State Department Will Testify on Guiliani

Reviews
This a slanted article that is attempting to make President Trump guilty by association. They make the Ukraine situation sound like a terrible scandal when there are some facts that contradict that. They also make assumptions on what they heard from meeting behind closed doors when no one can't really know without hurting justice and ruining the point of closed-door hearings.
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Review Info (3)
First Published: 11/02/2019 09:16:59 pm
Last Updated: 11/30/-0001 12:00:00 am
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CNN
Content (12)
"Former national security adviser John Bolton cautioned about the influence Rudy Giuliani had on US-Ukraine policymaking during a meeting in mid-June with top US officials, a career foreign service officer plans to tell Congress on Wednesday, (10/30/19) according to a copy of his opening statement obtained by CNN."
"Christopher Anderson, who was the assistant to former special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker from 2017-2019, is one of two State Department officials set to testify behind closed doors later Wednesday (10/30/19) as part of the House Ukraine impeachment inquiry."
"Catherine Croft, who took over that role [the assistant to former special envoy for Ukraine] in summer 2019, is also testifying behind closed doors Wednesday, (10/30/19) and the testimony started around 9:30 a.m. ET."
"The House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to Croft on Wednesday morning (10/30/19) for her testimony, according to an official working on the impeachment inquiry."
"Volker, as well as a number of other State Department officials, have already testified as part of the probe. "
"Neither witness is expected to unearth a treasure trove of details that will change the trajectory of the investigation, but their testimonies are expected give context for how the Trump administration's US-Ukraine policy developed and confirm details that have already been presented."
"According to Anderson's prepared statements, he helped in May to develop 'key deliverables' to show newly-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 'commitment to reform. 1) demonstrating Zelenskyy's independence from powerful vested interests and pursuing anti-corruption reform as well as antitrust reform; 2) strengthening U.S.-Ukrainian energy cooperation; and 3) improving our bilateral security relationship which included Ukraine increasing its purchases of key U.S. military equipment.' "
"In the mid-June meeting, 'Bolton stated that he agreed with our three lines of effort and that he also supported increased senior White House engagement,' according to the prepared statement."
"Bolton, viewed as one of the key witnesses, has been contacted by the committees about a deposition. It is unclear if or when he will appear before the committees."
"Witnesses in the impeachment probe have testified to Giuliani's outsized influence on Ukraine policy, including pressing for an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's work with Burisma. "
"There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden in Ukraine."
"During his testimony in early October, Volker cast himself as an advocate of American support for Ukraine, but he was cognizant of the reality that Giuliani would have to be a part of anything if it were going to be successful, according to those familiar with his testimony."
Spin (2)
" 'However, he cautioned that Mr. Giuliani was a key voice with the President on Ukraine which could be an obstacle to increased White House engagement,' Anderson is expected to tell the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees."
"CNN has previously reported that Trump had directed Volker and other top US officials to deal with his personal layer on matters related to Ukraine, including the Ukrainian President's desire for a White House meeting — an order was a clear circumvention of official channels."
Article Info (4)
Date Published: 2019-10-30 11:37:00
Date Accessed: 2019-11-03 15:24:00
Article Author: Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Hansler
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