UNITED STATES—The first of several public impeachment hearings was held on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, November 13. Testifying were acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, George Kent.
Rep. Jim Jordan, who was recently appointed to the House Intelligence Committee, challenged Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, asking:
“When do you anticipate we might vote on the ability to have the whistleblower in front of us.” Jordan claimed that Schiff was aware of the whistleblower’s identity, to which Schiff responded: “I do not know the identity of the whistleblower and I’m determined to make sure that identity is protected.”
Schiff indicated that a motion could be made to subpoena a witness after the two witnesses testified.
Jordan questioned Ambassador Taylor regarding the actual phone call between President Trump and Zelensky. Ambassador Taylor admitted to not hearing the phone call, and Jordan’s response: “And you’re the star witness?”
Democratic Counsel, Daniel Goldman asked for clarification about the July 25 phone call. from the witnessed. Both Taylor and Kent acknowledged that they were not on the phone. Goldman asked, “So, you both read it after it was released publicly at the end of September.” To which both, Taylor and Kent replied, “Yes.”
Taylor indicated President Donald Trump asked Ambassador Sondland about the investigations and shared with the public details.
Rep. Eric Swalwell asked both men testifying if either considered themselves, “Never Trumpers.” To which Taylor replied, “No.”
“I’m a career non-professional who serves whatever president is duly-elected and carries out the foreign policies of that president and the United States, and I’ve done that for 27 years,” said Kent.
Jim Hines read transcripts to the witnesses of the phone call and asked for their opinion.
John Ratcliffe, a member of the House Intelligence and House Ethics Committee was cut off by Chairman Schiff during his line of questioning. Ratcliffe asked for more time and was granted 22 seconds. Ratcliffe posted the interaction between Ambassador Taylor and himself via Twitter.
“To be clear, if House Democrats impeach President Trump for quid pro quo involving military aid, they have to call President Zelensky a liar,” said Ratcliffe.
Listen to the liberal media and House Dems change their story after Taylor’s testimony is clear that nobody in the Ukrainian government was aware of a military hold at the time of the Trump-Zelensky call. Quid pro quo was impossible on July 25, so let’s make it September instead. pic.twitter.com/ZlqDm8NptX
— John Ratcliffe (@RepRatcliffe) November 6, 2019
Quid Pro Quo is a term that refers to a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.
Devin Nunes stated the call was “routine” and indicated that President Zelensky had already said that he did not feel pressured into launching investigations. Nunes went on to add that, “Democrats are not trying to find the facts they are trying to invent a narrative.”
A total of nine more witnesses are slated to testify in the next week.
