stakes in an acrimonious and polarising impeachment inquiry. Donald Trump pressed the Ukrainian president to work with the US attorney general to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, a damning White House memo revealed on Wednesday, raising the stakes in an acrimonious and polarising impeachment inquiry.
Democrats said the US president’s conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy detailed in the five-page rough “transcript” was a “devastating” betrayal of his country that merited impeachment, while Republicans claimed it showed no quid pro quo and offered complete vindication.Democrats said the US president’s conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy detailed in the five-page rough “transcript” was a “devastating” betrayal of his country that merited impeachment, while Republicans claimed it showed no quid pro quo and offered complete vindication.
The disclosure came a day after Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, announced an official impeachment inquiry into Trump following a whistleblower’s complaint regarding alleged misdeeds by Trump, setting the stage for a long and rancorous fight ahead of next year’s presidential election. The disclosure came a day after Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, announced an official impeachment inquiry into Trump following a whistleblower’s complaint regarding alleged misdeeds by Trump, setting the stage for a long and rancorous fight in the run-up to next year’s presidential election.
Some observers expressed surprise that the White House had agreed to release such a damaging memo detailing the 25 July call between Trump and Zelenskiy. Though not a verbatim transcript, it showed that, after being congratulated on his victory in the Ukrainian election, Zelenskiy thanked the US for its military support and said he was almost ready to buy more American weapons.Some observers expressed surprise that the White House had agreed to release such a damaging memo detailing the 25 July call between Trump and Zelenskiy. Though not a verbatim transcript, it showed that, after being congratulated on his victory in the Ukrainian election, Zelenskiy thanked the US for its military support and said he was almost ready to buy more American weapons.
Impeachment: how does it work and what happens next?Impeachment: how does it work and what happens next?
Trump replied: “I would like you to do us a favor though,” and went on discuss possible joint investigations. Later in the conversation, he told Zelenskiy he should work with Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and the US attorney general, William Barr, to look into unsubstantiated allegations that Biden, the former vice-president, helped remove a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating his son, Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. Trump replied “I would like you to do us a favor, though” and went on discuss possible joint investigations. Later in the conversation, he told Zelenskiy he should work with Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and the US attorney general, William Barr, to look into unsubstantiated allegations that Biden, the former vice-president, helped remove a Ukrainian prosecutor investigating his son, Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
“I would like to have the Attorney General call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it,” Trump said. “There’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it ... It sounds horrible to me.” Trump said: “I would like to have the attorney general call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it. There’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the attorney eneral would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it.”
He added: '“It sounds horrible to me.”
The previously unknown connection to Barr was a potentially grave development for Trump because it shows he sought to involve the US government with a foreign country to look for dirt on a potential election rival. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden, currently a frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president.The previously unknown connection to Barr was a potentially grave development for Trump because it shows he sought to involve the US government with a foreign country to look for dirt on a potential election rival. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden, currently a frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president.
Democrats seized on the memo’s contents, saying it showed Trump used his powers not for America’s national security but to hurt Biden and help his own re-election. Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee, told reporters: “The notes of the call reflect a conversation far more damning than I and many others had imagined.” Democrats seized on the memo’s contents, saying it showed Trump used his powers not for America’s national security but to hurt Biden and help his own re-election. Adam Schiff, the chair of the House intelligence committee, told reporters: “The notes of the call reflect a conversation far more damning than I and many others had imagined.”
The conversation represented a “classic, mafia-like shakedown of a foreign leader”, Schiff added. “This is how a mafia boss talks. And it’s clear that the Ukraine president understands exactly what is expected of him.”The conversation represented a “classic, mafia-like shakedown of a foreign leader”, Schiff added. “This is how a mafia boss talks. And it’s clear that the Ukraine president understands exactly what is expected of him.”
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a leading advocate of impeachment, tweeted: “‘I would like you to do us a favor...’ Folks, I am surprised the White House even released this transcript. It’s worse than we thought. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading advocate of impeachment, tweeted: “‘I would like you to do us a favor...’ Folks, I am surprised the White House even released this transcript. It’s worse than we thought.
“The President sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent. We have no choice but to impeach.” “The president sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent. We have no choice but to impeach.”
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut added on Twitter: “Zelenskiy asked for more military aid. Moments later, Trump told him to investigate Biden ... The president engaged in an outright betrayal of our country.” Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut added on Twitter: “Zelenskiy asked for more military aid. Moments later, Trump told him to investigate Biden. The president engaged in an outright betrayal of our country.”
But the alternative realities that have pervaded American politics for the past three years were still in evidence. Trump and his allies sought to paint a very different picture, insisting that the memo proved his innocence. The president, who was at the UN general assembly in New York on Wednesday, told reporters: “The way you had that built up, that call it was going to be the call from hell. It turned out to be a nothing call other than a lot of people said ‘I never knew you could be so nice.’” But the alternative realities that have pervaded American politics for the past three years were still in evidence. Trump and his allies sought to paint a very different picture, insisting that the memo proved his innocence.
Trump, who was at the UN general assembly in New York on Wednesday, told reporters: “The way you had that built up, that call it was going to be the call from hell. It turned out to be a nothing call other than a lot of people said ‘I never knew you could be so nice.’”
The Trump re-election campaign fired off emails seeking to raise funds off the “smear job” by soliciting donations for an “Official Impeachment Defense Task Force”.The Trump re-election campaign fired off emails seeking to raise funds off the “smear job” by soliciting donations for an “Official Impeachment Defense Task Force”.
Brad Parscale, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, suggested that the move to impeach will energise Trump’s supporters and boost his chance of re-election. “Because of their pure hatred for President Trump, desperate Democrats and the salivating media already had determined their mission: take out the President,” he said. Brad Parscale, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, suggested that the move to impeach will energise Trump’s supporters and boost his chance of re-election. He said: “Because of their pure hatred for President Trump, desperate Democrats and the salivating media already had determined their mission: take out the president.”
“The facts prove the President did nothing wrong. This is just another hoax from Democrats and the media, contributing to the landslide re-election of President Trump in 2020.” Parscale went on: “The facts prove the president did nothing wrong. This is just another hoax from Democrats and the media, contributing to the landslide re-election of President Trump in 2020.”
Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry into Trump over Ukraine scandalPelosi announces impeachment inquiry into Trump over Ukraine scandal
There was little sign of Republicans breaking ranks, meaning that, even if Trump is impeached by the House, he would not be convicted and removed from office by the Republican controlled Senate. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump loyalist, tweeted: “Wow. Impeachment over this? What a nothing (non-quid pro quo) burger. Democrats have lost their minds when it comes to President @realDonaldTrump. There was little sign of Republicans breaking ranks, meaning that even if Trump is impeached by the House, he would not be convicted and removed from office by the Republican-controlled Senate. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump loyalist, tweeted: “Wow. Impeachment over this? What a nothing (non-quid pro quo) burger. Democrats have lost their minds when it comes to President Trump.”
One of the few dissenting voices was Senator Mitt Romney, a former Republican nominee for president. Speaking at the Atlantic magazine festival in Washington, he said of the transcript: “My reaction was the same as I had a few days ago, which is this remains deeply troubling and we’ll see where it leads. But my first reaction is it’s troubling.” One of the few dissenting voices was Senator Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president in 2012. Speaking at the Atlantic magazine festival in Washington, he said of the transcript: “My reaction was the same as I had a few days ago, which is this remains deeply troubling and we’ll see where it leads. But my first reaction is it’s troubling.”
Trump had recently confirmed that he ordered the freezing of nearly $400m in military aid to Ukraine a few days before the call. He claimed it was because the US was paying more than its fair share rather than any threat of blackmail or a quid pro quo. The aid was eventually released under pressure from Congress.Trump had recently confirmed that he ordered the freezing of nearly $400m in military aid to Ukraine a few days before the call. He claimed it was because the US was paying more than its fair share rather than any threat of blackmail or a quid pro quo. The aid was eventually released under pressure from Congress.
Trump was due to meet Zelenskiy on Wednesday in New York, at the United Nations, in their first face-to-face meeting. Trump met Zelenskiy on Wednesday in New York, at the United Nations, in their first face-to-face meeting.
The Ukraine scandal erupted after an intelligence community whistleblower came forward. Democrats have been demanding details of the whistleblower’s complaint, but the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, has refused to share that information, citing presidential privilege. He is to testify before the House on Thursday.The Ukraine scandal erupted after an intelligence community whistleblower came forward. Democrats have been demanding details of the whistleblower’s complaint, but the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, has refused to share that information, citing presidential privilege. He is to testify before the House on Thursday.
On Wednesday it also emerged that the intelligence community’s inspector general told the acting director of national intelligence that the call could have been a federal campaign finance violation. But the justice department determined the president did not commit a crime after prosecutors reviewed a rough transcript.On Wednesday it also emerged that the intelligence community’s inspector general told the acting director of national intelligence that the call could have been a federal campaign finance violation. But the justice department determined the president did not commit a crime after prosecutors reviewed a rough transcript.
The justice department also denied that Trump had sought to involve Barr in any attempt to inflict damage on Biden. “The President has not asked the Attorney General to contact Ukraine – on this or any other matter,” a spokesperson said. “The Attorney General has not communicated with Ukraine – on this or any other subject. Nor has the Attorney General discussed this matter, or anything relating to Ukraine, with Rudy Giuliani.” The justice department also denied that Trump had sought to involve Barr in any attempt to inflict damage on Biden. “The president has not asked the Attorney General to contact Ukraine – on this or any other matter,” a spokesperson said. “The attorney general has not communicated with Ukraine – on this or any other subject. Nor has the attorney general discussed this matter, or anything relating to Ukraine, with Rudy Giuliani.”
Trump impeachment inquiry
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi
House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives
US politicsUS politics
UkraineUkraine
EuropeEurope
Volodymyr Zelenskiy
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