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| Ex-Ukraine envoy accuses Trump of pushing for her removal with 'false claims' – live | Ex-Ukraine envoy accuses Trump of pushing for her removal with 'false claims' – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| You can read Yovanovitch’s full opening statement here: | |
| Here’s where this very newsy Friday stands so far: | |
| Marie Yovanovitch testified to House committees investigating impeachment that she was told Trump had pressured the state department to release her as the US ambassador to Ukraine. | |
| A federal appeals court upheld House Democrats’ subpoena for eight years of Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm. | |
| The Pentagon announced it would send more troops to Saudi Arabia, even as Trump has defended his decision to withdraw forces from northern Syria by saying that he was trying to get the US military out of the Middle East. | |
| The blog will have much more to come, so stay tuned. | |
| Federal authorities investigating Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman are reportedly probing the pair’s relationship to Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer. | |
| Parnas and Fruman are facing campaign-finance charges, and the foreign-born Republican donors were arrested Wednesday night as they allegedly tried to flee the country. | |
| ABC News reports: | |
| The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s New York field office and prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, the same U.S. Attorney’s office Giuliani ran before he became mayor of New York. ... | |
| Parnas and Fruman, two Soviet-born, Florida-based businessmen, assisted Giuliani in his effort to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and his family. The association among the three men goes back several years. Giuliani has represented Parnas and Fruman in the past. | |
| The Wall Street Journal also reported yesterday that Giuliani had lunch with Parnas and Fruman just hours before the pair were arrested at Dulles International Airport. | |
| The White House has just announced the nomination of John Sullivan, currently the deputy secretary of state, as the next US ambassador to Russia. | The White House has just announced the nomination of John Sullivan, currently the deputy secretary of state, as the next US ambassador to Russia. |
| And if that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because he is the same John Sullivan who told Marie Yovanovitch that the State Department had been pressured by Trump to recall her, according to the former ambassador’s opening statement to House committees this morning. | And if that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because he is the same John Sullivan who told Marie Yovanovitch that the State Department had been pressured by Trump to recall her, according to the former ambassador’s opening statement to House committees this morning. |
| Just reemphasizing because the timing is crazy:Literally minutes after Yovanovitch testified that Deputy Secretary of State Sullivan told her she did nothing to warrant her ouster from Ukraine, Trump announced nomination of Sullivan as the next ambassador to Russia. https://t.co/F9asTsvV22 | Just reemphasizing because the timing is crazy:Literally minutes after Yovanovitch testified that Deputy Secretary of State Sullivan told her she did nothing to warrant her ouster from Ukraine, Trump announced nomination of Sullivan as the next ambassador to Russia. https://t.co/F9asTsvV22 |
| Yovanovitch said of Sullivan: “I met with the Deputy Secretary of State, who informed me of the curtailment of my term. He said that the President had lost confidence in me and no longer wished me to serve as his ambassador. | Yovanovitch said of Sullivan: “I met with the Deputy Secretary of State, who informed me of the curtailment of my term. He said that the President had lost confidence in me and no longer wished me to serve as his ambassador. |
| “He added that there had been a concerted campaign against me, and that the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove me since the Summer of 2018. | “He added that there had been a concerted campaign against me, and that the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove me since the Summer of 2018. |
| “He also said that I had done nothing wrong and that this was not like other situations where he had recalled ambassadors for cause. I departed Ukraine for good this past May.” | “He also said that I had done nothing wrong and that this was not like other situations where he had recalled ambassadors for cause. I departed Ukraine for good this past May.” |
| The blog is following news on multiple fronts right now. In addition to the release of Marie Yovanovitch’s blistering opening statement to House committees, the Pentagon has just confirmed the deployment of more US troops to Saudi Arabia. | The blog is following news on multiple fronts right now. In addition to the release of Marie Yovanovitch’s blistering opening statement to House committees, the Pentagon has just confirmed the deployment of more US troops to Saudi Arabia. |
| Defense Secretary Esper: "I have ordered the deployment to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia of two additional fighter squadrons and supporting personnel" pic.twitter.com/qbnW52U0fl | Defense Secretary Esper: "I have ordered the deployment to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia of two additional fighter squadrons and supporting personnel" pic.twitter.com/qbnW52U0fl |
| The announcement comes after an attack last month on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, which Saudi and US officials have blamed on Iran. | The announcement comes after an attack last month on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, which Saudi and US officials have blamed on Iran. |
| Across the past month, US officials have announced the deployment of about 3,000 additional troops to Saudi Arabia. | Across the past month, US officials have announced the deployment of about 3,000 additional troops to Saudi Arabia. |
| Marie Yovanovitch added in her opening statement to the House committees that she was told Trump had put “pressure” on the state department for nearly a year to recall her. | Marie Yovanovitch added in her opening statement to the House committees that she was told Trump had put “pressure” on the state department for nearly a year to recall her. |
| The former US ambassador to Ukraine said to the lawmakers investigating impeachment: “I met with the Deputy Secretary of State, who informed me of the curtailment of my term. He said that the President had lost confidence in me and no longer wished me to serve as his ambassador. | The former US ambassador to Ukraine said to the lawmakers investigating impeachment: “I met with the Deputy Secretary of State, who informed me of the curtailment of my term. He said that the President had lost confidence in me and no longer wished me to serve as his ambassador. |
| “He added that there had been a concerted campaign against me, and that the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove me since the Summer of 2018. He also said that I had done nothing wrong and that this was not like other situations where he had recalled ambassadors for cause. I departed Ukraine for good this past May.” | “He added that there had been a concerted campaign against me, and that the Department had been under pressure from the President to remove me since the Summer of 2018. He also said that I had done nothing wrong and that this was not like other situations where he had recalled ambassadors for cause. I departed Ukraine for good this past May.” |
| In her opening statement to the House committees, Yovanovitch sought to dispel some of the smears thrown at her by far-right pundits. | In her opening statement to the House committees, Yovanovitch sought to dispel some of the smears thrown at her by far-right pundits. |
| The former ambassador to Ukraine said: “I want to categorically state that I have never myself or through others, directly or indirectly, ever directed, suggested, or in any other way asked for any government or government official in Ukraine (or elsewhere) to refrain from investigating or prosecuting actual corruption. | The former ambassador to Ukraine said: “I want to categorically state that I have never myself or through others, directly or indirectly, ever directed, suggested, or in any other way asked for any government or government official in Ukraine (or elsewhere) to refrain from investigating or prosecuting actual corruption. |
| “Equally fictitious is the notion that I am disloyal to President Trump. I have heard the allegation in the media that I supposedly told the Embassy team to ignore the President’s orders ‘since he was going to be impeached.’ That allegation is false. I have never said such a thing, to my Embassy colleagues or to anyone else.” | “Equally fictitious is the notion that I am disloyal to President Trump. I have heard the allegation in the media that I supposedly told the Embassy team to ignore the President’s orders ‘since he was going to be impeached.’ That allegation is false. I have never said such a thing, to my Embassy colleagues or to anyone else.” |
| Yovanovitch added that she never discussed Hunter Biden or his Ukrainian company with Joe Biden or any other Obama official, although she has met the former vice president on several occasions. | Yovanovitch added that she never discussed Hunter Biden or his Ukrainian company with Joe Biden or any other Obama official, although she has met the former vice president on several occasions. |
| According to her opening statement published by the Washington Post, Marie Yovanovitch said she had few interactions with Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer. | According to her opening statement published by the Washington Post, Marie Yovanovitch said she had few interactions with Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer. |
| But she noted that, based on news reports, some of Giuliani’s associates may have believed they would suffer financial losses due to the ambassador’s anti-corruption efforts. | But she noted that, based on news reports, some of Giuliani’s associates may have believed they would suffer financial losses due to the ambassador’s anti-corruption efforts. |
| Yovanovitch told the House committees: “With respect to Mayor Giuliani, I have had only minimal contacts with him—a total of three that I recall. None related to the events at issue. I do not know Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me. | Yovanovitch told the House committees: “With respect to Mayor Giuliani, I have had only minimal contacts with him—a total of three that I recall. None related to the events at issue. I do not know Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me. |
| “But individuals who have been named in the press as contacts of Mr. Giuliani may well have believed that their personal financial ambitions were stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine.” | “But individuals who have been named in the press as contacts of Mr. Giuliani may well have believed that their personal financial ambitions were stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine.” |
| Marie Yovanovitch told the House committees investigating impeachment that Trump had pushed for her removal as ambassador to Ukraine based on “false claims”, according to the New York Times. | Marie Yovanovitch told the House committees investigating impeachment that Trump had pushed for her removal as ambassador to Ukraine based on “false claims”, according to the New York Times. |
| The Times reports: | The Times reports: |
| Marie L. Yovanovitch, who was recalled as the American ambassador to Ukraine, testified to impeachment investigators on Friday that a top State Department official told her that President Trump had pushed for her removal for months even though the department believed she had ‘done nothing wrong.’ | Marie L. Yovanovitch, who was recalled as the American ambassador to Ukraine, testified to impeachment investigators on Friday that a top State Department official told her that President Trump had pushed for her removal for months even though the department believed she had ‘done nothing wrong.’ |
| In a closed-door deposition that could further fuel calls for Mr. Trump’s impeachment, Ms. Yovanovitch delivered a scathing indictment of his administration’s conduct of foreign policy, warning that private influence and personal gain have usurped diplomats’ judgment, threatening to undermine the nation’s interests and drive talented professionals out of public service. | In a closed-door deposition that could further fuel calls for Mr. Trump’s impeachment, Ms. Yovanovitch delivered a scathing indictment of his administration’s conduct of foreign policy, warning that private influence and personal gain have usurped diplomats’ judgment, threatening to undermine the nation’s interests and drive talented professionals out of public service. |
| According to a copy of her opening statement obtained by The New York Times, the longtime diplomat said she was ‘incredulous’ that she was removed as ambassador ‘based, as far as I can tell, on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives.’ | According to a copy of her opening statement obtained by The New York Times, the longtime diplomat said she was ‘incredulous’ that she was removed as ambassador ‘based, as far as I can tell, on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives.’ |
| A Democratic member of the House oversight committee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, said that Marie Yovanovitch was “acting like a true ambassador” in her closed-door interview. | A Democratic member of the House oversight committee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, said that Marie Yovanovitch was “acting like a true ambassador” in her closed-door interview. |
| Norton added that the former US ambassador to Ukraine had made no mention of anyone trying to prevent her from speaking to the House committees investigating impeachment. | Norton added that the former US ambassador to Ukraine had made no mention of anyone trying to prevent her from speaking to the House committees investigating impeachment. |
| Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton on the ongoing Yovanovitch deposition: “She’s been testifying there for about an hour, and she’s acting like a true ambassador. So far, I think both sides are finding her credible. She has not indicated that anyone tried to keep her from testifying.” | Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton on the ongoing Yovanovitch deposition: “She’s been testifying there for about an hour, and she’s acting like a true ambassador. So far, I think both sides are finding her credible. She has not indicated that anyone tried to keep her from testifying.” |
| The US is planning to send more troops, potentially numbering in the thousands, to Saudi Arabia following an attack on its oil facilities last month, which the two countries have blamed on Iran. | The US is planning to send more troops, potentially numbering in the thousands, to Saudi Arabia following an attack on its oil facilities last month, which the two countries have blamed on Iran. |
| Reuters reports: | Reuters reports: |
| [Sources familiar with the matter] did not specify exactly how many troops would be deployed or specify whether they would be replacing any other American forces that might be departing elsewhere in the region in the coming weeks or months. | [Sources familiar with the matter] did not specify exactly how many troops would be deployed or specify whether they would be replacing any other American forces that might be departing elsewhere in the region in the coming weeks or months. |
| The Pentagon has yet to announce, for example, whether it will replace the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group when it eventually wraps up its deployment to the Middle East. | The Pentagon has yet to announce, for example, whether it will replace the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group when it eventually wraps up its deployment to the Middle East. |
| One of the sources said the United States was also considering deploying additional air defenses to Saudi Arabia. That could not be immediately confirmed, however. | One of the sources said the United States was also considering deploying additional air defenses to Saudi Arabia. That could not be immediately confirmed, however. |
| The Trump administration’s decision to send more resources to Saudi Arabia stands in stark contrast to the president’s withdrawal of troops from northern Syria. | The Trump administration’s decision to send more resources to Saudi Arabia stands in stark contrast to the president’s withdrawal of troops from northern Syria. |
| Trump said earlier this week of his Syria decision: “I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home, and bring them home as rapidly as possible.” | Trump said earlier this week of his Syria decision: “I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home, and bring them home as rapidly as possible.” |