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| Trump-Ukraine: Text messages show diplomat's alarm over plans | Trump-Ukraine: Text messages show diplomat's alarm over plans |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Texts show how US officials worked to prod the Ukrainian president into opening a public inquiry into President Trump's leading opponent, Joe Biden. | Texts show how US officials worked to prod the Ukrainian president into opening a public inquiry into President Trump's leading opponent, Joe Biden. |
| The messages, released by congressional Democrats, emerge as Mr Trump faces an impeachment inquiry over the matter. | The messages, released by congressional Democrats, emerge as Mr Trump faces an impeachment inquiry over the matter. |
| The exchanges show a senior diplomat saying it would be "crazy" to withhold military aid to Ukraine for Mr Trump's political gain in the 2020 election. | The exchanges show a senior diplomat saying it would be "crazy" to withhold military aid to Ukraine for Mr Trump's political gain in the 2020 election. |
| US law bans soliciting foreign help for electoral purposes. | US law bans soliciting foreign help for electoral purposes. |
| But Mr Trump denies any wrongdoing and, on Friday, said there was "no quid pro quo" in the communications. | But Mr Trump denies any wrongdoing and, on Friday, said there was "no quid pro quo" in the communications. |
| His remarks came a day after he publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Mr Biden, a top Democratic White House candidate, and his son, Hunter. | His remarks came a day after he publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Mr Biden, a top Democratic White House candidate, and his son, Hunter. |
| The Republican president accuses his political opponents of a "witch hunt". | The Republican president accuses his political opponents of a "witch hunt". |
| Impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would trigger a trial in the Senate. | Impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would trigger a trial in the Senate. |
| Senators would have to vote to convict Mr Trump by a two-thirds majority to remove him from office. | Senators would have to vote to convict Mr Trump by a two-thirds majority to remove him from office. |
| But that outcome is seen as unlikely given that the president's fellow Republicans control the upper chamber. | But that outcome is seen as unlikely given that the president's fellow Republicans control the upper chamber. |
| What do the texts say? | What do the texts say? |
| The impeachment inquiry stems from a 25 July call in which Mr Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his rival. | The impeachment inquiry stems from a 25 July call in which Mr Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his rival. |
| The wide-ranging text message discussions are connected to allegations by the Democrats that Mr Trump dangled military aid as a way to press Ukraine to dig dirt on Mr Biden. | The wide-ranging text message discussions are connected to allegations by the Democrats that Mr Trump dangled military aid as a way to press Ukraine to dig dirt on Mr Biden. |
| Sent between July and September, they involve high-ranking officials: | Sent between July and September, they involve high-ranking officials: |
| On 19 July, the three diplomats discussed arranging a phone call between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump. | On 19 July, the three diplomats discussed arranging a phone call between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump. |
| Mr Volker told the other two he had had breakfast with Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani that morning - and identified the main purpose of the upcoming phone call. | Mr Volker told the other two he had had breakfast with Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani that morning - and identified the main purpose of the upcoming phone call. |
| "Most impt [important] is for Zelensky to say that he will help the investigation," he told the others. | "Most impt [important] is for Zelensky to say that he will help the investigation," he told the others. |
| But Bill Taylor, the senior US diplomat in Ukraine, warned that President Zelensky "is sensitive" about Ukraine being seen "as an instrument in Washington domestic, re-election politics". | But Bill Taylor, the senior US diplomat in Ukraine, warned that President Zelensky "is sensitive" about Ukraine being seen "as an instrument in Washington domestic, re-election politics". |
| Ahead of the call, Mr Volker texted that he had heard from the White House that Mr Zelensky would be offered a formal visit to Washington "assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate / 'get to the bottom of what happened in 2016'". | Ahead of the call, Mr Volker texted that he had heard from the White House that Mr Zelensky would be offered a formal visit to Washington "assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate / 'get to the bottom of what happened in 2016'". |
| This is a reference to unfounded allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US presidential election and worked to help the Democrats. | This is a reference to unfounded allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US presidential election and worked to help the Democrats. |
| In the call, Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden. | In the call, Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden. |
| But text messages show US officials discussed what the Ukrainian president should say in a statement afterwards. | But text messages show US officials discussed what the Ukrainian president should say in a statement afterwards. |
| By 13 August, Kurt Volker advised that Mr Zelensky's statement should address interference in US politics, "especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians" - and Burisma, the company Joe Biden's son was involved in. | By 13 August, Kurt Volker advised that Mr Zelensky's statement should address interference in US politics, "especially with the alleged involvement of some Ukrainian politicians" - and Burisma, the company Joe Biden's son was involved in. |
| There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden. | There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden. |
| Then, on 29 August, the tone of discussions changed. Mr Zelenksy's aide Andriy Yermak sent a curt message to Mr Volker, including a link to a Politico story headlined "Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia". | Then, on 29 August, the tone of discussions changed. Mr Zelenksy's aide Andriy Yermak sent a curt message to Mr Volker, including a link to a Politico story headlined "Trump holds up Ukraine military aid meant to confront Russia". |
| Mr Taylor, the senior diplomat in Ukraine, seemed to voice his concerns about the motives for the delay. | Mr Taylor, the senior diplomat in Ukraine, seemed to voice his concerns about the motives for the delay. |
| "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," he said. | "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," he said. |
| That suggestion, however, was firmly pushed back by Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who said Mr Taylor was misunderstanding the president's intentions. | That suggestion, however, was firmly pushed back by Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who said Mr Taylor was misunderstanding the president's intentions. |
| What else is going on with the impeachment inquiry? | What else is going on with the impeachment inquiry? |
| On Friday, the impeachment inquiry escalated significantly as the Democratic chairmen of the three House committees leading the investigation served their first subpoena directly to the White House. | |
| They have demanded documents and records relating to the Ukraine investigation and Mr Trump's call with Mr Zelensky. | |
| "The president has chosen the path of defiance, obstruction, and cover-up," wrote the heads of the intelligence, foreign affairs and oversight panels. | |
| Earlier in the day, House Democrats also requested Ukraine-related documents from Vice-President Mike Pence, giving him a deadline of 15 October. | |
| Mr Pence - who was reported this week to be frustrated by White House handling of the Ukraine affair - has not yet responded. | Mr Pence - who was reported this week to be frustrated by White House handling of the Ukraine affair - has not yet responded. |
| Most Republicans are standing squarely behind Mr Trump, though two Republican senators have spoken out against the president. | Most Republicans are standing squarely behind Mr Trump, though two Republican senators have spoken out against the president. |
| Mitt Romney of Utah on Friday labelled the president's actions "appalling". | Mitt Romney of Utah on Friday labelled the president's actions "appalling". |
| Ben Sasse on Nebraska told the Omaha World-Herald newspaper: "Americans don't look to Chinese commies for the truth." | Ben Sasse on Nebraska told the Omaha World-Herald newspaper: "Americans don't look to Chinese commies for the truth." |
| He added that if Hunter Biden "broke laws by selling his name to Beijing, that's a matter for American courts, not communist tyrants running torture camps". | He added that if Hunter Biden "broke laws by selling his name to Beijing, that's a matter for American courts, not communist tyrants running torture camps". |
| Ukraine's prosecutor general announced on Friday that he would review the closed investigation into Burisma, adding that he was not aware of any evidence against Hunter Biden. | Ukraine's prosecutor general announced on Friday that he would review the closed investigation into Burisma, adding that he was not aware of any evidence against Hunter Biden. |
| All-out political warfare | All-out political warfare |
| Mr Trump and his defenders have insisted there was no quid-pro-quo in his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Text messages between members of the US team involved in Ukrainian diplomacy, however, suggest a different story. | Mr Trump and his defenders have insisted there was no quid-pro-quo in his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Text messages between members of the US team involved in Ukrainian diplomacy, however, suggest a different story. |
| It was very clear to them what Mr Trump wanted: a publicly announced Ukrainian investigation of political rival Joe Biden and the 2016 election hacking. | It was very clear to them what Mr Trump wanted: a publicly announced Ukrainian investigation of political rival Joe Biden and the 2016 election hacking. |
| It also was very clear what they had to offer the Ukrainians: not only US military aid, which had been put on hold by the White House, but also a meeting between the two presidents in Washington that would have been extremely valuable in bolstering the legitimacy of the newly elected Ukrainian leader. | It also was very clear what they had to offer the Ukrainians: not only US military aid, which had been put on hold by the White House, but also a meeting between the two presidents in Washington that would have been extremely valuable in bolstering the legitimacy of the newly elected Ukrainian leader. |
| Drawing a straight line between the offer and the ask doesn't take much imagination. | Drawing a straight line between the offer and the ask doesn't take much imagination. |
| It may not be long before the White House falls back to its final line of defence - that threatening and cajoling Ukraine to investigate Mr Biden was justified by the egregiousness of Mr Biden's alleged corruption. | It may not be long before the White House falls back to its final line of defence - that threatening and cajoling Ukraine to investigate Mr Biden was justified by the egregiousness of Mr Biden's alleged corruption. |
| With Mr Trump backed into a corner, it's a recipe for all-out political warfare. | With Mr Trump backed into a corner, it's a recipe for all-out political warfare. |
| Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine | Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine |
| Why is Mr Trump being investigated? | Why is Mr Trump being investigated? |
| A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his main rival, Joe Biden. | A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his main rival, Joe Biden. |
| Is this illegal? | Is this illegal? |
| If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. | If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. |
| What could happen next? | What could happen next? |
| If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. | If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. |
| Could he be removed? | Could he be removed? |
| A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. | A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. |