THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND BY CRIBS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND BY CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, I AM JUDY WOODRUFF AND WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF THE PUBLIC IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS.

WE ARE NOW AT ANOTHER CRITICAL MOMENT.

THE AMBASSADOR TO THE EU GORDON SONDLAND SAID YESTERDAY THAT EVERYONE WAS IN THE LOOP, TESTIFYING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED HIM TO WORK WITH RUDY GIULIANI TO PRESSURE UH DRIEN CONDUCT POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

IMPLICATING THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE EFFORT.

A KEY WHITE HOUSE DEFENSE OF THE PRESIDENT THAT UKRAINE DID NOT KNOW THAT MILITARY AID WAS BEING WITHHELD THIS PAST SUMMER WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION YESTERDAY BY A SENIOR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL LAURA COOPER.

THAT CONTINUES TODAY WITH FIONA HILL WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF EUROPE AND RUSSIA ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF.

SHE WAS IN THE ROOM AT IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

AND A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL DAVID HOLMES BASED IN UKRAINE WILL DESCRIBE HOW HE OVERHEARD A PHONE CALL WHEN THE PRESIDENT ASKED GORDON SONDLAND IF UKRAINE WILL CARRY OUT THE INVESTIGATION.

THERE IS A LOT TO ABSORB AS YOU CAN TELL.

AT THE HEART OF THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY DID PRESIDENT TRUMP VIOLATE HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND GENERAL DIVE DIES U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY BY PRESSURING UKRAINE TO TAKE STEPS THAT WOULD BENEFIT HIM POLITICALLY?

NAMELY, TO UNDERTAKE INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIS POLITICAL RIVAL.

ONCE AGAIN, OUR LISA DESJARDINS IS AT THE CAPITOL AND WILL BE IN THE ROOM ALL DURING TODAY'S HEARING AND SENDER IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, NICK SCHIFRIN OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT HERE AT THE TABLE WITH ME.

ALONG WITH A TOP STAFFER FOR DEMOCRATS ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, IN 2007 TO 2010.

SHE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM AT THIRD WAY, AS THE WASHINGTON THINK TANK.

AND STEWART BAKER, WHO SERVED AS GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY IN THE 1990S.

AND HIS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLICY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DURING THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

HELLO TO ALL OF YOU, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE PICTURES, LIVE PICTURES OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM AT THE CAPITOL.

YOU CAN SEE NOT EVERYONE IS IN THEIR SEAT, SO WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING TODAY.

NICK SCHIFRIN, TO YOU FIRST, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM DR. FIONA HILL WHO AS WE SAID WORKED ON THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF AND YOU WERE TELLING ME SOME OF THIS IS EYE OPENING.

>> ABSOLUTELY, WE ARE GOING HEAR TWO PARTS FROM FIONA HILL, ONE KIND OF SUBSTANTIVE ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING AND THEN HER OPENING STATEMENT REALLY TAKES AIM AS REPUBLICANS BASICALLY WHAT SHE CALLS A CONSPIRACY.

SO FIRST THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT SHE WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY, SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW RUDY GIULIANI SHE BELIEVES WAS MOTIVATED BY BUSINESS IN UKRAINE, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTIFIED ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

SHE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE BUSINESS DEALINGS LED HIM TO TRY AND OUST TO THE AMBASSADOR OF UKRAINE, MARIE YOVANOVITCH AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOVANOVITCH OUSTER WAS A TURNING POINT AND SAY THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER WAS ANTI-SEMITIC AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT, SHE IS ALSO GOING TO TAKE AIM AT GORDON SONDLAND AND THIS WILL HELP DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, SHE DESCRIBED HIM IN HER DEPOSITION AS CLUELESS AND A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE RISK GIVING PEOPLE -- GIVING OUT HIS PHONE NUMBER TO PEOPLE, TALKING ON THE PHONE IN OPEN LINES, INCLUDING TO NOW WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FROM KEEFE AND TALK KIEV AND THOUSAND RUSSIANS WERE PROBABLY LISTENING IN, THAT IS KIND OF THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT SHE IS GOING TO BE ASKED BUT BEFORE SHE GETS TO THAT SHE WILL HAVE THE OPENING STATEMENT WHICH TAKES DIRECT AIM AT ONE PARTICULAR ARGUMENT THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN MAKING THAT UKRAINE SOMEHOW HACKED INTO THE 2016 ELECTION AND THEY WERE SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN OPPOSING CANDIDATE TRUMP AND SHE IS GOING TO SY THAT THAT IS A FICTIONAL NARRATIVE, PROPAGATED BY THE RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES THEMSELVES.

SO SHE IS GOING TO SAY, WELL REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ARGUING IS DISINFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THEM BY RUSSIA, SHE IS GOING TO DESCRIBE PRESIDENT PUTIN ACTING LIKE A SUPER PAC WEAPONNIZING U.S.

POLITICAL OPPOSITION AND FALSE NARRATIVES AND SHE SAYS THAT IF WE KEEP ON THIS PARTISAN RANCOR WE CANNOT COMBAT THESE EXTERNAL FORCES THAT ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS.

SO SHE WILL TAKE DIRECT AIM AT THAT REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT.

>> BUT HERE WE ARE LET'S JUST STEP BACK, NICK SCHIFRIN, MONTHS AFTER IT WAS MADE CLEAR BY THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE COMMUNITY THAT RUSSIA WAS BEHIND THE HACKING INTO THE U.S.

ELECTIONS IN 2016, A TOP FORMER TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL IS STILL HAVING TO SAY IN IS WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SHE WILL SAY IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, THAT RUSSIA NOT UKRAINE HACKED INTO THE 2016 ELECTIONS, REPUBLICANS WILL SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT ALL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THERE WERE UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN 2016 WHO DID CRITICIZE CANDIDATE TRUMP AND THEY CRITICIZED CANDIDATE TRUMP'S POLICIES AND STATEMENTS ABOUT UKRAINE AND CRIMEA SO THAT'S WHERE THE REPUBLICANS WILL BRING UP, BUT JUDY AS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S NOT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BROUGHT UP, PRESIDENT TRUMP BROUGHT UP THIS CONSPIRACY THEORY ABOUT UKRAINE SOMEHOW HACKING OR UKRAINE BEING BEHIND THE HACKING IN 2016.

>> WHICH WAS MOTIVATING HIM, PRESUMABLY TO GET THE UKRAINIANS TO DO THESE INVESTIGATIONS AT LEAST THAT IS THE ALLEGATION A. LISA DESJARDINS, YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THESE HEARINGS FROM INSIDE THE ROOM VERY CLOSELY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO GET GAVELED INTO ORDER, SO WE ARE GOING TO GO RIGHT TO CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF AS HE CALLS ON THE WITNESS AND GETS THE HEARING UNDERWAY.

ADAM SCHIFF, THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE OF COURSE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SO IT IS A DEMOCRAT, CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THESE COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND IN CHARGE OF FRANKLY THE WAY THIS INQUIRY IS BEING CONDUCTED.

>> SEATED NEXT TO HIM AS WE SEE HIM HERE ON HIS LEFT, TO OUR RIGHT -- >> WE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> CONGRESSMAN DEVIN NUNEZ.

>> THIS IS THE SEVENTH IN A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR AS PART OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ARE IT WAS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

THE CHAIR IS AUTHORIZED TO DECLARE A RECESS OF THE COMMITTEE AT ANY TIME.

THERE IS A QUORUM PRESENT.

WE WILL PROCEED NEED SAME FASHION AS OUR OTHER HEARINGS.

I WILL MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT, THEN RANKING MEMBER NUNES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND TURN TO OUR WITNESSES FOR THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS AND A THEN TO QUESTIONS.

FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS WE WELCOME YOU AND RESPECT YOUR INTEREST IN BEING HERE IN TURN WE ASK FOR YOUR RESPECT AS WE PROCEED WITH TODAY'S HEARING.

IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE COMMITTEE TO PROCEED WITHOUT DISRUPTIONS MR. CHAIRMAN I WILL TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND ENSURE COMMITTEE IS RUN IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOUSE RULES AND HOUSE RESOLUTION 660.

WITH THAT I NOW RECOGNIZE MYSELF TO GIVE AN OPENING STATEMENT IN THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO DONALD J. TRUMP THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> YESTERDAY MORNING THE COMMITTEE HEARD FROM AMBASSADOR GORDON SONDLAND.

THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION, DE FACTO LEADER OF THE THREE AMIGOS WHO HAD REGULAR ACCESS TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND PRESSED THE NEW UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY FOR TWO INVESTIGATIONS TRUMP BELIEVED WOULD HELP HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

THE FIRST INVESTIGATION WAS OF A DISCREDITED CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT UKRAINE AND NOD RUSSIA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERFERING IN OUR 2016 ELECTION.

THE SECOND INVESTIGATION WAS INTO THE POLITICAL RIVAL TRUMP APPARENTLY FEARED MOST, JOE BIDEN.

TRUMP SOUGHT TO WEAKEN BIDEN AND REFUTE THE FACT HIS OWN ELECTION HAD BEEN HELPED BY RUSSIAN HACKING AND DUMPING OPERATION AND RUSSIAN SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN DIRECTED BY VLADIMIR PUTIN.

TRUMP SCHEME STOOD IN CONTRAST TO THE LONGSTANDING BIPARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES BY UNDERMINING MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FOR KEY ALLY AND SETBACK U.S. ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS IN THE UKRAINE.

IN CONDITIONING A MEETING WITH ZELENSKY AND MILITARY AID ON SECURING AN INVESTIGATION OF HIS RIVAL, TRUMP PUT HIS PERSONAL AND POLITICAL INTERESTS ABOVE THE UNITED STATES.

AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WOULD LATER TELL CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER DAVID HOLMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER SPEAKING TO THE PRESIDENT, TRUMP DID NOT GIVE A EXPLETIVE ABOUT UKRAINE.

HE CARES ABOUT BIG STUFF THAT BENEFITS HIM, LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION THAT GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.

DAVID HOLMES IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

HE IS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV.

ALSO WITH US IS DR. FIONA HILL WHOSE JOB AS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR DIRECTOR WITH EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN AFFAIRS ENCOMPASS THE COORDINATION OF U.S. POLICY TOWARD UKRAINE.

DR. HILL LEFT THE EMBASSY IN JULY AFTER MORE THAN THAT TWO YEARS IN THAT POSITION P DR. HILL AND MR. HOLMES EACH PROVIDE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON TISSUES RELATING TO UKRAINE, DR. HILL FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MR.

HOST FROM ON THE GROUND IN KIEV.

IN EARLY 2019 DR. NIL BECAME CONCERNED BY AN INCREASING PROMINENCE OF RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL LAWYER WHO WAS AS SHE HAS TESTIFIED ASSERTING QUITE FREQUENTLY ON TELEVISION AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN SOME AUTHORITY OVER MATTERS RELATED TO UKRAINE.

HILL WAS NOT ALONE IN HER CONCERNS.

HER BOSS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON WAS ALSO PAYING ATTENTION AS WERE OTHER EMBASSY AND STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING HOLMES AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV.

RUDY GIULIANI AS A AND GRENADE THAT IS GOING BLOW EVERYBODY UP AND WAS POWERLESS TO PREVENT FORMER MAYOR FROM ENGINEERING FORMER U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE UKRAINE MARIE YOVANOVITCH'S FIRING IN LATE APRIL OR HER RECALL.

HOLMES WAS STUNNED BY THE INTENSITY AND CONSISTENCY OF MEDIA ATTACKS ON YOVANOVITCH, BY NAME AS A U.S.

AMBASSADOR AND THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE LEVELED AGAINST HER.

YOVANOVITCH'S DISMISSAL AS A RESULT OF GIULIANI'S SMEAR CAMPAIGN WAS ONE OF SEVERAL THINGS THAT UNSETTLED DR. HILL .. ANOTHER WAS THE ROLE OF GORDON SONDLAND WHO EMERGED AS KEY PLAYER IN UKRAINE POLICY IN MAY WHEN HE WAS NAMED AS PART OF THE U.S. DELEGATION LED BY SECRETARY RICK PERRY TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S INAUGURATION.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALEXANDER VINDMAN ALSO ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION AND AS HOLMES RECALLS DURING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TOOK TO THE OPPORTUNITY ADVISE THE UKRAINE LEADER TO STAY OUT OF U.S.

DOMESTIC POLITICS.

ANOTHER CONCERN THAT AROSE FOR DR. HILL AROUND THIS TIME WAS DISCOVERY OF A POTENTIAL NSC BACK CHANNEL ON UKRAINE.

HILL LEARNED THAT AN EMBASSY STAFF MEMBER WHO DID NOT WORK ON UKRAINE AND FOR HER MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING UKRAINE RELATED INFORMATION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT DR. HILL WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF.

ACCORDING TO HOLMES, FOLLOWING ZELENSKY INAUGURATION SONDLAND AND PERRY TOOK AN ACTIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL ROLE FORMULATING OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONALLY REACHING OUT TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND HIS SENIOR TEAM.

SONDLAND'S NEWFOUND ASSERT EFFECTIVENESS ALSO CONCERNED DR. HILL WHO PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED A CORDIAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH WITH THE AMS AMBASSADOR.

ON JUNE 18, HAD A BLOWUP WITH SONDLAND WHEN SAID HE WAS IN CHARGE OF UKRAINE POLICY.

DR. HILL TESTIFIED THAT SONDLAND GOT TESTY WITH ME AND I SAID, WHO HAS PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF IT?

HE SAID THE PRESIDENT.

ON JULY 10TH, DR. HILL WAS PART OF A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH A GROUP OF U.S. AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, INCLUDING BOLTON, SONDLAND AND ENERGY SECRETARY PERRY, ANOTHER OF THE THREE AMIGOS.

A MEETING WAS INTENDED AMONG OTHER THINGS TO GIVE THE UKRAINIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONVEY THAT THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO SET UP A MEETING, A FIRST MEETING BETWEEN THEIR NEW PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SONDLAND INTERJECTED TO PLAINTIFF THE GROUP THAT ACCORDING TO WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF NICK MULVANEY WHITE HOUSE MEETING SOUGHT BY THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE UKRAINE UNDERTOOK CERTAIN INVESTIGATIONS.

HEARING THIS, BOLTON ABRUPTLY ENDED THE MEETING.

UNDETERRED SONDLAND BROUGHT THE UKRAINIAN DELEGATION AND THE NSC DIRECTOR FOR UKRAINE, LENIENT COLONEL ALEXANDER VINDMAN DOWNSTAIRS TO ANOTHER PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE LATER JOINED BY DR. HILL.

IN THIS SECOND MEETING, SONDLAND WAS MORE EXPLICIT.

UKRAINE NEEDED TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS IF THEY WERE TO GET A MEETING AT ALL.

WORLD ON THE, BOLTON DIRECTED DR. HILL TO TRRT IN TO ICEBERG TELLING HER YOU GO AND TELL ICEBERG THAT I AM NOT A PART OF WHATEVER DRUG DEAL SONDLAND AND MULVANEY ARE COOKING UP ON THIS.

AND YOU GO AHEAD AND TELL HIM YOU HEARD AND WHAT I HAVE SAID.

DR. HILL DID SO AS DID LENIENT COLONEL STRIPPED MAN WHO SEPARATELY APPROACHED THE SAME LAWYERS WITH HIS CONCERNS.

ON JULY .. 18, A DAY BEFORE DR. HILL LEFT HER POST AT THE NSC, HOLMES PARTICIPATED IN A SECURE INTERAGENCY VIDEOCONFERENCE ON UKRAINE.

TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET ANNOUNCED THE FLOW OF NEARLY $400 MILLION IN SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR UKRAINE WAS BEING HELD UP.

THE ORDER HAD COME FROM THE PRESIDENT AND HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO OMB BY ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF NICK MULVANEY WITHOUT FURTHER EXPLANATION .. HOLMES UNAWARE OF THE HOLD PRIOR TO THE CALL WAS SHOCKED.

HE THOUGHT THE SUSPENSION OF AID WAS EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT, UNDERMINING WHAT HE HAD UNDERSTOOD THE LONGSTANDING U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY GOALS IN UKRAINE.

ONE WEEK LATER ON JULY 25TH, PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY BY PHONE.

WHEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY BROUGHT UP THE U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT AND NOTED THAT UKRAINE WOULD LIKE TO BUY MORE JAVELIN ANTI-TANK MISSILES FROM THE UNITED STATES TRUMP RESPOND BID SAYING, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO US A FAVOR, THOUGH.

TRUMP THEN REQUESTED THAT ZELENSKY INVESTIGATE THE DISCREDITED CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT UKRAINE INTERFERED IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

EVEN MORE OMINOUSLY TRUMP ASKED ZELENSKY TO LOOK INTO THE BIDE DENSE.

NEITHER REQUEST HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL TALKING POINTS OF THE SCRIPT PREPARED BY THE EMBASSY STAFF.

BUT BOTH WERE IN TRUMP'S PERSONAL INTERESTS AND THE INTEREST OF THE HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

AND 2 CRANE PRESIDENT KNEW ABOUT BOTH IN ADVANCE ..

IN PART BECAUSE OF EFFORTS BY AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND VOLKER TO MAKE HIM AWAY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEMANDS.

THE NEXT DAY, JULY 26, IN KIEV, HOLMES SERVED AS A NOTE TAKER DURING A MEETING BETWEEN ACTING AMBASSADOR BILL TAYLOR, VOLKER AND SONDLAND WITH PRESIDENT PRET ZELENSKY AND OTHER SENIOR UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS.

ZELENSKY SAID ON THE PREVIOUS DAY'S CALL, SAID THAT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY'S CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD QUOTE THREE TIMES RAISED SOME VERY SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE ISSUES WHEN THEY MET IN PERSON.

ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT REALIZE IT AT THE TIME, HOLMES CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSITIVE ISSUES WERE THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DEMANDED ON THE JULY 25TH CALL.

FOLLOWING THE MEETING WITH ZELENSKY HOLMES ACCOMPANIED SONDLAND TO A SEPARATE MEETING WITH ONE OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT'S TOP ADVISOR, ANDRE USER MAC, YERMAK, HOLMES WAS NOT ALLOWED INTO THE MEETING .. AND WAITED 30 MINUTES WHILE SONDLAND AND UKRAINIAN MET ALONE WITHOUT ANY NOTE TAKERS TO RECORD WHAT THEY SAID.

AFTER THE MEETING, SONDLAND, HOASMS AND TWO OTHER STATE DEPARTMENT STAFF WENT TO LUNCH AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT AND SAT ON AN OUTDOOR TERRACE.

AT SOME POINT DURING THE MEAL SONDLAND PULLED OUT HIS CELLPHONE, PLACED A CALL TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND ASKED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE PRESIDENT.

WHEN TRUMP CAME ON THE LINE, HOLMES COULD HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE CLEARLY, HOLMES RECALLED THAT, QUOTE, THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE WAS VERY LOUD AND RECOGNIZABLE AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HELD THE PHONE AWAY FROM HIS EAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF THE LOUD VOLUME.

SONDLAND SAID HE WAS CALLING FROM KIEV.

HE TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY LOVES YOUR ASS, HOLMES THEN HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK SO HE IS GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION?

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED, HE IS GOING TO DO IT.

ADDING THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WILL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK HIM.

AFTER THE CALL ENDED, HOLMES TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SONDLAND FOR HIS CANDID IMPRESSION OF THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS ON UKRAINE.

IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT SONDLAND REVEALED THAT THE PRESIDENT, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T GIVE A EXPLETIVE ABOUT UKRAINE.

THE PRESIDENT ONLY CARES ABOUT BIG STUFF THAT BENEFITS THE PRESIDENT, LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION AND MR., THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.

A MONTH LATER MARBLE SECURITY ADVICE SORRY BOLTON TRAVELED TO KIEV.

BETWEEN MEETINGS WITH THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, HOLMES HEARD BOLTON EXPRESS TO AMBASSADOR BILL TAYLOR HIS FRUSTRATION ABOUT MR. GIULIANI'S INFLUENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

BOLTON MADE CLEAR, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

BOLTON FURTHER STATED THAT THE HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT BE LIFTED PRIOR TO THE UPCOMING MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ZELENSKY IN WARSAW.

WHERE IT WOULD HANG ON WHETHER SE LZELENSKY WAS ABLE TO FAVORAY IMPRESS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

TRUMP CANCELED HIS TRIP TO WARSAW BUZZ SONDLAND, VOLKER AND OTHERS CONTINUED TO PRESS FOR A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OPENING OF INVESTIGATIONS BY ZELENSKY.

ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, TAYLOR TOLD HOLMES THAT QUOTE NOW THEY ARE INSISTING ZELENSKY COMMIT TO THE INVESTIGATION IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN.

HOLMES WAS SURPRISED THE REQUIREMENT WAS SO SPECIFIC, AND CONCRETE, SINCE IT AMOUNTED TO NOTHING LESS THAN A, QUOTE, DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY PERSONALLY COMMIT WITH, A SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL ON A CABLE NEWS CHANNEL, UNQUOTE.

ON SEPTEMBER 9 THIS COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES LAUNCHED OUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS CORRUPT SCHEME.

PRESIDENT TRUMP RELEASED THE HOLD ON AID TWO DAYS LATER.

AS CNN'S -- HAS REVEALED THE UKRAINIANS CANCELED THE CNN INTERVIEW SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

TWO WEEKS LATER, ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE JULY 25TH CALL WAS RELEASE BED AT THIS WHITE HOUSE AND THE DETAILS OF THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEME STARTED COMING INTO VIEW.

IN THE COMING DAYS CONGRESS WILL DETERMINE WHAT RESPONSE IS APPROPRIATE.

IF THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER AND INVITED FOREIGN INTERFERENCE INTO OUR ELECTIONS, IF HE SOUGHT TO CONDITION, COERCE OR EXTORT A VULNERABLE ALLY INTO CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS TO AID HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN AND DID SO BY WITHHOLDING OFFICIAL ACTS, A WHITE HOUSE MEETING OR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEEDED MILITARY AID IT WILL BE FOR US TO DECIDE WHETHER THOSE ACTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY.

AND NOW I RECOGNIZE RANKING MEMBER NUNES FOR ANY REMARKS HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.

>> THANK YOU.

THROUGHOUT THESE BIZARRE HEARINGS, DEMOCRATS HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED SOME IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, IN HIS PHONE CALL WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

THE OFFENSE ITSELF CHANGES DEPENDING ON THE DAY, RANGING FROM QUID PRO QUO TO EXTORTION TO BRIBERY TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, AND THEN BACK TO QUID PRO QUO.

IT IS CLEAR WHY THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN FORCED ON TO THIS CAROUSEL OF ACCUSATIONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD GOOD REASON TO BE WORRIED OF UKRAINIAN ELECTION MEDDLING AGAINST HIS CAMPAIGN AND WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION IN THAT COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WHO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AID TO UKRAINE HAD BEEN PAUSED AT THE TIME OF THE CALL HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CONVERSATION.

THE AID WAS RESUMED WITHOUT THE UKRAINIANS TAKING THE ACTIONS THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY BEING COERCED INTO DOING.

AID TO UKRAINE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN MUCH MORE ROBUST THAN IT WAS UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

THANKS TO THE PROVISION OF JAVELIN ANTI-TANK WEAPONS.

AS NUMEROUS WITNESSES HAVE TESTIFIED, TEMPORARY HOLDS ON FOREIGN AID OCCUR FAIRLY FREQUENTLY FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, SO HOW DO WE HAVE AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE HERE WHEN THERE IS NO ACTUAL MISDEED AND NO ONE EVEN CLAIMING TO BE A VICTIM?

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO SOLVE THIS DILEMMA WITH A SIMPLE SLOGAN.

HE GOT CAUGHT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE ARE TO BELIEVE WAS JUST ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING WRONG AND GETTING CAUGHT WAS WITH THE ONLY REASON HE BACKED DOWN FROM WHATEVER NEFARIOUS THOUGHT CRIME THE DEMOCRATS ARE ACCUSING HIM OF ALMOST COMMITTING.

ONCE AGAIN, I URGE AMERICANS TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THE CREDIBILITY OF THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS COMMITTEE, WHO ARE NOW HURLING THESE CHARGES FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT IS NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO GOT CAUGHT.

IT IS THE DEMOCRATS WHO GOT CAUGHT.

THEY GOT CAUGHT FALSELY CLAIMING THEY HAD MORE THAN CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP COLLUDED WITH RUSSIANS TO HACK THE 2016 ELECTION.

THEY GOT CAUGHT ORCHESTRATING THIS ENTIRE FARCE WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER AND LYING ABOUT THEIR SECRET MEETINGS WITH HIM.

THEY GOT CAUGHT DEFENDING THE FALSE ALLEGATIONS OF THE STEELE DOSSIER WHICH WAS PAID FOR BY THEM.

THEY GOT CAUGHT BREAKING THEIR PROMISE THAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BECAUSE OF HOW DAMAGING IT IS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY GOT CAUGHT RUNNING A SHAM IMPEACHMENT PROCESS FEATURING SECRET DEPOSITIONS, HIDDEN TRANSCRIPTS AND AN UNENDING FLOOD OF DEMOCRATS LEAKS TO THE MEDIA.

THEY GOT CAUGHT TRYING TO OBTAIN NUDE PHOTOS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM RUSSIAN PRANKSTERS, PRETENDING TO BE UKRAINIANS.

AND THEN GOT CAUGHT COVERING UP FOR ALEXANDER CHALUPA, A DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE OPERA IF THE WHO COLLUDED WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS TO SMEAR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN .. BY IMPROPERLY REDACTING HER NAME FROM DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPTS AND REFUSING TO LET AMERICANS HEAR HER TESTIMONY AS A WITNESS TO THESE PROCEEDINGS.

THAT IS THE DEMOCRATS' PITIFUL LEGACY IN RECENT YEARS.

THEY GOT CAUGHT.

MEANWHILE, THEIR SUPPOSED STAR WITNESS TESTIFIED THAT HE WAS GUESSING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TRYING -- TYING UKRAINIAN AID TO INVESTIGATIONS DESPITE NO ONE TELLING HIM THAT WAS TRUE.

AND THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF EXPLICITLY TELLING HIM THE OPPOSITE, THAT HE WANTED NOTHING FROM THE UKRAINE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UNLESS THE DEMOCRATS ONCE WITH AGAIN SCRAMBLE THEIR KANGAROO COURT RULES, TODAY'S HEARING MARKS THE MERCIFUL END OF THIS SPECTACLE IN THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE.

FORMALLY KNOWN AS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS REAP THE POLITICAL BENEFIT THEY WANT FROM THIS IMPEACHMENT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

THE DAMAGE THEY HAVE DONE TO THIS COUNTRY WILL BE LONG LASTING.

WITH THIS WRENCHING ATTEMPT TO OVER THROW THE PRESIDENT, THEY HAVE PITTED AMERICANS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND POISONED THE MIND OF FANATICS WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THE ENTIRE GALAXY OF BIZARRE ACCUSATIONS THEY HAVE LEVELED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ELECTED HIM.

I SINCERELY HOPE THE DEMOCRATS END THIS AFFAIR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO OUR NATION CAN BEGIN TO HEAL THE MANY WOUNDS THAT IT HAS INFLICTED ON US.

THE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN GOVERNMENT AND THEIR BELIEF THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING HAS BEEN SHAKEN.

FROM THE RUSSIA HOAX TO THIS SHODDY UKRAINIAN SEQUEL THE DEMOCRATS GOT CAUGHT.

LET'S HOPE THEY FINALLY LEARN A LESSON, GIVE THEIR CONSPIRACY THEORIES A REST AND FOCUS ON GOVERNING FOR A CHANGE.

ADMISSION, MR. CHAIRMAN, PURSUANT TO HOUSE RULE 11 CLAUSE J2 1, THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS TRANSMIT A REQUEST TO CONVENE A MINORITY DAY OF HEARINGS, TO DATE YOU HAVE BLOCKED KEY WITNESSES WE HAVE REQUESTED FROM TESTIFYING IN THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

THIS RULE WAS WITH NOT DISPLACED BY H RESOLUTION 60 AND THEREFORE UNDER HOUSE RULE 11, CLAUSE 1 A, 1 A, IT APPLIES TO THE DEMOCRATS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHAIR PROMPTLY SCHEDULING AN AGREED UPON TIME FOR THE MINORITY DAY OF HEARINGS SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM KEY WITNESSES THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUALLY BLOCKED FROM TESTIFYING.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT ON AN ASSERTION MS. HILL MADE IN THE STATEMENT THAT SHE SUBMITTED TO THIS COMMITTEE IN WHICH SHE CLAIMED THAT SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS DENY THAT RUSSIA MEDDLED IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

AS I TOTED IN MY OPENING STATEMENT ON WEDNESDAY THAT IN MARCH OF 2018 INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF A YEARLONG INVESTIGATION INTO RUSSIAN MEDDLING.

THE 240 PAGE REPORT ANALYZED 2016 RUSSIAN MEDDLING CAMPAIGN, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REACTION TO IT, RUSSIAN CAMPAIGNS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND PROVIDED SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE AMERICAN ELECTION SECURITY.

AND I ASKED MY STAFF TO HAND THESE REPORTS TO OUR TWO WITNESSES TODAY JUST SO THEY CAN HAVE A RECOLLECTION OF THEIR MEMORY.

AS AMERICA MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO SIGN ON TO THE REPUBLICAN REPORT.

INSTEAD THEY DECIDED TO ADOPT MINORITY VIEWS, FILLED WITH COLLUSION CONSPIRACY THEORIES, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE FOR TWO SEPARATE NATIONS TO ENGAGE IN ELECTION MEDDLING AT THE SAME TIME AND REPUBLICANS BELIEVE WE SHOULD TAKE MEDDLING SERIOUSLY BY ALL FOREIGN COUNTRIES, REGARDLESS OF WHICH CAMPAIGN IS THE TARGET.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD A COPY OF OUR REPORT TITLED REPORT ON RUSSIAN ACTIVE MEASURES.

I YIELD BACK.

>> TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY DR. FIONA HILL AND DAVID HOLMES.

DR. FIONA HILL IS A FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AND RUSSIA ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.

BEFORE RETURNING TO GOVERNMENT SHE WAS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION WHERE SHE DIRECTED THE CENTER ON THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE.

SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNSEL, YOU ARE RAISE I CAN'T FOUNDATION AND JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT.

DAVID .. HOLMES IS THE POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV WHERE HE SERVE AS SENIOR POLICY AND POLITICAL ADVISOR TO AMBASSADOR TAYLOR, WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER IN THESE HEARINGS.

HE IS A CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER.

HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, KABUL, BOGOTA AND CHRISTINA AND ALSO SERVED ON THE STAFF OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AS HAS SPECIAL ASSISTANT -- AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE.

TWO FINAL POINTS BEFORE WITNESSES ARE SWORN.

FIRST WITNESS DEPOSITIONS IS PART OF THIS INQUIRY WERE UNCLASSIFIED IN NATURE AND I WILL OPEN THE HEARINGS OPEN HEARINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE UNCLASSIFIED LEVEL.

ANY INFORMATION THAT MAY TOUCH ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WILL BE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY.

SECOND, CONGRESS WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY REPRISAL, THREAT OF REPRISAL OR ATTEMPT TO RETALIATE AGAINST ANY U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL FOR TESTIFYING BEFORE CONGRESS, INCLUDING YOU OR ANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE, RIGHTE YOUR RIGHT HANDILY SWEAR YOU IN.

DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD.

LET THE RECORD SHOW THE WITNESSES ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THANK YOU AND YOU MAY BE SEATED.

THE MICROPHONES ARE SENSITIVE SO YOU WILL NEED TO SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THEM.

WITHOUT OBJECTION YOUR WRITTEN STATEMENTS WILL BE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD.

WITH THAT, MR. HOLMES YOU ARE NOW RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT AND WHEN YOU CONCLUDE, DR. HILL, YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THEREAFTER FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

-- THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

RANKING MEMBER NUNES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

MY NAME IS DAVID HOLMES AND I AM A CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

SINCE AUGUST 2017, I HAVE BEEN A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV, UKRAINE, WHILE IT IS AN HONOR TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I DID NOT SEEK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

SINCE YOU DETERMINED THAT I MAY HAVE SOMETHING OF VALUE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS AND ISSUED A SUBPOENA IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO APPEAR AND TO TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.

INDEED AS SECRETARY POMPEO HAS STATED I HOPE WHOEVER TESTIFIES WILL DO SO TRUTHFULLY AND ACCURATELY.

WHEN THEY DO THE OVERSIGHT ROLE WILL HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AND I THINK AMERICA WILL COME TO SEE WHAT TOOK PLACE HERE.

THAT IS MY ONLY GOAL, TO TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY AND ACCURATELY TO ENABLE YOU TO PERFORM THAT ROLE.

TO THAT END, I PUT TOGETHER THE STATEMENT TO LAY OUT AS BEST I CAN MY RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO THIS MATTER -- I STEAK MY SPIRE CAREER AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER.

LIKE MANY OF THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO TESTIFIED IN THESE PROCEEDINGS, MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF MY COUNTRY.

I AM A GRADUATE OF PO MONA COLLEGE FROM CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA AND RECEIVED DEGREES IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FROM ST. ANDREW AND PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, I JOIN THE FOREIGN SERVICE IN 2002 THROUGH AN AIDE POLITICAL MERIT BASED PROCESS UNDER THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

AND I PROUDLY SERVED ADMINISTRATIONS OF BOTH PARTIES AND WORKED FOR THEIR APPOINTEES BOTH POLITICAL IN CAREER.

PRIOR TO MY CURRENT POST IN KIEV, UKRAINE, I SERVED IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECTIONS AT THE U.S. BEAMS ANY MOSCOW, RUSSIA, THE I SERVED ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY STAFF FOR DIRECTOR OF AFGHANISTAN AND AS A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE.

MY PRIOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE NEW DELHI, INDIA, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, BOGOTA, COLUMBIA AND CHRISTINA, KOSOVO AS POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV I LEAD THE POLITICAL SECTION COVERING UKRAINE'S INTERNAL POLITICS, FOREIGN RELATIONS AND SECURITY POLICIES.

I SERVE AS THE SENIOR POLICY AND POLITICAL AMBASSADOR, ADVISOR TO THE AMBASSADOR.

THE JOB OF AN EMBASSY POLITICAL COUNSELOR IS TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOST COUNTRIES POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, TO REPORT BACK TO WASHINGTON, TO REPRESENT U.S. POLICIES TO FOREIGN CONTACTS AND TO ADVISE THE AMBASSADOR ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.

IN THIS ROLE, I AM A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY TEAM AND CONTINUALLY INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.

I AM ALSO OFTEN CALLED UPON TO TAKE NOTES IN MEETINGS INVOLVING AMBASSADOR OR VISITING SENIOR OFFICIALS WITH THE UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS FOR THIS REASON I HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN MANY OF THE MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, SOME OF WHICH MAY BE GERMANE TO THIS INQUIRY.

WHILE I AM A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE EMBASSY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I AM NOT A POLITICAL APPOINTEE OR ENGAGED IN U.S.

POLITICS IN ANY WAY.

IT IS NOT MY JOB TO COVER OR ADVISE ON U.S.

POLITICS.

ON THE CONTRARY, I AM AN APOLITICAL FOREIGN POLICY PROFESSIONAL AND MY JOB -- MY JOB IS TO FOCUS ON THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH I SERVE SO THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND BETTER ADVANCE U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS THERE.

IN FACT, DURING THE PERIOD THAT WE WILL COVER TODAY MY COLLEAGUES AND I FOLLOWED DIRECT GUIDANCE FROM MARIE YOVANOVITCH AND AM BASS FOR TAYLOR ON DOING OUR JOBS AS FOREIGN POLICY PROFESSIONALS AND TO STAY CLEAR OF WASHINGTON POLITICS.

I ARRIVED IN KIEV TO TAKE UP MY SITE AS POLITICAL COUNSELOR IN AUGUST OF 2017, A YEAR AFTER AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH RECEIVED HER APPOINTMENT.

FROM AUGUST 2017 UNTIL HER REMOVAL FROM POST IN MAY OF 2019, I WAS AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S CHIEF BOIL ADVISOR AND DEVELOPED A DEEP RESPECT FOR HER DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, DECENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM.

PICTURING TIME, WE WORKED TOGETHER CLOSELY SPEAKING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY AND ACCOMPANIED AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH TO MANY OF HER MEETINGS TO COUNTERPARTS IN UKRAINE.

OUR CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON THREE PRIORITIES, SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REFORM AND ANTI-CORRUPTION AND RULE OF LAW.

THESE POLICIES MATCHED THE THREE CONSISTENT PRIORITIES OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE SINCE 2014, AS MEASURED IN PUBLIC OPINION POLLING, NAMELY, AN END TO THE CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA, THAT RESTORES NATIONAL UNITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT DELIVER EUROPEAN STANDARDS OF GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY, AND EFFECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL RULE OF LAW INSTITUTIONS THAT DELIVER JUSTICE IN CASES OF HIGH LEVEL OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.

OUR EFFORTS ON THITHIRD POLICY PRIORITY MERITS SPECIAL MENTION BECAUSE IT WAS DURING AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S TENURE WE ACHIEVED THE HARD FOUGHT PASSAGE OF A LAW ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT COURT TO TRY CORRUPTION CASES.

THESE EFFORTS STRAINED AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S RELATIONSHIP WITH FORM HER PRESIDENT POROSHENKO AND SOME OF HIS ALLIES, INCLUDING PROSECUTOR GENERAL YURI LUTSENKO WHO RESISTED FULLY EMPOWERING TRULY INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION INSTITUTIONS THAT WOULD HELP ENSURE NO UKRAINIANS NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL WERE ABOVE THE LAW.

DESPITE THIS RESISTANCE THE AMBASSADOR TO THE EMBASSY KEPT PUSHING ANTI-CORRUPTION AND OTHER PRIORITIES OF OUR POLICY TOWARD THE UKRAINE.

BEGINNING IN MARCH OF 2019, THE SITUATION AT THE EMBASSY AND IN UKRAINE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

SPECIFICALLY, THE THREE PRIORITIES OF SECURITY, ECONOMY AND JUSTICE AND OUR SUPPORT FOR TO THE UKRAINIAN DEMOCRATIC RESISTANCE TO RUSSIAN AGGRESSION BECAME OVERSHADOWED BY A POLITICAL AGENDA PROMOTED BY FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI AND A CADRE OFFICIALS OPERATING WITH A DIRECT CHANNEL TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT CHANGE BEGAN WITH THE EMERGENCE OF PRESS REPORTS CRITICAL OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH AND MACHINATION BIGGS THEN PROSECUTOR LUTSENKO AND OTHERS TO DISCREDIT HER.

IN MID MARCH, 2019 AN EMBASSY COLLEAGUE LEARNED FROM AWE CRANIAN CONTACT THAT MR. LUTSENKO COMPLAINED THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH HAD, QUOTE, DESTROYED HIM WITH HER REFUSAL TO SUPPORT HIM UNTIL HE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH HIS REFORM COMMITMENTS AND CEASED QUAWG HIS POSITION FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

IN RETALIATION, MR. LUTSENKO MADE A SERIES OF UNSUPPORTED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, MOSTLY SUGGESTING THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH IMPROPERLY USED THE EMBASSY TO ADVANCE THE POLITICAL INTERESTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AMONG MR. LUTSENKO'S ALLEGATIONS WERE THE EMBASSY ORDERED THE INVESTIGATION OF 0 A FORMER UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL SOLELY BECAUSE THAT FORMER OFFICIAL WAS ALLEGEDLY THE MAIN UKRAINIAN CONTACT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OF PRESIDENT TRUMP PERSONALLY.

AND THAT THE EMBASSY ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED LUTSENKO'S PREDECESSOR TO CLOSE A CASE AGAINST A DIFFERENT OFFICIAL SOLELY BECAUSE OF A ALLEGED BURISMA AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON.

MR. LUTSENKO ALSO CLAIMED THAT HE HAD NEVER RECEIVED $4.4 MILLION IN U.S. FUNDS INTENDED FOR HIS OFFICE AND THAT THERE WAS A TAPE OF A UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL SAYING HE WAS TRYING TO HELP HILLARY CLINTON WIN THE 2016 ELECTION.

FINALLY MR. LUTSENKO PUBLICLY CLAIMED THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH HAD GIVEN HIM A DO NOT PROSECUTE LIST, CONTAINING THE NAMES OF HER SUPPOSED ALLIES, AN ALLEGATION THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED AN OUT RIGHT FABRICATION AND THAT MR. LUTSENKO LATER RETRACTED.

MR. LUTSENKO SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF THESE ALLEGATIONS AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH WOULD FACE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS INDICATED UKRAINIANS GENERALLY DID NOT BELIEVE MR. LUTSENKO'S ALLEGATIONS AND A ON MARCH 22ND, PRESIDENT POROSHENKO ISSUED A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH.

FOLLOWING LUTSENKO'S ALLEGATIONS, RUDY GIULIANI MADE A NUMBER OF THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS CRITICAL OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, QUESTIONING HER INTEGRITY AND CALLING FOR HER REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

MR. GIULIANI WAS ALSO MAKING FREQUENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS PUSHING FOR UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE ENTER FERENCE IN THE 2016 ELECTION AND ISSUES RELATED TO BURISMA AND THE BIDENS.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON MAY 1ST, .. 2019 "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT MR. GIULIANI HAD, QUOTE, DISCUSSED THE BURISMA INVESTIGATION AND ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE BIDENS WITH THE OUSTED UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL AND THE CURRENT PROSECUTOR.

ON MAY 9TH "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED THAT MR. GIULIANI SAID HE PLANNED TO TRAVEL TO THE UKRAINE TO PURSUE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2016 ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND INTO THE 0 INVOLVEMENT OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON IN A UKRAINIAN GAS COMPANY.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, MR. GIULIANI ALSO ISSUED A SERIES OF TWEETS ASKING, QUOTE, WHY BE BIDEN SHOULDN'T BE INVESTIGATED ATTACKING, QUOTE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE ZELENSKY FOR BEING SILENT ON THE 2016 ELECTION AND BIDEN INVESTIGATIONS.

AND COMPLAINING ABOUT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ATTACKING HIM FOR, QUOTE, EXPOSING THE BIDEN FAMILY HISTORY OF MAKING MILLIONS FROM UKRAINIAN CRIMINALS.

AROUND THIS TIME, THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS APPROACHING AND POLITICAL NEWCOMER AND ENTERTAINER VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY WHO HAD PLAYED A PRESIDENT ON TELEVISION WAS SURGING IN THE POLLS.

AHEAD OF MR. LUTSENKO'S POLITICAL ALLY PRESIDENT POROSHENKO.

ON APRIL 20TH I WAS PRESENT FOR AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH 0'S THIRD AND FINAL MEETING WITH THEN CANDIDATE ZELENSKY, AHEAD OF HIS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION THE NEXT DAY.

AS IN HER TWO PRIOR MEETINGS THAT I ALSO ATTENDED THEY HAD AN ENTIRELY CORDIAL, PLEASANT CONVERSATION AND SIGNALED THEIR MUTUAL DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER.

HOWEVER, A NEGATIVE NARRATIVES ABOUT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH GAINED CURRENCY IN CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES PRESS AND ON APRIL 26 AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH DEPARTED FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE SHE LEARNED THAT S SHE WOULD BE RECALLED EARLY.

THE BARRAGE A OF ALLEGATION IT IS DIRECTED AT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH A CAREER AMBASSADOR IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE SEEN IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

FOLLOWING PRESIDENT-ELECT ZELENSKY'S VICTORY OUR ATTENTION IN THE EMBASSY FOCUSED ON GETTING TO KNOW THE INCOMING ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION, AND PREPARATION FORCE INAUGURATION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 20TH, THE SAME DAY THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH DEPARTED THE POST PERMANENTLY.

IT WAS, IT QUICKLY BECAME CLEAR THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS NOT PREPARED TO SHOW THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

IN EARLY MAY MR. GIULIANI PUBLICLY ALLEGED THAT MR. ZELENSKY WAS QUOTE SURROUNDED BIEN MISS OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT AND CANCELED A VISIT TO THE UKRAINE.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE LEARN THAT VICE PRESIDENT PENS NO LONGER PLANNED TO LEAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO THE INAUGURATION.

THE WHITE HOUSE THEN WHITTLED DOWN AN INITIAL PROPOSED LIST FOR THE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO THE INAUGURATION FROM A DOZEN INDIVIDUALS TO JUST FIVE, SECRETARY PERRY AS ITS HEAD, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS KURT VOLKER REPRESENTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR ALEX VINDMAN REPRESENTING THE WHITE HOUSE, TEMPORARY ACTING CHARGE OF AFFAIRS MR. PENNINGTON REPRESENTING THE EMBASSY AND AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION THE GORDON SONDLAND, AS SONDLAND'S MANDATE AS AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION DID NOT COVER INDIVIDUAL MEMBER STATES, LET ALONE NONMEMBER COUNTRIES LIKE UKRAINE HE MADE CLEAR HE HAD DIRECT AND FREQUENT ACCESS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CHIEF OF STAFF NICK MULL STRAIN ANY AND PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS CON 0 DUTY TO THE PRESIDENT AND MR. MULVANEY FOR THIS GROUP.

SECRETARY PERRY, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, AMBASSADOR VOLKER LATER STYLED THEMSELVES THE THREE AMIGOS AND MADE CLEAR THEY WOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON COORDINATING OUR POLICY AND A ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION.

AROUND THE SAME TIME, I BECAME AWARE THAT MR. GIULIANI, A PRIVATE LAWYER WAS TAKING A DIRECT ROLE IN UKRAINIAN DIPLOMACY.

ON APRIL 25TH, YVONNE -- WHO WAS MR. ZELENSKY'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND AND CAMPAIGN CHAIR AND WAS ULTIMATELY APPOINTED TO THE HEAD OF THE SECURITY SERVICES OF UKRAINE INDICATED TO ME PRIVATELY THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY QUOTE SOMEONE NAMED GIULIANI WHO SAID HE WAS AN ADVISOR TO THE VICE PRESIDENT.

I REPORTED MR. BACANO'S MESSAGE TO SECRETARY GEORGE KENT OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS IT BECAME APPARENT MR. GIULIANI WAS HAVING A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA THAT THE THREE AMIGOS WERE EXECUTING ON THE GROUND IN CAMPAIGN.

IN FACT AT ONE POINT DURING A PRELIMINARY MEETING OF 10 AUGUST VALUE DELEGATION SOMEONE WONDERED WHILE THE GIULIANI WAS SO ACTIVE IN THE MEDIA WITH UKRAINE.

AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED DAMN IT RUDY EVERY TIME RUDY GETS INVOLVED HE GOES AND FS EVERYTHING UP.

THE INAUGURATION TOOK PLACE ON MAY 20TH AND I TOOK NOTES IN THE DELEGATION MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

DURING THE MEETING SECRETARY PERRY PAST PRESIDENT ZELENSKY A LIST THAT PERRY DESCRIBED AS QUOTE PEOPLE HE TRUSTS.

SECRETARY PERRY TOLD PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HE COULD SEEK ADVICE FROM THE PEOPLE ON THIS LIST ON ISSUES OF ENERGY SECTOR REFORM, WHICH WAS THE TOPIC OF SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS BETWEEN SECRETARY PERRY AND KEY UKRAINIAN SECTOR CONTACTS, EMBASSY PERSONNEL WERE EXCLUDED FROM SOME OF THESE LATER BY SECRETARY PERRY'S STAFF.

ON MAY 23RD, AMBASSADOR VOLKER, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, AMBASSADOR PER PERRY AND JOHNSON WHO ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION ALTHOUGH NOT ON THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND BRIEFED PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ON MAY 29TH PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED A CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WHICH INCLUDED AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE AT AN UNSPECIFIED DATE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A WHITE HOUSE VISIT WAS CRITICAL TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY NEEDED TO SHOW U.S. SUPPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN THAT HE HAD U.S.

BACKING AS WELL AS TO ADVANCE HIS AMBITIOUS ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM AGENDA AT HOME.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S TEAM IMMEDIATELY BEGAN PRESSING TO SET A DATE FOR 0 THAT VISIT.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND SENIOR MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM MADE CLEAR THEY WANTED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP TO BE TO WASHINGTON, TO EXTEND A STRONG SIGNAL OF AMERICAN SUPPORT AND REQUESTED A CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE AT THE EMBASSY ALSO BELIEVED THAT A MEETING WAS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S ADMINISTRATION AND ITS REFORM AGENDA AND WORKED HARD TO GET IT ARRANGED.

WHEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S TEAM DID NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMED DATE FOR A WHITE HOUSE VISIT THEY MADE ALTERNATIVE PLANS FOR PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP TO BRUSSELS INSTEAD, IN PART TO ATTEND AN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HOSTED ON JUNE THE 4TH.

AN AMBASSADOR SONDLAND PRESENT ADD DINNER IN HIS HONOR FOLLOWING THE RECEPTION WHICH INCLUDED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS AND COMEDIAN JAY LENO, AMONG OTHERS.

A AMBASSADOR BILL TAYLOR ARRIVED IN KIEV AS CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ON JUNE 17TH FOR THE NEXT MONTH THE FOCUS OF OUR ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH THOSE OF THE THREE AMIGOS WAS TO COORDINATE A WHITE HOUSE VISIT.

TO THAT ENWE WERE WORKING WITH THE UKRAINIANS TO DELIVER THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP MIGHT CARE ABOUT, SUCH AS COMMERCIAL DEALS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE UNITED STATES, WHICH MIGHT CONVINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO AGREE TO A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

THE UKRAINIAN POLICY COMMUNITY WAS UNANIMOUS IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURING THE MEETING AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR REPORTED TO SECRETARY POMPEO HAD TOLD HIM PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL IN KIEV, QUOTE, WE NEED TO WORK ON TURNING THE PRESIDENT AROUND ON UKRAINE.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER TOLD US THE FIRST -- THE NEXT FIVE YEARS COULD HANG ON WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

I TOOK THAT TO OPINION IF WE DID NOT EARN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS WE COULD LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS DURING PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S FIVE-YEAR TERM.

WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE ENERGY SECTOR REFORMS, THE COMMERCIAL DEALS, AND THE ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS ON WHICH WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS WERE NOT MAKING A DENT IN TERMS OF PERSUADING THE WHITE HOUSE TO SCHEDULE A MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS.

ON JUNE 27, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD AMBASSADOR TAYLOR A IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THE GIST OF WHICH WITH AMBASSADOR TAYLOR SHARED WITH ME AT THE TIME, THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY NEEDED TO MAKE CLEAR TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS NOT STANDING THE WAY IN STANDING IN THE WAY OF INVESTIGATIONS, I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS MEANT THE BIDEN BURISMA INVESTIGATIONS THAT MR. GIULIANI AND HIS ASSOCIATES HAD BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IN THE MEDIA SINCE MARCH.

WHILE AMBASSADOR TAYLOR DID NOT BELIEVE ME ON EVERY DETAIL OF HIS COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE THREE AMIGOS HE DID TELL ME THAT ON THE JUNE 28TH CALL WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND THE THREE AMIGOS, IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT SOME ACTION ON BURISMA BIDEN INVESTIGATION WAS A PRECONDITION FOR AN OVAL OFFICE VISIT.

ALSO ON JUNE 28TH WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS STILL NOT MOVING FORWARD 0 ON A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, WE MET, HE MET WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN AT THE G-20 SUMMIT IN OSAKA JAPAN, SENDING A FURTHER SIGNAL OF LACK OF SUPPORT TO THE UKRAINE.

WE BECAME CONCERNED THAT EVEN IF A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ZELENSKY COULD OCCUR IT WOULD NOT GO WELL.

AND I DISCUSSED WITH EMBASSY COLLEAGUES WHETHER WE SHOULD STOP SEEKING A MEETING ALTOGETHER.

WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE VISIT WAS CRITICAL TO THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION, A VISIT THAT FAILED TO SEND A CLEAR AND STRONG SIGNAL OF SUPPORT LIKELY WOULD BE WORSE FOR PRESIDENT ZELENSKY THAN NO VISIT AT ALL.

CONGRESS HAS APPROPRIATED ONE WITH $.5 BILLION IN SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE UKRAINE SINCE 2014.

THIS ASSISTANCE HAS PROVIDED CRUCIAL MATERIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT TO UKRAINE IN ITS DEFENSIVE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

IT HAS HELPED UKRAINE BUILD ITS ARMED FORCES VIRTUALLY FROM SCRATCH INTO ARGUABLY THE MOST CAPABLE AND BATTLE HARDENED LAND FORCE IN EUROPE.

I HAVE HAD THE ON FOR OF VISITING THE MAIN TRAINING FACILITY IN WESTERN UKRAINE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND MEMBERS OF THIS VERY COMMITTEE, MS. STEFANIK, WHERE WE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND U.S. NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ALONG WITH ALLIES CONDUCTING TRAINING FOR UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS.

SINCE 2014, NATIONAL GUARD UNITS FROM CALIFORNIA, OKLAHOMA, NEW YORK, TENNESSEE, AND WISCONSIN HAVE TRAINED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS.

GIVEN THE HISTORY OF UH U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE AND THE BIPARTISAN REC IN ADDITION OF ITS IMPORTANCE I WAS SHOCKED WHEN ON JULY 18 AN OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET STAFF MEMBER SURPRISINGLY ANNOUNCED THE HOLD ON U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE, THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME NEAR THE END OF A TWO-HOUR SECURITY COUNCIL CALL WHICH I PARTICIPATED IN FROM THE EMBASSY CONFERENCE ROOM THE OFFICIAL SAID THE ORDER HAD COME ARE THE PRESIDENT AND HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO OMB BY MR. MULVANEY WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION.

THIS BEGAN A WEEK OR SO OF EFFORTS BY VARIOUS AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY THE RATIONALE FOR THE FREEZE, TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE ASSISTANCE AND TO REAFFIRM THE UNANIMOUS VIEW OF TO UKRAINE POLICY COMMUNITY OF TITS IMPORTANCE.

NSC COUNTERPARTS CONFIRMED TO US THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR UKRAINIAN POLICY, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE HOLD OR HOW TO LIFT IT.

ON JULY 25TH, PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE A CONGRATULATORY PHONE CALL TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

AFTER HIS PARTY WON A COMMANDING MAJORITY IN UKRAINE'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.

CON RETIRE STANDARD PROCEDURE, THE EMBASSY RECEIVED NO READOUT OF THAT CALL AND UNAWARE POSSESS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED UNTIL THE TRANSCRIPT WAS RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.

UPON READING THE TRANSCRIPT, I WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT RAISED NONE OF WHAT I UNDERSTOOD TO BE OUR INTERAGENCY AGREED UPON FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES IN THE UKRAINE AND INSTEAD RAISED THE BIDEN BURISMA INVESTIGATION AND REFERRED TO THE THEORY ABOUT CROWD STRIKE AND ITS SUPPOSED CONNECTION TO UKRAINE IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

THE NEXT DAY, JULY 26, 2019, I ATTENDED MEETINGS WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN KIEV WITH AMBASSADOR TAYLOR, AMBASSADOR VOLKER AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND TOOK NOTES DURING THOSE MEETINGS, OUR FIRST MEETING WAS WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S CHIEF OF STAFF, IT WAS BRIEF, AS HE ALREADY HAD BEEN SUMMONED BY PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO PREPARE FOR 0 A THE SUBSEQUENT BROADER MEETING BUT HE DID SAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST DURING THE PREVIOUS DAY'S PHONE CALL IN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S PERSONNEL DECISIONS RELATING TO THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THE DELEGATION THEN MET WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND SEVERAL OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS.

DURING THE MEETING, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY STATED DURING THE JULY 25TH CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD QUOTE THREE TIMES RAISED SOME VERY SENSITIVE ISSUES AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP, HE, ZELENSKY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE ISSUES WHEN HE AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MET IN PERSON.

NOT HAVING RECEIVED A READOUT OF THE JULY 25TH CALL I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME WHAT THOSE SENSITIVE ISSUES WERE.

AFTER THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AM BASS FOR VOLKER, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR QUICKLY LEFT THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR A TRIP TO THE FRONT LINES.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WHO WAS TO FLY OUT THAT AFTERNOON STAYED BEHIND TO HAVE A MEETING WITH A TOP AID TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, YERMAK, AS I WAS LEADING THE MEETING I WAS TOLD TO JOIN THE MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND YERMAK TO TAKE NOTES.

I DID NOT EXPECT TO JOIN THAT MEETING AND THERE WAS A FLIGHT OF STAIRS BEHIND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AS HE MET WITH MR. YERMAK WHEN I REACHED HIS OFFICE, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND ALREADY HAD GONE INTO THE MEETING.

I EXPLAINED TO MR. YERMAK'S ASSISTANT I WAS SUPPOSED TO JOIN THE MEETING AS THE EMBASSY'S REPRESENTATIVE AND STRONGLY URGED TO LET ME IN BUT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND YERMAK BE ONE-ON-ONE WITH NO NOTE TAKER.

I THEN WAITED IN THE ANTI-ROOM UNTIL THE MEETING ENDED WITH A MEMBER OF THE U.S. EMBASSY KIEV STAFF WHEN THE MEETING ENDED THE TWO STAFFERS AND I ACCOMPANIED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID HE WANTED TO GO TO LUNCH AND I TOLD AMBASSADOR SONDLAND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO JOIN HIM AND THE TWO STAFFERS FOR LUNCH IF HE WANTED TO BRIEF ME OUT ON HIS MEETING WITH MR. YERMAK OR DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID I SHOULD JOIN.

THE FOUR OF US WENT TO A NEARBY RESTAURANT AND SAT ON AN OUTDOOR TERRACE.

I SAT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, AND THE TWO STAFFERS SAT OFF TO OUR SIDES.

AT FIRST THE LUNCH WAS LARGELY SOCIAL, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SHREK ADD BOTTLE OF WINE HE SHARED AMONG THE FOUR OF US AND WE DISCUSSED TOPICS SUCH AS MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR HIS HOTEL BUSINESS.

DURING THE LUNCH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID HE WAS GOING TO CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP, GIVE HIM AN UPDATE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND PLACED A CALL ON HIS MOBILE PHONE AND I HEARD HIM ANNOUNCE HIMSELF SEVERAL TIMES ALONG THE LINES OF GORDON SONDLAND HOLDING FOR THE PRESIDENT.

IT APPEARED HE WAS BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGH SEVERAL LAYERS OF SWITCHBOARDS AND ASSISTANTS AND I THEN NOTICED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S DEMEANOR CHANGE AND UNDERSTOOD HE HAD BEEN CONNECTED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHILE AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S PHONE WAS NOT ON SPEAKERPHONE, I COULD HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE THROUGH THE EAR PIECE OF THE PHONE.

THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE WAS LOUD AND RECOGNIZABLE AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND THEY WOULD MONEY AWAY FROM HIS EAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRESUMABLY BECAUSE OF THE LOUD VOLUME.

I HEARD AMBASSADOR SONDLAND GREET THE PRESIDENT AND EXPLAIN HE WAS CALLING FROM KIEV, I HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP THEN CLARIFY THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS THIS THE UKRAINE, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED YES, HE WAS IN UKRAINE AND WENT ON TO STATE THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY QUOTE LOVES YOUR ASS.

I THEN HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK SO HE IS GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION?

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED THAT HE IS GOING TO DO IT.

ADDING THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WILL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK HIM TO DO.

EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT TAKE NOTES OF THESE STATEMENTS I HAD A CLEAR RECOLLECTION OF THESE STATEMENTS THAT THESE STATEMENTS WERE MADE.

I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES SETTING AT THE TABLE ALSO KNEW AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS SPEAKING WITH THE PRESIDENT.

THE CONVERSATION THEN SHIFTED TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT TO ASSIST AT THAT RAPPER WHO WAS JAILED IN SWEDEN AND I COULD ONLY HEAR AMBASSADOR SONDLAND A'S SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT THE RAPPER WAS, QUOTE, KIND OF FED THERE, AND SOMEHOW HAVE PLED GUILTY HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SENTENCINGS, IT WOULD ONLY MAKE IT WORSE AND ADDED THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD LET HIM GET SENTENCED, PLAY THE RACISM CARD, GIVE HIM A TICKER TAPE WHEN HE COMES HOME.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND FURTHER TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT SWEDEN, QUOTE, SHOULD HAVE RELEASED HIM ON YOUR WORD, BUT THAT YOU CAN TELL THE KARDASHIANS YOU TRIED.

AFTER THE CALL ENDED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REMARKED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS IN A BAD MOOD AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED WAS OFTEN THE CASE EARLY IN THE MORNING.

I THEN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AMBASSADOR SONDLAND FOR HIS CANDY IMPRESSION ON THE PRESIDENT'S VIEW ON UH CRANES IN PARTICULAR I ASKED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IF IT WAS TRUE THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLETIVE ABOUT UKRAINE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AGREED THAT PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLETIVE ABOUT THE UKRAINE.

I ASKED WHY NOT?

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED THE PRESIDENT ONLY CARES ABOUT BIG STUFF.

I NOTED THERE WAS BIG STUFF GOING ON IN UKRAINE LIKE A WAR WITH RUSSIA.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED HE MEANT BIG STUFF THAT BENEFITS THE PRESIDENT, LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.

THE CONVERSATION THEN MOVED ON TO OTHER TOPICS.

UPON RETURNING TO THE EMBASSY I IMMEDIATELY BRIEFED MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ABOUT AMBASSADOR'S SON LAND'S CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MY SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

I TOLD OTHERS AT THE EMBASSY ABOUT THE CALL AS WELL.

I ALSO E-MAILED AN EMBASSY OFFICIAL IN SWEDEN REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH U.S. RAPPER THAT WAS DISCUSSED ON THE CALL.

JULY 26 WAS MY LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE AHEAD OF A LONG PLANNED VACATION THAT EPID ON AUGUST 6TH.

AFTER RETURNING TO THE, AFTER RETURNING TO THE EMBASSY I TOLD AMBASSADOR TAYLOR ABOUT THE 26TH CALL AND REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THE CALL AND THE CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IN MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WHERE THE ISSUE OF THE PRESIDENT'S INTERESTS IN THE UKRAINE WAS POTENTIALLY -- AT THAT TIME, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATEMENT TO THE PRESIDENT, STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT'S LACK OF INTEREST IN UKRAINE WAS IN PARTICULAR FOCUS.

WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IN ORDER TO SECURE A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP PANNED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK HARD TO FIND A WAY TO EXPLAIN UKRAINE'S IMPORTANCE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP IN TERMS HE FOUND COMPELLING.

OVER THE ENSUING WEEK CONTINUED TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO FRAME THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UKRAINE IN WAYS THAT WOULD APPEAL TO THE 43.

DETERMINE HOW TO LIFT THE HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE AND TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SCHEDULING OF A WHITE HOUSE VISIT BY PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AUGUST 2040, 24TH SHOWED ANOTHER GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

SECRETARY POMPEO CONSIDERED ATTENDING AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR BOLTON ATTENDED IN 2018 AND SECRETARY MATTIS ATTENDED IN 2017 BUT IN THE END NOBODY SENIOR TO AMBASSADOR VOLKER ATTENDED.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ON AUGUST 27, THE AM BAGS DOOR BOLTON VISITED THE UKRAINE, AND BROUGHT WELCOME NEWS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD AGREED TO NEAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ON SEPTEMBER 1ST IN WARSAW.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON FURTHER INDICATED THAT THE HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT BE LIFTED PRIOR TO THE WARSAW MEETING, WHERE IT WOULD HANG ON WHETHER PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS ABLE TO QUOTE FAVORABLY IMPRESS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I TOOK NOTES@BALABALANCE BASS DR MEETINGS WITH ZELENSKY AND THE CHIEF OF STAFF, AMBASSADOR BOLTON TOLD ZELENSKY'S CHIEF OF STAFF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT IN WARSAW WOULD BE CRUCIAL TO CEMENTING THEIR RELATIONSHIP, HOWEVER PRESIDENT TRUMP ULTIMATELY PULLED OUT OF THE WARSAW TRIP, THE HOLD REMAINED IN PLACE WITH NO CLEAR MEANS TO GET IT LIFTED.

BETWEEN THE MEETINGS ON AUGUST 27, I HEARD AMBASSADOR BOLTON EXPRESS TO AMBASSADOR TAYLOR A AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TIMOR SON HIS FRUSTRATION ABOUT MR. GIULIANI'S 0 INFLUENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT MAKING CLEAR THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

HE RECOMMENDED THAT MR. LUTSENKO'S REPLACEMENT AS PROSECUTOR GENERAL OPEN A CHANNEL WITH HIS COUNTERPART, ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR 22 BETWEEN MR. YERMAK AND GIULIANI.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON ALSO EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ABOUT AMBASSADOR'S SON LAND EXPANSIVE INTERPRETATION OF HIS MANDATE.

AFTER CREATE CANCELED HIS VISIT TO WARSAW, WE CONTINUED TO TRY TO APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY TOMORROWS THAT END, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR TOLD ME THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON RECOMMENDED THAT HE AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR EXTEND A FIRST PERSON CABLE TO SECRETARY POMPEO ARTICULATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR A'S DIRECTION I DRAFTED AND TRANSMITTED THE CABLE ON AMBASSADOR TAYLOR'S BEHALF ON AUGUST 29TH WHICH FURTHER ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF UH 18 AND THE SECURITY UKRAINE 0 AND THE SECURITY.

BY THIS POINT, HOWEVER .. MY CLEAR IMPRESSION WAS THAT THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE HOLD WAS INTENDED BY THE PRESIDENT EITHER AS AN EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION WITH THE UKRAINIANS W WHO HAD NOT YET AGREED TO THE BURISMA BIDEN INVESTIGATION OR AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THEM TO DO SOMETHING.

ON SEPTEMBER 5TH I TOOK NOTES SENATOR JOHNSON AND CHRIS MURPHY'S MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN KIEV WHERE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ASKED ABOUT THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

ALTHOUGH BOTH SENATORS STRESSED STRONG BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, SENATOR JOHNSON CAUTIONED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A NEGATIVE VIEW OF UKRAINE AND THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME OVERCOMING IT.

SENATOR JOHNSON FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD BEEN QUOTE SHOCKED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEGATIVE REACTION DURING AN OVAL OFFICE MEETING ON 0 HE 23RD WHEN HE AND THE THREE AMIGOS PROPOSED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MEET PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AM WAGS DOOR TAYLOR TOLD ME QUOTE NOW THEY ARE INSISTING ZELENSKY COMMIT TO THE INVESTIGATION IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CMN WHICH I TOOK TO REFER TO THIS THREE AMIGOS.

I WAS SHOCKED THE REQUIREMENT WAS SO SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE, WHILE WE ADVISED OUR UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS TO VOICE A COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW AND GENERALLY THE INVESTIGATING CREDIBLE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, THIS WAS A DEMAND THE THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY PERSONALLY COMMIT ON A CABLE NEWS CHANNEL TO A SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL.

ON SEPTEMBER 11TH THE HOLD WAS FINALLY LIFTED AFTER SIGNIFICANT PRESS COVERAGE AND BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE WITHHOLDING OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

ALTHOUGH WE KNEW HOLD WAS LIFTED WE WERE STILL CONCERNED THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HAD COMMITTED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LIFTING TO GIVE THE REQUESTED CMN INTERVIEW.

WE HAD SEVERAL INVESTIGATION INDICATIONS THAT THE INTERVIEW WOULD OCCUR A.

FIRST, THE WITH CONFERENCE IN KIEV WAS HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 12TH 2 THE 14TH AND CNN WAS ONE OF THE MODERATORS, SECOND ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, AN EMBASSY DIFFICULT COLLEAGUE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL, ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WHO WORKED FOR AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, MY COLLEAGUE TEXTED ME DURING THAT CALL THAT QUOTE, SONDLAND AND HIS, SONDLAND SAID IN THE ZELENSKY INTERVIEW WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY OR MONDAY AND PLANNED TO ANNOUNCE 0 A CERTAIN INVESTIGATION THAT WAS ON HOLD WILL PROGRESS.

SONDLAND A'S AIDE DID NOT THOUGH IF THIS WAS DECIDED OR IF SONDLAND WAS ADVOCATING FOR IT.

APPARENTLY HE HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH -- FINALLY ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND I RAN INTO MR. YERMAK ON OUR WAY OUT OF A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN HIS PRIVATE OFFICE, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR EXPRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING OUT U.S.

POLITICS AND HOPED NO INTERVIEW WAS PLANNED, YERMAK DID NOT ANSWER WAS BUT SLUGGED IN RESIGNATION AS TO INDICATE THAT HE HAD NO CHOICE.

IN SHORT, EVERYBODY THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN A INTERVIEW AND THAT THE UKRAINIANS BELIEVED THEY HAD TO DO IT, T TO THE INTERVIEW ULTIMATELY DID NOT OCCUR.

ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR A AND I COLLABORATED ON INPUT HE SENT TO MR. MORRISON TO BRIEF PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A SEPTEMBER 25TH MEETING THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN NEW YORK ON THE MARGINS OF THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE JULY 25TH CALL WAS RELEASED THE SAME DAY.

AS OF TODAY I STILL, I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN -- SEPTEMBER 25TH MEETING.

AS THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HAS PROGRESSED, I FOLLOWED PRESS REPORTS AND REVIEWED THE STATEMENTS OF AMBASSADOR TAYLOR A AND YOVANOVITCH.

BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS UKRAINE, MY RECOLLECTION IS GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THEIR TESTIMONY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE RELEVANT FACTS ARE THEREFORE BEING LAID OUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I READ PRESS REPORTS EXPRESSING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT CERTAIN SENIOR OFFICIALS MAY HAVE BEEN ACTING WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT'S KNOWLEDGE OR FREELANCING IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH UKRAINE.

AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO READ REPORTS NOTING THE LACK OF FIRSTHAND EVIDENCE IN THE INVESTIGATION AND SUGGESTING THAT THE EVIDENCE BEING ELICITED AT THE HEARINGS WAS HEARSAY.

I CAME TO REALIZE THAT I HAD FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CERTAIN EVENTS ON JULY 26TH THAT HAD NOT OTHERWISE BEEN RECORDED AND THAT THOSE EVENTS POTENTIALLY BORE ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT DID, IN FACT, HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE USING LEVERS OF DIPLOMATIC POWER, INFLUENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF 0 A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL OPPONENT.

IT IS AT THAT POINT THAT I MADE THE OBSERVATION TO AMBASSADOR TAYLOR THAT THE INCIDENT I WITNESSED ON JULY 26TH HAD ACQUIRED GREATER SIGNIFICANCE WHICH IS WHAT HE REPORTED IN HIS TESTIMONY LAST WEEK AND IS WHAT LED TO THE SUBPOENA FOR ME TO APPEAR HERE TODAY.

IN CONCLUSION I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TURN BACK TO UKRAINE.

TODAY, THIS VERY DAY, MARKS EXACTLY SIX YEARS SINCE THRONGS OF PRO DEMOCRACY UKRAINIANS GATHERED ON KIEV SQUARE TO LAUNCH WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY.

WHILE THE PROTESTS BEGAN IN OPPOSITION TO A TURN TOWARDS RUSSIA AND AWAY FROM THE WEST, THEY EXPANDED OVER THREE MONTHS TO REJECT THE ENTIRE CORRUPT REPRESSIVE SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN SUSTAINED BY RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN THE COUNTRY.

THOSE EVENTS WERE FOLLOWED BY RUSSIA'S OCCUPATION OF THE UKRAINE'S CRIMEAN PENINSULA AND INVASION OF UKRAINE'S EASTERN REGION AND ENSUING WAR THAT TO DATE COST ALMOST 14,000 LIVES.

DESPITE THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, UKRAINIANS REBUILT A SHATTERED ECONOMY, ADHERED TO A PEACE PROCESS, AND MOVED ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY CLOSER TO THE WEST, TOWARD OUR WAY OF LIFE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, LARGE MAJORITIES OF UKRAINIANS AGAIN CHOSE A FRESH START BY VOTING FOR A POLITICAL NEWCOMER AS PRESIDENT, REPLACING 80 PERCENT OF THEIR PARLIAMENT AND ENDORSING A PLATFORM CONSISTENT WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC VALUES, OUR REFORM PRIORITIES AND OUR STRATEGIC INTERESTS.

THIS YEAR'S REVOLUTION AT THE BALLOT BOX UNDERSCORES THAT DESPITE ITS IMPERFECTIONS UKRAINE IS A GENUINE AND VIBRANT DEMOCRACY AND AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER POST SOVIET COUNTRIES AND BEYOND, FROM MOSCOW TO HONG KONG.

HOW WE RESPOND TO THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY WILL SET THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UKRAINE AND WILL DEFINE OUR WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND OUR INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND OUR LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLD.

UKRAINIANS WANT TO HEAR A CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS REAFFIRMATION THAT OUR LONGSTANDING BIPARTISAN POLICY OF STRONG SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE REMAINS UNCHANGED AND THAT WE FULLY BACK IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RETREAT FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UKRAINE.

BUT RATHER TO DOUBLE DOWN ON IT.

AS WE SIT HERE, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING A HOT WAR ON UKRAINIAN TERRITORY AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

THIS WEEK ALONE, SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE IN WASHINGTON TWO UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND TWO INJURED BY A RUSSIAN LED FORCES IN EASTERN UKRAINE DESPITE A DECLARED CEASE-IRE, LEARNED OVERNIGHT SEVEN MORE WERE INJURED YESTERDAY.

AS VICE PRESIDENT PENCE SAID AFTER HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN WARSAW, THE U.S. UKRAINE RELATIONSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER, UKRAINIANS AND THEIR NEW GOVERNMENT EARNESTLY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT.

UKRAINIANS CHERISH THEIR BIPARTISAN AMERICAN SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THE ASPIRATIONS AND RECOIL AT THE THOUGHT OF PLAYING A ROLE 0 IN U.S.

DOMESTIC POLITICS OR ELECTIONS.

AT A TIME OF SHIFTING ALLEGIANCES AND RISING COMPETITORS IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE NO BETTER FRIENDS THAN UKRAINE, A SCRAPPY, UNBOWED, DETERMINED AND ABOVE ALL DIGNIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING UP AGAINST RUSSIAN AUTHORITARIANISM AND AGGRESSION.

THEY DESERVE BETTER.

WE ARE NOW AT A FLEXION POINT IN UKRAINE AND CRITICAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY WE STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR UKRAINIAN PART HERS, UKRAINE AND FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE WATCHING pTHE EXAMPLE WE SET HERE IN DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HOLMES.

DR. HILL.

>> IS THE MICROPHONE ON?

>> I BELIEVE IT IS NOW.

IS THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> YES.

PERFECT.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBER NUNES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I HAVE A SHORT OPENING STATEMENT.

I APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF 0 CONGRESS'S IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND I AM APPEARING TODAY AS A FACT WITNESS.

AS I DID DURING MY DEPOSITION ON OCTOBER 14TH.

IN ORDER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS OF WHAT I SAW, WHAT I DID, WHAT I KNEW AND WHAT I KNOW WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECTS OF YOUR INQUIRY.

I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE INFORMATION THAT THE CONGRESS DEEMS RELEVANT AND A LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE IT.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE I AM A NONPARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT WHO HAS SERVED UNDER THREE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS.

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF YOUR INQUIRY IN ANY DIRECTION EXCEPT TOWARD THE TRUTH.

I WILL NOT PROVIDE A LONG NARRATIVE STATEMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE INTERESTS OF CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS BEST SERVED BY ALLOWING YOU TO ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS AND I AM CHEAP EXPAND UPON MY OCTOBER 14TH DEPOSITION TESTIMONY IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.

BUT BEFORE I DO SO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE TWO THINGS.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM.

I AM AN AMERICAN BY CHOICE.

I BECAME A CITIZEN IN 2002.

I WAS BORN IN NORTHEAST OF ENGLAND IN THE SAME REGION THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ANCESTORS CAME FROM.

BOTH MY REGION AND MY FAMILY HAVE DEEP TIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER FOUGHT THROUGH WORLD WAR I IN THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, SURVIVING BEING SHOT, SHELLED AND GASSED BEFORE AMERICAN TROOPS INTERVENED TO END THE WAR IN 1918.

DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY FOUGHT TO DEFEND THE FREE WORLD FROM FASCISM ALONG WITH AMERICAN SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN, THE MEN IN MY FATHER A'S FAMILY WERE COAL MINERS WHO WHOSE FAMILY ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH POVERTY WHEN MY FATHER ALFORD WAS 14 HE JOINED HIS FATHER, BROTHERS, BROTHER AND UNCLES AND DOES GUIDELINES THE COAL MINES TO HELP PULL FOOD ON TO THE TABLE, WHEN THE LAST OF TO LOCAL MINES CLOSED IN THE 1960S MY FATHER WANTED TO IMMIGRATE TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK IN THE COAL MINES OF VIRGINIA BUT HIS MOTHER, MY GRANDFATHER HAD BEEN CRIPPLED FROM HARD LABOR AND MY FATHER COULDN'T LEAVE SO HE STAYED IN NORTHERN ENGLAND UNTIL HE GUIDE IN 2012.

MY MOTHER STILL LIVES IN MY HOMETOWN TODAY.

WHILE HISTORY OF IMMIGRATING TO AMERICA MY FATHER LOVED AMERICA, ITS CULTURE, AND HISTORY AS AND ROLE AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR TO THE WORLD.

HE ALWAYS WANTED SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY TO MAKE IT TO THE UNITED STATES.

I BEGAN MY UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN 1984, AND I WENT TO THE SAME UNIVERSITY AS MY COLLEAGUE HERE, MR. HOLMES, IN SCOTLAND.

JUST LEARNED THAT N 1987 I WON A PLACE ON AN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE TO THE SOVIET UNION, I WAS THERE FOR THE SIGNING OF THE INTERIMMEDIATE YACHT IMF TREATY AND WHEN PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN MET GORBACHEV IN MOSCOW THIS WAS A TURNING POINT TO ME.

AN AMERICAN PROFESSOR I MET THERE TOLD ME ABOUT SCHOLAR SLIPS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE VERY NEXT YEAR THANKS TO HIS ADVICE I ARRIVED IN AMERICA TO START MY ADVANCED STUDIES AT HARVARD.

YEARS LATER I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS OFTEN MEANS OPPORTUNITIES I NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD IN FRIEND.

I GREW UP POOR WITH A VERY DISTINCTIVE WORKING CLASS ACCENT, IN ENGLAND IN THE 1980S AND 1990 THIS IS WOULD HAVE IMPEDED MY PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT.

THIS BACKGROUND HAS NEVER SET ME BACK IN AMERICA.

FOR THE BEST PART OF THREE DECADES I BUILT A CAREER AS A NONPARTISAN, NONPOLITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY PROFESSIONAL FOCUSING ON EUROPE AND YOU ARE RACE I CAN'T AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION ..

I SERVED UNDER THREE PRESIDENTS MY MOST RECENT CAPACITY UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MY FORMER POSITION UNDER -- AS UNDER MY FORMER POSITION FOR RUSSIAN AND YOU ARE RAISE I CAN'T.

IN THAT ROLE ..

I WAS THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY SENIOR EXPERT ON RUSSIA AND THE NORM NEVER SOVIET REPUBLICS INCLUDING THE UKRAINE.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT I WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2017.

AT THE NSC, RUSSIA WAS PART OF MY PORTFOLIO.

BUT I WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING U.S. POLICY FOR ALL OF WESTERN EUROPE, ALL OF EASTERN EUROPE, INCLUDING UKRAINE, AND TURKEY, ALONG WITH NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

I WAS HIRED INITIALLY BY GENERAL MICHAEL FLYNN, CASEY MCTAR LAND AND GENERAL KEEFE KELLOGG AND THEN I STARTED WORKING APRIL 2017 WHEN GENERAL MCMASTER WAS THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVICE SORRY.

I AND THEY THOUGHT I COULD HELP THEM WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATED GOAL OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

WHILE STILL IMPLEMENTING POLICIES DESIGNED TO DETER RUSSIAN CONDUCT THAT THREATENED THE UNITED STATES.

INCLUDING THE UNPRECEDENTED AND SUCCESSFUL RUSSIAN OPERATION TO INTERFERE IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THIS RELATES TO THE SECOND THING I WANT TO COMMUNICATE.

BASED ON QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS I HAVE HEARD SOME OF YOU ON THIS EXEAT APPEAR TO BELIEVE THAT RUSSIA AND ITS SECURITY SERVICES DID NOT CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR COUNTRY AND THAT PERHAPS SOMEHOW FOR SOME REASON UKRAINE DID.

THERE IS A FICTIONAL NARRATIVE THAT HAS BEEN PERPETRATED AND PROPAGATE BED AT THIS RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES THEMSELVES.

THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS THAT RUSSIA WAS THE FOREIGN POWER THAT SYSTEMATICALLY ATTACKED OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN 2016.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC CONCLUSION OF OUR OWN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CONFIRMED IN BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.

IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE, EVEN IF SOME OF THE UNDERLYING DETAILS MUST REMAIN CLASSIFIED.

THE IMPACT OF THE SUCCESS SUCCESSFUL 2016 RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN REMAINS EVIDENT TODAY OUR NATION IS BEING TORN APART, TRUTH IS QUESTIONED OUR HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERT CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE IS BEING UNDERMINED.

U.S. SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINE WHICH CONTINU U.S. SUPPORT HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT'S GOAL IS TO WEAKEN OUR COUNTRY AND DIMINISH OUR GLOBAL ROLE AND NEUTRALIZE A PRESERVED THREAT TO RUSSIAN INTEREST.

PRESIDENT PUTIN AND SECURITY SERVICES AND FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES IN EUROPE AND UKRAINE WHERE MOSCOW WISHES TO REASSERT POLITICAL.COM POLITICAL.COM POLL DOMINANTS.

I SAY THIS AS A REALIST.

WE NEED TO STABILIZE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MOSCOW EVEN AS WE COUNTER OUR EFFORTES TO HARM US.

RIGHT NOW THE SERVICES HAVE TO REPEAT THEIR INTERFERENCE.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THE COST OF THE INVESTIGATION I ASK THAT YOU NOT PROMOTE FALSEHOODS TO ADVANCE RUSSIAN INTEREST.

AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREED FOR DECADES UKRAINE IS A VALUED PARTNER IN THE UNITED STATES AND PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN OUR SECURITY.

I REFUSE TO LEGITTIZE AN ALTERNATIVE NATIVE.

THESE FICTIONS ARE HARMFUL.

IT'S LIKE A SUPER PACK.

THEY DEPLOY MILLIONS TO WEAPONNIZE OUR OWN RESEARCH AND FALSE NARRATIVES.

WHEN WE ARE CONSUMED WE CANNOT COMBAT THESE EXTERNAL FORCES AS THEY SEEK DESERVE VIED US AGAINST EACH OTHER.

WE GRADE OUR INSTITUTIONS AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

I RESPECT THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND WILL TRY TO DO THIS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

IF THEY TRY TO FARTHER DOMESTIC POLITICAL INTEREST THAT'S MORE THAN WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION.

WE MUST NOT STOP THIS FROM DEFENDING OURSELVES.

I'M READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DR. HILL.

WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

THERE WILL BE 45 MINUTES OF QUESTIONS FOLLOWED BY 45 MINUTES FOR THE MINORITY COUNCIL.

FOLLOWING THAT WE WILL PROCEED UNDER THE 5 MINUTE RULE AND EVERY MEMBER WILL ASK QUESTIONS.

I RECOGNIZE MYSELF FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND TESTIFYING.

DR. HILL, YOUR STORY REMINDS ME A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM ALEXANDER VINDMAN.

THE STORIES WE HAVE HEARD ARE THE MOST POWERFUL.

YOU CAME HERE BY CHOSE AND WE ARE BLESSED YOU DID.

SO WELCOME.

MY COLLEAGUES TOOK UMBRIDGE WITH YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

RUSSIA DIDN'T INTERVENE IN OUR ELECTION IT WAS ALL THE UKRAINIANS.

IT WAS AN EFFORT TO TAKE A TWEET AND OP ED THERE AND NEWS PAPER STORY HERE AND EQUATE IT WITH THE SYSTEMIC INTERVENTION THAT OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCYLESS BOUND TO RUSSIA PERPETRATED THROUGH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.

INDEED, THE REPORT MY COLLEAGUES GAVE YOU THEY PRODUCED DURING AN INVESTIGATION CALLS INTO QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES FINDING THAT RUSSIA INTERVENED TO HELL DONALD TRUMP.

NO ONE QUESTIONS THAT FINDING NOR DOES THE FBI, SENATE, OR THE MAY MINORITY COMMITTEE F THIS COMMITTEE.

LET ME ASK YOU, DR. HILL, ABOUT YOUR CONCERN WITH THAT RUSSIAN NARRATIVE THAT IT WASN'T THE RUSSIANS THAT ENGAGED IN INTERFERING WITH THE ELECTION IN 2016.

THIS WAS GIVEN A BOOST WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP QUESTIONED HIS OWN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.

WHY ARE THEY PUSHING THE NARRATIVE IT WAS UKRAINE?

>> THE RUSSIANS INTEREST LEGITTIZED OUR PRESIDENCY.

ONE ISSUE I WOULD LIKE RESONATE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IS THE GOAL OF THE RUSSIANS WERE TRYING TO PUT ONE GROUP UNDER A CLOUD.

FORMER FIRST LADY AND SENATOR CLINTON AND MANY EXPECTED IN THE RUNNING IN 2016.

SHE WOULD HAVE HAD MAJOR QUESTIONS ABOUT HER LEGITIMACY.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE AS A RESULT OF THE NARRATIVES THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WAS HOPING FOR.

IF THEY RECEIVED MISINFORMATION AND DOUBT.

THEY HAVE EVERYBODY QUESTIONING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE CANDIDATE OR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PUTIN.

THEY WOULD PIT ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OTHER.

THEY WOULD PIT ONE PARTY AGAINST THE OTHER.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE A STRONG POINT.

THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD HUSH WORDS FOR BOTH OF THE CANDIDATES AND FOR THE CANDIDATES DURING THE PRIMARIES.

MANY PEOPLE WERE TRYING THEMSELVES TO GAIN THE OUTCOME YOU KNOW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

WILLIAM HILL WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE CANDIDATE.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WERE TRYING TOO LAND THEIR OWN BEDS.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHOEVER THEY BET ON WOULD EXPERIENCE DISCOMFORT.

THEY COULD CREATE THE KIND OF CHAOS WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR POLITICS.

I WANTED TO EMPHASIS WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL AS WE DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.

>> I QUIET AGREE.

THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT.

THEY ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MEDDLERS.

THEY WILL NOT ONLY HELP ONE SIDE BUT ALSO SEEK TO HAVE DISCORD IN THE UNITED STATES ALONG ETHNIC AND LETTERS LEDGOUS LINES.

THE BENEFIT NOW IS FOR RUSSIA TO PUT THE BLAME ON UKRAINE AND CAST DOUBT ON WHETHER THEY INTERVENED AT ALL IN THEIR ELECTION AND BLAME IT ON AN ALLY FOR DRIVING A WAGE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND UKRAINE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.

YOU JUST MADE THE POINT ABOUT U.S.

ALLIES.

FOR INCIDENTS THEY HAVE PERPETRATED.

WE SAW THAT WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE RUSH THAN SECRET SERVICES OWN A SPY.

YOU MIGHT RECALL THE RUSSIANS ACCUSED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF PERPETRATING THIS THEMSELVES.

THIS FALLS INTO A PATTERN OF DEFLECTION AND TRY TO PIN THE BLAME ON SOMEONE ELSE.

THEY HAVE A PARTICULAR VESTED INTEREST OF THE UKRAINIAN LEADERS.

ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE STARTED TO DISCUSS TODAY AND YOU ON THE COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN BEGAN WITH THE ILLEGAL ANNEXATION OF THE PENINSULA OF CRIMEA.

THIS IS SINCE STARTING A WAR AND SHOOTING DOWN RUSSIAN OPPOSITIVES AT A LATER PERIOD.

THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF HOSTILITY AND INTENT TOWARDS THE UKRAINE AND SUITS THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT VERY MUCH IF WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE UKRAINE.

>> MR. HELMS HELM -- HOLMI WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A QUICK FEW QUESTIONS.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY AT YOUR DEPOSITION AND READ YOUR OPENING TESTIMONY.

AS YOU LEARN MORE FACTS YOU START TO SEE THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT EVEN KNOW YOUR OPENING STATEMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR OPENING STATEMENT DURING THE DEPOSITION.

WHILE WE ADVISED OUR UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART TO VICE A COMMITMENT AND FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW.

THIS WAS A DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY DID ON A NEWS CHANNEL.

THIS IS TO THE POINT OF THE HEARING YESTERDAY ABOUT HYPOCRISY.

HERE WE ARE, AND WE ARE URGING YOU CRANNANS TO FALL IN THE RULE OF LAW AND ONLY INVESTIGATE CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE ARE ASKING THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL RIVAL.

THEY ARE PRETTY SOPHISTICATED ACTORS.

THEY ARE RECOGNIZE HYPOCRISY WHEN THEY SEE IT.

FOCUSING ON PARTICULAR CASES WHERE THERE IS AN INTEREST TO THE PRESIDENT IS JUST NOT PART OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN WHY WE WOULD DO THAT.

>> AMBASSADOR VOLKER SAID HE URGED UKRAINE NOT TO INVESTIGATE AND HE SAID OH, LIKE YOU WANT US TO DO WITH THE BIDEN'S AND CLINTON'S.

THEY ARE SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THEY SAY DO AS WE SAY AND NOT AS WE DO ARE THEY NOT?

>> YES, SIR.

I WAS TRUCK BY THIS TODAY.

WHEN EVEN AFTER THE AID IS LIFTED UKRAINE STILL FELT PRESSURED TO MAKE THESE STATEMENTS AND YOU AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR WERE WORRIED THEY WOULD DO IT ON CNN.

YOU SAID THAT AMBASSADOR TAYLOR SAID HE HOPED NO INTERVIEW WAS PLANNED.

MR. YERMAK AKSHRUGGED AS IF THEY HAD NO CHOSE.

YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE UKRAINE FELT PRESSURED.

>> THE HOLD MAY BE LIFTED THERE ARE STILL THINGS THEY WANTED INCLUDING A MEETING WITH THE OVAL OFFICE.

WHETHER IT HOLD CONTINUED OR NOT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT'S SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT WANTED.

THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

THEY STILL NEED US NOW TO GO FORWARD.

RIGHT NOW PRESIDENT ZE LENSKY IS PLANNING A MEETING WITH PEW TEN TO ADVANCE THE PIECE PROCESS.

HE NEEDS OUR SUPPORT.

HE NEEDS PRESIDENT PUTIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICA SUPPORTS ZELENSKY.

THIS DOESN'T END WITH THE LIFTING OF THE SECURITY.

UKRAINE STILL NEEDS US AND FIGHTING THE WAR HAVE VERDE.

>> I WOULD STATELY STATY COLLEAGUE DID SOEL ELEGANT LY THEY GOT CAUGHT.

THEY ANNOUNCED THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BIDEN AS AND BUR URI -- BURI SMA.

DR. HILL, YOU TESTIFIED THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD YOU HE WAS IN CHARGE OF POLICY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHO DID HE TELL YOU PUT HIM IN CHARGE OF UKRAINE POLICY?

>> THE PRESIDENT.

MR. HOLMES DID YOU UNDERSTAND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HAD BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY FROM THE PRESIDENT?

>> WE UNDERSTOOD HE HAD BEEN TOLD TO WORK WITH MR. RUDOLPH GIULIANI.

>> DID HE HOLD HIMSELF OUT AS HAVING DIRECT CONTACT OR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES AND INTEREST?

>> YES, SIR.

MR. HOLMES, I'LL GO TO THAT JULY 26 DATE WHEN YOU OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I'LL ASK YOU ABOUT THE LEAD UP TO THE CONVERSATION THEY WERE HELPFUL TO REFRESH YOUR RECKLESS.

DURING THE MEETING THE PRESIDENT SAID ON HIS PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THE PREVIOUS DAY THAT THREE TIMES PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD MENTIONED SENSITIVE ISSUES.

DID YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS REFERRING TO.

>> I DIDN'T UNTIL THE JULY 25th CALL.

I WAS AWARE OF VARIOUS CONTACTS BETWEEN THE THREE AMIGOS.

>> AFTER THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AMBASSADOR ZONEDLAND SONDLAND HAA ONE-ON-ONE MEETING AND YOU WERE PREVENTED FROM TAKING NOTES.

>> YES.

HE SAID HE PROBABLY DISCUSSED THIS WITH MR. YERMAK DID HE TELL YOU WHAT THEY DISCUSSED?

>> THEY DID NOT.

AFTER THIS MEETING YOU WENT TO LUNCH.

WHERE WERE YOU SITTING IN THE RESTAURANT?

>> YES, SIR, IT HAS SORT OF GLASS DOORS THAT OPEN ON A TERRORIST.

WE WERE AT THE FIRST TABLES ON THE TERRORIST.

SO IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE RESTAURANT.

THE DOORS WERE WIDE OPEN.

THERE WERE TWO TABLES PUSHED TO BE THE.

THERE WAS A RUNNER DOWN THE MIDDLE.

I WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO SHARE AN APPETIZER.

YOU SAID AT SOME POINT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND PULLED OUT HIS CELL PHONE AND CALLED PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THIS WAS AN UNSECURE CELL PHONE?

>> YES, SIR.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESTAURANT?

>> YES.

OU WERE ABLE TO HEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VOICE THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO HEAR IF IT WASN'T ON SPEAKER PHONE?

>> IT WAS QUIET LOUD.

THE RWaQON WHY IS HE HELD THE PHONE A WAY FROM HIS EAR LIKE THAT.

THEY DON'T KNOW.

YOU WERE ABLE TO HEAR SOME OF WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR HIM SAY?

>> WHAT DID I HEAR -- THE PRESIDENT SAY TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

>> HE SAID I WANT THEM TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.

>> WHAT WAS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S THOUGHTS.

>> HE SAID OH, YEAH, HE WILL DO IT.

HE WILL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK.

>> WAS THAT THE END OF THE UKRAINE CULTURE IN THE CONVERSATION?

>> YES.

YOU ASK HIM I THINK WHAT DID HE THINK OF THE UKRAINE.

WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?

>> HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT UKRAINE?

>> DID HE USE MORE COLORFUL LANGUAGE THEN THAT.

>> HE DID.

WHAT DID HE CARE ABOUT?

BIG STUFF.

DID HE EXPLAIN WHAT HE MEANT ABOUT BIG STUFF?

>> I ASKED HIM WHAT KIND OF BIG STUFF?

WE HAVE BIG STUFF GOING ON HERE LIKE RUSSIA.

HE SAID NO, BIG STUFF LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION.

>> WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION YOU REFERENCED.

>> THEY MADE A CALL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

BEING ABLE TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND DISTRICTIVE PERSONALITIES.

VERY COLORFUL LANGUAGE WAS USED.

THEY WERE DIRECTLY ADDRESSING SOMETHING THAT I HAD BEEN WONDERING ABOUT AND WORKING ON FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS.

A TOPIC THAT HAD LEAD TO THE RECALL OF MY FORMER BOSS, THE FORMER AMBASSADOR.

HERE WAS A PERSON WHO SAID HE HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE PRESIDENT AND SAID THAT OVER THE COURSE OF TIME DURING THE PHONE CALL YOU OVERHEARD HIM HAVE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

YOU HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF ASK THE ONLY QUESTION YOU REALLY HEARD HIM ASK, I BELIEVE, WAS WHETHER HE WAS GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.

TO WHICH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND THAT HE WOULD AND DO ANYTHING THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WANTS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AFTER THAT CALL YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND THAT HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT UKRAINE BUT THE BIG STUFF RELATED TO HIMSELF MEANING THE INVESTIGATION THAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS PRESSING.

>> CORRECT.

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR LUNCH WITH THE AMBASSADOR HE SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND HE MADE IT CLEAR HE CARED ABOUT THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION.

NEITHER OF YOU LISTENED TO THE CALL BUT AS YOU TESTIFIED YOU BOTH READ IT SUBSEQUENT TO IT'S PUBLICATION.

DR. HILL, DURING YOUR TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE YOU LISTENED TO A NUMBER OF PRESIDENTIAL PHONE CALLS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

CAN YOU ESTIMATE HOW MANY?

SOMETIMES THERE WOULD BE MULTIPLE CALLS DURING THE WEEK.

I WAS THERE FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

>> HAVE YOU EVER READ A CALL LIKE THIS ONE YOU READ?

>> I DON'T WANT COMMENT ON THIS.

THIS S EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.

>> THERE ARE ISSUES OF CLASSIFICATION REGARDING HEAD OF STATE COMMUNICATIONS WE WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO IN THE FORUM.

>> UNDERSTOOD, I'M FOCUSED ON THIS ONE CALL THAT'S DECLASSIFIED AND PUBLISHED.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANY PHONE CALLS ALONG THESE LINES.

>> AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THIS PARTICULAR CALL.

I FOUND THIS PARTICULAR CALL SUBJECT MATTER AND THE WAY IT WAS CONDUCTED SURPRISING.

>> YOU SAID IN YOUR DEPOSITION TESTIMONY YOU WERE SHOCKED AND SADDENED TO READ IT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHY WAS THAT?

BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE DISCUSSION.

THE POSITION OF THE ISSUES IN WHICH THEY WERE RAISED AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT I MYSELF HAD OPPOSED ALONG WITH AMBASSADOR BOLTON THAT UKRAINE AND THE UNITED STATES WERE GENERALLY TOGETHER I SAW THIS WASN'T THE CASE.

>> YOU ALSO TESTIFIED YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS CALL WAS TURNING A WHITE HOUSE MEETING INTO AN ASSET, DO YOU RECALL THAT TESTIMONY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS ABOUT THIS CALL.

THIS WAS THE DISCUSSION PROCEEDING THE CALL.

I LEFT ON JULY 19 AND THE CALL TOOK PLACE THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THAT IT WAS CLEAR THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING ITSELF WAS BEING PREDICATED ON OTHER ISSUES ON INVESTIGATIONS AND THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE IN 2016.

>> MR. HOLMES, YOU INDICATED IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY KIND INDICATED THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT PERSONNEL ISSUES RELATING THE PROSECUTOR GENERALS OFFICE.

AFTER YOU READ THE CALL DID YOU UNDERSTAND WHO AND WHAT THAT WAS REFERRING TO.

>> YES, SIR.

IN THAT BRIEF MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF IT WAS CONFUSING WHY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ISSUE HE RAISED.

IT WASN'T UNTIL I READ THE TRANSCRIPT THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED PROSECUTOR GENERAL HAD BEEN COLLABORATING WITH HIM ON THE CORRUPTION WE SAW THERE.

>> I BELIEVE YOU ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS THE SOURCE OF SOME OF RUDOLPH GIULIANI PUBLIC VIEWS AND ALLEGATIONS.

>> ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PRESS CAN YOU UNDERSTAND OF WAVED BECAME PUBLIC.

THEY CONTUCKETTED US THAT MR. LUTSENKO SENT THESE MASSAGES AND MET WITH A JOURNALIST TO GET THE MASSAGES OUT.

WHAT WAS THE VIEW OF THE PROSECUTOR?

>> HE WASN'T A GOOD PARTNER.

HE HAD FAILED DELIVER ON MOM PRECISED REFORMS THAT HE COMMITTED TO WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE HE WAS USING HIS OFFICE TO INSULATE AND PROTECT POLITICAL ALLIES WHILE ENRICHING HIMSELF.

>> ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THAT CORRUPT?

>> YES.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW STATEMENTS IN THIS CALL.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY THANKED PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT IN THE AREA OF DEFENSE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IMMEDIATELY SAID I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO US A FAVOR THOUGH BECAUSE THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND UKRAINE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT IT.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH UKRAINE, I GUESS CROWDSTRIKE.

THEY SAY UKRAINE HAS IT.

NOW, DR. HILL, IS THIS A REFERENCE TO THE DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY OF THE INTERFERENCE IN THE ELECTION YOU DISCUSSED IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS NO BASES FOR THESE ALLEGATIONS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

ISN'T IT TRUE SOME OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOST SENIOR ADVISORS THAT THE THEORY OF UKRAINE INTEGERRANCE WAS FALSE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

SO, IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP DISREGARDED THE ADVISE OF HIS SENIOR OFFICIALS ABOUT THIS THEORY AND INSTEAD LISTENED TO RUDOLPH GIULIANI VIEWS.

>> THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE, YES.

>> I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SHOW ONE OTHER EXHIBIT THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU TESTIFIED TOO EARLIER.

THIS IS FROM A FEBRUARY 2, 2017 NEWS CONFERENCE BETWEEN PUTIN AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF HUNGRY.

PUTIN SAID AS WE KNOW DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTED A POSITION IN FAVOR OF ONE CANDIDATE.

MORE THAN THAT WITH THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP FUNDED THIS FEMALE CANDIDATE TO BE MORE PER SIZE.

>> WHY WOULD IT BE TO RUSSIA'S ADVANTAGE TO PROMOTE THIS INTERFERENCE.

>> DEFLECT FROM THE RUSSIA INTERFERENCE.

DESERVE GRAD AND ERODE SUPPORT FROM THE UKRAINE IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE.

>> DOCTOR HILL BY PROMOTING THIS IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY WE PHRASE THAT.

THIS IS A VIEW THAT PUTIN AND SECURITY SERVICES AND MANY ACTORS IN RUSSIA HAVE PROMOTED.

THIS VIEW ALSO HAS TRACTIONS IN PARALLEL AND SEPARATELY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THOSE TWO THINGS OVERTIME STARTED TO FUSE TOGETHER.

>> WELL, BACK IN MAY OF THIS YEAR DO YOU RECALL A PHONE CONVERSATION PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD WITH PUTIN.

HE ALSO MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IS WAS BETWEEN WHEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS WAS ELECTED AND HIS INAUGURATION.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED PENCE TO ATTEND THE INAUGURATION AFTER HIS PHONE CALL ON APRIL 21st?

>> I'LL NOT SURE I CAN SAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED VICE PRESIDENT PENCE.

I CAN SAY I MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT WERE EAGER TO HAVE VICE PRESIDENT PENCE GO TO YENTA REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES.

>> IS THAT ALSO YOUR RECOLLECTION MR. HOLMES.

>> YES, SIR, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WAS THE PLAN.

>> JENNIFER WILLIAMS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT TESTIFIED HERE ON MAY 13th MAY 13th, WHICH WAS THE SAME DAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER HE CALLED OFF THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TRIP FOR UNKNOWN REASONS BUT BEFORE THE INAUGURATION DATE HAD BEEN SCHEDULED.

DR. HILL WERE YOU AWARE ALSO DURING THAT PERIOD THERE WAS A LOT OF PUBLICITY, I BELIEVE YOU REFERENCED THIS IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT AS WELL ABOUT RUDOLPH GIULIANI'S INTEREST IN THE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE UKRAINE.

>> I WAS CERTAINLY AWARE, YES.

>> AND THE -- AROUND THIS TIME, DR. HILL, YOU TESTIFIED THAT AMBASSADOR VOLK -- BOLTON EXPRESSED INTEREST.

>> I RECALL, IT WAS PART OF A CONVERSATION THAT MR. RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS SAYING IN PUBLIC.

WE SAW HIM OFTEN ON TELEVISION MAKING THESE STATEMENTS.

THIS WAS BROUGHT TO AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S ATTENTION THE ATTACKS AND SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST YOVANO VISIONARY TCH.

HE WAS UPSET ABOUT HOW THIS WAS UNFOLDING AND THE WAY SHE WAS SMEARED.

I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON LOOKED PAINED AND INDICATED WITH BODY LANGUAGE THERE WASN'T MUCH WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

HE THEN IN THE COURSE OF THAT DISCUSSION THAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS A HAND GRENADE THAT WOULD BLOW EVERYBODY UP.

>> DID YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT?

>> I DID.

WHAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS SAYING WAS EXPLOSIVE.

HE WAS MAKING REMARKS ABOUT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS.

HE WAS CLEARLY PUSHING FORWARD ISSUES AND IDEAS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY COME BACK TO HAUNT US.

IN FACT, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> MR. HOLMES, DID THE UKRAINIANS UNDERSTAND THAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI REPRESENTED THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS?

>> I BELIEVE THEY DID.

FIRST HE WAS REACHING OUT TO THEM DIRECTLY.

AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAMPAIGN WHEN RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS PROMINENT.

THEY CRITICIZED HER FOR NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY THE THEORIES AND ISSUES THAT LATER CAME UP THEY BELIEVE THEY HELPED HER GET REMOVED.

THEY KNEW WHAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS PROMOTING AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET AN AM BOSS TOR REMOVED BECAUSE OF THAT.

HE WAS SOMEONE TO CONTEND WITH.

IN ADDITION HE BEGAN REACHING OUT TO THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION AND DID THAT.

>> LET'S FOCUS ON THE INAUGURATION.

>> I JOINED THEM IN SOME OF THEIR MEETINGS.

>> WHO WAS ON THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION.

>> YES, SIR, IT WAS FIVE PEOPLE.

IT WAS THE HEAD OF DELEGATION SECTARY PERRY, AMBASSADOR VOLKER, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, AND ALEXANDER PENNINGTON.

>> DID THEY HAVE A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY THAT YOU ATTENDED?

>> YES.

OU TESTIFIED THAT SECTARY PERRY GAVE A LIST TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY DURING THAT MEETING.

>> YES, SECTARY PERRY OPENED THE MEETING WITH THE DELEGATION SIDE.

DURING THAT PERIOD HE HANDED OVER A PIECE OF PAPER.

I DIDN'T SEE WHAT WAS ON THE PAPER.

SECTARY PERRY DESCRIBED IT AS A LIST OF TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS RECOMMENDED THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY COULD DRAW FROM THAT LIST FOR ADVISE ON ENERGY SECTOR REFORM.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS ON THE LIST?

>> I DIDN'T SEE THE LIST.

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE MIX ON THAT SET OF ISSUES.

IT WAS PEOPLE TO CONSULT ON REFORM.

>> WERE THEY AMERICANS?

YES.

DO YOU RECALL CORONAL VINDMAN SPOKE DURING THAT MEETING.

>> YES.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES?

>> HE WAS THE LAST TO SPEAK.

HE MADE A GENERAL POINT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UKRAINE, OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

HE SAID, VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION STAY OUT OF POLITICS.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY FELT PRESSURE TO CONDUCT THESE INVESTIGATIONS?

>> YES THEY WERE RELATED TO BUY DEN AND BUR CIRCUMSTANCES MA?

>> YES.

THE PRESIDENT WAS RECEIVING INFORMATION SOME SOMEONE ELSE AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S NOT QUIET RIGHT.

I WAS TOLD IN PASSING THAT THE PRESIDENT MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK TO THEM BECAUSE OF SOME MATERIALS RELATED TO UKRAINE.

>> DID THAT PERSON INDICATE THE PRESIDENT THOUGHT THAT WAS THE DIRECTOR OF UKRAINE?

>> THAT WAS CORRECT.

WHO?

IT WAS A BRIEF CONVERSATION.

>> WHO IS THE DIRECTOR?

IT'S ALEX VINDMAN.

WHO DID THE INDIVIDUAL REFER TO?

>> THE INDIVIDUAL JUST SAID THE NAME CRASH.

>> DID YOU KNOW WHO THAT WAS?

INITIALLY WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT I HAD TO SEARCH MY MIND AND THE ONLY CRASH I KNEW WAS CASH PATEL.

>> HE DIDN'T WORK ON THINGS YOU SAW?

>> NO.

HE PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

>> THAT SEEMED TO BE THE INDICATION.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE JULY 25th CALL WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL POLITICAL OPPONENT JOE BIDEN.

IN THIS EXCERPT THE PRESIDENT SAID THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BIDEN'S SON AND HE STOPPED THE PROSECUTION.

PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THAT.

WHATEVER YOU CAN DO WOULD BE GREAT.

BIDEN WENT AROUND BRAGGING THAT HE STOPPED THE PROSECUTION.

IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE TO ME.

NOW, DR. HILL, THIS WAS ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS RUDOLPH GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WAS CONFIRMED IN THE CALL THE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN IT?

>> YES.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER AND SONDLAND TRIED TO DRAW A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR CONNECTION WITH BURISMA AND THE BIDENS.

>> IT WAS APPARENT TO ME THAT WAS WHAT RUDOLPH GIULIANI WANTED TO CONVEY.

HE SAID THIS PUBLICLY AND REPEATEDLY.

>> YOU UNDERSTOOD BURISMA WAS CODE FOR BIDENS.

>> YES.

OU THINK ANYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> I'M NOT, NO.

N FACT, MR. HOLMES THE FORMER PROSECUTOR GENERAL OF UKRAINE WHO VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ENCOURAGED TO FIRE WAS ACTUALLY CORRUPT, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

HE WAS NOT PURSUING CORRUPTIONS INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS.

>> THE PROSECUTOR AT THE TIME WASN'T AT THAT TIME PURSUING INVESTIGATION AGAINST BURISMA OR THE BIDENS.

>> REMOVING THAT CORRUPT PROSECUTOR GENERAL WAS PART OF THE ANTICORRUPTION POLICY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT.

>> NOT JUST US BUT ALL OF YOU'RE OUR ALLIES AT THIS TIME.

>> DR. HILL, YOU INDICATED THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD A WHITE HOUSE MEETING WAS CONDITIONED ON THE PURSUIT BY UKRAINE ON THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE JULY 10th MEETING WHERE THEY CAME TO LIGHT.

YOU INDICATED IN YOUR TESTIMONY THERE WAS A LARGE MEETING THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON RAN.

THE SECTARY ATTENDED IT, CONTRADICT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHY WERE THEY INCLUDED WITH TWO UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS?

>> THE INITIAL INTENT WAS NOT TO INCLUDE THEM.

WE ANTICIPATED THEY HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND THAT WAS USUALLY THE PROCEDURE.

ALSO PART OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THERE WAS A REQUEST TO HAVE AMBASSADOR SONDLAND INCLUDED FROM THEIR OFFICES.

AS A RESULT OF THAT CLEARLY GIVEN THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT SECTARY PERRY WAS PLAYING AND IT HAD ALSO BEEN IN THE DELEGATION TO THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION IN UKRAINE.

WE DECIDED IT WAS BETTER TO INCLUDE ALL THREE OF THEM.

>> TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING HE RAISED THE ONGOING DESIRE FOR AN OVAL OFFICE MEETING IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEY DID THAT?

>> WELL, I LISTENED TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S TESTIMONY YESTERDAY.

I WASN'TED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN HE HAD A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF HOW THIS CAME TO BEING.

THE MEETING WAS INITIALLY SCHEDULED FOR 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.

IT WAS DEFINITELY IN THE BOTTOM PHRASE OF THE MEETING.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS.

THIS WAS THE DEGREES NATURED NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR OF UKRAINE.

WANTED TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF HOW YOU MIGHT REFORM THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.

HE WAS HELPING AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO GET HIS FIRSTHAND OPINIONS ON WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

WE ALSO WANTED TO GO THROUGH A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO GET IT'S ENERGY REFORM UNDERWAY AND CLEARLY THE SECTARY HAD SOME TALKING POINTS TO THEY.

WE KNEW THE UKRAINIANS WOULD HAVE ON THEIR AGENDA THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MEETING.

AS WE GET THROUGH THE MAIN DISCUSSION WE ARE GOING INTO THE WRAP-UP PHRASE.

WE STARTED TO ASK ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING AND AMBASSADOR BOLTON WAS TRYING TO CHECK US.

HE DOESN'T SCHEDULE THE MEETINGS.

IT'S NOT HIS ROLE TO PULLOUT THE SCHEDULE AND WE'LL LOOK AND SEE IF THIS TUESDAY IN THIS MONTH WILL WORK WITH THIS.

HE DIDN'T LIKE TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE MEET MEETINGS.

THIS IS ALREADY A COMFORTABLE ISSUE.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON WAS TRYING DESERVE INFLICT IT.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND LEANED IN TO SAY WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT THERE WILL BE A MEETING ABOUT SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS PUT UNDERWAY.

THAT'S WHEN I SAW AMBASSADOR STIFFEN.

I SAW HIM SIT BACK SLIGHTLY LIKE THIS.

TO ME THAT WAS UNMISTAKABLE BODY LANGUAGE.

HE LOOKED UP AT THE CLOCK, AGAIN, I WAS SITTING BEHIND HIM AND SAID IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> DID THE AMBASSADOR SAY WHO HIS AGREEMENT WAS WITH?

>> IN THAT PARTICULAR JUNCTION I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

IT WAS A LATER CONJUNCTION.

>> WHAT DID HE SAY LATER.

HE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH MULVANEY.

>> HE SAID THE INVESTIGATIONS IN BURISMA.

>> DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

>> I HAD A MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR BOLTON AFTER THE MEETING AND A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.

>> THE SUBSEQUENT MEETING, AFTER BOTH MEETINGS WHEN YOU SPOKE TO HIM AND RELAYED WHAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID, WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU.

>> AMBASSADOR BOLTON WANTED PLEA TO HOLD BACK IN THE ROOM.

I WAS SITTING BEHIND THE CIRCLE.

>> WHAT DID HE SAY?

HE MADE A STRONG POINTS TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING SAID.

WHEN I CAME BACK AND RELATED IT TO HIM HE HAD SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR ME.

>> WHAT WAS THAT INSTRUCTION?

I HAD TO GO TO THE LAWYERS JOHN OUR SENIOR COUNCIL TO SAY YOU TELL EIS ENBBERG I APPLE NOT PART OAF THE DRUG DEAL.

>> WHAT DID YOU TAKE THAT TO MEAN.

>> INVESTIGATIONS FOR A MEETING.

>> DID YOU GO SPEAK TO THE LAWYERS?

>> I CERTAINLY DID.

YOU RELAYED EVERYTHING YOU TOLD US.

>> I RELAYED IT PRECISELY.

HOW IT UNFOLDED AS WELL.

I GAVE A FULL DESCRIPTION IN MY DEPOSITION.

>> MR. HOLMES, YOU HAVE TESTIFIED THAT BY LATE AUGUST YOU HAD A CLEAR IMPRESSION THAT THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE HOLD WAS CONNECTED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED.

HOW DID YOU CONCLUDE -- HOW DID YOU REACH THAT CLEAR CONCLUSION.

>> SIR, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION SINCE MARCH.

THIS WAS MONTHS BEFORE AND WE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT SAYING HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET HIM FOLLOWING HIS INAUTOS INAUGURATION IN.

WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE MEETING AND THE SECURITY HOLD CAME UP WITH NO EXPLANATION.

I WOULD BE SURPRISED WE DISCUSSED EARLIER.

WHEN THEY RECEIVED NO EXPLANATION WHY THAT HOLD WAS IN PLACE.

>> THE INVESTIGATIONS WERE STILL BEING PERSUED AND THE HOLD WAS STILL REMAINING WITHOUT EXPLANATION.

>> CORRECT, THIS WAS THE ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION YOU COULD REACH.

>> CORRECT.

SORT OF LIKE TWO PLUS TWO EQUAL FOURS.

>> CORRECT.

HAIR, I YIELD.

THAT CONCLUDED THE MAJORITY QUESTIONING.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE VOTES FAIRLY SOON.

THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO BREAK AND RESUME WITH THE MINORITY 45 MINUTES.

IF THE PEOPLE WOULD ALLOW WITNESSES TO LEAVE FIRST.

IF COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD COME BACK AFTER VOTES.

>> THE MEETING WILL BE IN RECESS.

>> CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF AS YOU JUST HEARD CALLING A BREAK AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS OF TESTIMONY THIS MORNING FROM TWO WITNESSES.

FIONA HILL AND DAVID HOLMES.

THEY BOTH PLAYED A PART IN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING DESCRIBED OVER THE PAST WEEK AND HALF.

THAT IS THE UKRAINE -- THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE UKRAINE AND UNITED STATES.

WHY THERE ARE STRONG SUSPICIONS BY DEMOCRATS WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS EMISSARYS WERE I THINK VEST GATING THE BIDENS FOR FOREIGN AID, MILITARY AID, AND VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

I'M JUST HAD JU DY.

WE WERE ON THE STAFF EARLIER OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

JOINING US IS, I'M SORRY THERE IS SO MUCH.

NICK IS COMING BACK TO THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN JOHN BOLTTON.

THERE WAS A MEETING WHERE THEY WERE DISCUSSING UKRAINE.

JOHN BOLTON HEARD SOMETHING THAT CAUSED HIM TO REACT AND GET UP AND LEAVE.

>> THESE ARE SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS THAT WORK THE COUNCIL STAFF LEAD BY THE ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON AND SENIOR UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS AND GORDON SONDLAND.

THEY ARE IN THE AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE.

THEY HAD A 45 MINUTE CONVERSATION.

THAT'S WHEN AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID THERE IS AN AGREEMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

THERE WILL BE A MEETING IN THE WHITE HOUSE BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ONLY IF UKRAINE CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS.

THAT'S WHERE BOLTON AND HILL STIFFENS AND ENDS THE MEETING AND BOLTON AND HILL DISCUSSED IT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

GORDON BELIEVES OR CLAIMS THAT HE AND NICK, THE ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF HAVE AN AGREEMENT.

IT WAS THE TWO OF THEM THAT HAD THE AGREEMENT.

UKRAINE HAD TO INVESTIGATE 2016 AND BURISMA FOR THE PRESIDENT TO GET THE MEETING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

BOLTON DESCRIBED THAT AS A DRUG DEAL AND TOLD HILL YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE LAWYERS ABOUT THIS.

>> EXCUSE ME, THIS IS INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

NOW WE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT FROM SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WHO WAS IN THE ROOM.

WE HADN'T HEARD FROM JOHN BOLTON YET.

I WOULD LIKE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT WE HEARD EARLIER.

STRONG OPENING STATEMENTS NOT ONLY FROM HILL BUT HOLMES THAT WORKS IN THE EMBASSY THAT I BELIEVE LAID OUT IN A REMARKABLE WAY WHAT THE STATE OF PLAY AND EXPECTATIONS WERE ON THE PART OF THE AMERICAN WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES' AND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHAT WAS REMARKABLE ABOUT HOLMES TESTIMONY AS WE HESITANT THROUGH THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW HE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS THE FOCUS ON THE REMOVAL OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVIT CH.

THEY KNEW ABOUT THE TWEETS AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORMER UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR THAT WAS PUSHING THE NARRATIVE OF BIDEN INTERFERING WITH CORRUPTION.

OF COURSE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET UKRAINE TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON ANTICORRUPTION.

HOLMES MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF RUDOLPH GIULIANI AND HOW IT WAS PERVASIVE.

>> STEWARD BAKER, FOR SOMEONE -- YOU ARE JOINING US TO PROVIDE ANALYSIS.

YOU WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS OVER A NUMBER OF DAYS.

FROM INSIDE THE EMBASSY HOW DID THIS CHANGE HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TRYING TO DO?

>> SURPRISINGLY LITTLE.

WE HEARD MOST OF THIS INDIRECTLY.

I BELIEVE HE WAS BROUGHT ONTO SAY THAT I HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VOICE ASK BE ABOUT TE INVESTIGATION.

WE KNEW THAT WAS WHAT HE WAS GOING TO SAY.

BEYOND THAT, HE IS A REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL AS HILL IS.

THIS IS THE REGULAR ORDER FOR HOW THE AGENCY SHOULD FUNCTION AND THE UNITED STATES SHOULD DO DIPLOMACY.

HE WAS DEFENDING THAT ALONG WITH THE AMBASSADOR HE WORKED FOR AGAINST WHAT HE SAW AS IT INTRUSION OF PLAYERS THAT DIDN'T HAVE A MANDATE.

WHETHER IT WAS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND OR RUDOLPH GIULIANI.

HIS VISCERAL REACTION TO THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE DECISIONS THAT HE WAS TRYING TO INFLUENCE THROUGH THE REGULAR ORDER IS, I THINK, ACCOUNTS FOR MUCH OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND HOW STRONGLY HE FELT ABOUT IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT HIS CREDIBILITY.

I'M COMING BACK TO THIS.

I HEARD IT DESCRIBED TO SOMEBODY THAT'S UP-AND-COMING IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE AND NOW PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE UKRAINE, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIM.

>> DAVID HOLMES WAS WORKING AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THE MUTUAL COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AND THEY DESCRIBE HIM AS SOMEONE VERY SERIOUS AND EARNEST IN HIS WORK AND WON AN AWARD DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WHILE SEVERING.

HE DIDN'T SEE HIMSELF AT ALL AS PARTISAN.

IT'S RIGHT, HE'S DEFENDING THE NORMAL ORDER OF THINGS AND DEFENDING HIS OWN PEOPLE AND DEFENDING AGAINST THE ENABLING OF INFORMATION.

THAT'S WHAT SO INTERESTING ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE TESTIMONY.

BOTH HILL DESCRIBED HOW THEY ENABLING THE INFORMATION.

UKRAINE INFLUENCED THE 2016 ELECTION AND WANTED HILLARY CLINTON TO WIN.

SHE CALLED IT A FICTIONAL NARRATIVE AND HOLMES DESCRIBED THE MOTIVATIONS RUSSIA WOULD HAVE.

THE ORIGIN OF THE CASE AGAINST THEM IN UKRAINE WAS UKRAINIAN INFORMATION PARTICULARLY ONE INFORMATION.

THEREFORE THEY TRIED TO GET IT DONE.

>> IT WAS REMARKABLE, WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A COPY OF HILL'S REMARKS.

THE RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE COMMITTEE FROM DEVIN NUNES.

HE MADE A POINT TO TURN TO HER AND SAY IT'S POSSIBLE FOR TWO COUNTRIES, NOT JUST RUSSIA, BUT ALSO THE UKRAINE TO BE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO INTEGER.

STILL HOLDING ONTO AN IDEA OR THEORY THAT UKRAINE WAS ENGAGED.

>> THERE ARE TWO REAL ARGUMENTS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT THERE TO DEPEND THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS HERE.

ONE IS THE STORY THAT THE PRESIDENT'S INFORMATION.

THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HACKING OF THE DNC SEVER AND CROWDSTRIKE.

THE SECOND WAS THE IDEA THAT THERE WERE FORCES THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS INSIDE THE UKRAINE WERE SAYING.

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REPORT THAT DEVIN NUNES HELD UP ABOUT THE ACTIVE MEASURES.

TO UNDERMINED THE CONFIDENCE AND GOVERNMENT AND WHAT UKRAINE WAS DOING AND THE REPUBLICANS OF THE UKRAINES WERE DOING.

THEY DISCUSSED THEIR POLICY DIFFERENCES AND SAID MAYBE WE SHOULD LET CRIMEA BELONG TO RUSSIA.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE FREE SPEECH IN THAT AREA.

THAT'S DIFFERENT TO RUN NETWORKS OF THOUGHTS.

>> THIS BRINGS US BACK TO THE ENTIRE MULLER INVESTIGATION WAS ABOUT OR A PART OF IT AND THAT'S WHETHER THERE WAS COORDINATION OR COLLUSION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA.

IT KEEPS COMING UP.

NOT THE ENTIRE MULLER INVESTIGATION BUT PART OF IT.

IT GOES TO THE HEART OF THIS THEORY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP EVIDENTLY HAD UKRAINE -- INDIVIDUALS IN THE UKRAINE WERE TRYING TO UNDERMINED HIS ELECTION.

>> THERE ARE TWO STORIES HERE.

ONE IS PRETTY CLEARLY FAKE.

SOMEHOW UKRAINIANS STOLE THE -- INFLIANCED IND FROM THE ACTIONS.

THE MULLER REPORT SAID THIS WAS DONE BY RUSSIA.

VERY FEW PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THE PRESIDENT IDENTIFIED AS SOMEHOW CROWDSTRIKE.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HE CLEARLY SAW DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT DESPERATE TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES ON-SIDE.

HE WAS DECEMBER PAT TO KEEP THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ON-SIDE.

THEY THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE THE WINNER.

THEY SAID THINGS THAT WERE HOSTILE TO TRUMP.

THERE WERE LINOLEICS AND MANAFORT THAT CAUSED HIM A LOT OF HARM, OBVIOUSLY.

THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE DNC.

IT WAS DIRT FROM THE UKRAINE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THE PRESIDENT REMEMBERS AND IT DOESN'T MAKE HIM PARTICULARLY COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING AID TO UKRAINE.

I THINK THAT CONCERN IS NOT YET LAID TO REST BY THE HEARINGS.

>> WE WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE TO WHAT EXTENT EXTENT COMES UP TODAY.

LISA, YOU ARE AT THE CAPITOL, YOU WERE IN THE ROOM THIS MORNING.

BOTH OF THE OPENING STATEMENTS FROM HILL AND HOLMES CARRY MORE WEIGHT PERHAPS THEN SOME PEEK EXPECTED.

I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED THIS TO BE GOING OVER FAMILIAR TERRITORY.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM.

THIS IS DAVID HOLMES AND THIS IS HILL.

CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FONT SIZE.

SHE WANTED ONE LARGE POINT TO MAKE AND THAT WAS THE UKRAINIANS WEREN'T TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE ELECTIONS.

SHE DIDN'T GET INTO THE SUBSTANCE OF HER TESTIMONY.

SHE MADE ONE POINT IN LARGE FONT.

DAVID HOLMES, LOOK AT THIS TIGHTLY SPACED AND VERY LONG OPENING STATEMENT IN WHICH HE DOCUMENTED TWO THINGS.

HE'S SUCH A RARE WITNESSES FOR DEMOCRATLESS.

HE HIT BOTH ENDS OF WHAT THEY CHARGE THE PRESIDENT WITH.

HE HAS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH AND THE PUSH FOR INVESTIGATIONS BY THE TRUMP TEAM.

HE HEARD THE PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS.

ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS MORE THROUGH THE DAY WAS THE ORDER OF EVENTS.

HE SAID THERE WERE SENSITIVE ISSUES ON THE CALL AND COULDN'T BE RESOLVED IN UNTIL THERE WAS AN IMPERSON -- IN PERSON MEETING.

HE SAID THERE WERE SENSITIVE ISSUES.

SONDLAND SAID HE'S GOING TO INVESTIGATE ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN WE DON'T KNOW.

THOSE TWO DAYS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF pWHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> VERY IMPORTANT AND GOING TO THE HEART, TO SOME EXTEND OF THE REPUBLICAN AND WHITE HOUSE PUSH BACK ON ALL OF THIS.

THERE IS NO DIRECT, THERE HASN'T BEEN A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD SOMEONE SAY THE PRESIDENT TOLD ME DIRECTLY THAT I'M LINKING AID TO UKRAINE AND HAVING A MEETING WITH UKRAINE HAVING THESE POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

>> ONE ISSUE HERE WITH DAVID HOLMES, HE WAS SUPPOSE TO IN THE SAME TIMEFRAME HE SAID THERE WERE SENSITIVE ISSUES.

HOLMES WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE NOTE TAKER AT THE MEETING.

HE WENT TO THE DOOR AND DESCRIBED HE WASN'T ALLOW IN.

THAT'S THE MEETING WE KNOW OTHERS TESTIFIED WHERE HE SAID YOU HAVE TO GIVE US THE INVESTIGATIONS TO GET THE AID.

STILL NOT CONNECTING THE PRESIDENT.

RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING HOLMES GOES WITH SONDLAND TO LUNCH AND SAID YES, THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE HAPPENING.

THIS IS ONE DAY AFTER HIS CALL.

WHAT'S ON THE PRESIDENT'S MIND AND ARE WE GETTING THE INVESTIGATION.

THIS ISN'T QUID PRO QUO BUT HE WAS PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE AT THE SENSITIVE TIME WHEN SONDLAND SAID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

IT'S NOT DIRECT BUT SIGNIFICANT.

>> NO COINCIDENCE A FEW HOURS AGO PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TWEETING THAT HE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN TO A PHONE CALL THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAD THAT WASN'T ON A SPEAKER PHONE.

HE WAS CLEARLY KEYING DIRECTLY TO DAVID HOLMES TESTIMONY.

>> THE PRESIDENT WAS TRYING TO CAST DOUBT ON WHAT HOLMES WOULD SAY BEFORE CONGRESS TODAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE LEARNED ABOUT DAVID HOLMES.

THAT'S WHEN WILLIAM TAYLOR AMENDED HIS ORIGINAL TESTIMONY TO SAY ACTUALLY I LEARNED OF SOMETHING NEW.

I HAD AN AID TELL ME HE HEARD THE PRESIDENT TALKING ABOUT THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

HE WAS ESSENTIALLY CARING MORE ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS THEN ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON IN THE UKRAINE.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT CONTEXT NOW THAT DAVID KNEW ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME IT WAS STRIKING AND SHOWS THE PRESIDENT KNEW WHAT HE WAS SAYING BEFORE CONGRESS.

HE TWEETED HE WOULD HAVE NEVER BELIEVED IMPEACHMENT WAS SOMETHING CONNECTED WITHTRUM IN TWITTER.

WE SEE THE PRESIDENT UNFOLDING AND PUSHING BACK ON THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

HOLMES SHOW ICE HE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

>> FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, THIS IS A FULL COURT PRESS RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY TRIED TO COMPLETELY DISCREDIT THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AT EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY.

IT'S CHASING RABBITS DOWN A HOLE.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

IT MARCHES ON AND ONE WITNESS AFTER ANOTHER COMES FORWARD TO TESTIFY THAT FROM ONE POINT OR ANOTHER THIS IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO DO.

>> YOU SAID IT, JUDY.

THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY GOES ON WITH ALL SORTS OF DEFENSES FOR THE PRESIDENT.

GORDON SAID THE PRESIDENT NEVER DIRECTLY TOLD HIM TO HOLD THE AID IN EXCHANGE FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO JOE AND HUNTER BIDEN.

WE HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE AND VICE PRESIDENT OFFICE AND AGENTS PUSHING BACK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS.

I WILL SAY THAT WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY IS HILL AND HOLMES ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT OR THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT WERE REALLY IN SOMEWAY UNDERMINING THE LONG-STANDING U.S. POLICY DAVID HOLMES SAID WE HAD A NUMBER OF GOALLESS INCLUDING SECURITY, ECONOMY, AND HELPING THE UKRAINE PUSH BACK AGAINST RUSSIA.

IN MAY OF 2019 ALL OF THAT CHANGED.

THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL ATTORNEY GOT INVOLVED.

AT WHAT WE SEE IS THE PRESIDENT BEING ACCUSED OF AVERTING THE NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> THAT REALLY DOES GO TO THE HEART.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS WASN'T JUST ABOUT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TRYING TO DO FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES.

IT DOES HAVE BARING ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST.

>> THE PRESIDENT SET THE POLICIES AND PRIORITIES AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST.

THE REPUBLICAN DEFENSE IS THE REPUBLICAN CAN HAVE THE AMBASSADOR HE WANTS.

HE CAN ALSO HAVE THE POLICY HE WANTS.

TO OWN THE POLICY ON UKRAINE THERE IS A DIFFERENT POLICY AND THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THIS.

THE PEOPLE AND ACTORS IN THIS OTHER POLICY THAT'S BEEN CALLED THE IRREGULAR POLICY WAS RUDOLPH GIULIANI, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HIMSELF.

THAT'S THE INTERESTING FACT HERE.

ALL OF THESE DIPLOMATS, PENTAGON OFFICIALS ARE SAYING LOOK, WE WERE ALL ONBOARD.

THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION WAS ONBOARD WITH THIS ROBUST SUPPORT.

FOR THIS WINDOW SOMETHING CHANGED.

THE NATIONAL INTEREST HAD ALREADY.

>> I'M NOT SURE THE PRESIDENT REALLY SIGNED ONTO ROBUST SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE UNTIL IT WAS PRESENTED FOR HIM.

WILL YOU HAVE A MEETING, WILL YOU SEND THIS AID.

THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT SIGNED ONTO SUPPORTING UKRAINE AGAINST RUSSIA ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE WAY YOU ARE IMPLYING.

THE POLICY WASN'T SET UNTIL THEY SAID THAT WILL BE OUR POLICY.

THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T TAKE STAFFING WELL.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF AFTER CHIEF OF STAFF BECAUSE HE DOESN'T TAKE STAFFING.

THIS WAS ANOTHER CASE OF HIM NOT TAKING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST STAFFING BUT CONGRESS HAS CLEARLY SAID THIS IS THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE AID FOR UKRAINE WAS PASSED BY OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN MAJORITY.

THERE WERE A FEW AREAS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S CONGRESS AND THE LAW THEY SET THAT GOVERNS THE LAW THE PRESIDENT SIGNED.

HE FOUND HIMSELF TO IT.

THE PRESIDENT DECIDES LATER BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED WITH HIS PERSONAL LAWYER HE'S GOING AGAINST THE LAWS OF THE LAND.

>> HE WAS VERY RELUCTANT TO DO THIS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, HE DELIVERED THE AID AND AGREED TO THE MEETING.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO IS SOMEBODY THAT TALKS A LOT BUT RARELY PULLS THE TRIGGER.

>> IS THERE, WAS THERE STEWARD BAKER.

WAS THERE CONCEIVABLY ANY POLICY LAID OUT.

WAS THERE ANOTHER ARGUMENT THAT WAS HELD BY ANY OR BELIEVED SUPPORTED BY ANYONE IN THE FOREIGN POLICY ESTABLISHMENT OUTSIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> IT'S A LITTLE SUBJECTIVE, OF COURSE.

UKRAINE IS CORRUPT AND THE PRESIDENT BELIEVED THAT, AND THIS IS TRUE.

UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS DID CRITICIZE HIM.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THAT LENS THE PRESIDENT IS RIGHTFULLY QUESTIONING, RIGHT, GIVING AID TO UKRAINE.

HE'S QUESTIONING, YOU KNOW, THE INTERACTION THAT HE MIGHT HAVE WITH THE NEW UKRAINIAN ADMINISTRATION.

NO ONE IS DISPUTING THAT.

THERE WAS A LAW SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.

THERE WAS SUPPORT AND A POLICY ENACTED BY POLITICAL APPOINTEE IN THE PENTAGON AND STATE DEPARTMENT THAT ARGUED THE SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINE.

OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT COULD QUESTION THIS AT ANY POINT.

IT'S UP UNTIL THEN HE DIDN'T AND IT WAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S STATE DEPARTMENT.

>> I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING WAS THERE ANY LEGITIMATE POLICY ARGUMENT OUT THERE THAT FLEW IN THE FACE OF WHAT CONGRESS WANTED.

>> THIS IS WHAT WAS STRIKING ABOUT COOPER'S TESTIMONY YESTERDAY.

SHE'S THE OFFICIAL THAT SPOKE ABOUT THE WAY THE AID WAS GOING TO UKRAINE.

ONE THING SHE TALKED ABOUT THERE IS A PROCESS TO CONDITION AID.

SOME OF IT WAS TO HIT PARTICULAR BENCHMARKS.

WHEN THEY DETERMINED THE BENCHMARKS WERE MET.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY BENCHMARK?

>> TAKE ON ANTICORRUPTION EFFORTS AND DO THINGS TO GET THE AS I COULD HALF OF THE AID,.

>> MODERNIZATION.

UKRAINE DID THOSE THINGS.

THEY MET THE CRITERIA AND WE ARE CLEARED TO GO.

AT THAT POINT THEY DISCOVERED THERE WAS ADDITIONAL HOLD ON THE AID.

THEY COULDN'T GET A POLICY RATIONAL.

BY LAW THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ARCTIC -- ARTICULATE ONE.

>> IF I HAD TO GIVE YOU A PROBABLE OBJECTION FOR GIVING THE AID IT WOULD LIKELY BE ENDING CORRUPTION IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANGING A FEW LAWS BUT A DEEP SEEDED CULTURAL MATTER AND HE MIGHT HAVE SAID I DON'T BELIEVE MAY HAVE SAID I DON'T WITH BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT.

MIXED WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IS THE PRESIDENT'S INCLINATION TO TAKE PERSONAL SLIGHTS VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND I THINK HE WAS TREATING UKRAINE AT A MINIMUM THE WAY HE TREATED JEFF SESSIONS, THE WAY HE TREATED CHIEF OF STAFF KELLEY.

HE WAS HANGING THEM OUT, MAKING pTHEM FEEL PAIN, TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WAS NOT TO BE MOCKED THE WAY HE WAS MOCKED IN 2016.

>> Woodruff: AND YAMICHE, AS SOMEBODY WHO FOLLOWED THIS PRESIDENT VERY CLOSELY, WE DON'T SEE, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS HANGING THIS ON POLICY.

YES, THERE WERE STATEMENTS ABOUT CORRUPTION BROADLY, BUT WHAT WE HAVE JUST BEEN DISCUSSING HERE AT THE TABLE IS NOT WHAT WE WERE HEARING FROM INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> WHERE STEWART MAKES A REALLY CRITICAL POINT AND THAT IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP FELT PERSONALLY AGGRIEVED BY UKRAINE.

NOW, YES, STEWART SAYS HE WAS TREATING THIS COUNTRY LIKE HIS FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS BUT THIS IS AN ENTIRE COUNTRY WITH A U.S. POLICY IN PLACE THAT WAS THERE LONG BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME.

SO HE WAS REALLY SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO PEOPLE AROUND HIM THAT UKRAINE TRIED TO TAKE HIM DOWN AND AS A RESULT HE HAD REALLY A PERSONAL ANGER ABOUT A WHOLE COUNTRY.

THAT MEANS THAT A NUMBER OF UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS WERE REALLY HAVING TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE PRESIDENT THINKING THAT JUST A FEW PEOPLE THAT WERE CRITICIZING HIM WERE REALLY THE ENTIRE REPRESENTATION FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT'S REALLY I THINK PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT WILL SAY WELL, THE PRESIDENT WANTS PEOPLE TO BE LOYAL TO HIM, HE WANTS PEOPLE ON HIS SIDE.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE PRESIDENT TAKING HIS PERSONAL AGGRESSION OUT ON AN ENTIRE COUNTRY.

I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT STEWART WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE AID WAS EVENTUALLY RELEASED AND THAT THE TWO PRESIDENTS, THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THEY EVENTUALLY MET.

THAT'S THE MAIN, I GUESS DEFENSE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN MAKING, WHICH IS THAT ALL OF THIS, IF IT WAS A QUID PRO QUO NONE OF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

DEMOCRATS SAY THAT HAPPENED UNDER DURESS, HAPPENED UNDER PRESSURE, THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE PRESS WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS.

AND THEN UKRAINE FIGURED OUT THAT THIS MILITARY AID HAD LIKELY BEEN TIED TO THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO I THINK ARTICULATING A GOOD POINT FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THERE IS A DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO THAT AS WELL.

>> Woodruff: BACK TO LISA AT THE CAPITOL AS MEMBERS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TAKE A BREAK FOR SEVERAL VOTES ON THE LISA, IN TERMS OF THE MEMBERS AND WE KNOW THAT OFTEN IN COMMITTEE HEARINGS MEMBERS COME AND GO BECAUSE THEY SERVE ON OTHER COMMITTEES, THEY HAVE BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE ROOM.

HOW MANY OF THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE SITTING THERE AND LISTENING TO EVERY WORD OF TESTIMONY?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> JUDY, THEY ARE ALL THERE, MOST OF THE TIME.

WITH HE DO SEE I THINK SORT OF COFFEE BREAKS.

JIM JORDAN INTERESTINGLY IS THE ONE WHO SEEMS TO BE LEAVING THE ROOM THE MOST.

HE COMES AND GOES.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S HAVING PHONE CONVERSATIONS OR COFFEE BREAKS OR WHAT HE'S DOING.

HE'S NOT GONE FOR VERY LONG BUT I'VE NOTICED HE KIND OF LEAVES THE MOST OF ANYONE, JUST A FEW TIMES DURING THE HEARING.

MOST OF THEM, IT REALLY ISN'T OFTEN THAT HE LEAVES BUT IT'S NOTICEABLE BECAUSE NO ONE, THEY ARE STAYING IN THEIR SEATS, THEY ARE NOT MOVING.

AND YOU KNOW WHO ELSE ISN'T LEAVING, AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

WHAT I NOTICED OVER THE PAST COUPLE DAYS TALKING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE BEEN IN LINE, SOME OF THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN TO ALL OF THESE HEARINGS.

AND THEY'RE NOT COMING AS LARGE GROUPS OFTEN THEY'RE COMING IN GROUPS OF 1 TO 3 PEOPLE, PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR FRIENDS.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS A FEW OF THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE EVERY DAY ARE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND THEY'RE KIND OF FORMING A LITTLE BIT OF A BOND.

THERE'S AN INTERESTING SIDE STORY HERE.

I THINK THAT IS BECOMING EVIDENT AS YOU WATCH THE HEARINGS.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED TOWARD THE END OF THE HEARINGS THE CROWD IS ACTUALLY APPLAUDING A LITTLE BIT MORE, NOT JUST AT THE END.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE SOME FOLKS, THE LIKE-MINDED MEMBERS OF THIS AUDIENCE, THEY'RE NOT ALL LIKE-MINDED BUT THOSE WHO ARE, HAVE STARTED TO FIND EACH OTHER.

THEY KNOW EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THEY HAVE DISCUSSED THIS, WAITING IN LINE FOR HOURS BEFORE IT STARTS.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THEY'RE VERY ENGAGED.

AND IT'S A VERY INTERESTING LOOK AND THEY'RE FROM ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

I MET ONE VIEWER FROM ALASKA THE OTHER DAY WHO WAS HERE FOR THIS HEARING.

AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY ENGAGED GROUP OF THE PUBLIC.

THEY'RE NOT ALL LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE BUT VERY ENGAGED ON THIS ISSUE, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

THEY'RE ALSO SITTING IN THEIR SEATS FOR HOURS AND HOURS, ALL DAY, THEY ALSO WANT A LUNCH BREAK BECAUSE IF THEY LEAVE THEIR SEATS THEY CAN'T GET IT BACK.

AND DURING THESE BREAKS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I'M NOT SURE YOU NEED TO KNOW, THIS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE TO REFILE IN LINE.

THEY DON'T GET THEIR SEAT BACK DURING THE BREAK.

SO MANY OF THESE MEMBERS ARE DOING THAT.

I GUESS IT'S JUST TO SAY THAT YOU REALLY FEEL THE FOCUS AND YOU REALLY FEEL IT FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THEM ON THE DAIS DURING THIS TESTIMONY, USUALLY DURING OPEN STATEMENTS, THEY'RE LOOKING STRAIGHTFORWARD AT THE WITNESS, WHEN THE REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER IN THE NEXT SESSION, I THINK I'LL SEE DEMOCRATS LOOKING AT THEIR NOTES AND WORKING ON THEIR QUESTIONS.

THEY HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE BUT THEY'RE REFORMING THEM AS THE TESTIMONY IS GOING.

I ALSO NOTICED DURING OPENING STATEMENTS, REPUBLICANS WERE NOT LOOKING AT THE WITNESSES TODAY AT ALL.

ADAM SCHIFF LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD, NOT CHECKING TESTIMONY.

HE CLEARLY KNEW IT VERY WELL.

SAME WITH COUNSEL NEXT TO HIM, DAN GOLDBERG, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO REFER TO OPENING STATEMENTS AS WRITTEN BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT SO WELL.

REPUBLICANS WERE CAREFULLY PORING OVER IT, JUST GETTING IT AS IT WAS BEING DELIVERED.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE SAYING REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE WERE NOT LOOKING AT THE WITNESSES?

WE READING?

>> THEY WERE LOOKING DOWN, READING ALONG.

I COULDN'T TELL.

I FEEL LIKE A WITNESS MYSELF NOW.

I CAN'T VERIFY THAT THEY WERE READING BUT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THEY WERE LOOKING DOWN, READING, THEY WERE READING THE PAPER TESTIMONY.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE OUR WITNESS IN THE HEARING ROOM.

LISA, IT'S FASCINATING TO KNOW IT'S NOT JUST THE SMITHSONIAN THAT'S A TOURIST ATTRACT IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S THESE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT.

>> Woodruff: HOW ABOUT THAT FOR SURE.

LET'S COME BACK TO THE TABLE.

NICK SCHIFRIN, GO BACK TO THE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT DAVID HOLMES DESCRIBED.

WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT.

BUT HOW HE SAW A CHANGE IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR WHEN RUDY GIULIANI GOT INVOLVED, THAT IT WASN'T IN HIS WORD IT WASN'T WELCOME.

IT WAS SURPRISING.

HOW MUCH DO WE ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT WHAT TRIGGERED RUDY GIULIANI'S INVOLVEMENT?

>> RIGHT.

SO ACTUALLY BOTH OF THESE WITNESSES HAVE MORE DETAILS OR PERHAPS MORE OPINIONS, DEPENDING ON HOW IT COMES OUT, THAN ANY OTHER WE HAVE HAD.

WHAT DAVID HOLMES LAYS OUT IS A CAMPAIGN OF DISINFORMATION SPARKED BY ONE MAN THAT CONVINCED RUDY GIULIANI AND THE TRUMP FAMILY THAT MARCH MARIE YOVANOVITCH HAD TO GO.

THE NAME WAS LI THE AMOR, CREAT ALLEGATIONS UNSUPPORTED THAT THE EMBASSY UNDER HER TARGETED A UKRAINIAN WHO TALKED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT THE EMBASSY INTERVENED TO DEFEND JOE BIDEN AND HUNTER BIDEN, TAPE OF UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL SUPPORTING HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON.

IT WAS CREATED, PASSED TO GIULIANI, GOT REPEATED IN CONSERVATIVE MEDIA, PRESIDENT TRUMP, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON AND THAT LED TO YOVANOVITCH'S OUT OF ETCH AND WHY HE SAID GIULIANI WANTED HER GONE.

AND THEN FIONA HILL, WE HAVEN'T HEARD THIS DAY, BUT DESCRIBES GIULIANI'S BUSINESS INTEREST?

>> WHY TO GIULIANI?

WHAT WAS IT?

GIULIANI ALREADY HAD INTERESTS IN UKRAINE?

>> RIGHT.

SO FIONA HILL IN HER DEPOSITION LAYS OUT GIULIANI AND A COUPLE OTHERS, PARNAS, INCLUDED, HAH HAD LNG BUSINESS INTEREST.

>> Woodruff: LIQUID NATURAL GAS.

>> THEY BELIEVED BECAUSE OF THESE THREE POINTS OF DISINFORMATION THAT SOMEHOW MARIE YOVANOVITCH STANDING IN THE WAY OF THEIR BUSINESS INTEREST, WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN UKRAINE.

WE SHOULD SAY GIULIANI DENIED THIS.

HE SAID YESTERDAY ON TWITTER HE HAS NO BUSINESS INTEREST.

BUT THAT IS THE STORY THAT HOLMES AND HILL HAVE SUGGESTED.

>> Woodruff: AND ON THAT POINT I WANT TO COME BACK TO YAMICHE.

YAMICHE, YOU HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH REGULARLY WITH THE FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK, RUDY GIULIANI.

HE DID SAY YESTERDAY I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS.

DID HE PUT IT IN THE PRESENT TENSE?

>> HE DID AND WAS LASHING OUT AT THE REPUBLICAN COUNSEL, IN SOME WAYS SURPRISING BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN COUNSEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE ESSENTIALLY HELPING OUT THE PRESIDENT'S SIDE.

BUT RUDY GIULIANI TOOK ISSUE WITH THE REPUBLICAN COUNSEL, HE BELIEVED WAS ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT HE HAD SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL TIES TO UKRAINE AND AS A RESULT THAT'S WHY HE WAS FEELING AS THOUGH POSSIBLY RUDY GIULIANI HAD INTENTIONS THERE.

RUDY GIULIANI HAS HAD A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING BUSINESS THAT HAS DONE BUSINESS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

BUT THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL ATTORNEY WAS PUSHING BACK ON THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE HAVING LUNCH TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH SEVERAL SENATORS AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE SENATORS ARE WHO MIGHT BE THE JURORS IF THERE IS AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IF THIS MOVES ALONG AND END UP IN THE SENATE.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE I'M TOLD THE PRESIDENT IS MEETING WITH ARE SENATOR ROMNEY AND SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS, WHO PEOPLE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEN AS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS AND NOW MITCH McCONNELL, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, MADE IT CLEAR HE THINKS THE PRESIDENT WILL BE ACQUITTED IF THERE IS A TRIAL IN THE SENATE.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS MEETING WITH THESE SENATORS ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHERE THERE'S TESTIMONY ABOUT WHAT HE WAS TELLING THE EU AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, TELLING PEOPLE THAT THERE WAS A QUID PRO QUO, TELLING THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO SURROUND HIMSELF WITH REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND BRING THEM TO THE WHITE HOUSE HERE.

>> Woodruff: ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO THESE SENATORS, YAMICHE, AFTER THE MEETING, THE LUNCH?

>> I WILL EITHER HOPEFULLY BE CHASING THEM AT THE WHITE HOUSE OR THEY WILL BE GOING BACK TO WHERE LISA IS STANDING AND LISA WILL GET A CHANCE TO CHASE THEM.

>> Woodruff: LITERALLY CHASING THEM.

>> YES.

>> Woodruff: AND I KNOW LISA IS LISTENING.

SO SHE WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

BUT PICKING UP ON THIS, ON THE RUDY GIULIANI THEME, LISA, IT DOES COME UP TIME AND AGAIN AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS AT SOME POINT YESTERDAY, AT SEVERAL POINTS YESTERDAY, IT WAS BEING ASKED IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO PUT ANY DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND RUDY GIULIANI?

BECAUSE IN SO MANY OF THESE INTERACTIONS IT WAS INDIVIDUALS IN THE GOVERNMENT WHO WERE DEALING WITH RUDY GIULIANI AND NOT DIRECTLY WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> THIS IS A BIG QUESTION AND IT'S A QUESTION OF STRATEGY FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU HEAR IT SORT OF PUT THIS WAY: ARE THEY GOING TO THROW RUDY GIULIANI UNDER THE BUS OR NOT?

OBVIOUSLY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

BUT THAT'S ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.

I SPOKE TO ONE REPUBLICAN SOURCE YESTERDAY WHO IS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS AND SAID THAT THEY ARE HOPING THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

THAT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THEM, THEY HAVE SAID SOME THINGS ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI THAT, THEY HAVE LET ACCUSATIONS ABOUT HIM GO.

THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING THAT.

BUT NEITHER ARE THEY KIND OF GOING ALL THE WAY TO SAYING HE WAS THE PROBLEM, NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND THAT WAS BUFFETED A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY, THE SAME SOURCE TOLD ME, BY GORDON SONDLAND, THAT HE PRESENTED HIMSELF AS SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM HIMSELF.

AND THAT I THINK THAT'S A NARRATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE, MANY KNOW RUDY GIULIANI, HAVE WORKED WITH HIM A LOT.

THEY KNOW HE'S CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BIGGER QUESTIONS THERE ABOUT GIULIANI BUT SOMETHING REPUBLICANS ARE WRESTLING WITH.

ONCE THEY DO, IF THEY DO START GOING AFTER RUDY GIULIANI AS THE PROBLEM HERE, YOU'LL KNOW THAT'S A MOMENT WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LOSING GROUND.

>> Woodruff: FOR SURE, IF WE SEE SOME MOVEMENT IN THAT DIRECTION, IF WE HAVE TIME WE'RE GOING THE TO GO BACK TO STATEMENTS BY FIONA HILL AND HILL.

WHAT WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT NOT JUST RUDY GIULIANI BUT GORDONED SONDLAND.

I INTERVIEWED KELLY-ANNE CONWAY, I ASKED HER IF SONDLAND'S JOB US SECURE, HE WAS FLYING BACK, U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION.

IS THERE PROTECTION FOR ANY OF THESE FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE GOVERNMENT?

IT'S CLEAR THE PRESIDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO TESTIFY AND MOST OF THEM APPEARING UNDER SUBPOENA, MANY OF THEM APPEARING UNDER SUBPOENA.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT WHETHER THEIR JOBS ARE SAFE?

WHETHER IT'S EVEN SOMEONE LIKE DAVID HOLMES WHO HAS BEEN TESTIFYING TODAY?

>> WHILE THERE ARE PROTECTIONS FOR THE CAREER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE LIKE YOVANOVITCH, THEY CAN'T BE FIRED FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE AND YOU HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT HER THE OTHER DAY, WHERE THEY SAID YOU HAVEN'T BEEN REMOVED FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE, YOU'RE JUST MOVED IN TO THIS POSITION IN GEORGETOWN.

THEY CAN BE ROTATED OUT OF PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENTS.

ONE THING WE HEARD IS AMBASSADORS SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT.

FOR AN AMBASSADOR LIKE AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HE COULD BE REMOVED FROM HIS POST.

AS A POLITICAL APPOINTEE HE HAS NO JOB PROTECTION.

DAVID HOLMES COULD BE ROTATED IN TO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT, FOR SOMEONE WHO IS A FAST RISER THAT'S NOT GREAT.

THOSE THINGS CAN BE SEEN AS RETALIATORY.

AND THERE ARE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO SPEAK TO CONGRESS AND SPEAK TO INSPECTORS GENERAL THAT SAY THAT YOU CAN'T BE RETALIATED AGAINST.

SO THOSE PEOPLE CAN THEN BRING LAWSUITS TO SAY I WAS RETALIATED AGAINST, I NEED TO BE RESTORED TO MY CAREER POSITION.

THOSE ARE VERY COMPLICATED CASES TO LITIGATE BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME PROTECTS IN THAT AREA.

>> Woodruff: I NOTICED STEWART, WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH KELLYANNE CONWAY ON THE NEWSHOUR, I ASKED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF COLONEL ALEXANDER VINDMAN WHO STILL SERVES ON THE STAFF OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND I ASKED HER ABOUT HIS JOB.

SHE DIDN'T ANSWER DIRECTLY BUT SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR, THE HEAD OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS SAID IT'S TIME TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF, THAT IT'S BECOME BLOATED, WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.

AND I ASKED HER WHAT THAT MEANT.

SHE DIDN'T RESPOND DIRECTLY, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE WE WILL SEE SOME REDUCTIONS IN THE STAFF.

>> CLEARLY WE WILL.

THAT'S BEEN A CRITIQUE.

IT WAS A CRITIQUE OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY MADE THE NSC TOO LARGE, HAD TOO MANY MEETINGS AND TOO FEW DECISIONS.

SO SOME KIND OF REDUCTION HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IF YOU'RE SENT ON DETAIL TO WORK ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY EXPECT TO SPEND MORE THAN A FEW YEARS THERE.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN BEFORE WE, I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THE OPENING STATEMENTS FROM DAVID HOLMES AND FIONA HILL, BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER A PRECEDENT, A TIME LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN AS MANY ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS COME FORWARD TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS IN A WAY THAT WORKS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PRESIDENT?

>> NO.

THIS IS COMPLETELY UNPRECEDENTED.

LET'S BE FRANK, THE PRESIDENT'S TREATMENT OF THE BUREAUCRACY, HE'S THE PRESIDENT WHO IS LEAST INTERESTED IN THE VIEWS OF HIS BUREAUCRACY OF ANYBODY SINCE MAYBE FDR.

AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY FEEL UNLOVED AND ARE WILLING TO RETURN THE FAVOR.

>> Woodruff: JUST TAKING A MOMENT TO TAKE THAT INS WE DO, THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IS TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW FOR VOTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO LAST A LITTLE MORE THAN ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REAIR FOR YOU THE OPENING STATEMENTS THIS MORNING BY DAVID HOLMES, WHO STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL BASED IN THE U.S. EMBASSY IN UKRAINE, WHO WAS IN A POSITION TO SEE SO MUCH OF WHAT THIS INQUIRY IS ABOUT.

AND THEN FIONA HILL, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF EUROPE AND RUSSIA ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF.

SO LET'S LISTEN.

THIS WILL BE DAVID HOLMES FIRST.

>> MY NAME IS DAVID HOLMES AND I'M A CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE WERE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

SINCE AUGUST 2017 I HAVE BEEN A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV, UKRAINE.

WHILE IT IS AN HONOR TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I DID NOT SEEK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY TODAY.

SINCE YOU DETERMINED THAT I MAY HAVE SOMETHING OF VALUE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS AND ISSUED A SUBPOENA, IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO APPEAR AND TO TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW.

INDEED, AS SECRETARY POMPEO STATED, I HOPE EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIES WILL DO SO THROUGHOUTFULLY AND ACCURATELY.

WHEN THEY DO, THE OVERSIGHT ROLE WILL HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AND I THINK AMERICA WILL COME TO SEE WHAT TOOK PLACE HERE.

THAT IS MY ONLY GOAL, TO TESTIFY THROUGHOUTFULLY AND ACCURATELY, TO ENABLE YOU TO PERFORM THAT ROLE.

TO THAT END I PUT TOGETHER THIS STATEMENT TO LAY OUT AS BEST I CAN MY RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO THIS MATTER.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER.

LIKE MANY OF THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO TESTIFIED IN THESE PROCEEDINGS, MY ENTIRE CAREER HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF MY COUNTRY.

I'M A GRADUATE OF POMONA COLLEGE, CALIFORNIA, RECEIVED INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FROM UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS IN SCOTLAND AND PRINCETON YOU KNOW, WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

I JOINED THE FOREIGN SERVICE IN 2002, THROUGH AN AIDE POLITICAL MERIT BASED PROCESS.

UNDER THE GEORGE W BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND PROUDLY SERVED ADMINISTRATIONS OF BOTH PARTIES AND WORKED FOR THEIR APPOINTEES, POLITICAL AND CAREER.

PRIOR TO MY CURRENT POST IN KIEV, UKRAINE, I SERVED IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECTIONS AT THE U.S. EMBASSY AND MOSCOW.

IN WASHINGTON, SERVED ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF AS DIRECTOR FOR AFGHANISTAN AND AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE.

MY PRIOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE NEW DELHI, KABUL, BOGOTA AND KOSOVO.

AS THE POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN KIEV I LEAD THE POLITICAL SECTION, COVERING UKRAINE'S INTERNAL POLITICS, FOREIGN RELATIONS, AND SECURITY POLICIES.

AND I SERVE AS THE SENIOR POLICY AND POLITICAL AMBASSADOR TO THE ADVISOR TO THE AMBASSADOR.

THE JOB OF THE A COUNCILOR IS TO GATHER INFORMATION TO, ADVISE THE AMFOR ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.

IN THIS ROLE I'M A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EMBASSY'S COUNTRY TEAM, AND CONTINUALLY INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.

I'M ALSO OFTEN CALLED UPON TO TAKE NOTES IN MEETINGS INVOLVING AMBASSADOR, OR VISITING SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS WITH UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS.

I HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN MANY MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, SOME OF WHICH MAY BE GERMAINE TO THIS INQUIRY.

WHILE I'M A POLITICAL COUNSELOR AT THE EMBASSY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE I AM NOT A POLITICAL APPOINTEE OR ENGAGED IN U.S.

POLITICS IN ANY WAY.

IT IS NOT MY JOB TO COVER OR ADVISE ON U.S.

POLITICS.

ON THE CONTRARY, I'M AN APOLITICAL FOREIGN POLICY PROFESSIONAL AND MY JOB IS TO FOCUS ON THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH I SERVE, SO THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND BETTER ADVANCE U.S. NATIONAL INTEREST THERE.

IN FACT, DURING THE PERIOD THAT WE'LL COVER TODAY MY COLLEAGUES AND I FOLLOWED DIRECT GUIDANCE FROM AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH AND AMADOR TAYLOR TO FOCUS ON DOING OUR JOBS AS FOREIGN POLICY PROFESSIONALS AND STAY CLEAR OF WASHINGTON POLITICS.

I ARRIVED IN KIEV TO TAKE UP MY ASSIGNMENT AS POLITICAL COUNSELOR IN AUGUST 2017, A YEAR AFTER AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH RECEIVED HER APPOINTMENT.

FROM AUGUST 2017 UNTIL HER REMOVAL FROM POST IN MAY 2019 I WAS AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH CHIEF POLICY ADVISOR AND DEVELOPED A DEEP RESPECT FOR HER DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, DECENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM.

DURING THIS TIME WE WORKED TOGETHER CLOSELY, SPEAKING MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY, AND I ACCOMPANIED AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH TO MANY MEETINGS WITH SENIOR UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS.

OUR WORK IN UKRAINE FOCUSSED ON THREE POLICY PRIORITIES: SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REFORM, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION AND RULE OF LAW.

THESE POLICIES MATCHED THE THREE CONSISTENT PRIORITIES OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE SINCE 2014 AS POLLING, NAMELY END TO CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA, RESTORES NATIONAL UNITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT DELIVER EUROPEAN STANDARDS OF GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY.

AND EFFECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL RULE OF LAW INSTITUTIONS THAT DELIVER JUSTICE IN CASES OF HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIAL CORRUPTION.

OUR EFFORTS ON THIS THIRD POLICY PRIORITY MERIT SPECIAL MENTION BECAUSE IT WAS DURING AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S TENURE THAT WE ACHIEVED THE HARD FOUGHT PASSAGE OF A LAW ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT COURT TO TRY CORRUPTION CASES.

THESE EFFORTS STRAINED AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER PRESIDENT POROSHENKO AND ALLIES, INCLUDING LUTSENKO, WHO RESISTED EMPOWERING TRULY INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION INSTITUTIONS THAT WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT NO UKRAINIANS, HOWEVER POWERFUL, WERE ABOVE THE LAW.

DESPITE THIS RESISTANCE THE AMBASSADOR IN THE EMBASSY KEPT PUSHING ANTI-CORRUPTION AND OTHER PRIORITIES OF POLICY TOWARD UKRAINE.

IN MARCH 2019 THE SITUATION AT THE EMBASSY AND IN UKRAINE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

SPECIFICALLY, THE THREE PRIORITIES OF SECURITY, ECONOMY AND JUSTICE, AND OUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN DEMOCRATIC RESISTANCE TO RUSSIAN AGGRESSION, BECAME OVERSHADOWED BY A POLITICAL AGENDA PROMOTED BY FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI AND CADRE OF OFFICIALS OPERATING WITH THE DIRECT CHANNEL TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT CHANGE BEGAN WITH THE EMERGENCE OF PRESS REPORTS CRITICAL OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH AND MACHINE YAIKSS BY PROSECUTOR GENERAL LOOUTS SE LUTSENKO.

-- REFORM COMMITMENTS AND CEASED USING HIS POSITION FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

IN RETALIATION, MR. LUTSENKO MADE A SERIES OF UNSUPPORTED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH MOSTLY SUGGESTED AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH IMPROPER 3ERLY USED THE EMBASSY TO ADVANCE THE POLITICAL INTERESTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AMONG MR. LUTSENKO'S ALLEGATIONS WERE THE EMBASSY ORDERED THE INVESTIGATION OF A FORMER UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL SOLELY BECAUSE THAT FORMER OFFICIAL WAS ALLEGEDLY THE MAIN UKRAINIAN CONTACT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OF PRESIDENT TRUMP PERSONALLY.

AND THAT THE EMBASSY ALLEGEDLY PRESSURED LUTSENKO'S PREDECESSOR TO CLOSE A CASE AGAINST A DIFFERENT UKRAINIAN OFFICIALLY BECAUSE OF ALLEGED CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT OFFICIAL'S COMPANY BURISMA AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT'S BIDEN'S SON.

MR. LUTSENKO ALSO CLAIMED HE NEVER RECEIVED 4.4 MILLION IN U.S. FUNDS INTENDED FOR HIS OFFICE AND THERE WAS A TAPE OF A UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL SAYING THAT HE WAS TRYING TO HELP HILLARY CLINTON WIN THE 2016 ELECTION.

FINALLY, MR. LUTSENKO PUBLICLY CLAIMED THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH HAD GIVEN HIM A DO NOT PROSECUTE LIST CONTAINING NAMES OF HER SUPPOSED ALLIES AND ALLEGATION THE STATEMENT DEPARTMENT CALLED AN OUTRIGHT FABRICATION AND THAT MR. LUTSENKO LATER RETRACTED.

MR. LUTSENKO SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF THESE ALLEGATIONS, AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH WOULD FACE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

PUBLIC OPINION POLLS INDICATED UKRAINIANS GENERALLY DID NOT BELIEVE MR. LUTSENKO'S ALLEGATIONS.

AND ON MARCH 22, PRESIDENT POROSHENKO ISSUED A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR AM-VITCH.

RUDY GIULIANI AND OTHERS MADE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR HER REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

MR. GIULIANI PUSHING FOR ISSUES RELATING TO BURISMA AND BIDENS.

FOR EXAMPLE ON MAY 1, 2019, NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT MR. GIULIANI HAD, QUOTE, DISCUSSED THE BURISMA INVESTIGATION AND ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE BIDENS WITH THE OUSTED UKRAINIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL AND CURRENT PROSECUTOR.

ON MAY 9, NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT MR. GIULIANI SAID HE PLANNED TO TRAVEL TO UKRAINE TO PURSUE INVESTIGATIONS IN TO THE 2016 ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND IN TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON IN A UKRAINIAN GAS COMPANY.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS MR. GIULIANI ALSO ISSUED A SERIES OF TWEETS ASKING QUOTE, WHY BIDEN SHOULDN'T BE INVESTIGATED, ATTACKING, QUOTE, THE NEW PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE ZELENSKY FOR BEING SILENT ON THE 2016 ELECTION AND BIDEN INVESTIGATION AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NEW YORK TIMES ATTACKING HIM FOR QUOTE, EXPOSING THE BIDEN FAMILY HISTORY OF MAKING MILLIONS FROM UKRAINIAN CRIMINALS.

AROUND THIS TIME UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS APPROACHING AND POLITICAL NEWCOMER AND ENTERTAINER ZELENSKY, WHO HAD PLAYED A PRESIDENT ON TELEVISION, WAS SURGING IN THE POLLS 3.

AHEAD OF PRESIDENT POROSHENKO.

I WAS PRESENT FOR THE MEETING WITH THEN CANDIDATE ZELENSKY AHEAD OF LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION THE NEXT DAY.

AS IN HER TWO PRIOR MEETINGS THAT I ALSO ATTENDED, THEY HAD AN ENTIRELY CORDIAL, PLEASANT CONVERSATION AND SIGNALLED MUTUAL DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER.

HOWEVER, THE NEGATIVE NARRATIVES ABOUT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH GAINED CURRENCY IN CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES PRESS.

ON APRIL 26, AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH DEPARTED FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. WHY SHE LEARNED SHE WOULD BE RECALLED EARLY.

THE BARRAGE OF ALLEGATIONS DIRECTED AT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, CAREER AMBASSADOR, IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE SEEN IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

FOLLOWING PRESIDENT ELECT ZELENSKY'S VICTORY, OUR ATTENTION IN THE EMBASSY FOCUSSED ON GETTING THE TO KNOW THE INCOMING ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION.

IN PREPARATION FOR INAUGURATION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 20, SAME DAY AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH DEPARTED POST PERMANENTLY.

IT QUICKLY BECAME CLEAR THE WHITE HOUSE WAS NOT PREPARED TO SHOW THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ZELENSKY SAD STRAYINGS THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, ADMINISTRATION THAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

IN EARLY MAY GIULIANI ALLEGED MR. ZELENSKY WAS SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT AND CANCELED A VISIT TO UKRAINE.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE LEARNED VICE PRESIDENT PENCE NO LONGER PLANNED TO LEAD THE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO THE INAUGURATION.

THE WHITE HOUSE WHITTLED DOWN A LIST FOR THE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO THE INAUGURATION FROM OVER A DOZEN INDIVIDUALS TO JUST FIVE.

SECRETARY PERRY AS ITS HEAD, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR UKRAINE NEGOTIATIONS, KURT VOLKER REPRESENTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR ALEX VINDMAN REPRESENTING THE WHITE HOUSE, TEMPORARY ACTING CHARGE D'AFFAIRES PENNINGSON AND AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION GORDON SONDLAND.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S ACCREDITED AMBASSADOR TO THE UNION, DID NOT COVER NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES LIKE UKRAINE HE MADE CLEAR HE HAD DIRECT AND FREQUENT ACCESS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY AND PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS THE CONDUIT TO THE PRESIDENT AND MR. MULVANEY FOR THIS GROUP.

SECRETARY PERRY, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND AMBASSADOR VOLKER STYLED THEMSELVES A THREE AMIGOS AND MADE CLEAR THEY WOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON COORDINATING POLICY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION.

AROUND THE SAME TIME, I BECAME AWARE MR. GIULIANI, PRIVATE LAWYER, WAS TAKING A DIRECT ROLE UN-UKRAINIAN DIPLOMACY.

APRIL 25, MR. ZELENSKY'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND AND CAMPAIGN CHAIR, ULTIMATELY APPOINTED TO THE HEAD OF THE SECURITY SERVICES OF UKRAINE, INDICATED TO ME PRIVATELY THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY, QUOTE, SOMEONE NAMED GIULIANI WHO SAID HE WAS AN ADVISOR TO THE VICE PRESIDENT.

I REPORTED THE MESSAGE TO DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE KENT.

OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS HAVING A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA THAT THE THREE AMIGOS WERE EXECUTING ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE.

IN FACT, AT ONE POINT DURING A PRELIMINARY MEETING OF THE INAUGURAL DELEGATION, SOMEONE WONDERED ALOUD WHERE MR. GIULIANI WAS SO ACTIVE IN THE MEDIA WITH RESPECT TO UKRAINE.

MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED, QUOTE, DAMN IT, RUDY, EVERY TIME RUDY GETS INVOLVED HE GOES AND Fs EVERYTHING UP.

THE INAUGURATION TOOK PLACE MAY 20, I TOOK GOATS ON THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING.

DURING THE MEETING SECRETARY PERRY PASSED PRESIDENT IS MEETING A LIST THAT PERRY DESCRIBED AS, QUOTE, PEOPLE HE TRUSTS.

SECRETARY PERRY TOLD PRESIDENT IS MEETING THAT HE COULD SEEK ADVICE FROM THE PEOPLE ON THIS LIST ON ISSUES OF ENERGY SECTOR REFORM, WHICH IT WAS TOPIC OF SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS BETWEEN SECRETARY PERRY AND KEY UKRAINIAN INCOME SECTOR CONTACT.

EMBASSY PERSONNEL EXCLUDED FROM LATER MEETINGS BY SECRETARY PERRY'S STAFF.

ON MAY 23, AMBASSADOR VOLKER, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, SECRETARY PERRY, SENATOR RON JOHNSON WHO HAD ALSO ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION THOUGH NOT ON THE OFFICIAL DELEGATION RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND BRIEFED PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ON MAY 29, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED A CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO PRESIDENT IS MEETING, WHICH INCLUDED AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE AT AN UNSPECIFIED DATE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A WHITE HOUSE VISIT WAS CRITICAL TO PRESIDENT IS MEETING.

PRESIDENT IS MEETING NEEDED TO SHOW U.S. SUPPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN THAT HE HAD U.S.

BACKING AS WELL AS TO ADVANCE HIS AMBITIOUS ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM AGENDA AT HOME.

PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S TEAM IMMEDIATELY BEGAN PRESSING TO SET A DATE FOR THAT VISIT.

PRESIDENT IS MEETING AND SENIOR MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM MADE CLEAR THAT THEY WANTED PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP TO BE TO WASHINGTON, TO SEND A STRONG SIGNAL OF AMERICAN SUPPORT.

AND REQUESTED A CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE AT THE EMBASSY ALSO BELIEVE THAT A MEETING WAS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S ADMINISTRATION AND ITS REFORM AGENDA AND WE WORKED HARD TO GET IT ARRANGED.

WHEN PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S TEAM DID NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMED DATE FOR A WHITE HOUSE VISIT, THEY MADE ALTERNATIVE PLANS FOR PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S FIRST OVERSEAS TRIP TO BE TO BRUSSELS INSTEAD.

IN PART TO ATTEND AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HOSTED JUNE 4.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HOSTED A DINNER IN PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S HONOR FOLLOWING THE RECEPTION WHICH INCLUDED PRESIDENT IS MEETING, JARED KUSHNER, SECRETARY POMPEO'S COUNSELOR, SENIOR EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS AND COMEDIAN JAY LENO AMONG OTHERS.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR ARRIVED IN KIEV JUNE 17.

FOR THE NEXT MONTH FOCUS OF OUR ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH THOSE OF THE THREE AMIGOS WAS TO COORDINATE A WHITE HOUSE VISIT.

TO THAT END WE WERE WORKING WITH UKRAINIANS TO DELIVER THINGS WE THOUGHT PRESIDENT TRUMPS MIGHT CARE ABOUT, SUCH AS COMMERCIAL DEALS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE UNITED STATES, WHICH MIGHT CONVINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO AGREE TO A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING.

UKRAINIAN POLICY COMMUNITY WAS UNANIMOUS IN ITS, IN RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF SECURING THE MEETING AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR REPORTED TO SECRETARY POMPEO TOLD HIM PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN KIEV, QUOTE, WE NEED TO WORK ON TURNING THE PRESIDENT AROUND ON UKRAINE.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER TOLD US THE FIRST, THAT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS COULD HANG ON WHAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

I TOOK THAT TO MEAN IF WE DID NOT EARN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WE COULD LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS DURING PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S FIVE-YEAR TERM.

WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE ENERGY SECTOR REFORMS, COMMERCIAL DEALS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS ON WHICH WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS WERE NOT TAKING A DENT IN TERMS OF PERSUADING THE WHITE HOUSE TO SCHEDULE A MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS.

ON JUNE 27 AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD AMBASSADOR TAYLOR IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THE GIST OF WHICH AMBASSADOR TAYLOR SHARED THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING NEEDED TO MAKE CLEAR TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING WAS NOT STANDING IN THE WAY OF, QUOTE, INVESTIGATIONS.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS MEANT THE BIDEN, BURISMA INVESTIGATIONS THAT MR. GIULIANI AND ASSOCIATES HAD BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IN THE MEDIA SINCE MARCH.

WHILE AMBASSADOR TAYLOR DID NOT BRIEF ME ON EVERY DETAIL OF HIS COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE THREE AMIGOS HE DID TELL MOW THE JUNE 28 CALL WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND THREE AMIGOS IT WAS MADE CLEAR AT INVESTIGATION WAS PRE-CONDITION ON AN OVAL OFFICE VISIT.

JUNE 28, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS STILL NOT MOVING FORWARD ON A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING, WE MET WITH, HE MET WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN AT THE G-20 SUMMIT IN JAPAN, SENDING A FURTHER SIGNAL OF LACK OF SUPPORT TO UKRAINE.

WE BECAME CONCERNED THAT EVEN IF A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENTS TRUMP AND ZELENSKY COULD OCCUR IT WOULD NOT GO WELL.

I DISCUSSED WITH EMBASSY COLLEAGUES WHETHER WE SHOULD STOP SEEKING A MEETING ALL TOGETHER.

WHITE HOUSE VISIT WAS WITT CALL TO THE ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION, A VISIT THAT FAILED TO SEND A CLEAR AND STRONG SIGNAL OF SUPPORT LIKELY WOULD BE WORSE FOR PRESIDENT IS MEETING THAN NO VISIT AT ALL.

CONGRESS HAS APPROPRIATED $1.5 BILLION IN SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR UKRAINE SINCE 2014.

THIS ASSISTANCE HAS PROVIDED CRUCIAL MATERIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT TO UKRAINE IN ITS DEFENSIVE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

IT HAS HELPED UKRAINE BUILD ARMED FORCES VIRTUALLY FROM SCRATCH IN TO ARGUABLY THE MOST CAPABLE AND BATTLE-HARDENED LAND FORCE IN EUROPE.

I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF VISITING THE MAIN TRAINING FACILITY IN WESTERN UKRAINE, WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND MEMBERS OF THIS VERY COMMITTEE, MS. STEFANIK, WHERE WE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND U.S. NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS WITH ALLIES CONDUCTING TRAINING FOR UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS, SINCE 2014 NATIONAL GUARD UNITS FROM CALIFORNIA, OKLAHOMA, NEW YORK, TENNESSEE, WISCONSIN, HAVE TRAINED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS.

GIVEN THE HISTORY OF U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE AND BIPARTISAN RECOGNITION OF ITS IMPORTANCE, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN ON JULY 18 AN OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET STAFF MEMBER SURPRISE INGLY ANNOUNCED THE HOLD ON UKRAINE SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME TOWARD THE END OF A NEARLY TWO HOUR NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECURE VIDEO CONFERENCE CALL WHICH I PARTICIPATED IN THE FROM THE EMBASSY CONFERENCE ROOM.

OFFICIAL SAID THAT THE ORDER HAD COME FROM THE PRESIDENT, AND HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO OMB BY MR. MULVANEY WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION.

THIS BEGAN A WEEK OR SO OF EFFORTS BY VARIOUS AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY THE RATIONALE FOR THE FREEZE, TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE ASSISTANCE, AND TO REAFFIRM THE UNANIMOUS VIEW OF UKRAINE POLICY COMMITTEE OF ITS IMPORTANCE.

NSC COUNTERPARTS CONFIRMED NO CHANGE IN OUR UKRAINE POLICY, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE HOLD OR HOW TO LIFT IT.

ON JULY 25th, PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE A CONGRATULATORY PHONE CALL PRESIDENT IS MEETING AFTER WIN IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.

THE EMBASSY RECEIVED NO READ OUT OF THE CALL AND WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED UNTIL THE TRANSCRIPT WAS RELEASED SEPTEMBER 25th.

UPON READING THE TRANSCRIPT I WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT RAISED NONE OF WHAT I UNDERSTOOD TO BE OUR INTERAGENCY AGREED UPON FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES IN UKRAINE, AND INSTEAD RAISED THE BIDEN-BURISMA INVESTIGATION AND REFERRED TO THEORY ABOUT CROWDSTRIKE AND SUPPOSED CONNECTION TO UKRAINE AND 2016 ELECTION.

THE NEXT DAY, JULY 26, 2019, I ATTENDED MEETINGS THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN KIEV WITH AMBASSADOR TAYLOR, VOLKER, SONDLAND, I TOOK NOTES DURING THE MEETINGS.

OUR FIRST MEETING WAS WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S CHIEF OF STAFF, IT WAS BRIEF AS HE HAD ALREADY BEEN SUMMONED BY PRESIDENT IS MEETING TO PREPARE FOR A SUBSEQUENT BROADER MEETING BUT SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSED INTEREST DURING THE PREVIOUS DAY'S PHONE CALL AND PRESIDENT IS MEETING'S PERSONNEL DECISIONS RELATED TO THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THE DELEGATION THEN MET WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING AND SEVERAL OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS.

DURING THE MEETING PRESIDENT IS MEETING STATED THAT DURING THE JULY 25th CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD, QUOTE, THREE TIMES RAISED SOME VERY SENSITIVE ISSUES HE WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW UP, HE, ZELENSKY, WOULD FOLLOW UP WHEN THEY MET IN PERSON.

NOT HAVING RECEIVED A READ OUT OF THE JULY 25th CALL I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME WHAT THOSE SENSITIVE ISSUES WERE.

AFTER THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING, AMBASSADOR VOLKER AND TAYLOR LEFT THE BUILDING FOR TRIP TO THE FRONT LINES.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, FLY OUT THAT AFTERNOON, STAYED BEHIND TO HAVE A MEETING WITH YERMAK, A TOP AIDE TO PRESIDENT IS MEETING.

AS I WAS LEAVING THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING, I WAS TOLD TO JOIN THE MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND YERMAK TO TAKE NOTES.

I HAD NOT EXPECTED TO JOIN THE MEETING, A FLIGHT OF STAIRS BEHIND THE AMBASSADOR.

WHEN I REACHED YERMAK'S OFFICE, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HAD GONE IN TO THE MEETING, I EXPLAINED TO MR. YERMAK'S ASSISTANT I WAS SUPPOSED TO JOIN THE MEETING AS THE EMBASSY'S REPRESENTATIVE AND STRONGLY URGED HER TO LET ME IN BUT TOLD ME AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND MR. YERMAK HAD INSISTED THAT THE MEETING BE ONE-ON-ONE WITH NO NOTE TAKER.

I THEN WAITED IN THE ANTEROOM UNTIL THE MEETING ENDED WITH A MEMBER OF AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S STAFF AND MEMBER OF THE KIEV STAFF.

WHEN THE MEETING ENDED THE TWO STAFFERS AND I ACCOMPANIED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID HE WANTED TO GO TO LUNCH AND I TOLD AMBASSADOR SONDLAND THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO JOIN HIM AND THE TWO STAFFERS FOR LUNCH IF HE WANTED TO BRIEF ME OUT ON HIS MEETING WITH MR. YERMAK OR DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID I SHOULD JOIN.

THE FOUR OF US WENT TO A NEARBY RESTAURANT AND SAT ON AN OUTDOOR TERRACE.

I SAT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

THE TWO STAFFERS SAT OFF TO OUR SIDES.

AT FIRST THE LUNCH WAS LARGELY SOCIAL, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SELECTED A BOTTLE OF WINE THAT HE SHARED AMONG THE FOUR OF US AND WE DISCUSSED TOPICS SUCH AS MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR HIS HOTEL BUSINESS.

DURING THE LUNCH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID HE WAS GOING TO CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP TO GIVE HIM AN UPDATE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND PLACED A CALL ON HIS MOBILE PHONE, I HEARD HIM ANNOUNCE HIMSELF SEVERAL TIMES ALONG THE LINES OF GORDON SONDLAND HOLDING FOR THE PRESIDENT.

IT APPEARED THAT HE WAS BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGH SEVERAL LAYERS OF SWITCH BOARDS AND ASSISTANCE AND I THEN NOTICED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S DEMEANOR CHANGED AND UNDERSTOOD HE HAD BEEN CONNECTED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S PHONE WAS NOT ON SPEAKER PHONE ON, I COULD HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE THROUGH THE EAR PIECE OF THE PHONE.

THE PRESIDENT'S VOICE WAS LOUD AND RECOGNIZABLE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HELD THE PHONE AWAY FROM HIS EAR FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRESUMABLY OF THE LOUD VOLUME.

I HEARD AMBASSADOR SONDLAND GREET THE PRESIDENT AND EXPLAIN HE WAS CALLING FROM KIEV.

I HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP THEN CLARIFY THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS IN UKRAINE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED YES, HE WAS IN UKRAINE AND WENT ON TO STATE, PRESIDENT IS MEETING, QUOTE, LOVES YOUR ASS.

I THEN HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK, SO HE'S GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED THAT HE'S GOING TO DO IT ADDING THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING WILL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK HIM TO DO.

EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT TAKE NOTES OF THESE STATEMENTS, I HAD A CLEAR RECOLLECTION THAT THESE STATEMENTS WERE MADE.

I BELIEVE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WERE SITTING AT THE TABLE ALSO KNEW AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS SPEAKING WITH THE PRESIDENT.

THE CONVERSATION THEN SHIFTED TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT TO ASSIST A RAPPER WHO WAS JAILED IN SWEDEN AND I COULD ONLY HEAR AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT THE RAPPER WAS, QUOTE, KIND OF F-ED THERE AND SHOULD HAVE PLED GUILTIMENT HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE PRESIDENT, QUOTE, WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SENTENCING OR IT WILL ONLY MAKE IT WORSE AND ADDED THE PRESIDENT SHOULD LET HIM GET SENTENCED, PLAY THE RACISM CARD, GIVE HIM A TICKERTAPE WHEN HE COMES HOME.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD THE PRESIDENT THAT SWEDEN, QUOTE, SHOULD HAVE RELEASED HIM ON YOUR WORD, BUT THAT YOU CAN TELL THE KARDASHIANS YOU TRIED.

AFTER THE CALL ENDED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REMARKED THE PRESIDENT WAS IN A BAD MOOD AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED WAS OFTEN THE CASE EARLY IN THE MORNING.

I THEN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AMBASSADOR SONDLAND FOR HIS CANDID IMPRESSION OF THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS ON UKRAINE.

IN PARTICULAR, I ASKED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IF IT WAS TRUE THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLETIVE ABOUT UKRAINE.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AGREED THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLETIVE ABOUT UKRAINE.

I ASKED WHY NOT?

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATED THAT THE PRESIDENT ONLY CARES ABOUT BIG STUFF.

I NOTED THERE WAS BIG STUFF GOING ON IN UKRAINE, LIKE A WAR WITH RUSSIA.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND REPLIED THAT HE MEANT BIG STUFF THAT BENEFITS THE PRESIDENT, LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION, THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS PUSHING.

THE CONVERSATION THEN MOVED ON TO OTHER TOPICS.

UPON RETURNING TO THE EMBASSY I IMMEDIATELY BRIEFED MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ABOUT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MY SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

I TOLD OTHERS AT THE EMBASSY ABOUT THE CALL AS WELL.

I ALSO E-MAILED AN EMBASSY OFFICIAL IN SWEDEN REGARDING THE ISSUE WITH U.S. RAPPER DISCUSSED ON THE CALL.

JULY 26 WAS MY LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE AHEAD OF A LONG PLANNED VACATION THAT ENDED ON AUGUST 6.

AFTER RETURNING TO THE EMBASSY I TOLD AMBASSADOR TAYLOR ABOUT THE CALL, REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THE CALL IN THE CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WHERE THE ISSUE OF THE PRESIDENT'S INTEREST IN UKRAINE WAS POTENTIALLY RELEVANT.

AT THAT TIME AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STATEMENT TO THE PRESIDENT, STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT'S LACK OF INTEREST IN UKRAINE, WAS A PARTICULAR FOCUS.

WE UNDERSTOOD TO SECURE A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT IS MEETING IT WOULD HAVE TO WORK HARD TO FIND A WAY TO EXPLAIN UKRAINE'S IMPORTANCE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP IN TERMS THAT HE FOUND COMPELLING.

OVER THE ENSUING WEEKS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO FRAME THE IMPORTANCE OF UKRAINE IN WAYS THAT WOULD APPEAL TO THE PPESIDENT, TO DETERMINE HOW TO LIFT THE HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE AND TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE SCHEDULING OF A WHITE HOUSE VISIT BY PRESIDENT IS MEETING.

UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, AUGUST 24, PRESENTED ANOTHER GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

SECRETARY POMPEO CONSIDERED ATTENDING AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR BOLTON ATTENDED IN 2018 AND MADDIS ATTENDED IN 2017.

BUT IN THE END, NO ONE SENIOR TO AMBASSADOR VOLKER ATTENDED.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER WITT TED UKRAINE AND BROUGHT WELCOME NEWS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AGREED TO MEET PRESIDENT IS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 1 IN WARSAW.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON FURTHER INDICATED THE HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT BE LIFTED PRIOR TO THE WARSAW MEETING, WHERE IT WOULD HANG ON WHETHER PRESIDENT IS MEETING WAS ABLE TO, QUOTE, FAVORABLY IMPRESS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I TOOK NOTES AND AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S MEETINGS THAT DAY WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING AND CHIEF OF STAFF.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON TOLD ZELENSKY'S CHIEF OF STAFF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS AND WARSAW WOULD BE, QUOTE, CRUCIAL TO CEMENTING THE RELATIONSHIP.

HOWEVER, PRESIDENT TRUMP ULTIMATELY PULLED OUT OF THE WARSAW TRIP, SO THE HOLD REMAINED IN PLACE, WITH NO CLEAR MEANS TO GET IT LIFTED.

BETWEEN THE MEETINGS ON AUGUST 27 I HEARD AMBASSADOR BOLTON EXPRESS TO AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR TIM MORRISON HIS FRUSTRATION ABOUT MR. GIULIANI'S INFLUENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT, MAKING CLEAR THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO ABOUT IT.

HE RECOMMENDED THAT MR. LUTSENKO'S REPLACEMENT OPEN A CHANNEL WITH COUNTERPARTS, ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR IN PLACE OF THE INFORMAL CHANNEL BETWEEN MR. YERMAK AND MR. GIULIANI.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ABOUT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S EXPANSIVE INTERPRETATION OF HIS MANDATE.

AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP CANCELED TRIP TO WARSAW, WE CONTINUED TO APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT IN FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY TERMS.

TO THAT END, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR TOLD ME AMBASSADOR BOLTON TOLD ME HE AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR SEND A FIRST PERSON CABLE TO SECRETARY POMPEO ARTICULATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR'S DIRECTION I DRAFTED AND SUBMITTED THE CABLE ON AMBASSADOR TAYLOR'S BEHALF ON AUGUST 29 WHICH FURTHER ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF UKRAINE AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITIMENT BY THIS POINT, HOWEVER, MY CLEAR IMPRESSION THAT WAS THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE HOLD WAS LIKELY INTENDED BY THE PRESIDENT EITHER AS AN EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION WITH THE UKRAINIANS, WHO HAD NOT YET AGREED TO THE BURISMA-BIDEN INVESTIGATION OR AS AN EFFORT TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON THEM TO DO SO.

ON SEPTEMBER 5 I TOOK NOTES BE, SENATOR JOHNSON AND MURPHY MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING IN KIEV.

PRESIDENT IS MEETING ASKED ABOUT THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

ALTHOUGH BOTH SENATORS STRESSED STRONG BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, SENATOR JOHNSON CAUTIONED PRESIDENT IS MEETING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A NEGATIVE VIEW OF UKRAINE AND THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME OVERCOMING IT.

SENATOR JOHNSON FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD BEEN, QUOTE, SHOCKED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NEGATIVE REACTION DURING AN OVAL OFFICE MEETING ON MAY 23 WHEN HE AND THE THREE AMIGOS PROPOSE HE MEET PRESIDENT IS MEETING AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINEO SEPTEMBER 8, AMBASSADOR TAYLOR TOLD ME, QUOTE, NOW THEY'RE INSISTING ZELENSKY COMMIT TO INVESTIGATION IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN, WHICH I TOOK TO REFER TO THE THREE AMIGOS.

I WAS SHOCKED THE REQUIREMENT WAS SO SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE.

WHILE WE ADVISED UKRAINIAN COUNTERPARTS TO VOICE A COMMITMENT TO FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW AND GENERALLY INVESTIGATING CREDIBLE CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS THIS WAS A DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING PERSONALLY COMMIT ON A CABLE NEWS CHANNEL TO A SPECIFIC INVESTIGATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL.

ON SEPTEMBER 11 THE HOLD WAS LIFTED AFTER SIGNIFICANT PRESS COVERAGE AND BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE WITHHOLDING OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

ALTHOUGH WE KNEW THE HOLD WAS LIFTED WE WERE STILL CONCERNED THAT PRESIDENT IS MEETING HAD COMMITTED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LIFTING TO GIVE THE REQUESTED CNN INTERVIEW.

WE HAD SEVERAL INDICATIONS THAT THE INTERVIEW WOULD OCCUR.

FIRST, THE CONFERENCE IN KIEV WAS HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 12 TO 14 AND CNN'S FAR READ ZAKARIA WAS A MODE MODERATOR.

SEPTEMBER 13, EMBASSY COLLEAGUE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WHO WORKED FOR AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

MY COLLEAGUE TEXTED ME THAT SONDLAND AND ZELENSKY INTERVIEW IS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY OR MONDAY AND THEY PLANNED TO ANNOUNCE THAT A CERTAIN INVESTIGATION THAT WAS ON HOLD WILL PROGRESS.

SONDLAND'S AIDE DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS DECIDED OR INSONDLAND WAS ADVOCATING FOR IT.

APPARENTLY HE'S BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH YERMAK.

FINALLY ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 13 AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND I RAN IN TO MR. YERMAK ON A WAY TO A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING IN HIS PRIVATE OFFICE.

AMBASSADOR TAYLOR STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING OUT OF U.S.

POLITICS AND HOPED NO INTERVIEW WAS PLANNED.

MR. YERMAK DID NOT ANSWER BUT SHRUGGED AS IF THE INDICATE HE HAD NO CHOICE.

IN SHORT EVERYBODY THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN INTERVIEW, UKRAINIANS BELIEVED THEY HAD TO DO IT.

THE INTERVIEW ULTIMATELY DID NOT OCCUR.

ON SEPTEMBER 21 AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND I COLLABORATED ON INPUT HE SENT TO MR. MORRISON TO BRIEF PRESIDENT TRUMP AHEAD OF A SEPTEMBER 25th MEETING THAT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING IN NEW YORK ON THE MARGINS OF THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE JULY 25 CALL WAS RELEASED THE SAME DAY.

AS OF TODAY, I STILL NOT SEEN A READ OUT OF THE SEPTEMBER 25th MEETING.

AS THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HAS PROGRESSED I HAVE FOLLOWED PRESS REPORTS AND REVIEWED THE STATEMENTS OF AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AND YOVANOVITCH.

BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES IN UKRAINE, MY RECOLLECTION IS GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH THEIR TESTIMONY.

AND I BELIEVED THAT THE RELEVANT FACTS WERE THEREFORE BEING LAID OUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS I READ PRESS REPORTS EXPRESSING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT CERTAIN SENIOR OFFICIALS MAY HAVE BEEN ACTING WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT'S KNOWLEDGE OR FREE-LANCING AN IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH UKRAINE.

AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO READ REPORTS NOTING THE LACK OF FIRSTHAND EVIDENCE IN THE INVESTIGATION AND SUGGESTING THAT THE ONLY EVIDENCE BEING ELLIS TED AT HEARINGS WAS HEARSAY.

I CAME TO REALIZE I HAD FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CERTAIN EVENTS ON JULY 26 THAT HAD NOT OTHERWISE BEEN REPORTED.

AND THAT THOSE EVENT POTENTIALLY BORE ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT DID IN FACT HAVE KNOWLEDGE THAT THOSE SENIOR OFFICIALS WERE USING LEVERS OF DIPLOMATIC POWER TO INFLUENCE THE NEW UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL OPPONENT.

IT IS AT THAT POINT THAT I MADE THE OBSERVATION TO AMBASSADOR TAYLOR THAT THE INCIDENT I WITNESSED JULY 26 HAD ACQUIRED GREATER SIGNIFICANCE, WHICH IS WHAT HE REPORTED IN HIS TESTIMONY LAST WEEK AND IS WHAT LED TO THE SUBPOENA FOR ME TO APPEAR HERE TODAY.

IN CONCLUSION I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TURN BACK TO UKRAINE.

TODAY, THIS VERY DAY, MARKS EXACTLY SIX YEARS SINCE THRONGS OF PRO WESTERN UKRAINIANS SPONTANEOUSLY GATHERED ON KIEV'S INDEPENDENT SQUARE TO LAUNCH THE REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY.

WHILE THE PROTEST BEGAN IN OPPOSITION TO A TURN TOWARDS RUSSIA AND AWAY FROM THE WEST, THEY EXPANDED OVER THREE MONTHS TO REJECT THE ENTIRE CORRUPTION REPRESSIVE SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN SUSTAINED BY RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN THE COUNTRY.

THOSE EVENTS WERE FOLLOWED BY RUSSIA'S OCCUPATION OF UKRAINE'S CRIMEAN PENINSULA AND DONBASS REGION AND ENCHEWING WAR THAT TO DATE HAS COST ALMOST 14,000 LIVES.

DESPITE THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, UKRAINIANS HAVE REBUILT A SHATTERED ECONOMY, ADHERED TO A PEACE PROCESS, AND MOVED ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY CLOSER TO THE WEST, TOWARD OUR WAY OF LIFE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR LARGE MAJORITIES OF UKRAINIANS AGAIN CHOSE A FRESH START BY VOTING FOR A POLITICAL NEWCOMER AS PRESIDENT, REPLACING 80% OF THEIR PARLIAMENT AND ENDORSING A PLATFORM CONSISTENT WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC VALUES, OUR REFORMED PRIORITIES, AND OUR STRATEGIC INTERESTS.

THIS YEAR'S REVOLUTION AT THE BALLOT BOX UNDERSCORES THAT DESPITE IMPERFECTIONS, UKRAINE IS A GENUINE AND VIBRANT DEMOCRACY AND EXAMPLE TO OTHER POST-SOVIET COUNTRIES AND BEYOND FROM MOSCOW TO HONG KONG.

HOW WE RESPOND TO THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY WILL SET THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UKRAINE AND WILL DEFINE OUR WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND OUR INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES AND LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLD.

UKRAINIANS WANT TO HEAR A CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS REAFFIRMATION THAT LONGSTANDING BIPARTISAN POLICY OF STRONG SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE REMAINS UNCHANGED AND THAT WE FULLY BACK IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO RETREAT FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UKRAINE, BUT RATHER TO DOUBLE DOWN ON IT AS WE SIT HERE, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING A HOT WAR ON UKRAINIAN TERRITORY AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

THIS WEEK ALONE SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE IN WASHINGTON TWO UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND TWO INJURED BY RUSSIAN-LED FORCES IN EASTERN UKRAINE DESPITE A DECLARED CEASE FIRE.

I LEARNED OVERNIGHT THAT 7 MORE WERE INJURED YESTERDAY.

AS VICE PRESIDENT PENCE SAID AFTER HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IS MEETING IN WARSAW, THE U.S.-UKRAINE RELATIONSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER.

UKRAINIANS AND THEIR NEW GOVERNMENT EARNESTLY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT.

UKRAINIANS CHERISH THEIR BIPARTISAN AMERICAN SUPPORT THAT HAS SUSTAINED THEIR EURO ATLANTIC AT SPUR RACINGS AND RECOIL AT THE THOUGHT OF PLAYING A ROLE IN U.S.

DOMESTIC POLITICS.

WE HAVE NO BETTER FRIEND THAN UKRAINE, SCRAPPY, UNBOWED, DETERMINED, AND ABOVE ALL, DIGNIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING UP AGAINST RUSSIAN AUTHORITARIANISM AND AGGRESSION.

THEY DESERVE BETTER.

WE'RE NOW AT AN INFLECTION POINT IN UKRAINE AND IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY THAT WE STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR UKRAINIAN PARTNERS.

UKRAINIANS AND FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE WATCHING THE EXAMPLE WE SET HERE OF DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CHAIRMAN, RANKING MEMBER NUNES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR INVITING INTOE TESTIFY BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I HAVE A SHORT OPENING STATEMENT.

I APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONGRESS' IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND I'M APPEARING AS A FACT WITNESS.

AS I DID DURING MY DEPOSITION ON OCTOBER 14th.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I SAW, WHAT I DID, WHAT I KNEW, WHAT I KNOW WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT OF YOUR INQUIRY.

I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE INFORMATION THAT THE CONGRESS DEEMS RELEVANT HAVE A LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE IT.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT I'M A NON-PARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT WHO HAS SERVED UNDER THREE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS.

I WILL NOT PROVIDE A LONG NARRATIVE STATEMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE INTEREST OF CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS BEST SERVED BY ALLOWING YOU TO ASK ME YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO EXPAND UPON MY OCTOBER 14th DEPOSITION TESTIMONY IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.

BEFORE I DO SO, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE TWO THINGS: FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM.

I'M AN AMERICAN BY CHOICE, I BECAME A CITIZEN IN 2002.

ISTS BORN IN NORTHEAST OF ENGLAND, IN THE SAME REGION GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ANCESTORS CAME FROM.

MY REGION AND MY FAMILY HAVE DEEP TIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER FOUGHT THROUGH WORLD WAR I, BEFORE AMERICANS INTERVENED TO END THE WAR IN 1918.

DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY FOUGHT TO DEFEND THE FREE WORLD FROM FASCISM ALONGSIDE AMERICAN SOLDIERS, AIRMEN.

THE MEN IN MY FATHER'S FAMILY WERE COAL MINERS, WHOSE FAMILY ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH POVERTY.

WHEN MY FATHER WAS?

HE JOINED HIS FATHER, BROTHERS, BROTHER AND COUSINS IN THE COAL MINES TO HELP PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

WHEN THE LAST OF THE LOCAL MINES CLOSED IN THE 1960s MY FATHER WANT WANTED TO IMMIGRATE TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK IN WEST VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA, BUT MY GRANDMOTHER CRIPPLED FROM HARD LABOR AND MY FATHER COULDN'T LEAVE.

SO HE STAYED IN NORTHERN ENGLAND UNTIL HE DIED IN 2012.

MY MOTHER STILL LIVES IN MY HOMETOWN TODAY.

WHILE HIS DREAM OF IMMIGRATING WAS SLAUGHTERED, AMERICA IN A BEACON OF HOPE, HE WANTED SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY TO MAKE IT TO THE UNITED STATES.

I BEGAN MY UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN 1984, WHEN I LEARNED I WENT TO THE SAME UNIVERSITY AS MY COLLEAGUE HERE, MR. HOLMES IN SCOTLAND.

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD ADD THAT.

IN 1987 I WON A PLACE ON ACADEMIC EXCHANGE TO THE SOVIET UNION.

I WAS THERE FOR THE SIGNING OF THE IMF TREATY AND WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN MET GORBACHEV IN MOSCOW.

I LEARNED ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE NEXT YEAR THANKS TO HIS ADVICE I ARRIVED IN AM COULD START MY ADVANCED STUDIES AT HARVARD.

YEARS LATER I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS OFFERED ME OPPORTUNITIES I NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD IN ENGLAND.

I GREW UP POOR, WITH A VERY DISTINCTIVE WORKING CLASS ACCENT IN ENGLAND THIS WOULD HAVE IMPEDE MID ADVANCEMENT.

THIS BACKGROUND NEVER SET ME BACK IN AMERICA.

FOR THE BEST PART OF THREE DECADE I BILL A CAREER AS A NON-PARTISAN, NON-POLITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY PROFESSIONAL FOCUSING ON EUROPE AND EURASIA AND FORMER SOVIET UNION.

I SERVED UNDER PRESIDENTS BUSH, BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I WAS THE SENIOR EXPERT ON RUSSIA AND THE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS INCLUDING UKRAINE.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE I WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2017.

AT THE NSC RUSSIA WAS PART OF MY PORTFOLIO BUT WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING U.S. POLICY FOR ALL OF WESTERN EUROPE, ALL OF EASTERN EUROPE INCLUDING UKRAINE AND TURKEY, ALONG WITH NATO AND THE EUROPEAN EUROPE.

I WAS HIRED BY NN MICHAEL FLYNN, KATY McFARLAND AND AGAIN KEITH KELLOGG BUT STARTED WORK IN APRIL 2017 TEN McMASTER IT WAS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR.

THEY THOUGHT I COULD HELP WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATED GOAL OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA WHILE STILL IMPLEMENTING POLICIES DESIGNED TO DETER RUSSIAN CONDUCT THAT THREATENED THE UNITED STATES.

INCLUDING THE UNPRECEDENTED AND SUCCESSFUL RUSSIAN OPERATION TO INTERFERE IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THIS RELATION TO THE SECOND THING I WANT TO COMMUNICATE.

SOME QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS I HAVE HEARD, SOME OF YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE APPEAR TO BELIEVE THAT RUSSIA AND ITS SECURITY SERVICES DID NOT CONDUCT CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR COUNTRY AND THAT PERHAPS SOMEHOW, FOR SOME REASON, UKRAINE DID.

THIS IS A FICTIONAL NARRATIVE PERPETRATED AND POP GATED BY THE RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES THEMSELVES.

THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH IS THAT RUSSIA WAS THE FOREIGN POWER THAT SYSTEMATICALLY ATTACKED OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN 2016.

THIS IS A PUBLIC CONCLUSION OF OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, CONFIRMED IN BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.

IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE EVEN IF UNDERLYING DETAILS MUST REMAIN CLASSIFIED.

THE IMPACT OF THE SUCCESSFUL 2016 RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN REMAINS EVIDENT TODAY.

OUR NATION IS BEING TORN APART, OUR HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL EXPERT CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE IS BEING UNDERMINDED.

U.S. SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE WHICH CONTINUES TO FACE ARMED RUSSIAN AGGRESSION HAS BEEN POLITICIZED.

THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT GOAL IS TO WELCOME BACK KEN -- WEAKEN OUR COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT PUTIN AND RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES AND TO COUNTER OBJECTIVE IN EUROPE, WHERE MOSCOW WISHES TO REASSERT DOMINANCE.

I DO NOT THINK LONG-TERM CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA ARE DESIRABLE OR INEVITABLE.

I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO SEEK WAYS OF STABILIZING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MOSCOW EVEN AS WE COUNTERTHAT EFFORTS TO HARM US.

RIGHT NOW RUSSIA SECURITY SERVICES AND THEIR PROXIES HAVE GEARED UP TO REPEAT INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO STOP THEM.

THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE NOT PROMOTE POLITICALLY FALSEHOODS THAT ADVANCE RUSSIAN INTERESTS.

AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE AGREED FOR DECADES, UKRAINE IS A VALUED PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

AS I TOLD THE COMMITTEE LAST MONTH I REFUSE TO BE PART OF AN EFFORT TO LEGITIMATIZE A NARRATIVE THAT THE UKRAINE GOVERNMENT IS AN ADVERSITY AND THAT UKRAINE, NOT RUSSIA, ATTACKED US.

THESE FICTIONS ARE HARMFUL EVEN IF SDEP FLOYD FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

PRESIDENT PUTIN AND RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES OFFER LIKE A SUPER PAC, DEPLOY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO WEAPONIZE OUR OWN RESEARCH AND FALSE NARRATIVES.

WHEN WE ARE CONSUMED BY PARTISAN RANCOR WE CANNOT COMBAT THESE EXTERNAL FORCE AS THEY SEEK TO DIVIDE US AGAINST EACH OTHER, DEGRADE INSTITUTIONS AND DESTROY THE FAITH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

I RESPECT THE WORK THAT THIS CONGRESS DOES IN CARRYING OUT CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING THIS INQUIRY AND I AM HERE TO HELP TO YOU THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

IF THE PRESIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE IMPEDES OR SUBVERTS THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FURTHER DOMESTIC POLITICAL OR PERSONAL INTERESTS, THAT'S MORE THAN WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION.

BUT WE MUST NOT LET DOMESTIC POLITICS STOP US FROM DEFENDING OURSELVES AGAINST THE FOREIGN POWERS WHO TRULY WISH US HARM.

I'LL READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE JUST BEEN HEARING REPEAT OF THE TESTIMONY THAT CAME OPENING STATEMENTS THIS MORNING FROM FIONA HILL AND BEFORE HER, DAVID HOLMES, WHO ARE THE CHIEF, THE ONLY WITNESSES TODAY, BEFORE THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AS IT PURSUES THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

AT THIS POINT THE MEMBERS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ARE STILL, AS YOU CAN SEE, FROM OUR LIVE VIDEO, THEY'RE STILL OUT OF THE ROOM, OFF FOR VOTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE ARE TOLD THAT THEY COULD COME BACK IN COMING MINUTES WELL.

DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO BE BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HEARD THIS MORNING, ABOUT YOU WE ALSO ARE HEARING FROM OUR LISA, OUR CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT, THAT LISA, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NEW INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD WITH REGARD TO THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I JUST CAME FROM TALKING TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE FLOOR AS THEY'RE HAVING THOSE VOTES.

AND JUDY, THERE IS CONSENSUS AMONG THE LAWMAKERS THAT WE TALKED TO, DEMOCRATS ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE LIKELY END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

THAT'S NOT A HARD END.

THEY'RE LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT A NEW WITNESS ARISES OR NEW NEED ARISES.

BUT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD AS THOUGH TODAY WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT?

THE COMMITTEE MAY STILL TAKE DEPOSITIONS.

WE HAD A FEW NEW NAMES COME UP BEHIND, IN TESTIMONY THIS WEEK.

THEY MAY STILL TRY TO GET CLOSED DOOR TESTIMONY.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF BELIEF THAT EVEN THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT MAINLY THE COMMITTEE WILL PROBABLY FOCUS ON, I'M TOLD, WRITING ITS REPORT, COMING UP WITH ITS CONCLUSIONS.

THAT REPORT WOULD GO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND PEOPLE MAY REMEMBER THAT THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LIKELY WILL HAVE ITS OWN PUBLIC HEARINGS.

BUT JUDY, I WANT TO STRESS, I THINK THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL NOT LOOK LIKE THESE.

I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.

THEY TOLD ME THE PROMINENT DEMOCRAT, THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A NEED TO RECALL THESE WITNESSES AGAIN BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

INSTEAD THAT COMMITTEE WILL MORE LIKELY HAVE A HEARING ABOUT WHATEVER FINDINGS THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HAD, MAYBE BRING IN STAFF FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS IT THAT WAY.

IF THEY CALL WITNESSES IN THE NEXT ROUND, THE JUDICIARY PHASE, IT WOULD BE ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TOPIC LIKE PERHAPS THE MUELLER REPORT, WHICH IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING IN TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT LIED IN HIS TESTIMONY IN SOME ASPECT OF WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THE MUELLER REPORT AND THE ROGER STONE CASE, A LOT OF COMPLICATING FACTORS.

THIS IS ALL TO SAY VIEWERS SHOULD KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY, THIS PUBLIC TESTIMONY, IS VERY LIKELY THE LAST PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF FACT WITNESSES WHEN IT COMES TO EVIDENCE ON THE UKRAINE ISSUE AND THE PRESIDENT.

>> Woodruff: THAT'S VERY INTERESTING, LISA, BECAUSE THAT DOES SUGGEST POSSIBLY A FASTER TIMETABLE THAN SOME HAD BEEN SPECULATING.

I THINK A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAD SAID THIS WAS GOING TO GO IN THE HOUSE THROUGH THE END OF 2019, THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE PERHAPS IN 2020 IF THERE WERE A HOUSE VOTE, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD BE PART OF THE PROCESS HERE FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

THEN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE WHERE THE MEMBERS WOULD DISCUSS, TAKE VOTES, AND THEN IF THERE WERE AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD GO TO THE SENATEMENT BUT LISA, MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN THIS PROCESS FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE?

>> WELL, IT DEPEND FRANKLY ON WHICH PARTY YOU ASK.

IF YOU TALK TO DEMOCRATS THEY WILL SAY, THIS IS COMING FROM HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI HERSELF, SHE WILL SAY THIS IS A MATTER OF AN INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATION, IT HAS TO DO FROM A COMPLAINT THAT CAME FROM A MEMBER OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, ANONYMOUS WHISTLEBLOWER.

AND THAT IS WHY IT NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

IT IS UNUSUAL, JUDY, BECAUSE IN PAST IMPEACHMENT INQUIRIES AND WE HAVE HAD SO MANY, WE HAVE ONLY HAD TWO IN MODERN TIMES, IN THE PAST, IN THE CLINTON IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND IN THE NIXON IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, IN BOTH OF THOSE CASE THERE'S WAS ALREADY AN OUTSIDE PROSECUTOR OUTSIDE OF CONGRESS, FORMED A REPORT, PRESENTED THAT TO CONGRESS.

THAT PROSECUTOR DID THE INVESTIGATING.

HERE THERE IS NO PROSECUTOR.

HOUSE INTELLIGENCE IS TAKING ON THAT INVESTIGATING ROLE ITSELF.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S INSERTED AN EXTRA COMMITTEE PROCESS IN THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.

REPUBLICANS CRY FOUL.

THEY THINK THAT IS NOT FAIR.

THEY THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, QUESTION WITNESSES, BRING WITNESSES.

BUT WHAT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IS DOING HERE IS INVESTIGATING.

THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ROLE THEY ARE TASKED WITH IMPEACHMENT ITSELF.

THAT IS THE COMMITTEE THAT WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT OR NOT.

THEY ALSO HAVE A ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUELLER REPORT BECAUSE THAT IS IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

THIS INTELLIGENCE MATTER, DEMOCRATS SAY, SHOULD GO WITH THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, PART OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE MAJORITY, DEMOCRATS OF COURSE IN THE MAJORITY AND CHAIRING THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SO THEY WOULD BE DETERMINING THE RULES.

BUT THERE IS SOME PRECEDENT FOR RULES IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND HOW THEY WOULD PROCEED.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

NOW, THE RULES AS FAR AS THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WERE BASICALLY SET BY A VOTE OF DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS OBJECT TO THEM.

THE RULES WHEN IT COMES TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ARE MORE SIMILAR, IN FACT ALMOST EXACTLY SIMILAR TO RULES MADE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY IN WATERGATE AND WITH THE CLINTON IMPEACHMENT.

THOSE RULES DO ALLOW FOR THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE COUNSEL PRESENT, THE PRESIDENT TO CALL WITNESSES, THE PRESIDENT TO CROSS EXAMINE WITNESSES, TO OBJECT, IT'S ALMOST A MORE FORMAL SETTING.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE REPUBLICANS WILL RAISE THE FACT THAT CORE WITNESSES ARE BEING CALLED NOW BY INTELLIGENCE AND THESE CORE WITNESSES MAY NOT APPEAR WHEN JUDICIARY GETS TO THE HEART OF THIS CASE AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THEY WILL RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW IF THE PRESIDENT WILL SEND AN ATTORNEY ONCE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY BRINGS UP THIS MATTER AS WE EXPECT IT TO.

BUT THE DUE PROCESS ELEMENTS, THOSE ALL COME IN TO PLAY WHEN HOUSE JUDICIARY TAKES THIS UP.

THEY ARE NOT YET IN PLAY AS FAR AS THIS PROCESS, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE.

>> Woodruff: QUICKLY, LISA, TIMING, WHEN IT GOES TO THE JUDICIARY, I KNOW YOU SAID THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW.

ANY IDEA WHEN THAT COULD OCCUR?

>> YOU KNOW, I LOVE GAMING THESE THINGS OUT.

I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT:THIS IS WHAT I THINK, JUDY.

I THINK IF THEY ARE FINISHING PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK IN INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, I DON'T THINK IT SPEEDS UP THE TIME LINE SO MUCH AS IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE OF ACTUALLY FINISHING ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IN THE HOUSE ITSELF THIS YEAR BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, NOW HOUSE INTELLIGENCE HAS TO WRITE A REPORT AND THERE'S A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY COMING UP, SO THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TIME TO DO THAT.

LET'S SAY THEY GIVE THE REPORT TO HOUSE JUDICIARY THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER, WHICH SEEMS DOABLE.

THEN HOUSE JUDICIARY ITSELF HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF HEARINGS DOES IT WANT?

DOES IT WANT TO PURSUE ANY ELEMENT OF THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION AND PRESIDENTIAL PERJURY?

THIS WILL BE A REAL FACTOR FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN HEARINGS.

THEN, JUDY,THEY ALSO HAVE A SEPARATE, WHAT CALLED A MARKUP WHERE THEY DO A LINE EDIT OF ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT THAT.

COULD TAKE ONE DAY, THAT COULD TAKE FIVE DAYS.

IT'S REALLY UP TO THE COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WANT A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN JUST A FEW DAYS.

WE'LL SEE.

ALL OF THAT JUST LEADS TO A POTENTIAL HOUSE FLOOR VOTE, THAT SORT OF WEEK OF DECEMBER 18.

I THINK THIS KEEPS THEM ON TRACK FOR THAT GOAL.

>> Woodruff: WOW.

WELL, EVERYBODY IS QUICKLY LOOKING AT CALENDARS.

LISA, YOU HAVE BEEN DO DOING YEO-WOMANS WORK, IF THERE IS SUCH A WORD.

YOU'RE LOSING YOUR VOICE.

GO DRINK SOME HOT TEA, TRY A LOZENGE.

HEARING THIS TIMETABLE, IS THAT GOOD NEWS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE?

HOW ARE THEY ABSORBING THIS NEW INFORMATION?

>> WELL, LISA WAS REALLY LAYING OUT THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE DEMOCRAT STRATEGY FOR HOW THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID THEY WANT THIS TO MOVE QUICKLY BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS THERE'S A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR AND IN SOME WAYS DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT BUTTING UP AGAINST IT T WHITE HOUSE WANTS THE SAME THING, WHICH IS THAT THEY WANT THE, THE WHITE HOUSE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS IT MIGHT HELP THE PRESIDENT IF THIS XEECHLT INQUIRY OR TRIAL IS GOING ON IN THE SENATE, IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY OR TRIAL GOING ON IN THE SENATE, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

THE WHITE HOUSE OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN THAT MAYBE THIS GIST TO PROLONG IT AND TO HAVE IT GO IN TO, THIS IS GOOD TO PROLONG IT, GO IN TO NEXT YEAR.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN FOCUSSED ON THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

THE GOAL FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THE TIME WAS KEEP HIM OCCUPIED ON THE BUSINESS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE RUNNING THE COUNTRY, FOREIGN POLICY AND NOT TO BE FOCUSSED ON THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN SO FOCUSSED ON THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, TWEETING ABOUT IT, TALKING ABOUT IT, EVEN AS HE'S TRYING TO TALK ABOUT GUN POLICY OR TRADE WARS OR OTHER THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT, HE ALWAYS GOES BACK TO THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

I THINK THAT THE WHITE HOUSE ESSENTIALLY WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE OVER QUICKLY EVEN AS THEY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO STRETCH ON.

>> Woodruff: AND YAMICHE, IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR, IS THIS EXPECTED IN ANY WAY TO CHANGE THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THIS I THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FLEXIBLE.

I REMEMBER LAST YEAR WILLIAM AND I, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, WE SPENT CHRISTMAS COVERING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

I THINK THAT IN THIS CASE, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SOMEONE REALLY FOCUSSED ON OPTICS.

WHAT HE THINKS LOOKS GOOD FOR HIM IS WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

WHEN IT COMES TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, NANCY PELOSI AND MITCH McCONNELL, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WENT HOME.

THE PRESIDENT STAYED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, I STAYED AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH HIM DURING CHRISTMAS.

I THINK IN SOME WAYS IF THIS STRETCHES ON THE PRESIDENT MIGHT WANT TO MAKE A SHOW OF BEING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SAYING LOOK, I HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING BACK AGAINST THESE DEMOCRATS.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS RESPONDING IN REAL TIME HERE.

WE HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE POINTING TO DIRECTLY FIONA HILL'S TESTIMONY.

FIONA HILL TOLD LAWMAKERS TODAY THAT RUSSIA WANTS TO DELEGITIMATIZE THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING THAT DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING IN TO RUSSIA'S HANDS THAT AS THEY GO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AS THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS TO HELP RUSSIA, THAT IS IN AND OF ITSELF PLAYING IN TO THE HANDS OF RUSSIA.

>> Woodruff: IN WHAT WAY?

HOW ARE THEY SAYING THAT THAT'S THE CASE?

>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, THE ARGUMENT THEY'RE MAKING IS THAT THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS DeLEGITIMATIZING THE PRESIDENT AND I WOULD SAY LOOKING DOWN, THEY'RE QUOTING SOME PEOPLE, SOME LAWMAKERS, SAYING THAT NANCY PELOSI ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT OF BEING AN IMPOSTER.

REPRESENTATIVE SCHIFF SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP MIGHT BE COMPROMISED BY RUSSIA MUCH THEY GO ON AND ON TO QUOTE DEMOCRATS, SAYING HE MIGHT BE PLAYING IN TO THE HANDS OF RUSSIA WITH HIS FOREIGN POLICY AND THEN SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND ACTIONS, TRYING TO PRESSURE UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE JOE BIDEN.

THEY'RE MAKING THE CASE THAT DEMOCRATS IN QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM WAS DOING, WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG WHEN IT CAME TO PRESSURING UKRAINE, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS ACTUALLY PLAYING IN TO THE HANDS OF RUSSIA.

DEMOCRATS WOULD SAY THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE REALLY TWISTING FIONA HILL'S WORDS AND NOT SAYING THE TRUTH AND MISLEADING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE STANCE, THE CLAIM THEY'RE MAKING.

>> BEFORE I LET YOU GO, YAMICHE, STEPPING BACK, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, KELLYANNE CONWAY SAID IT IN SO MANY WORD LAST NIGHT, THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE THESE HEARINGS ARE HELPING THEM, THAT THEY'RE GAVEL GALVANIZING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THAT?

IF THAT'S THE CASE, MAYBE THE WHITE HOUSE IS DISAPPOINTED THE HEARINGS ARE ENDING.

>> POSSIBLY.

THE ARGUMENT THAT WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE ALWAYS MADE TO ME LONG BEFORE THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY GOT STARTED, THE ARGUMENT THEY TOLD ME WAS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY OR IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD HELP HIM BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE HIS SUPPORTERS GALVANIZE, MOTIVATE THEM TO REELECT HIM IN 2020.

BUT THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE DOES NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, THAT HE THINKS THIS IS HURTING HIM AND HE THINKS THIS IS NOW UNDERMINING HIM AND PLAYING IN TO THE HANDS OF RUSSIA.

I THINK THAT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY DIG DEEPER THAN WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS YOU GET TO A PRESIDENT WHO IS VERY NERVOUS THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY COULD MAKE HIM LOOK BAD, THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY COULD HAVE HIM, SUBURBAN WHITE WOMEN, THOSE WOMEN MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AGAIN IF HE'S SEEN AS OUT OF MORAL CHARACTER.

I SHOULD SAY I HAVE TALKED TO TRUMP SUPPORTERS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE PRESIDENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND THE JUDICIAL NOMINATION THAT HE'S DONE.

BUT THEY ALSO ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS SEEN AS SOMEONE WHO IS ONE IMPROMPTU AND TWO, SOMEONE WHO IS NOT REALLY SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH THE BEST PEOPLE.

RUDY GIULIANI IS SOMEONE THAT JOHN BOLTON THOUGHT OF HIM AS A HAND GRENADE, WHERE IS HIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY IN UKRAINE.

THERE ARE REAL ISSUES WITH TRUMP SUPPORTERS, QUESTIONING THE PRESIDENT'S JUDGMENT.

>> Woodruff: YAMICHE, STAYING ON TO KNOW OF ALL OF THIS FROM HER POST JUST OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

I WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AND LISA AS THE DAY GOES ON AS THIS HEARING GOES.

WITH ME AT THE TABLE IN OUR PBS NEWSHOUR STUDIO, NICK SCHIFRIN, MIEKE WORKED ON THE STAFF OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

STEWART BAKER, WORKED AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITIMENT I'M ABSORBING WHAT WE HEARD FROM LISA ABOUT THE TIMETABLE HERE, THAT THIS MAY BE THE LAST DAY OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THAT SAYS OF COURSE TO US, UP TO READ THAT AS SAYING THE DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE, IN THE MAJORITY, BELIEVE THAT THESE WITNESSES MADE THE CASE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY VERY MUCH HAVE BEEN ARGUING THEY HAVE A CASE THAT AMOUNTS TO A REASON TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> WE GET IN TO THE KIND OF WHAT'S NEW IN THE LAST HOUR OR HOW IS THIS WITNESS DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST FEW?

BUT IF WE WERE TO STEP BACK AND REALLY JUST EXAMINE WHAT THE CASES THAT THE WITNESSES HAVE BEEN CALLED, HAVE BEEN MAKING, THERE IS A BOTTOM LINE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SUGGEST, WHICH THAT IS THERE WAS A NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST SUBVERTED, FOR WHATEVER REASON, BY WHOEVER, FOR THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL BENEFIT.

AND THAT IS THAT THERE WAS A UKRAINE POLICY THAT EXISTED UP UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WAS ROBUST SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IN TERMS OF ITS MILITARY AND ROBUST SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE OVERALL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE SPRING THAT WENT AWAY.

AND THAT INSTEAD UKRAINE TO GET CONTINUED MILITARY AID NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE, IT NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE 2016, NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE THE LARGEST ENERGY COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY, BURISMA, WHERE HUNTER BIDEN WAS ON THE BOARD.

AND IN ORDER TO GET ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WAS U.S. POLICY AND U.S.

PRIORITIES, IT WOULD HAVE TO CONDUCT THOSE INVESTIGATIONS AND THAT EFFORT LED BY RUDY GIULIANI VIA THE PRESIDENT ACCORDING TO GORDON SONDLAND AND WITNESSES AND WITNESSES TODAY.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING EVEN THOUGH WE ARE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON SOME OF THESE LITTLE DETAILS AND WHAT'S NEW, OVERALL PICTURE IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO DO AND IS WHAT STRINGS ALONG THROUGH MANY OF THESE WITNESSES.

>> Woodruff: OUR CAMERA IS IN THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM AT THE CAPITOL.

I THINK WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

IT APPEARS THAT THE WITNESSES HAVE COME BACK TO THE TABLE, FIONA HILL, DAVID HOLMES.

YOU SEE THE CAMERA PEOPLE SNAPPING AWAY.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK AS IF MANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE BACK YET, THE CHAIR, ADAM SCHIFF, RANKING REPUBLICAN DEVIN NUNES DON'T APPEAR TO BE IN THEIR SEATS.

MAYBE THEY'RE STANDING OUTSIDE, COMING IN TOGETHER.

THAT'S NORMALLY NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE AND WILL GO BACK TO THE HEARING ROOM AS SOON AS THEY TAKE THEIR PLACES.

THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A BREAK THAT'S LASTED WELL OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF AS THEY TAKE VOTES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING IN THE EFFECT, THIS IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE THINK WE HAVE NOW MADE THE CASE, HAVE THEY MADE THE CASE?

HAVE WE SEEN, IF YOU PUT ALL THESE WITNESSES TOGETHER, THE DOCUMENTS, THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY PRESENTED, DOES IT AMOUNT TO A CASE THAT COULD BE WHAT THEN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WOULD TAKE UP AND TURN IN TO A BILL OF IMPEACHMENT?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS THINK THAT AND THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT CASE.

THE PRESIDENT BEING EXPLICIT SIN DELEGATION OF UKRAINE POLICY, TELLING OFFICIAL PEOPLE YOU NEED TO WORK WITH RUDY GIULIANI WHEN THEY COME BACK FROM ZELENSKY INAUGURATION.

THEN THEY GO AND THEY WORK WITH GIULIANI.

GIULIANI VIEWS ON THIS ARE VERY CLEAR.

THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ARTICULATES THOSE TERMS TO ZELENSKY ON THE PHONE IN JULY.

I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WITNESSES WHO CAN TESTIFY TO THAT CASE AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, ROB BEGG VITCH WENT TO JAIL ON FAR LESS.

HE DIDN'T EVEN CONVEY HIS REQUEST TO ANYONE.

HERE WE HAVE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF THE REQUEST BEING CONVEYED DIRECTLY TO THE UKRAINIANS, TEXT CHANGE OF AN OFFICIAL ACT FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF A PERSONAL BENEFIT.

>> Woodruff: HE WAS CONVICTED ON BRIBERY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CASE?

>> I THINK THE BEST THEY CAN GET HERE IS AN INCOMPLETE, THE BEST GRADE.

WHAT WE HEARD FROM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, EVERYONE WAS IN THE LOOP.

NAMED ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THE DECISION PROCESS, AS HE SAW IT, GIULIANI, POMPEO, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, BOLTON.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANY OF THEM.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM ANY OF THEM.

CLOSING DOWN THE HEARINGS AT THIS POINT FEELS AS THOUGH THIS WAS A SHOW AND THIS IS THE BEST SHOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS COULD PUT ON.

BUT IT IS I THINK THREE WEEKS FROM NOW PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THESE HEARINGS THE WAY THEY TALK ABOUT ROBERT MUELLER'S APPEARANCE TO TALK ABOUT HIS REPORT.

SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT TELEVISION AND WHICH TURNED OUT NOT TO CHANGE A LOT OF MIND.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WHO STARTED THIS UNCONVINCED IS CONVINCED.

>> Woodruff: AS WE WATCH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS START TO DRIFT BACK IN TO THE ROOM, MIEKE, FOR YOU, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S MORE THAN A SHOW.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I DO THINK IT'S MORE THAN A SHOW.

I THINK THAT THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIRECT EVIDENCE FROM THE PRESIDENT SPELLING OUT TERMS OF THE CRIME THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO ACCUSE HIM OF IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE, INSTANCE WHERE'S YOU SEE IN ORGANIZED CRIME CASE WHERE'S THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION DOESN'T SAY SPECIFICALLY THIS IS THE CRIMINAL ACT THAT I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO COMMIT AND GET ON BOARD WITH.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO VERY DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLITICS AND OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DISENTANGLED, IN FACT IT'S ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN THAT POLITICAL ACTIVITY UNDER HATCH ACT.

THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ENGAGE IN SEPARATION OF THOSE TWO ACTIVITIES.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS CONFLATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AND OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENCY WITH TRUMP AS A PERSON.

WE SEE THIS EVEN EARLIER THE PRESIDENT BEING AGGRIEVED AND WANTING TO TAKE OUT ON UKRAINE HIS FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THEY CRITICIZED HIM.

HE CANNOT SEPARATE A POLICY DIFFERENCE FROM PERSONAL CRITICISM AND HE REACTS ON THE PERSONAL.

THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE WAY OUR GOVERNMENT IS DESIGNED.

>> WE ARE SEEING TRUMP THE MAN IN FULL AND IT'S THE SAME TRUMP WE HAVE BEEN SEEING.

HOW MANY TIMES DID HE PULL OUT OF SYRIA AND WE'RE STILL THERE?

PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND WE'RE STILL THERE.

HE HAS NOT MADE A DECISION UNTIL HE'S MADE A DECISION.

THIS GOING TO BE THE DEFENSE HERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MONEY AND THE AID AND WEAPONS WENT TO UKRAINE.

HE'S COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM, BUT HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING.

JUST AS HE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SOMEBODY SHOULD FIRE MUELLER AND YET MUELLER WAS NEVER FIRED.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE RIGHT, THE MONEY FLOWED.

IT DID, BUT IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNED, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO WHAT I KNOW,1 LEARNED THAT CONGRESS, THAT THERE HAD BEEN A WHISTLEBLOWER, THE INFORMATION WAS OUT THERE ABOUT THIS ALLEGED QUID PRO QUO.

>> WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE.

IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE HE WOULD HAVE JUST COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND LET IT HAPPEN ANYWAY AS HE HAS DONE WITH THE SYRIAN TROOPS AND AFGHAN TROOPS, NOT FIRING MUELLER.

HE TALKS A LOT AND THREATENS A LOT AND HAS AN INSTINCT FOR SELF-PRESERVATION THAT PULLS IT BACK FROM THE BRINK EVERY TIME.

>> Woodruff: WHY CAN'T WE WRITE THIS OFF TO THIS IS PRESIDENT TRUMP AGAIN BEING A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRESIDENT?

>> WHAT WE ACTUALLY SAW IN THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION WAS NOT THAT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF PULLED BACK BUT WE SAW THE PRESIDENT AIDES WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO PREVENT THE INFORMATION FROM FLOWING, TO PREVENT THE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE FROM HAPPENING, TO SAY WAIT, I RECOGNIZE THIS IS WRONG AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD ON THIS.

WE SEE THAT AGAIN HERE IN THIS.

THE REPUBLICANS IN THE WAYS THEY'RE ARGUING HAVE BASICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HAD IT GONE THROUGH, HAD THE DEAL GONE THROUGH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WRONG AND CORRUPT.

WHAT WE SAW HERE IS THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS CAUGHT OUT IN WITHHOLDING AID.

HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WERE THE ONES WHO SAID WAIT A MINUTE, WE AUTHORIZED THIS EIGHT TO UKRAINE.

WHY AREN'T YOU LET, WE AUTHORIZED THIS AID TO UKRAINE.

IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT THAT ZELENSKY PULLED BACK FROM THE CNN INTERVIEW WHERE HE WAS PREPARED TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INVESTIGATION IN TO BURISMA AND THE BIDENS.

SO ONLY AT THE 11th HOUR BECAUSE OF REPORTING THAT OCCURRED THAT THE AID WAS BEING WITHHELD THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO PULL BACK AND THE DEAL WAS OFF.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE SITUATION HASN'T CHANGED FOR UKRAINE AND THEY COULD MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT LATER ON.

THE PRESSURE STILL EXISTS FOR THEM.

RUSSIA STILL OCCUPYING HALF THEIR TERRITORY.

>> Woodruff: NICK, WHAT MIEKE IS SAYING GOES BACK TO SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN A TESTIMONY, AND AGAIN TODAY, ABOUT AT SOME POINT THE UKRAINIANS DID KNOW THE AID WAS BEING HELD UP AND THEY LEARNED IN PRESS REPORTS THAT SOMEBODY WAS SPEAKING UP ON THEIR BEHALF.

BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE WATCHED THE FITS AND STARTS OF THIS RELATIONSHIP OVER THE LAST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS.

>> YEAH, AID WAS HEM UP AS FAR AS ANYBODY COULD TELL ON JULY 9.

BY MID-JULY WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES SAYING THAT THEY BELIEVED THE UKRAINIAN EMBASSY HERE IN WASHINGTON KNEW ABOUT THAT.

WE HAD LAURA COOPER TESTIFYING TO THAT LAST NIGHT.

NO SPECIFICS IN THE E-MAILS SHE CITED BUT SHE SAID THE UKRAINIANS WERE ASKING ABOUT IT AND THEY HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

SO SHE BELIEVES THAT THE UKRAINIANS HERE IN WASHINGTON KNEW AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL VINDMAN, NSC STAFF DIRECTOR FOR UKRAINE ALSO SAYING THE EMBASSY HERE REACHED OUT TO HIM ON THE NSC STAFF AND SAID WHAT'S GOING ON THE WITH AID?

THE DIPLOMATS IN KIEV SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW OR THAT UKRAINE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL LATE AUGUST.

THE REASON ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARGUE THE PRESIDENT ARGUES THAT PUBLICLY PRESIDENT IS MEETING NEVER SAID THAT HE FELT SOMEHOW PRESSURED TO THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

AND PUBLICLY THEY NEVER SAID THEY KNEW THE AID WAS HELD UP.

SO THE REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT IS WELL, IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL PRESSURED AND DIDN'T KNOW THE AID WAS HELD UP, HOW CAN IT BE A QUID PRO QUO?

THERE IS STILL A DEBATE EVERY AFTER ALL THESE HOURS AND THOUSAND OF PAGES OF DEPOSITIONS DEBATE WHEN THE UKRAINIANS KNEW.

>> Woodruff: THAT GETS, THAT'S THE DEBATE WE COME BACK TO.

WE'RE KEEPING ONE EYE ON CHAIRMAN SCHIFF.

HE IS IN HIS CHAIR EVEN IF A NUMBER OF THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE NOT.

BUT IT'S WHEN HIS GAVEL GOES DOWN THAT THE HEARING WILL GET UNDERWAY AND WE'LL GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE ROOM.

BUT COME BACK TO THAT QUID PRO QUO AND WHETHER THERE IS OR IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT IT EXISTED.

>> THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT CAME OUT TODAY IN THESE HEARINGS, SORT OF MIXED.

YOU HAVE GORDON SONDLAND SAYING I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT.

HE SAID NO QUID PRO QUO.

BUT I SORT OF THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

CERTAINLY IS HARD TO SAY YEAH, WE HAVE AN AIRTIGHT CASE, PARTICULARLY IN A PRESIDENT WHO SAYS A LOT OF THINGS AND WHO MAY NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEM.

>> Woodruff: MIEKE, SAME QUESTION.

>> I THINK THERE'S CLEARLY A QUID PRO QUO THAT WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE UKRAINIANS, THAT GORDON SONDLAND WHO COMMUNICATED THE QUID PRO QUO BELIEVED THAT WAS THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT EXPLICITLY SAYING YOU NEED TO WORK WITH RUDY GIULIANI.

WE HAVE THE STATE DEPARTMENT TELLING UKRAINIANS THIS IS HOW YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH GIULIANI, HE'S THE ONE TO HELP BREAK THIS LOGJAM.

WHETHER THE QUID PRO QUO WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS CERTAINLY COMMUNICATED.

AND ATTEMPTED BRIBERY IS STILL A CRIME.

THE ATTEMPT ITSELF IS ENOUGH OF AN INDICATION OF CORRUPTION.

LOOK, ROB BAGOY VITCH WENT TO JAIL.

KNOWING I WILL CONDITION AN ACT OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO BROADEN THE ANALOGY HERE.

NICK SCHIFRIN WE ARE WATCHING FOR THE HEARING AND IT MAY COME AT ANY SECOND NOW.

THE CAMERAS ARE CLICKING AWAY.

WHAT MORE DO WE THINK THESE WITNESSES CAN OFFER?

THEY'VE MADE THEIR STATEMENTS.

WE'VE HEARD INITIAL QUESTIONING BY THE DEMOCRATS.

NOW COMES THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE REPUBLICAN COUNSEL PRESUMABLY WILL DO THE IMHEPS.

>> RIGHT, SO I'LL TRY AND DO THIS QUEJ.

THE ONE THING WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET, WHAT FIONA HILL SPECIFICALLY SAYS RUDY GIULIANI'S CPTS ONE A DEBATE BETWEEN FIONA HILL AND THE REPUBLICANS AND PERHAPS DAVID HOLMES AS WELL AS TO WHETHER THE UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS DID TRY AND INFLUENCE 2016 AND WERE AGAINST CANDIDATE TRUMP EVEN IF THAT OPPOSITION WAS AGAINST CANDIDATE TRUMP'S POLICIES.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK HER ON THAT.

AND THEN ALSO THE AMBIGUITY THAT STEWART TALKED ABOUT RIGHT?

YOU HAD GORDON SONDLAND USE THE WORD I PRESUMED A QUID PRO QUO IN THE MILITARY AID.

YOU HEARD DAVID HOLMES TODAY SAY I UNDERSTOOD THIS MEANT BURISMA-BIDEN.

THERE IS AMBIGUITY THERE.

AND THE REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT WILL BE YOU'RE NOT HEARING IT DIRECTLY AND THEREFORE THIS IS HEARSAY UNDER AND SOMEHOW MADE-UP EVIDENCE.

>> Woodruff: HEARSAY AND THEN WE COME BACK TO THE QUESTION HOA LEGAL STANDARD THAT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO AS THEY MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH IMPEACHMENT.

ALL RIGHT, I'M TRYING TO READ HIS FACE.

TO SEE WHETHER HE IS PREPARED TO GAVEL THE ROOM, GAVEL THE COMMITTEE TO ORDER, AND TO PROCEED WITH THIS NEXT PHASE OF THE HEARING.

THEY'VE TAKEN A BREAK NOW.

WE'RE ALMOST RUNNING ON TWO HOURS THAT THEY'VE BEEN AWAY FOR VOTES.

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

AND HERE WE GO.

>> CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE RANKING MEMBER, OR THEIR COUNSEL FOR FIRST ROUND OF THEIR 45-MINUTE QUESTIONS.

>> THANK THE GENTLEMAN.

I WANT TO GET A FEW PAISK FACTS ON THE STABLE OF INDIVIDUALS -- BASIC FACTS ON THE TABLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

JUST TO SEE WHO YOU KNOW AND WHO YOU'VE MET WITH.

SO I'LL START WITH YOU, MR. HOLMES.

HAVE YOU MET WITH OR DO YOU KNOW ALEXANDRIA CHALUPA?

>> NO.

>> DO YOU KNOW NELLY ORR, HAVE YOU MET WITH NELLY ORR, BRUCE ORR?

>> NO.

>> GLENL SIMPSON.

>> NO.

>> SAME QUESTION FOR YOU DR. HILL.

HAVE YOU MET WITH OR KNOW ALEXANDER ARE CHALUPA?

NO.

>> BRUCE ORR,.

>> IN MY POSITION, HE ATTENDED SOME OF THE MEETINGS I PRESIDED OVER.

>> YEARS AGO?

>> THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO, CORRECT.

>> GLEN SIMPSON?

>> NO.

>> DR. HILL, IN YOUR TESTIMONY YOU SAID THAT -- IN YOUR DEPOSITION, EXCUSE ME, THAT CHRISTOPHER STEELE WAS YOUR COUNTERPART AT ONE TIME, IS THIS CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> YOU TESTIFIED YOU MET WITH CHRISTOPHER STEELE IN 2016, I ASSUME THAT'S STILL CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> AND THE ONLY THING WE DIDN'T GET ON THAT IS, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHEN THAT WAS IN 2016 AND HOW MANY TIMES?

>> I'M AFRAID I DON'T.

I ACTUALLY MET WITH HIM -- YOU ASKED ME ACTUALLY IN THE DEPOSITION WHEN THE MOST RECENT TIME THAT I HAD MET WITH HIM IN 2016.

AND HE RETIRED FROM THE BRITISH INTELLIGENCE SERVICES IN 2009 WHICH IS THE SAME TIME -- >> I'M ASKING ABOUT 2016.

>> 2016 I DON'T RECALL.

BUT I DID MEET WITH HIM SOME TIMES BEFORE 2016.

>> BUT YOU DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE?

>> I DON'T, I'M AFRAID, NO.

>> OKAY.

YOU STATED IN YOUR DEPOSITION THAT A COLLEAGUE HAD SHOWED YOU THE STEELE DOSSIER BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED.

WHO WAS THAT COLLEAGUE?

>> THAT WAS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION.

>> AND WHO WAS THAT?

>> THAT WAS THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESIDENT STROBE TALBERT WHO HAD BEEN SHOWN A COPY OF THIS.

>> AND HE SHARED A COPY OF THAT WITH YOU?

>> THE DAY BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED IN BUZZFEED.

>> YOU MENTIONED ALSO IN YOUR DEPOSITION THAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A -- EXACT QUOTE -- THAT THE DOSSIER WAS A RABBIT HOLE, IS THAT STILL YOUR TESTIMONY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHO PAID CHRISTOPHER STEELE TO DO -- TO GENERATE THE STEELE DOSSIERS?

THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THEM?

>> AT THE TIME I DID NOT, NO.

>> Pelley: I UNDERSTAND THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT IT WAS THROUGH GPS FUSION.

IF THAT'S NOT CORRECTLY -- >> THERE WAS A LAW FIRM INVOLVED BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY WAS?

>> I DID NOT AT THE TIME, I DID NOT, NO.

NOW I'VE READ IN REPORTS, AND THANKS TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL THAT IT'S THE DNC AS I'M LEAD TO BELIEVE.

>> AND THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

>> IN CASTOR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME BACK FROM LUNCH.

HOPE YOU HAD SOME SANDWICHES OR SOMETHING DELICIOUS.

>> HOPE DID YOU, TOO.

>> DR. HILL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE DEPOSITION ON OCTOBER 14th, COLUMBUS DAY.

WE WERE WITH YOU MOST OF THE DAY.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

MR. HOLMES, THANK YOU, AS WELL.

YOU'RE A LATE ENTRANT INTO THIS SITUATION.

AND THINGS SURE DID ESCALATE QUICKLY.

WE SPOKE WITH YOU LAST FRIDAY NIGHT ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A 30 SECOND VIGNETTE ABOUT A TWO-MINUTE PHONE CALL.

AND TURNS OUT, YOU KNOW WITH YOUR 40 MINUTE OPENER TODAY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO SHARE.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

DR. HILL, YOUR LAST DAY AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WAS JULY 19th, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> SO YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THE JULY 25th CALL, AND YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED WITH ANY OF THE RELEVANT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PAUSE IN THE AID?

>> I WAS NOT, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND AS OF JULY 19th, DID YOU BELIEVE THAT A CALL WAS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THE 25th?

>> I PERSONALLY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED THAT DAY, NO.

>> AND WHAT WAS THE THINKING AT THE NSC AS OF JULY 19th ABOUT THIS CALL?

>> WELL, I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHER DEPOSITIONS TO BE CLEAR HERE THAT PERHAPS THERE WAS SOME AWARENESS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CALL.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, IF YOU MAY RAWLT, SHARED AN EXCHANGE -- RECALL, SHARED AN EXCHANGE WITH THE PERSON TAKING OVER MY POSITION, TIM MORRISON, IN WHICH HE INDICATED THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CALL COMING UP.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.

THERE WERS DIFFERENCES LET'S JUST SAY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT CALL.

>> WERE YOU IN FAVOR OF SUCH A CALL AS OF THE 19th?

>> WITH ACTUALLY I WAS NOT AND I DID SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT IN THE OPENING PART OF THE SESSIONS TODAY.

>> HOW ABOUT AMBASSADOR BOLTON TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE?

>> I KNOW AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID IN THAT E-MAIL THAT BOLTON WAS IN AGREEMENT.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE BHLT WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT AT THAT PARTICULAR JUNCTURE TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT HIS OPTION WAS?

>> BASED ON THE FACT THAT HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE CALL WAS BEING PROPERLY PREPARED.

AND BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A FULLSOME U.S.-UKRAINIAN AGENDA TO BE DISCUSSED WHICH WAS USUAL WITH THESE CALLS.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT ULTIMATELY A CALL WAS SCHEDULED?

>> I WAS WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT IT THAT'S RIGHT.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANYONE BACK AT YOUR OLD STAFF ABOUT HOW THAT CAME TO BE?

>> I DID NOT, NO.

>> YOU DID LEARN ABOUT THE PAUSE IN THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE AID BEFORE YOU 11th?

>> I LEARNED JULY 18th, THE DAY BEFORE I LEFT, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THERE WERE SEVERAL MEETINGS ABOUT THIS, I BELIEVE YOU TESTIFIED TO?

>> I SAID THAT I KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MEETING, IN THAT TIME FRAME.

AND THERE WAS ONE PUT UNDER THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

BUT OF COURSE I HAD LEFT SO I DIDN'T ATTEND THAT.

>> AND IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT IT STOPS AND STARTS IN AID LIKE THIS SOMETIMES DO HAPPEN?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND I BELIEVE YOU HAD TESTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A FREEZE PUT ON ALL KINDS OF AID AND ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS TRAT, THERE WERE -- AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT REVIEWS OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE GOING ON?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> ABOUT THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE?

>> YES.

>> AS I UNDERSTOOD THERE HAD BEEN A DIRECTIVE FOR A WHOLE SCALE REVIEW OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY ASSISTANCE AND THE TIES BETWEEN OUR FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES AND THE ASSISTANCE.

THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON ACTUALLY FOR MANY MONTHS AND IN THE PERIOD WHEN I WAS WRAPPING UP MY TIME THERE THERE HAD BEEN MORE SCRUTINY THEN SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIC SETS OF COUNTRIES AS A RESULT OF THAT OVERALL REVIEW.

>> AND AT THIS TIME, AS WELL, AMBASSADOR VOLKER, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, THEY HAD BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED WITH UKRAINE POLICY?

>> WELL, AMBASSADOR VOLKER WAS ALWAYS L INVOLVED IN UKRAINE POLICY, AT LEAST SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF GLOARKSES TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IN DONBASS.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT AMBASSADOR VOLKER?

>> HE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHED GLOAM.

HE'S BEEN THE AMBASSADOR TO NATO, HE'S HAD A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AT THE STAICHT AND ACTUALLY I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.

YOU KNOW IN TRUTH TRYING TO GET OTHERS, WHO KNOWS WHO AND WHO'S MET, I KNOW AMBASSADOR VOLKER AS WELL ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

>> YOU SAID HE IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ALWAYS ACTED IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN OF AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S INVOLVEMENT?

>> IT CAME IN DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAYS.

AMBASSADOR WITH SONDLAND HAD SOME ABSOLUTELY LOGICAL INVOLVEMENT IN UKRAINIAN.

THE UKRAINIAN DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA WAS IN A FORMAT KNOWN AS THE MINSC PROCESS AND AMBASSADOR VOLKER WAS FRYING TO FIND OUT WAYS IN WHICH HE COULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FRENCH AND GERMANS ON THE CONFLICT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE EUROPEAN UNION AS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR EUROPE IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND ASSISTANCE WAS HEAVILY ACTIVE IN OFFERING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS HE HUMANITARIANS ASSISTANCE N THE CONFLICT.

IT'S PERFECTLY LOGICAL THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WOULD PLAY SOME PART IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION.

>> WHEN HE PRESENTED TO YOU AS SOMEBODY AS A MAJOR ROLE?

>> I DID AT THE TIME IN WHICH HE PRESENTED IT TO ME.

THIS WAS AFTER AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH HAD BEEN PUSHED OUT OF HER POSITION.

AND IT WAS AT THAT JUNCTURE THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S ROLE SEEMED TO GROW LARGER.

>> AND DID YOU EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS TO HIM DIRECTLY?

>> I DID EXPRESS CONCERNS TO HIM DIRECTLY.

>> AND WHAT WERE THOSE CONCERNS?

>> IN JUNE OF 2019, AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION WHEN I HAD SEEN HE HAD STARTED TO STEP UP IN A MUCH MORE PROACTIVE ROLE IN UKRAINE, WHAT WAS HIS ROLE HERE?

AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS IN CHARGE OF UKRAINE.

AND I SAID WELL WHO PUT YOU IN CHARGE, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND?

HE SAID THE PRESIDENT.

>> DIT SURPRISE YOU WHEN HE SAID THAT?

>> IT DID SURPRISE ME.

WE HAD NO DIRECTIVE.

WE HAD NOT BEEN TOLD THAT.

MR. BOLTON DIDN'T SAY IN ANY WAY HE KNEW THIS.

>> IN A CERTAIN WAY HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A LARGE REMIT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID REMIT.

HE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A VERY BROAD PORTFOLIO WITH THE PRESIDENT.

HE SAID HIS JOBS WAS TO GO OUT AND MAKE DEALS IN EUROPE.

YOU KNOW AS YOURSELF, I LIVED TO HIS TESTIMONY VERY CAREFULLY AS WELL, HE SAID ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE EU ITSELF AND THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES WAS WITHIN HIS PORTFOLIO.

>> WE ASKED AMBASSADOR SONDLAND ABOUT THAT, AROUND HE CONCEDED HE MAY HAVE BEEN SPINNING A LITTLE BIT WHEN HE SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT SPECIFICALLY GAVE HIM THAT ROLE AND HE INDICATED THAT HIS AUTHORITY WAS COMING AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT FROM, MORE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WAS THAT RELATED TO YOU?

>> AT DIFFERENT POINTS HE MENTIONED TALKING DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF MULVANEY AND HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT SECRETARY POMPEO.

BUT HE WAS VERY -- IN FACT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM IN THE MEETING IN WHICH HE ASSERTED THIS TO ME.

THAT IT WAS THE PRESIDENT WHO HAD PUT HIM IN CHARGE OF THIS.

>> WERE YOU ENCOURAGED AS OF YOUR LAST DAY IN THE OFFICE, THAT U.S. POLICY TOWARDS THE UKRAINE WAS HEADED IN THE RITE DIRECTION?

>> I WAS NOT.

>> AND WHY WAS THAT?

>> WELL, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR.

ONE WAS, AGAIN, THE REMOVAL OF OUR AMBASSADOR.

AND AGAIN I WILL SAY FOR THE RECORD THE PRESIDENT HAS A PERFECT RIGHT TO ROOFN ANY AMBASSADOR AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON.

BUT I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HER REPUTATION HAD BEEN MALIGNED REPEATEDLY ON TELEVISION AND ALL KINDS OF EXCHANGES.

I FELT THAT WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

IF THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO REMOVE AN AMBASSADOR, WHICH HE DID QUITE FREQUENTLY, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF AMBASSADORS WHO WERE REMOVED THAT WERE NOT POLITICAL BUT CAREER OFFICIALS, I WONDERED WHAT THAT MESSAGE WAS BEING SENT, WHO WAS THAT?

AND THEN ON THE SECOND FRONT IT WAS VERY CLEAR AT THIS POINT THAT THERE WAS LET'S JUST SAY A DIFFERENT CHANNEL IN OPERATION, IN RELATIONS TO UKRAINE, ONE THAT WAS DOMESTIC AND POLITICAL IN NATURE AND IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE CHANNEL OR THE LOOP HOWEVER YOU LIKE IT THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES WERE IN WHERE WE WERE FOCUSED ON BILATERAL RELATIONS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS UKRAINE.

AND THESE TWO THINGS HAD DIVERGED THEM.

>> IN THE AREA OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH FROM POST DID YOU HAVE ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH STATE DEPARTMENT ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS?

>> I DID CAN.

>> WHO DID YOU RELATE THOSE TO?

>> I I RELATED NIECE DIRECTLY TO MY COWRND PART, UNDERSECRETARY PHIL RIEKE WHO YOU SPOKE TO AND ABOUT LARGER MEETINGS ABOUT MANY ISSUES, I COVERED A BROUGHT PORTFOLIO MYSELF AND WE OFTEN WOULD TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.

AND I HAD PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN.

AND HE OF COURSE HAS APPEARED BEFORE COMMITTEES HERE IN THE COURSE OF HIS NOMINATION TO BE AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA AND HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THAT HIMSELF.

>> OKAY.

AND YOU ADVOCATING TO ALL THOSE OFFICIALS ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE INFORMATION BEING SPREAD ABOUT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH?

>> I DID, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THIS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHANGED COURSES FROM ITS PREDECESSOR AND PROVIDED LEADAL DEFENSE ASSISTANCE TO THE UKRAINE.

WERE YOU IN FAVOR OF ARMING THE UKRAINIANS WITH THE JAVELINS?

>> I WASN'T IN 2016 PRIOR TO THE TIME I JOINED THE GOVERNMENT.

I WROTE AN OPINION PIECE WITH A COLLEAGUE AT THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION ABOUT THAT JUNCTURE.

I WAS CONCERNED AT THAT TIME, THAT THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT WASN'T IN A POINT TO TAKE ON OFFENSIVE WEAPONS AND I WORRIED THERE WAS NOT A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE PLAN GIVEN OVERWHELMING FORCE THAT THE RUSSIANS COULD APPLY AGAINST THE UKRAINIANS.

HOWEVER WHEN I CAME INTO GOVERNMENT IN 2017 AND STARTED TO INTERACT WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE PENTAGON, YOU HAD LAURA COOPER APPEAR YESTERDAY, I REALIZED IN FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK DONE ON THIS AND THERE WAS A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT PLAN FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY LONG TERM OF THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY SO I CHANGED MY MIND.

>> YOU ARE IN FACT I BELIEVE THE ONLY WITNESS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE OPPOSITION TO PROVIDING THE JAVELINS.

AND AS WE UNDERSTAND IT DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THE INTERAGENCY CONSENSUS WAS IN FACT TO PROVIDE THE JAVELINS BUT THEY WERE NOT PROVIDED.

WERE YOU AWARE OF THE DECISION BACK THEN?

>> I WAS.

I THINK IT WAS VERY MUCH MADE ON A POLITICAL BASIS ABOUT CONCERNS THIS WOULD PROVOKE THE RUSSIANS.

DEPENDING ON HOW THIS IS PRESENTED.

WE WERE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT ALSO WHEN THERE WAS THE DISCUSSIONS INTERNALLY ABOUT THE LETHAL DEFENSIVE WEAPONS INSIDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> MR. HOLMES YOU'RE ON THE GROUND IN KIEV.

AND THE JAVELINS HAVE NOW BEEN AUTHORIZED, PROVIDED.

WHAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD, THE U.S. EMBASSY, AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JAVELINS?

>> THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT STRATEGIC DETERRENT.

THEY ARE NOT ACTIVELY EMPLOYED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS NOW BUT WERE THE RUSSIANS TO ADVANCE, THAT THE UKRAINIANS WOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF CAPABILITY, IT DETERS THEM TO DO SO.

AND I SENDS A SYMBOLIC MESSAGE TO THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS AND WE TRUST THEM TO DO IT.

I'D ALSO ADD, THEY'VE OFFERED TO BUY SOME USING THEIR OWN FUNDS.

THE INITIAL TRANCHE WATT BEING PROVIDED THROUGH AN INITIAL, BUT I THINK THEY THINK THRER IMPORTANT.

>> AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR HAS TESTIFIED, MR. KENT HAS TESTIFIED THAT THIS IS IN FACT CONSENSUS OF THE INTERAGENCY PROVIDING THE JACHLINESS.

IS IT THE -- JAVELINS.

IS IT YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AMBASSADOR TAYLOR, WAS HE VERY MUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS?

>> YES.

>> MR. HOLMES, I WANT TO GO BACK TO MARRIAGES.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH SERGEI LESHENKO?

>> YES.

>> HAVE YOU MET WITH HIM?

>> YES I HAVE.

>> HE WAS A JOURNALIST AND IN THE PAIRMT, IS HE CURRENTLY IN THE PARLIAMENT?

>> JOURNALIST AGAIN.

>> ARE YOU AWARE THAT WHEN HE WAS IN THE PARLIAMENT THAT HE HAD PROVIDED INFORMATION TO FUSION GPS OPERATIVE NAMED NELLY ORR?

>> I'M NOT AWARE OF NELLY OR ARE RVETION, NOT AWARE WHO HE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO.

I'M AWARE THAT AS A JOURNALIST HE PROVIDED FORECAST.

>> HE WAS IN THE PARLIAMENT AT THE TIME.

THIS IS IN THE 2016 CAMPAIGN.

HE PROVIDED WIDELY KNOWN AS THE BLACK LEDGER, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A BLACK LEDGER?

>> I HAVE.

>> AND THE BLACK LEDGER IS THAT SEEN AS CREDIBLE FORECAST?

>> YES.

-- INFORMATION?

>> YES.

>> THE BLACK LEDGER IS CREDIBILITY?

>> YES.

>> BOB MUELLER DID NOT FIND IT CREDIBLE.

DO YOU DISPUTE WHAT UPON MUELLER'S FINDINGS IN THE PROSECUTION OR REPORT?

>> I'M NOT AWARE THAT BOB MUELLER DIDN'T FIND IT CREDIBILITY.

ITS CREDIBILITY WAS NOT CONFIRMED IN THOSE PROCEEDINGS.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THAT POINT.

>> THE INFORMATION WAS TO GO AFTER A TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL AND UNDERMINE TRUMP'S CANDIDACY.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT?

>> IF YOU MEAN BY THE RELEASE OF THE BLACK LEDGER I THINK LESCHENKO'S MOSTLY SUNNY WAS THE SAME MOSTLY SUNNY HE HAS ALREADY EXPRESSED WHICH WAS TO EXPOSE CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE.

>> RIGHT YOU ABOUT HE'S ADMITTED THAT MOTIVATION WAS TO PARTLY UNDERMINE THE TRUMP CANDIDACY WHICH HE DID NOT SUPPORT.

>> HE HAS NOT SAID THAT TO ME.

IF HE SAID THAT TO YOU, I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

>> AND YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE -- YOU HEARD DR. HILL'S TESTIMONY, BUT THE STEELE DOSSIER THAT CONTAINED INITIALLY THAT INITIAL INFORMATION THAT WAS FED INTO THE FBI, ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD PAID FOR THAT INFORMATION?

>> SIR, I NEVER HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT DIRECTLY WITH -- >> I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF INVOLVEMENT, NOT EVEN IF YOU KNEW AT THE TIME BUT YOU NOW KNOW TODAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD PAID FOR THAT INFORMATION?

>> SO I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT ALL THAT HAPPENED BEFORE I ARRIVED IN UKRAINE.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FIRSTHAND -- >> I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE STEELE DOSSIER.

>> STILL WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE REARED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THAT.

>> YOU'RE NOT DISPUTING THAT THE DEMOCRATS AND THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN WERE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS THAT FUNDED THE STEELE DOSSIER?

>> I WOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION TO DISPUTE THAT.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE NOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO RUN OPERATIVES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO DIG UP DIRT ON THEIR OPPONENTS?

>> NO.

>> DR. HILL, DO YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO PAY OPERA TIFERS TO DIG UP DIRT ON THEIR OPPONENTS?

>> I DO NOT.

>> MR. CASTOR.

>> TURN TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S INAUGURATION.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER SAID HE WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE SIZE OF THE DELEGATION, EVEN THOUGH THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE TRIP, SECRETARY PERRY AND AMBASSADOR VOLKER, AND IMOAR SONDLAND, I UNDERSTAND DR. HILL THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THE DELEGATION TOGETHER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHAT DID YOU TELL US ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IN ATTENDING OR NOT HE ATTENDING?

OF JENNIFER WILLIAMS FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND I DEFER TO HER AS BEING MUCH CLOSER TO THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ATTENDANCE.

I KNOW THAT I AND MANY OTHERS WOULD BE HOPEFUL THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT COULD ATTEND.

I WAS NOT INVOLVED INTIMATELY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND HIS IMMEDIATE STAFF BUT THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCHEDULE.

AS YOU ALL KNOW THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CANNOT BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL IN THE SAME TIME FRAME.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS QUITE A BIT OF BACK AND FORTH AS TO WHETHER IT WOULD BE REALLY FEFEASIBLE FOR THE VICE PRESIDET TO GO.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT OBVIOUSLY MS. WILLIAMS WAS INVOLVED IN.

>> RIGHT, THE PRESIDENT WAS TRAVELING IN JAPAN AND HE WAS TRAVELING OEUROPE FOR THE D DAY CELEBRATION.

FOUR DAYS AT THE END OF MAY, 59th, 30th, 31st, JUNE 1st.

AND AS IT TURNED OUT, THE UKRAINIANS DECIDED I BELIEVE IT WAS ON MAY 16th, TO SCHEDULE THE INAUGURATION FOR FOUR DAYS LATER.

AND BY THIS POINT IN TIME, THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN REROUTED FOR A TRIP TO CANADA ABOUT THE U.S.MCA.

AND JUST WANT TO ASK YOU WHETHEY EVIDENCE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS ENCOURAGED NOT TO ATTEND, FOR ANY OTHER REASON, DO YOU?

>> I PERSONALLY DO NOT.

BUT AGAIN I DEFER TO MS. WILLIAMS.

>> THE -- AND MS. WILLIAMS TESTIMONY WAS THAT SHE HEARD FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S ASSISTANT THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS NOT ABLE TO GO.

THE LEAP THAT -- THE REASON FOR THAT WAS RELATED TO ANY OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, HASN'T BEEN FULLY ESTABLISHED.

I WANT TO JUST NOTE, FROM THE MATERIALS YOU PROVIDED FOR YOUR DEPOSITION, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WHETHER PRESIDENT ORBAHN MAY HAVE INFLUENCED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION ON THAT MAY 13th DAY.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE MEETING WAS WITH IF THE ORBAHN?

>> I DO.

>> WHEN WAS THAT?

>> THAT WAS IN MAY, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME OF DAY IT WAS ON THE 13th?

>> TO BE HONEST, I -- USUALLY THESE MEETINGS ARE AROUND LURCH TIME.

SOMETIME IN THAT TIME FRAME IN THE KIND OF EARLY TO MID PART OF THE DAY.

BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR SURE.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT HEAD OF STATE ENGAGEMENTS.

>> OKAY.

THE JENNIFER WILLIAMS TESTIFIED THAT SHE LEARNED ABOUT 11 OR 11:15 AND THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ORBAHN WAS NOT SCHEDULED NO.

LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO YOUR SCHEDULE IT WAS RIGHT AROUNDS 1:45, IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH WITH YOUR RECOLLECTION?

>> AROUND 1 OR 1:45, AROUND WHEN SOMEBODY HAS LUNCH, I GUESS.

>> OVERALL, GIVEN THE FOUR DAYS NOTICE, GIVEN SECRETARY PERRY'S INVOLVEMENT DO YOU THINK THE DELEGATION WAS A GOOD SIZED GROUP?

>> I DO.

AND LET ME ALSO MAKE A POINT THAT WE DON'T TRY TO MAKE THESE DELEGATIONS LARGE.

THIS IS ON THE TAXPAYER'S DIME.

AND IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE GETTING PEOPLE THERE IF YOU HAVE TO GET MILITARY AIR AND WE TRIED TO KEEP THEM SMALL.

IF WE HAD A LONGER LEAD TIME, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE WOULD HAVE MADE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS BUT FOUR DAYS IS NOT A LOT OF TIME TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT.

>> AND SECR AND SECRETARY PERRYD BECOME INTERESTED IN SOME OF THE POLICIES IN UKRAINE?

>> SECRETARY PERRY'S ENGAGEMENT THIS MAY AGAIN PERFECT SENSE, SECRETARY OF ENERGY, HIS DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, SECRETARY PERRY IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD ADVOCATE, ON THE ENERGY SPHERE, AND ONE OF THE ACHILLES HEEL RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS APPLIANCE TO EUROPE.

THIS HAS BEEN REITERATED SINCE 2006 BY THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, MANY OF YOU WILL REMEMBER IN THE REAGAN ERA THERE WAS A HUGE DISPUTE BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND EUROPE ABOUT WHETHER IT MADE SENSE FOR EUROPE TO BUILD APPLIANCE, FROM THE THEN-SOVIET UNION, TO BRING GAS TO EUROPEAN MARKETS.

>> MR. HOLMES, WHAT WAS YOUR VIEW OF THE DELEGATION?

DO YOU THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT-SIZED GROUP, RIGHT LEVEL OF PRESTIGE TO SIGNAL TO THE REQUEST INCOMING ZELENSKY ADMINISTRATION THAT THE U.S.

STANDS BEHIND THEM?

>> I THINK IT WAS FINE IN THAT REGARD.

>> OKAY.

>> SINCE WE'RE ON THE OPENNIC OF UKRAINE ENERGY I THINK IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO WHICH I ASSUF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

YOU'RE ON THE GROUND THERE NOW.

MR. HOLMES, I KNOW YOU WEREN'T THERE, BUT AT THE TIME, BUT IN SEPTEMBER 2015, THEN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE JEFFREY PIATT, OBAMA APPOINTED CAREER AMBASSADOR, I'M SURE YOU KNOW HIM?

>> I DO.

>> CREDIBLE?

>> YES.

>> SUCCESSFUL AMBASSADOR I'M SURE.

HE CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO LOSHEFSKY, THE OWNER OF BURISMA, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT?

>> YES.

>> DID YOU KNOW ABOUT DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HINTS CONCERN ABOUT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN'S SITTING ON THE BOARD OF BURISMA?

>> I WOULD REFER TO BE UNDERSECRETARY KENT.

>> THE NATURAL GAS COMPANY BURISMA ROUTED MORE THAN $3 MILLION TO THE AMERICAN ACCOUNTS OF HUNTER BIDEN?

>> I'VE HEARD THAT.

>> WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT DR. HILL?

>> ONLY FROM NURP REPORTS.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT BURISMA AMERICAN, AND THIS IS BACK TO YOU, MR. HOMES, DID YOU KNOW THAT BURISMA AMERICAN LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATE WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS JUST DAYS AFTER THE VICE PRESIDENT FORCED THE FIRING OF THE COUNTRY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR?

>> NO.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT BURISMA AMERICAN LAWYERS TRIED TO SECURE A MEETING WITH THE NEW STATE PROSECUTOR THE SAME DAY THE PREDECESSOR VIKTOR SHOKIN'S FIRING WAS ANNOUNCED?

>> NO.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT CALLED SHORTLY AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF BURISMA HOME WAS RAIDED BY THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE?

>> NO.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT DEVON ARCHER AND HUNTER BIDEN REACHED OUT TOT DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE TONY LAKE AFTER THE RAID ON IMURMS?

BURISMA?>> NO.

>> DR. HILL I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH AND ASK ALL THOSE QUESTIONS AGAIN.

>> I DID NOT KNOW.

>> YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

>> NO.

FTC.

SO YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW THATTHE PT BURISMA.

HAD CONCERNS ABOUT 2016 ELECTION, MEDDLING BY THE UKRAINIANS, WHEN YOU WERE -- WHEN YOU WERE IN THERE AS THE HEAD OF THE UKRAINE DESK.

DID YOU EVER RAISE ANY OF THESE -- DID YOU EVER BRIEF THE PRESIDENT OR RAISE IT UP TO AMBASSADOR BOLTON ABOUT ANY CONCERNS THROUGH 2017 AND 18, THAT CONCERNED 2016 ELECTION MEDDLING, OR -- OR BURISMA CONCERNS?

>> THE WHOLE BRIEFING PROCESS DIDN'T REALLY WORK IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING THERE.

SO IF THE PRESIDENT HAD ASKED ABOUT ANY OF THIS INFORMATION IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR HIM.

JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, UKRAINE WAS NOT A TOP FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY IN THIS PERIOD.

IN THE SAME WAY THAT MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY AND OTHERS ARE.

SO THERE WEREN'T THAT FREQUENT BRIEFINGS ON UKRAINE.

THE BRIEFINGS WOULD TAKE PLACE, WHEN THERE WAS A SCHEDULED MEETING WITH A UKRAINIAN HEAD OF STATE.

AND AS WE KNOW THERE HAVEN'T BEEN TOO MANY OF THOSE.

>> SO JUST TO -- AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, YOU DID NO BRIEFINGS, NO PAPERS, ANSWERED NO QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE 2016 ELECTION OR BURISMA DURING YOUR TIME THERE?

>> NO -- I DID NOT, NO.

>> MR. CASTOR.

>> DR. HILL YOU TOLD US DURING YOUR DEPOSITION THAT YOU INDEED, THAT THERE ARE PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST TROUBLES WHEN THE CHILD OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING THAT THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL HAS OFFICIAL POLICY ROLE IN, CORRECT?

>> I THINK ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF ANY MEMBER OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, CONGRESS OR THE SENATE, IS OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT OPTICS.

AND OF PERHAPS UNDUE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IF THEY TAKE PART IN ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY THAT COULD BE MISCONSTRUED AS RELATED TO THEIR PARENT OR THE FAMILY MEMBER'S WORK.

SO AS A MATTER OF COURSE YES I DO THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

>> GETTING BACK TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, YOU TESTIFIED THAT EVERY NOW AND THEN HE MADE A HAPPEN IT OF NAME DROPPING HIS INTERACTION HE WITH THE PRESIDENT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> AND I BELIEVE YOU ALSO TOLD US THAT THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE YOU WOULD RUN INTO HIM ON THE COMB CAMPUS, HE WOULD SAY IM HERE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT OR I'VE BEEN HERE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT, YOU CIRCLED BACK AND FOUND OUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU TESTIFIED THAT HE SPOKE OF SOME COFFEE HE HAD WITH YOU, WHEN THE DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPT WAS RELEASED YOUR COUNSEL INDICATED THAT THAT WAS COMPLETELY FABRICATED ON AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S PART.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> YES.

I MEAN UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE COFFEE MACHINES READILY IN OUR OFFICE.

IF YOU HAD COME TO MY OFFICE AT THAT TIME THE BEST I COULD OFFER YOU WAS A CUP OF WATER FROM THE WATER FOUNTAIN OUTSIDE MY OFFICE.

THE COFFEE THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND I SHARED WAS ACTUALLY, WE RANT INTO EACH OTHER, HE FOUND OUT I WAS GOING TO BE THERE, ASKED ME TO MEET HIM FOR COFFEE IN JACKSON HOLE WYOMING, A FULL YEAR BEFORE I LEFT.

HE PERHAPS CORN INFLATED THOSE TWO MEETINGS TOGETHER.

THE MEETING HE WAS REFERRING TO, HE HAD COME IN TO MEET WITH OUR DIRECTOR FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION.

THIS IS IN MY LAST WEEK IN THE OFFICE.

AND AS I WAS IN THE OFFICE AT THE SAME TIME, FOR A BRIEF PERIOD BEFORE GOING INTO ANOTHER MEETING, AND IT WAS MY LAST WEEK IN THE OFFICE, WE AGREED TO SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, WITH ACTUALLY COLONEL VINDMAN, AND THE ASSISTANT THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND HAD BROUGHT WITH HIM FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR OF NEWS THAT MEETING.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T OVER COFFEE.

>> AND YOU KNOW, HE WENT ON TO INDICATE THAT YOU WERE UPSET AND YOU WERE UPSET -- >> ACTUALLY THERE WERE FIVE OF US IN THAT MEETING.

OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T DO ENOUGH, SORRY.

>> FAIR ENOUGH.

HE INDICATED YOU WERE UPSET REQUEST AMBASSADOR BOLTON AND THE WAY THINGS WERE GOING AND I BELIEVE YOUR COUNSEL SAID THAT WAS AN OUTRIGHT FABRICATION.

>> I THINK YOU MIGHT RECALL IN MY DEPOSITION ON OCTOBER 14th THAT I SAID THAT VERY UNFORTUNATELY I HAD A BIT OF A BLOWUP WITH AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

I HAD A COUPLE OF TESTY ENCOUNTERS WITH HIM.

ONE WAS ON JUNE 18.

ONE I ACTUALLY SAID TO HIM WHO PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF UKRAINE.

I ADMIT I WAS A BIT RUDE.

HE TOLD ME THE PRESIDENT WHICH SHUT ME UP.

THIS OTHER MEETING, IT WAS ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES EXACTLY AS HE DEPICTED IT WAS.

I WAS ACTUALLY TO BE HONEST ANGRY WITH HIM.

AND YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT OFTEN WHEN WOMEN SHOW ANGER IT'S NOT FULLY APPRECIATED.

IT'S OFTEN, YOU KNOW, PUSHED ON TO EMOTIONAL ISSUES PERHAPS OR DEFLECTED ONTO OTHERPEOPLE.

WHAT I WAS ANGRY ABOUT WAS THAT HE WASN'T COORDINATING WITH US.

I ATUALLY REALIZE HAVING LISTEN TO HIS DEPOSITION THAT HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THAT HE WASN'T COORDINATING WITH US BECAUSE WE WEREN'T DOING THE SAME THING THAT HE WAS DOING.

SO I WAS UPSET WITH HIM THAT HE WASN'T FULLY TELLING US ABOUT ALL THE MEETINGS THEY WAS HAVING.

AND HE SAID TO ME, BUT I'M BRIEFING THE PRESIDENT.

I'M BRIEFING CHIEF OF STAFF MULVANEY.

I'M BRIEFING SECRETARY POMPEO AND I'VE TALKED TO AMBASSADOR BOLTON.

WHO ELSE DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH?

THE POINT IS WE HAVE A ROBUST INTERAGENCY PROCESS THAT DEALS WITH UKRAINE.

IT INCLUDES MR. HOLMES.

IT INCLUDES AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AS THE CHARGE IN UKRAINE.

IT INCLUDES A WHOLE LOAD OF PEOPLE.

BUT IT STRUCK ME YESTERDAY WHEN YOU PUT UP ON THE SCREEN AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S COMEASSMENTS WHO WAS ON THESE E-MAILS, HE SAID THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT NEAD TO KNOW FM HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, HE WAS INVOLVED IN A DOMESTIC ERRAND AND WE WERE INVOLVED IN FOREIGN POLICY AND THOSE TWO THINGS HAD DIVERGED SO HE WAS CORRECT.

I HAD NOT PUT MY FINGER ON THAT AT THE MOMENT BUT I WAS IRRITATED AND ANGRY AT THE MOMENT, I DID SAY TO HIM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, GORDON, I THINK THIS IS ALL GOING TO BLOW UP AND HERE WE ARE.

AND AFTER WE LEFT MY NEXT MEETING OUR DIRECTOR FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION, TALKED TO ME MUCH FURTHER FOR HALF HOUR OR MORE LATER, TRYING TO ASK HIM HOW WE COULD COORDINATE BETTER AFTER I HAD LEFT THE OFFICE.

AND HIS FEELING WAS THAT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO BLOCK HIM.

WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS BLOCK US FROM STRAYING INTO DOMESTIC L OR PERSONAL POLITICS.

AND THAT WAS PRECISELY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DID.

BUT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IS NOT WRONG, THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A DIFFERENT REMIT THAT WE HAD BEEN GIVEN.

I STARTED TO REALIZE HOW THOSE THINGS HAD DIVERGED.

I WASN'T BE BEING FAIR TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

HE WAS CARRYING OUT WHAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO CARRY OUT AND WE WERE DOING SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WAS JUST AS OR PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT BUT IT WASN'T IN THE SAME CHANNEL.

>> DR. HILL IF YOU MIND, SORRY.

DR. HILL I JUST WANT TO DRILL DOWN ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTIONS AND BURISMA.

HE HAD HIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY WORKING THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BY ROBERT MUELLER, SPECIAL COUNSEL.

MARTIALLY BEGINNING WITH AN INVESTIGATION THAT STARTED WITH THE STEELE DOSSIER THAT WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD PAID FOR AND HAD THEN FED INTO THE FBI.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CONCERNED ABOUT 2016 ELECTION MEDDLING BY UKRAINE, DOESN'T -- SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAD JUST EARLIER TESTIFIED THAT YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THAT.

BUT IF THAT WAS THE CONCERN OF THE PRESIDENT, TO TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT AND IT'S THE CONCERN OF AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WHO IS TRYING TO SET UP MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF, TO ENSURE REALLY THAT MEETINGS OCCURRED, AND PHONE CALLS OCCURRED, TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP, A LITTLE -- I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE AT THE NSC, PEOPLE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAD ISSUES WITH THAT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ISN'T IT THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF THAT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS?

>> MY POINT MR. NUNES IS THAT WE AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WERE NOT TOLD BY THE PRESIDENT DIRECTLY OR THROUGH AMBASSADOR BOLTON THAT WE WERE TO BE FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES AS A MATTER OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS UKRAINE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UKRAINE IN 2016, I NEVER PERSONALLY HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAY ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT 2016 AND UKRAINE.

I'VE SEEN HIM SAY PLENTY OF THINGS PUBLICLY BUT I WASN'T GIVEN A DIRECTLY.

I WAS GIVEN A DIRECTIVE BY AMBASSADOR ABOUT THE VERY CLEARLY TO STAY OUT OF DOMESTIC POLITICS.

>> AS A TIME LINE AS OF JULY 19th, THEY HFNT EVEN ENGAGED WITH RUDY GIULIANI YET.

YOBILITY THAT HAPPENED UNTIL A LA -- YOBILITY THAT HAPPENED UNTIL A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> WE HAD ALREADY HAD A DISCUSSION WITH KURT VOLKER WHICH WAS IN THE POSITION HE OF HIS ASSISTANT CHRIS ANDERSON THAT INDICATED THAT HE HAD MET WITH RUDY GIULIANI AT THIS POINT AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND MADE COMMENTS ABOUT MEETING WITH GIULIANI.

AND AS WE KNOW IN THE MAY 23rd MEETING THEY HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MEET WITH GIULIANI.

THEY GAVE US EVERY IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE MEETING WITH RUDY GIULIANI AT THIS POINT AND RUDY GIULIANI WAS SAYING ON THE TELEVISION AND INDEED SAID SUBSEQUENT THAT HE WAS CLOSELY COORDINATING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS MY BELIEF THEY WERE MEETING WITH HIM.

>> THERE IS SOME AMBIGUITY IN THE DIRECTION TO WORK WITH RUDY GIULIANI.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER SAID THE PRESIDENT DISMISSUKRAINE AND SAID OH IF YOU WANT TO WORK ON IT JUST GO TALK TO RUDY.

AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOOK THAT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT AMBASSADOR VOLKER WAS PRIMARILY THE INTERLOCUTOR, WITH RUDY GIULIANI AND DIDN'T START UNTIL THE END OF JULY.

>> I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THAT IN AMBASSADOR VOLKER POSITION.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT AT THAT TIME.

IN FACT SONDLAND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI.

NOT TO MEET WITH RUDY GIULIANI IN A MEETING.

>> MR. MORRISON TOLD US BOTH IN HIS DEPOSITION AND HIS PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU HAD RELATED CONCERNS ABOUT COLONEL VINDMAN'S JUDGMENT?

>> I DID NOT RELATE ANY CONCERNS IN GENERAL TERMS ABOUT COLONEL VINDMAN'S JUDGMENT ABOUT SO I WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISE WHEN I HEARD MR. MORRISON MAKE THOSE ASSERTIONS.

IT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC POINT THAT WERE MADE.

THESE ARE PERSONALITIES.

I'M SURE KNOCK HERE WOULD LIKE THEIR PRIVATE PERNLTSDZ PUT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE BUT YOU'VE ASKED ME ABOUT THAT.

SO I HAD A COUPLE OF VERY SHORT TRANSITION MEETINGS WITH MR. MORRISON.

AND AGAIN MR. MORRISON DID NOT WORK IN OUR DIRECTORATE.

HE WAS TAKING OVER THE POSITION WHICH HE HELD FOR THREE MONTHS.

I HAD WORKED ON THE -- AS THE DIRECTOR, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AND EURASIA AT THAT POINT.

I WAS WORKING WITH MR. VINDMAN, COLONEL VINDMAN.

IN THE JUNE TIME FRAME I SAT DOWN WITH MR. MORRISON AND JOHN ERIS WHO WAS ALSO WORKING AND WE WENT THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.

WE WENT WITH WHO WAS STAYING WHO WAS ROTATING OUT IN THE SUMMER AND WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYBODY'S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

AND I ALWAYS ASKED MY STAFF TO DO UPWARD FEEDBACK AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I WASN'T DOING RIGHT FOOP I'D LIKE TO LEARN TOO.

I SAID I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WERE TRENDING IN UKRAINE POLICY.

SO -- COLONEL VINDMAN IS A HIGHLY DISTINGUISHED BE DECORATED MILITARY OFFICER.

HE CAME OVER TO US FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE AND THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.

WE WERE EVALUATING AND LOOKING AT HIM IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT HIS FUTURE POSITIONS WOULD BE IN THE CONTEXT AS THE U.S. ARMY.

AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, COLONEL VINDMAN MIGHT DECIDE TO LEAVE THE MILITARY THAT PERHAPS HE WASN'T AS WELL SUITED FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE POLITICAL.

I DID NOT FEEL THAT HE HAD THE POLITICAL ANTENNA TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS STRAYING INTO DOMESTIC POLITICS.

NOT EVERYONE IS SUITED FOR THAT.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN IN ANY WAY THAT I WAS QUESTIONING HIS OVERALL JUDGMENT.

NOR WAS IT QUESTIONING IN ANY WAY HIS SUBSTANTIVE EXPERTISE.

HE IS EXCELLENT ON ISSUES RELATED TO UKRAINE, BELARUS AND MOLDOVA.

IN THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE AND AT THE PENTAGON.

THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC ISSUE.

BECAUSE BY JUNE WE SAW THAT THINGS WERE DIVERGING AND NEEDED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SENSITIVITY.

MR. MORRISON HAD COME FROM CAPITOL HILL.

HE KNEW POLITICS INSIDE OUT.

WE KNEW THAT COLONEL VINDMAN HAD NOT.

WE WERE CONCERNED HOW HE WOULD MANAGE WHAT WAS BECOME A HIGHLY CHARGED AND PARTISAN ISSUE WHICH HE HAD NOT DONE BEFORE.

>> YOU RELATED DURING HIS DEPOSITION THAT HE SUBSEQUENT WAS SORT OF CUT OUT OF A LOT OF THE DECISION MAKING AND INVOLVEMENTS WITH THE EMBASSY IN UKRAINE.

WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU RECOMMENDED?

>> NOT WITH THE EMBEARS IN UKRAINE.

I MEAN WE DID PULL HIM BACK FROM THE MEETING IN MAY, IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

AND SUBSEQUENT WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE POLITICAL ASPECTS TO THIS.

AND WE DID NOT FEEL, WHEN JULY 10th, COLONEL VINDMAN WAS JUSTIFIABLY ALARMED WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL ASPECT OF THE MEETING THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, EVENTUALLY, WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

>> AND MR. HOLMES, I WANT TO -- AT THE END OF AUGUST, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AMBASSADOR TAYLOR WAS ENGAGED IN OBTAINING SOME INFORMATION FOR THE PRESIDENT ABOUT EUROPEAN ALLIES BURDEN-SHARING IN THE RENAL.

AS THE DECISION ABOUT AID WAS BEING DEBATED.

SO SIR, AFTER THE HOLD WAS PLACED ON THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE, MANY PEOPLE, I THINK, WERE SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS SENATOR JOHNSON WHO HAD SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BURDEN-SHARING PERHAPS OTHERS AS WELL.

SO TRYING TO INTERPRET WHY THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WE WERE LOOKING INTO THE FACTS OF WHAT THE EUROPEANS HAD PROVIDED AND WHAT WE HAD PROVIDED.

VERY ILLUMINATING WHAT WE LEARNED.

UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED COMBINED CIVILIAN AND MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE SINCE 2014 OF ABOUT $3 BILLION PLUS TWO, THREE $1 BILLION LOAN GUARANTEES.

THOSE GET PAID BACK LARGELY.

JUST OVER $THREE BILLION.

EUROPEANS, AT THE LEVEL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PLUS THE MEMBER STATES COMBINED SINCE TREAB, HAVE PROVIDED A COMBINED $12 BILLION TO UKRAINE.

>> YOU WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION BACK END OF AUGUST?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

THIS WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION TO OTHER MISSION TO YOU AND NATO AND OTHERS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE INFORMATION THE WHITE HOUSE WAS LOOKING FOR?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

IF THE CONCERN WAS THAT WE WERE -- THAT OTHERS WEREN'T SPENDING AS MUCH AS WE WERE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE THEN THAT INFORMATION SHOWED A DIFFERENT STORY.

>> OKAY.

AND THE AID WAS SUBSEQUENT LIFTED, THE PAUSE IN THE AID WAS LIFTED SHORTLY THEREAFTER?

>> IT WAS IN -- YES, IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, MID SEPTEMBER.

>> YIELD BACK.

>> THAT CONCLUDES THE 45-MINUTE ROUNDS.

WE'LL NOW GO TO MEMBER QUESTIONING.

I'LL RECOGNIZE MYSELF FOR FIVE MINUTES.

FIRST AS A THRESHOLD MATTER I WANT TO SAY TO THE WITNESSES TO BE A BIT CAUTIOUS WHEN MEMBERS REPRESENT, ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS FACT, ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT FACT?

ARE YOU AWARE THAT THIS PERSON TESTIFIED TO THIS AND THAT.

IF YOU HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THAT, THAT'S FINE.

SOMETIMES MEMBERS GET IT WRONG.

LET ME CLEAR THE RECORD ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SUGGESTED TO YOU, THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT CANCELLED HIS TRIP BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT WITH A TRIP TO CANADA.

THAT WAS NOT MS. WILLIAMS TESTIMONY.

HER TESTIMONY WAS I ASKED MY COLLEAGUE WHY WE SHOULD STOP TRIP PLANNING AND WHY THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING.

AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD DECIDED THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT ATTEND THE INAUGURATION.

SO JUST OFFER THAT CAUTION.

DR. HILL, I WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE ATTACKS ON COLONEL VINDMAN.

SUGGESTINGS THAT HE HAS A DUAL LOYALTY.

THAT HE IS NOT REALLY LOYAL TO AMERICA, HE IS LOYAL TO UKRAINE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU AS A FELLOW IMMIGRANT WHAT YOU THINK OF THOSE KIND OF ACCUSATIONS WHEN THEY ARE LEVELED AGAINST COLONEL VINDMAN OR OTHER AMERICANS?

>> I THINK THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE.

THIS IS A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION PERHAPS OF VERY FEW PEOPLE STILL HERE.

EVERYONE EMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES AT SOME POINT IN THEIR FAMILY HISTORY.

AND THIS IS WHAT TO ME REALLY DOES MAKE AMERICA GREAT.

I'M SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE, SOME PEOPLE PERHAPS CAME RELUCTANTLY, OTHERS CAME BY CHOICE, AS I DID.

BUT THIS IS FOR ME, THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF AMERICA.

IT'S WHY I WANTED TO BE HERE AND WHY I WANTED TO STAY HERE AND I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO CASTIGATE ANYONE.

EVERYONE HAS SOME KIND OF, I'M AN AGE LOI AMERICAN, A BRITISH AMERICAN, A NATURALIZED CITIZEN.

MY LOYALTY IS TO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS THE COUNTRY I SERVE AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE MANY NATURALIZED MEMBERS IN MY OFFICE, FELT THE SAME WAY.

I THINK IT'S DEEPLY UNFAIR.

>> I THANK YOU.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IN YOUR TESTIMONY, I MAY NOT HAVE THIS EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT GOSH SONDLAND AT ONE POINT TOLD YOU HIS ROLE WAS TO MAKE DEALS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE TOLD OTHER PEOPLE TO BE CLEAR.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ONE OF THOSE DEALS.

THE ONE THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON DESCRIBED AS A DRUG DEAL.

I HAD THE SUGGESTION OR THE INDICATION RATHER WHEN MR. GOLDMAN WAS ASKING YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JULY 10th MEETING AND IN FACT THERE WERE TWO MEETINGS, ONE AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S PRESENCE AND ONE IN THE WAR ROOM THAT THERE WAS MORE YOU HAD TO SAY THAT.

DO YOU WANT TO WALK US THROUGH THAT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL?

>> WELL, THE REFERENCE THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON MADE WAS AFTER I RETURNED FROM THE WAR ROOM AND RELATED TO HIM WHAT I HAD HEARD.

BECAUSE THERE WAS A SEQUENCING OF MEETINGS WHICH I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE SEQUENCING HERE AND DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN VARIOUS DEPOSITIONS.

SO WHAT HAPPENED, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON CAUGHT A LITTLE SHORT, WAS THAT HE TOLD ME TO HOLD BACK IN THE ROOM.

AND HE WAS ESCORTING OUT THE UKRAINIAN VISITORS ALONG WITH SECRETARY PERRY AND AMBASSADORS VOLKER AND SONDLAND.

I GUESS THEY WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH OUTSIDE OF HIS OFFICE.

I KNOW THAT SECRETARY PERRY AND OTHERS HAVE TWEETED OUT, THAT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND STANDING OUTSIDE OF AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S OFFICE.

VERY QUICKLY CAME BACK IN AND AT THAT POINT THEY WERE MOVING ON TO THE WAR ROOM BECAUSE ON THE WAY OUT OF AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S OFFICE AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID BLETS REGROUP IN THE WAR ROOM FOR A HUDDLE ON NEXT STEPS WHICH IS QUITE UNUSUAL.

YOU DON'T USUALLY HUDDLE IN A ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS WITH FOREIGN DELEGATION.

WE TOOK IT TO BE NEXT STEPS ON SETTING UP THE MEETING WHICH ALREADY AS I SAID AMBASSADOR BOLTON WASN'T PREPARED TO DO.

WHEN AMBASSADOR BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CAME BACK INTO THE OFFICE THAT'S WHEN HE GAVE ME THE VERY STRONG INSTRUCTION TO GO D DOWNSTAIRS, FIND OUT WHAT S BEING DISCUSSED AND COME BACK AND REPORT TO HIM.

AS I CAME INTO THE WARDROOM, ALEX VINDMAN, COLONEL VINDMAN AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WERE IN AN EXCHANGE.

THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THAT COLONEL VINDMAN LOOKED QUITE ALARMED.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS ASKED YESTERDAY, AGAIN I WATCHED ALL OF HIS TESTIMONY AND VERY CARE CAREFULLY, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT YELLING AND SHOUTING.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T SAY THAT, THERE WAS NO YELLING AND SHOUTING.

THAT WAS DISCREPANT IN PERHAPS IN MEDIA WHEN I CAME IN AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS IN AN EXCHANGE WITH COLONEL VINDMAN, ALONG THE LINES OF WELL WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO HAVE THIS MEETING.

AND I CAME IN AND I ASKED WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

AND HE SAID, THIS IS AGAIN THE UKRAINIANS ARE THERE, AMBASSADOR VOLKER WAS THERE.

BUT AT THIS POINT I ALSO WANT TO STRESS SECRETARY PERRY HAD LEFT.

HE WAS NOT IN THE WARDROOM WHEN I CAME.

AS I CAME IN SECRETARY PERRY AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE MEETING.

SECRETARY PERRY HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THIS MEETING BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN IT.

WHEN I CAME IN, GORDON SONDLAND WAS BECAME OF SAYING THAT WE HAVE A DEAL HERE THAT THERE WILL BE A MEETING.

I HAVE A DEAL HERE WITH CHIEF OF STAFF MULVANEY, THERE WILL BE A MEETING IF THE UKRAINIANS OPEN UP OR ANNOUNCE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, INTO 2016 AND BURISMA.

AND I CUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY THERE.

BECAUSE BY THIS POINT HAVING HEARD MR. GIULIANI OVER AND OWNERSHIP AGAIN ON THE TELEVISION AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT HE WAS ASSERTING, BY THIS POINT, IT WAS CLEAR THAT BURISMA WAS CODE FOR THE BIDENS.

BECAUSE GIULIANI WAS LAYING IT OUT THERE.

I COULD SEE WHY COLONEL VINDMAN WAS ALARMED.

AND HE SAID THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE.

WE'RE THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.

WE CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND I'VE LEARNED SINCE FROM MR. HOLMES RENDITION HERE TODAY, THAT COLONEL VINDMAN HAS ALREADY WARNED THE UKRAINIANS OR IN EFFECT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY NONETHELESS, TO STAY OUT OF AMERICAN POLITICS, DOMESTIC POLITICS.

I CUT OFF THIS LINE AND I SAID, TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, WE NEED PROCEDURES HERE.

WE CAN'T SET UP THE MEETING HERE WE HAVE TO PROPERLY PREPARE THERE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT SOUNDS VERY BORING BUT WE HAVE NATIONAL SECURITY PROCEDURES TO DO THIS AND I SAID WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE LITIGATING THIS ORTALKING ABOUT THIS IN FRONT OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN UKRAINE.

IT IS COMPLETELY INPROFIT FOSTER US TO THRASH THIS OUT FROM OUR COLLEAGUE IN UKRAINE.

I SPLAIDGED WHERE THIS WAS IN THE DEPOSITION, WHICH WAS ALSO EXTRAORDINARILY AWKWARD.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE STANDING AROUND IN THE CORRIDOR IN THE WEST WING AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE.

AND THAT'S WHETHER I PUSHED BACK ON GOSH SONDLAND AND SAID LOOK, I KNOW THERE'S ON AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, FIGURE OUT IF WE SHOULD HAVE IT AFTER THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, WHICH BY THAT POINT I THINK HAD BEEN SET FOR JULY TWURMT.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THIS IS JULY 10th AT THIS POINT.

AND AMBASSADOR BOLTON WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THAT TO BASICALLY SEE WHETHER PRESIDENT ZELENSKY GETS THE MAJORITY IN THE PARLIAMENT WHICH WOULD ENABLE HIM TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID OKAY FAIR ENOUGH, HE REALIZED HE WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THIS FURTHER.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER DID NOT SAY ANYTHING AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE AND THEY SAID HE HAD ANOTHER MEETING AND THEY ALL LEFT.

AND I WENT BACK UP AND RELAID THIS TO AMBASSADOR BOLTON.

WHICH IS WHEN HE GAVE ME THE VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN AWARE OF TO TALK TO JOHN IENSBERG IN THE NSC OFFICE.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. NUNES.

>> I ASSUME WE'RE GIVEN EIGHT MINUTES THERE.

>> MR. NUNES I DON'T CUT OFF A WITNESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR ANSWER.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

>> SORRY, THAT WAS A LONG ANSWER.

>> IN JORDAN.

>> MR. HOLMES WHY DIDN'T YOUR BOSS TALK ABOUT IT?

>> WHAT'S THAT SIR?

>> WHY DIDN'T YOUR BOSS BRING UP THE CALL THAT YOU OVERHEARD, THE REASON YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

YOU'RE THE CLOSING WITNESS YET THEIR STAR WITNESS AMBASSADOR TAYLOR DIDN'T EVEN BRING IT UP.

WHEN WE DEPOSED YOU YOU SAID THIS WAS A DISTI DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCE, ONE OF THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE, I TOLD CHIEF OF MISSION ABOUT THE CALL THEN YOU SAID YOU WENT ON VACATION, YOU TOLD SEVERAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THE CALL THEN YOU COME IMPACT ON AUGUST 6th AND YOU TELL AMBASSADOR TAYLOR ABOUT THE CALL.

AND THEN IN YOUR DEMONSTRATION DEMINGS STATEMENT YOU SAID IN YOUR STATEMENT TODAY AS WELL, I REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO THE CALL IN MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S INTEREST IN UKRAINE WAS RELEVANT.

I REPEATLY REARED TO THE CALL IN MEETINGS WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S INTEREST IN UKRAINE, YOU TOLD EVERYBODY YET THEIR STAR WITNESS, THEIR FIRST WITNESS AMBASSADOR TAYLOR WHEN HE CAME HERE HE RELATED 13 DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS HE HAD HAD BETWEEN JULY 18th, WHEN THE AID IS FROZEN, SEPTEMBER WHEN IT IS RELEASED, NEVER MENTIONING THIS CALL, COLONEL VINDMAN TOLD TAYLOR ABOUT THE UPCOMING DONALD TRUMP ZELENSKY CALL.

JULY 20th, JULY 20th, IS TOLD TAYLOR WHAT ZELENSKY TOLD, WITH AUGUST 16th, VOLKER TELLS TAYLOR WHEN YARMOUK TOLD VOLKER.

AUGUST 21st, BRECHTOLZ, AUGUST 29th, YARMOUK TALKS TO TAYLOR, MORRISON TOLD WHAT YARMOUK TOLD SONDLAND, SEPTEMBER 7th, MRCHES TELLS TAYLOR WHAT SONDLAND TOLD TRUMP AND SEPTEMBER 8th, SONDLAND TELLS TAYLOR WHAT TRUMP TOLD SONDLAND.

NOWHERE, NOWHERE IS THERE A HOLMES TELLS TAYLOR WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TOLD SONDLAND.

>> MAY I ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

>> 13 CONVERSATIONS, I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE IN A SECOND.

BUT 13 CONVERSATIONS, 13 CONVERSATIONS, FROM THEIR STAR WITNESS, YOU'RE THEIR CLOSING WITNESS AND HE CAN'T REMEMBER A CALL FROM A GUY HE WORKS WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY?

WHY?

>> YES, SIR.

SO IMMEDIATELY WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE EMBASSY AFTER THIS LUNCH ON THE 26th, I TOLD MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION, I WOULD HAVE TOLD AMBASSADOR TAYLOR IMMEDIATELY EXCEPT HE WAS ON THE FRONT HIENS THAT AFTERNOON.

-- LINES THAT AFTERNOON.

I THEN WENT AS I TESTIFIED MY VACATION ON SATURDAY, CAME BACK THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY I WAS BACK IN THE AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE WRITE REFERRED TO THE CALL.

IN THAT WEEK-PLUS THAT I WAS AWAY, IT WAS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION WOULD HAVE INFORMED OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE CALL AS WELL.

SO MY RECOLLECTION IS WHEN I DID REFER TO THE CALL ON THAT MEETING, THAT AMBASSADOR TAYLOR NODDED KNOWINGLY, AS THOUGH HE HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON IT.

SO I REFERRED TO THE CALL AND I MENTIONED SOME OF MY TAKE AWAYS FROM THE CALL.

AND IT'S TIME THE MAVEN TAKE AWAY FROM THE CALL WAS THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT UKRAINE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH ROW AHEAD, TO CONVINCE HIM THAT IT IS TIME FOR A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT DISLEPS AND ULTIMATELY RELEASE THIS HOLD ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

THAT WAS THE TAKE AWAY.

THAT'S WHAT I REFERRED TO IN THE COMING WEEKS WHENEVER IT CAME RELEVANT.

>> SIR -- >> ONE MORE IMPORTANT POINT.

THROUGHOUT THIS TIME AS I'VE TESTIFIED, WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A FORMULA, THINGS WE COULD DO WITH UKRAINIANS THAT WOULD CONVINCE THE PRESIDENT THAT THEY WERE WORTH TALKING TO.

>> MAYBE MR. HOLMES THE TAKE AWAY WAS HE THOUGHT IT WAS NO BIG BIG DEAL BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNEW.

HE DIDN'T REMEMBER, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD THE TRANSCRIPT.

HE DIDN'T REMEMBER THE -- WE HAD THE TRUMP ZELENSKY TRICHT HAD BEEN OUT FOR GO MONTHS.

>> SIR I BELIEVE WHEN I -- >> YOU ARE REPEATEDLY BRINGING THIS CONVERSATION UP AS YOU SAID TO EVERYBODY WHEN ANY TIME THERE'S A TALK ABOUT UKRAINE YOU RECALL THIS CONVERSATION, MAYBE IT WAS THE TRIPS, THE CALL HAPPENED ON THE JULY 25th, THAT'S FOUR MONTHS AGO.

THE TRANSCRIPT'S BEEN OUT FOR TWO MONTHS.

MAYBE THE AMBASSADOR THOUGHT, THIS IS NOTHING NEW HERE.

BUT SHAZAM, LAST WEEK YOU COME FORWARD WITH SUPPOSEDLY THIS NEW INFORMATION.

THERE IS NOTHING DIFFERENT IN THERE THAN WHAT WE HAD ON THE TRANSCRIPT.

MAYBE THAT'S THE REASON THEIR STAR WITNESS, THEIR FIRST WITNESS DIDN'T BRING IT UP BUT THEY HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING, BUT YOU'RE THEIR CLOSING WITNESS BECAUSE YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT TALKING TO AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

>> IF I COULD ANSWER I SEE FOUR SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

>> SIR YOU CAN TAKE AS LONG AS YOU NEED.

>> I BELIEVE THE AMBASSADOR ALREADY KNEW, WHEN I BRIEFED HIM ON THE 6th, IT WAS NOT NEWS TO HIM THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS PRESSING FOR A BIDEN INVESTIGATION.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED.

I ASKED WHY HE DIDN'T SHARE WITH US.

>> MR. JORDAN PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT THE WITNESS ANY FURTHER.

MR. JORDAN'S SOMETIME HAS EXPIRED BUT YOURS HAS NOT.

YOU MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.

I BRIEFED, I REFERRED TO THE CALL AND.

>>> IS NODDING.

OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT IS PRESSING FOR A BIDEN INVESTIGATION.

BEFORE HE'LL DO THESE THINGS THE UKRAINIANS WANT.

THERE WAS NODDING AGREEMENT.

SO DID I DO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THE CALL?

NO.

BECAUSE EVERYONE BY THAT POINT AGREED.

IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS PRESSING FOR AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR AS YOU HAVE JUST OUTLINED HAD ALL THOSE OTHER INTERACTIONS -- >> BUT HE DIDN'T SHARE -- >> MR. JORDAN PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT.

>> BUT SIR MY VIVID RECOGNIZES OF AN EVENT I WAS INVOLVED WITH WAS A TOUCHSTONE EXPERIENCE THAT TO ME VALIDATED AND WHAT -- SIR -- >> MR. JORDAN PLEASE DO NOT INTERRUPT.

>> WHAT WE BELIEVED AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR WAS NOT IN THAT CALL.

>> SO ALL OF A SUDDEN LAST WEEK YOU GOT TO COME TELL US, EVEN THOUGH YOUR BOSS -- >> ALLOW HIM TO FINISH THE QUESTION.

>> I'LL FINISH WHERE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HE WAS INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER INTERACTION HE AS YOU'VE OUTLINED THAT BROUGHT HIM TO THE SAME CONCLUSION IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE GM.

>> THE GUY HE WORKED WITH -- INTERMR.

JORDAN YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE WITNESS'S ANSWER BUT WE WILL HEAR IT.

MR. JORDAN WE WILL HEAR THE WITNESS'S ANSWER.

HAVE YOU CONCLUDED MR. HOLMES?

>> I HAVE STIR.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HIMES.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

DR. HILL YOU MADE A FAIRLY DRAMATIC COMMENT IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT, CAN SOME OF YOU OPEN THIS COMMITTEE APPEAR TO BELIEVE THAT RUSSIA AND THE SECURITY SERVICE DID NOT CONDUCT A GAIN AGAINST US AND FOR SOME REASON UKRAINE THE.

I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE UKRAINE PART OF THIS BUT I DO WANT TO DEFEND YOU BRIEFLY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY COLLEAGUES BELIEVE BUT I DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF WHAT THE EFFECTS ARE OF CREATING AMBIGUITY, OF LACKING CLARITY, AND CONVICTION, AROUND THE RUSSIAN ASTACK ON THE ELECTION OF 2016.

IN RESPONSE TO YOUR COMMENT, THE RANKING MEMBER OFFERED UP A REPORT, WHICH VARIES IN MATERIAL RESPECTS FROM THE REPORT THAT WAS CREATED BY THE 17 AGENCIES OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, A DAY DOES NOT GO BY IN WHICH RANKING MEMBER NUNES DOES NOT SPEAK OF THE RUSSIA HOSSAM.

HOAX.AND THIS IS A CONTEXT IN WH THIS IS PRETTY IMPORTANT.

LET ME READ YOU A COMMENT BY ANOTHER OFFICIAL, WHY, IT'S ALL A BIG DEM HOAX, ALL CAPS.

WHY DID THE DNC REFUSE TO TURN OVER ITS SERVER TO THE FBI?

IT'S A BIG DEM SCAM.

DO YOU KNOW WHO SAID THOSE THINGS?

>> I DON'T.

>> AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DONALD J. TRUMP.

>> I MIRRORED THAT.

>> YOU DIDN'T MISS MUCH.

MY POINT IS TELL ME IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE.

AMBIGUITY, A FAILURE TO NAME AND SHAME THE RUSSIANS IN 2016, THAT IS NOT IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY IS IT?

>> IT IS NOT, NO.

>> LET'S TURN TO UKRAINE.

DDR.

HILL, HAVE YOU SEEN -- YOU CHARACTERIZED THE FACT THAT UKRAINE INTERFERED IN THE 2016 ELECTION, HAVE YOU SEEFN ANY ETCHED THAT UKRAINE INTERFERED IN THE 2016 ELECTION?

>> I BRING TWO DOCUMENTS THAT WAS POINTED TO BY OUR COLLEAGUES DURING THE DEPOSITION I GAVE ON OCTOBER 14th.

ACTUALLY I'M QUITE GRATEFUL THAT THEY POINTED ME IN THIS DIRECTION.

I WAS PRESENTED DURING MY DEPOSITION WITH TWO ARTICLES OR AT LEAST TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION.

ONE WAS AN OP ED THAT THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR CHARLIE WROTE IN 2016 IN THE HILL, THIS IS DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THEN THE NOMINEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND THIS IS AMBASSADOR CHARLIE WHO WAS THEN STILL THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, BEING CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO WAS THEN THE NOMINEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, FOR MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT UKRAINE CRIMEA AND RUSSIA.

>> LET ME INTERRUPT YOU?

LET ME BE VERY SPECIFIC WHEN WHAT THOSE COMMENTS WERE.

THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS A CANDIDATE SAID QUOTE, THE PEOPLE OF CRIMEA FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD WOO RATHER BE WITH RUSSIA THAN WHAT THEY WERE.

AMBASSADOR CHARLIE IS RESPONDING TO THIS ARTICLE, CORRECT?

>> HE HAS A, TO BE HONEST THE WHOLE ARTICLE IS ACTUALLY ABOUT UKRAINE.

THIS IS CLASSIC STANDARD ANYONE WHO WANTS TO WRITE ANNAL OP ED, YOU TAKE A PEG FROM WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SAID AND PROCEED TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY.

VIS-A-VIS RUSSIA AND RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE.

>> WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE CRIMEANS WOULD RATHER BE WITH RUSSIA.

EVEN THOUGH TRUMP'S COMMENTS ARE ONLY SPECULATIVE, THEY CALL FOR APPEASEMENT OF ANNAL AGGRESSOR AND SUPPORT THE AGGRESSION OF A ANOTHER BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

DA DA DA THAT'S THE ATTACK ON CANDIDATE TRUMP.

>> CORRECT.

>> DOES THAT SOUND LIKE ELECTION INTERFERENCE TO YOU?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY SAY IT IS NOT THE MOST ADVISABLE BE THING TO SAY BY AN AMBASSADOR BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO WIN.

THE SECOND PIECE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME AT GREAT LENGTH AND I WANT TO THANK MR. CASTOR FOR MAKING ME FOCUS ON IT, AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXTREME GOOD JOURNALIST.

I REMEMBER READING IT IN JANUARY OF 2017 BUT IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME BETWEEN THEN AND OCTOBER.

YOU GAVE ME A COPY AND I WENT BACK AND READ IT AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT, IT GETS TO THIS ISSUE HERE.

MR. VOGEL POINTS OUT THE UKRAINIANS AGAIN, THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING VERY GOOD WITH THE BOOKIES, THEY BET ON THE WRONG HORSE.

THEY BET ON HILLARY CLINTON WINNING THE ELECTION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TRYING TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN.

IT'S QUITE EVIDENT IN HERE.

AND HE RELATES YOU KNOW TO SOME EXTENT INDIVIDUALS, AND SOME UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, LIKE MR. AVAKOV THE INTERIOR MINISTER AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED AT VARIOUS POINTS AND TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY WERE TRYING TO COLLECT INFORMATION AS RANKING MEMBER NUNES SAID OFTEN MR. MANAFORT AND OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.

HOW, DO I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE CRUX OF THE ARTICLE HERE BY MR. VOGEL, THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF A TOP DOWN EFFORT BY UKRAINE.

HE MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN EFFORT BY PRESIDENTIAL PUTIN AND UKRAINIAN AND NIM DRI SERVICES, I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

I ALSO MENTIONED IN MY DEPGHTS OF OCTOBER 14th -- DEPOSITION OF OCTOBER 14th, THERE ARE IN FACT MANY OFFICIALS FROM MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING UKRAINE BET ON THE WRONG HORSE.

THEY BELIEVED THAT SECRETARY CLOIBT, FORMER SECRETARY CLINTON, FORM ESH FIRST LADY CLINTON WAS GOING TO WIN AND MANY SAID SOME PRETTY DISPARAGING THINGS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I CAN'T HELP HIM FOR FEELING AGGRIEVED ABOUT THEM.

WHEN WE WERE SETTING UP HEAD OF STATE VISITS, I HAD A PORTFOLIO OF 50 PLUS COUNTRIES PLUS NATO AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, WE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO COLLECT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE SAID ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WHEN HE WAS EITHER ONE OF THE CANDIDATES TO BE THE NOMINEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, OR WHEN HE WAS ACTUALLY THE CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON.

AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT AN AWFUL LOT AND PERHAPS I SHOULDN'T NAME THEM HERE BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES, AN AWFUL LOT OF SENIOR OFFICIALS, INCLUDING OUR ALLIED GOVERNMENTS, SAID SOME PRETTY HURTFUL THING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

I PERSONALLY WOULD TAKE OFFENSE IF I WERE THE PRESIDENT.

THE DIFFERENCE HERE HOWEVER IS THAT HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR IMPACT ON HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS THOSE COUNTRIES.

NOT THAT I HAVE SEEN.

BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAY, AND HE SAID IT IN PUBLIC SO I'M NOT REVEALING ANY KIND OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE HERE, THAT UKRAINE TRIED TO TAKE ME DOWN.

WELL, I'VE SEEN THAT SOME ILL ADVISED UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, AMBASSADOR CHARLIE HAS BEEN REMOVED AS BEING THE AMBASSADOR FROM HERE, MADE SOME PRETTY UNPLEASANT STATEMENTS ABOUT ILL ADVISED OP EDS BUT I COULD LIST A WHOLE HOST OF AMBASSADORS FROM ALLIED COUNTRIES WHO TWEETED OUT WHO HAD PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AS WELL.

AND IT DID NOT AFFECT SECURITY ASSISTANCE, HAVING MEETINGS WITH THEM.

IF IT WOULD THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE HE WOULDN'T HAVE MET WITH.

>> THANK YOU, DR. HILL.

MR. CHAIRMAN I SEEK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADD TO THE RECORD A POLITICO ARTICLE OF DECEMBER 1st, 2016 ENTITLED RUDD ACCUSES UKRAINE OF SABOTAGING TRUMP.

IT OUTLINES RUSSIAN SENIOR OFFICIALS MAKING ALLEGATIONS THAT THERE WAS UKRAINIAN INTERFERENCE OF THE 2016 ELECTION.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. CONAWAY.

>> I YIELD FOR FIVE MINUTES.

>> THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR MEDIAING.

I WANT TO PICK UP FROM WHERE MY COLLEAGUE ACROSS THE AISLE LED OFF EARTH EARLIER.

HE WASN'T DEFENDING YOU.

HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF AND DEMOCRATS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS CLEAR.

RANKING MEMBER NUNES IS CORRECT.

HE CORRECTLY NOTED IN HIS OPENING THAT REPUBLICAN, NOT DEMOCRATS ON THIS COMMITTEE, WERE THE FIRST ONES TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF RUSSIAN INTERFEERPS IN THE 2016 ELECTION.

THE DISAGREEMENT WASN'T ABOUT RUSSIAN MEDDLING.

THE DISAGREEMENT WAS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP CONSPIRED WITH RUSSIA, A FALSE ALLEGATION PEDDLED BY THE DEMOCRATS AND SPECIFICALLY BY SOME DEMOCRATS ON THIS COMMITTEE.

WITH THAT MR. HOLMES I WANT TO TURN TO YOU AND THE PART OF THE CONVERSATION, YOUR TESTIMONY WHERE YOU SAID YOU HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY, IS HE GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION, AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAYS HE'S GOING TO DO IT, HE'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK HIM TO, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR.

>> WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY NEXT?

>> HE SAID, WHAT ABOUT SWEDEN?

>> HE SAID WHAT?

-- SORRY I NEED TO LOOK BACK WHERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONVERSATION HERE.

WHERE -- IN THE TESTIMONY.

>> EXACTLY.

SO AUTHENTIC THEY ALTERNATED TO THE SWEDEN CONVERSATION.

>> WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY NEXT.

>> HE SAID GOOD, WHAT ABOUT SWEDEN.

>> GOOD, WHAT ABOUT SWEDEN.

GOOD, WHAT ABOUT SWEDEN, WHY ISN'T THAT IN YOUR STATEMENT?

>> SIR, IT'S NOT A WORD FOR WORD EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> BUT IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> WELL, THEN THEY TURNED TO SWEDEN.

THEY TURNED TO THE OTHER TOPIC.

>> RESPECTFULLY, MR. HOLMES, THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS BASED ON THE CALL THE DAY BEFORE WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP AS PART OF A BRIBERY SCHEME, IS PART OF AN EXTORTION SCHEME AS A PART OF A QUID PRO QUO, ACCORDING TO THE DEMOCRATS, DEMAND HE INVESTIGATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR EITHER MILITARY AID OR WHITE HOUSE MEETING.

AND THE NEXT DAY, YOU WERE WITNESS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP RECEIVING WORD THAT THE BRIBERY SCHEME WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE EXTORTION SCHEME WAS SUCCESSFUL.

AND HIS RESPONSE, HIS RESPONSE WAS, GOOD, WHO ABOUT SWEDEN?

>> YES, SIR.

THE UKRAINE PORTION OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS EXTREMELY BRIEF.

>> WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING THE PRESIDENT SAID ON THE CALL?

>> THE -- THIS WAS.

>> -- DID CLEAR RECOLLECTION OF THIS CONVERSATION?

>> YES, SIR.

>> PLEASE LET MR. HOLMES ANSWER.

>> YES, SIR.

SONDLAND GREETED THE PRESIDENT.

>> HOW.

>> HE SAID HELLO MR. PRESIDENT, I'M IN KIEV.

AND THE PRESIDENT SAID, ARE YOU IN UKRAINE?

>> YOU THINK HE SAID, I THINK YOU'RE IN UKRAINE?

HE SAID WHAT?

>> HE SAID, UKRAINE.

>> WHAT DID YOU HEAR THE IF THE SAY ASAP ROCKY.

>> I DID NOT HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ASAP ROCKY.

>> HIS VOICE WAS RKABLE, WHEN THE CONVERSATION SHIFTED I COULD ONLY HEAR AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> AS I SAID, WHEN THE PRESIDENT CAME ON THE CALL HE SORT OF WINCED AND HELD HIS PHONE AWAY FROM HIS EAR.

AT SOME POINT I DON'T KNOW IF I TURNED VOLUME GOWN, THE PRESIDENT SPOKE QUIETER, I DON'T KNOW.

>> WHAT DID CHANGE?

IT WAS MEMORABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW SIR.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND STOPPED MOVING THE PHONE AWAY FROM HIS EAR.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, OKAY.

HOW DID THE CONVERSATION END?

>> I ONLY HEARD AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION SIR.

AND AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION HE SAID, HE SAID THIS -- HE WAS GIVING THE PRESIDENT ADVICE ON HOW TO DO WITH THIS ASAP ROCKY SITUATION, THEY SHOULD HAVE RELEASED THEM ON YOUR WORD AND YOU COULD TELL THE KARDASHIANS YOU TRIED.

>> TO BE CLEAR, WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP RECEIVED WORD THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HAD AGREED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS HE SAID GOOD.

WHAT ABOUT SWEDEN?

>> YES.

>> WHEN EXACTLY DID GORDON SONDLAND ASK PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS?

>> I'M SORRY SIR?

>> WHEN DID HE ASK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS?

>> WHEN DID GORDON SONDLAND ASK ZELENSKY ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION?

>> YES.

>> YOU'RE ASKING IN WHICH MEETING DID HE RAISE THE INVESTIGATIONS?

>> WELL RAISED THE DAY BEFORE ON A CALL AND THE NEXT DAY GORDON SONDLAND SAID THE ANSWER TO THAT WAS HE WAS GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.

SO WHEN DID HE ASK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION?

>> MY ASSUMING IS HE DID IT IN THE CLOSED DOOR MEETING WITH YERMAK.

>> THE TIME OF THE GENTLEMAN IS EXPIRED.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT BUT THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATIONS DID NOT COME UP ON THAT DAY.

I YIELD BACK.

>> THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF OUR WITNESSES FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO TURN OUR DISCUSSION TO THE CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE CAREER DIPLOMAT, AMBASSADOR WITH YOVANOVITCH.

BOTH OF YOU IN YOUR VARIOUS CAPACITIES HAD TO WORK WITH HER AND BOTH OF YOU WITNESS WHAT I WOULD CALL A SMEAR CAMPAIGN.

I WANTED TO KNOW, YOUR THOUGHTS, DR. HILL, WHAT WAS YOUR VIEW OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S EXPERIENCE AND QUALITY OF HER WORK IN THE UKRAINE, AND DO YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE A SMEAR CAMPAIGN?

>> I HAD THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, BOTH IN TERMS OF HER INTEGRITY, AND THE HIGH STANDARDS OF WORK THAT SHE WAS CARRYING OUT AS AMBASSADOR IN UKRAINE AND ACROSS HER WHOLE CAREER.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS OSMEAR CAMPAIGN.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN FOR THE RECORD I THINK IT WAS UNNECESSARY.

IF THERE WAS A DECISION TO HAVE A POLITICAL AMBASSADOR PUT IN PLACE, IN UKRAINE, THAT WOULD BE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.

IT'S EXACTLY IF RIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I JUST DID NOT SEE WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO MALIGN AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH TO SUCH AN EXTENT.

>> MR. HOLMES WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTER, INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSOR -- I MEAN AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, BOTH IN UKRAINE?

>> YES MA'AM.

SHE WAS EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL, RESPECTED IN UKRAINE BY UKRAINIANS, I THINK ALSO BY VISITING AMERICAN SENIOR OFFICIALS BY MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND CONGRESS WHO CAME TO VISIT.

SHE IS EXTREMELY DEDICATED, HOARD-WORKING.

>> DID YOU SEE IT AS A SMEAR CAMPAIGN AS WELL?

>> I DID, YES.

>> AND WHAT WAS THE EFFECT THAT IT HAD ON THE MORALE OF OTHER PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU WORKED WITH IN THE UKRAINE?

>> IT WAS A VERY CONFUSING TIME.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE PRESIDENT HAS A RIGHT TO REMOVE AN AMBASSADOR FOR ANY OR NO REASON AT ALL.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING OSH WHY PEOPLE WEREN'T STANDING UP FOR HER.

>> I'D LIKE TO NOW TURN DR. HILL TO YOUR BOSS.

YOUR BOSS WAS AMBASSADOR BOLTON, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> DID YOUR BOSS, AMBASSADOR BOLTON, TELL YOU THAT GIULIANI WAS, QUOTE, A HAND GRENADE?

>> HE DID, YES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HE MEANT BY HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF GIULIANI AS A HAND GRENADE?

>> WHAT HE METROPOLITAN BY THIS WAS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME IN THE CEX THAT THE STATEMENTS THAT MR. GIULIANI WAS MAKING PUBLICLY THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS HE WAS PROMOTING, THE STORY LINE HE WAS PROMOTING, DID NARRATIVE HE WAS PROMOTING WAS GOING TO BACK FIRE.

I THINK IT HAS BACK FIRED.

>> WAS THAT NARRATIVE ALSO INCLUSIVE OF FALSEHOODS ABOUT AMBASSADOR YOAFNLT?

>> AT THE PARTICULAR JUNCTURE THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON MADE THAT COMMENT ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE THAT WAS IN THE CEX OF MY -- CONTEXT OF MY DISCUSSION ET CETERA WITH HIM ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH.

>> I WAS PARTICULARLY STRUCK BY YOUR TESTIMONY DR. HIRL ABOUT RECEIVING HEIGHTFUL CALLS AND BEING ACCUSED OF BEING A MOLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

ARE YOU A NEVER TRUMPER OR HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE TO YOUR PROFESSION AND REMAIN NONPARTISAN?

>> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEFINITION OF NEVER TRUMPER IS, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FEELING SAME WAY.

IT IS A BUZZ LING TERM TO BE APPLIED TO CAREER OR NONPARTIES AND OFFICIALS.

AND I CHOSE TO COME INTO THE ADMINISTRATION.

I COULD HAVE EASILY SAID NO WHEN I WAS APPROACHED GLSHTSZ BUT YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP TO HAVE HATEFUL CALLS AND THE LIKE.

>> I GUESS UNFORTUNATELY WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THE MOTIVATE, THAT IS COMING WITH THE TERRITORY.

THE CONTINUING HONESTLY, WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BLOCK TWITTER, PARTS OF MY NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE INTERNET, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND AS I SAID IN MY DEPOSITION, THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM, BE THE MEMBERS OF THES FROM, BE IT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OR THE PRESS.

THIS GHETS BACK SADLY TO THINGS OUR ADVERSARIES CAN ALSO EXPLOIT.

>> EXACTLY.

I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THIS SHOULDN'T BECOME THE NEW NORM WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> IT SHOULD NOT.

>> I ALSO AGREE THAT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR INSTEAD OF KEEPING YOU DOWN, WOULD MAKE YOU UNDETERRED.

ARE YOU MORE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TO DO YOUR WORK AND TO DO IT PROFESSIONALLY?

>> I AM.

AND I THINK ALL MY COLLEAGUES ARE AS WELL.

BECAUSE JUST AS YOU SET WE CAN'T LET THIS STAND AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE WANTS TO LET THIS STAND.

I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO COME UNDER PERSONAL ASTACK.

>> I UNFORTUNATELY THINK THIS IS BECOMINGS A NEW NORM AND WE ARE BEING LED BY THE VERY TOP OF OUR FOOD CHAIN WHICH IS OUR PRESIDENT WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

I'M ESPECIALLY DISHEARTENED BY HIS TREATMENT OF WOMEN AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE'S A LONG LINE OF STRONG TALENTED WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN PART SMEARED AND VICTIMIZED BY THIS PRESIDENT AND WE CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR HIM, WHETHER YOU SUPPORTED HIM OR NOT THAT DOING SO IS WRONG.

YOU CAN SIMPLY REMOVE SOMEONE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SMEAR THEM.

THANK YOU I YIELD GAK MY SOMETIME.

>> MR. TURNER.

>> Is AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT, AND WHICH HAVE BEEN VIEM AND HATEFUL.

FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE AT HOME, THE EFFORT TO ACCUSE OUR PRESIDENT OF COERCION, EXTORTION OR BRIBERY OF THESE WITNESSES IS AS WE NOW COME TO THE CLOSING SESSION OF THIS BASICALLY BREAK DOWN AS FOLLOWS.

WE HAVE KENT AND AMBASSADOR TAYLOR WHO SPOKE OF HEARSAY, THEIR HEARSAY OF THESE MATTERS THAT THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD, WERE ALL STATEMENTS HAD THEY'D HEARD FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE ALSO TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF US.

THERE'S NO ONE THAT'S MISSING NO ONE OUT THERE.

KENT AND TAYLOR BASICALLY SAID THEY HAD HEARD IT FROM MORRISON AND SONDLAND,BMORRISON TESTIFIED HE HEARD IT FROM SONDLAND.

SONDLAND TESTIFIED HE HEARD IT FROM NO ONE OF ON THE PLANET.

VINDMAN AND MORRISON BOTH HAVE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE PHONE CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

BEYOND THAT THEY ONLY HAD CONTACT WITH SONDLAND AND AGAIN SONDLAND INDICATEHE HAD CONTACT WITH NO ONE ON THE PLANET.

VOLKER TESTIFIED THAT HE DID HAVE DIRECT CONTACT BOTH WITH THE UKRAINIANS AND WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND INDICATED THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DID NOT CONDITION EITHER PHONE CALL, A MEETING OR AID, UPON UKRAINE UNDERTAKING INVESTIGATIONS AND ALSO TESTIFIED THAT THE UKRAINIANS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT EITHER.

WE ALSO HAVE THE DIRECT STATEMENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO UNDERTAKE INVESTIGATIONS AND WE ALSO HAVE EVIDENCE WHICH WE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHICH THEY DID NOT UNDERTAKE ANY INVESTIGATIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE YOVANOVITCH AND DR. HILL, YOVANOVITCH OBVIOUSLY LEFT BEFORE THE TIME PERIOD.

DR. HILL WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US AND MR. HOLMES.

DR. HILL YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME PERHAPS THE GREATEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT'S BEFORE US TO ILLUSTRATE THE PROBLEM WITH HEARSAY.

SO YOU SAID, BASED ON QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS, I HAVE HEARD, SOME YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE, THAT BE US, APPEAR TO BELIEVE THAT RUSSIA AND ITS SECURITY SERVICES DID NOT CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN AGAINST OUR COUNTRY.

AND PERHAPS SOMEHOW FOR SOME REASON IT WAS UKRAINE.

THIS WAS HELD UP BY DEVIN NUNES ON RUSSIAN ACTIVE MEMBERS THAT WAS REPORTED BY ALL OF US, BEGINS WITH THIS SENTENCE, IN 2015, RUSSIA BEGAN A COVERT CAMPAIGN, EVERY ONE OF US LITTLE SMALL LIKE EFFORT ON YOUR PART DR. HILL AND YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS NOT TRUE, WHAT YOU HAD HEARD.

BUT YOU FELT THE NEED TO PUT IT IN YOUR EIGHT PAGE STATEMENT BEFORE YOU WENT ON TO TELL US A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, NO MATTER HOW CONVINCED YOU WESH OF ALSO WHICH WERE NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

ONE OF WHICH WAS THAT YOU SAID THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND MET WITH GIULIANI.

ACTUALLY AMBASSADOR.SONDLAND TESTIFIED THAT HE HAD NOT AS AMBASSADOR MET WITH GIULIANI.

HE BRIEFLYÑi MET HIM IN HIS LIFETIME BY SHAKING HIS HAPPENED.

L L THEY HAD NOT MET EITHER.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE ARE CONVINCED DR. HILL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE BELIEVE WHAT WE HEARD IS TRUE, IT IS STILL WHAT WE JUST HEARD.

SO FAR IN THIS HEARINGS, THESE SERIES OF HEARINGS, THE ONLY THING WE HAVE IS VOLKER SAYING I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT AND I HAVE SPOKE TO THE UKRAINIANS NEITHER OF WHICH BELIEVE AID WAS CONDITIONED, NEITHER OF WHICH BELIEVED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS REQUIRING IT.

AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WHICH SAID NO ONE ON THE PLANET TOLD HIM THAT THAT WAS THE CASE.

THAT IS THE SOLE EVIDENCE.

NOW I GOT TO TELL YOU THE ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING IS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID THE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT WAS CBD UPON INVESTIGATION, AMBASSADOR VOLKER WHO IS I THINK A MAN OF VERY SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY SAID THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

EVEN IF AMBASSADOR SONDLAND IS CORRECT THAT SOMEBODY AND DR. HILL YOU TESTIFIED AGAIN IT IS HEARSAY YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT SUPPOSEDLY MULVANEY TOLD HIM THAT HE DIDN'T TESTIFY TO THAT, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY BESIDES THE PRESIDENT TOLD HIM THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO BE THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF HISTORY TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TAKE A MEETING?

OH PLEASE DEAR GOD PLEASE UNDERTAKE THAT.

IT IS HOW MR. HOLMES, I GOT TO TELL YOU.

YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE -- >> IS THERE A QUESTIONING QUESTION FOR DR. HILL?

>> MR. HOMES.

IN YOUR TESTIMONY, YOU SAID THAT SONDLAND SAID, HE LOVES YOUR ASS AND ALSO SAID, HE'LL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

MR. HOLMES, THAT INFORMATION HAD NOTION WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ANY OF THESE HEARINGS, IT WAS ANECDOTAL, IT WAS EXTRANEOUS.

YOUR STATEMENTS HAD YOUR INTERESTS ARE PROTECTING UKRAINE ARE VERY DUBIOUS WHEN YOU EMBARRASS PRESIDENT ZELENSKY BY MAKING THOSE STATEMENTS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE, WHO CARES THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID THAT?

AND YOU DIDN'T IMPAIRS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND.

YOU EMBARRASSED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

IT'S TOTALLY DUBIOUS FOR YOU -- >> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

>> MEDIA BACK.

>> THANK YOU GOTO FOR YOUR SERVICE.

DR. HILL RIED LIKE TO TALK MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY'S ROLE IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

YOU TESTIFIED THAT L MR. MULVANEY AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WERE BOTH INVOLVED IN THE LETTER THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SENT TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS INAUGURATION.

DO YOU RECALL THAT MA'AM?

>> I DID YES.

>> TOWARDS THE END OF THAT LETTER PRESIDENT TRUMP CLOSED WITH, QUOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO MEET ME IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS SOON ASE CAN FIND A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT TIME.

WAS THIS DRAFTED THROUGH THE NORM PROCEDURES AT THE NSC, THAT THE NSC USES TO FOREIGN HEADS OF STATE?

>> THE FIRST PART WAS EXCEPT THE LAST PARAGRAPH.

>> YOU ALSO TESTIFIED THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TOLD YOU THAT HE HAD DICTATED THAT LINE TO THE PRESIDENT AND THAT MR. MULVANEY, HE TOLD MR. MULVANEY TO ADD THAT TO THE LETTER, IS THAT CORRECT MA'AM?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

WHY WERE YOU NERVOUS DR. HILL?

>> BECAUSE AT THIS JUNCTURE IT HAD BECOME QUITE APPARENT THAT THE PRESIDENT WASN'T VERY KEEN ON HAVING A MEETING WITH MR. ZELENSKY, FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO LAY OUT TODAY.

AND WE WERE, ONCE ONE PUTS IN A LETTER LIKE THAT YOU RAISE THE EXPECTATION OF AN INVITATION COMING SHORTLY.

>> DR. HILL YOU ALSO TESTIFIED MA'AM THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS FREQUENTLY MEETING WITH MR. MULVANEY.

MR. GIULIANI'S CAMPAIGN OF LIES ULTIMATELY LED TO AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH BEING RECALLED FROM HER POST IN APRIL 2019.

YOU HAVE ALSO TESTIFIED MA'AM THAT HER REMOVAL WAS PRETTY DISSPIRITTING AND A TURNING POINT FOR YOU.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY, MA'AM?

>> WELL, BEEN, AS WE'VE ALL MADE CLEAR, AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH AND YOU SAW FOR YOURSELF IN HER DEPOSITION, IS A PERSON OF GREAT INTEGRITY.

SHE IS ONE OF OUR FINEST FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS, CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS.

AND THERE HAD BEEN A DECISION TO REMOVE HER, TO REPLACE HER WITH A POLITICAL APPOINTEE.

AGAIN THAT IS PERFECTLY WITHIN THE RIGHTS OF THE PRESIDENT.

SOMETIMES IT IS HIGHLY ADVISABLE IN FACT TO EMPHASIZE TO A COUNTRY JUST EXACTLY HOW CLOSE THE RELATIONSHIP IS LIKELY TO BE, TO HAVE AN APPOINTEE CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT IF IT'S AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP.

BUT WHAT WAS DISSPIRITTING WAS ALL OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE BEING FIRED AT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, LEADING HER TO BE TWEETED INCLUDING BY MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY, WE ALL FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT MR. GIULIANI AND OTHERS, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE RECENTLY INDICTED, THE UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN GENTLEMEN HAD FOR SOME REASON DECIDED THAT AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH WAS SOME KIND OF PERSONAL PROBLEM FOR THEM AND THEY DECIDED TO ENGAGE IN JUST THE KINDS OF THINGS WE ABOUT AND SHE WAS AN EASY TARGET AS A WOMAN.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO CONGRESSMAN STEFANIC.

THIS SHOWS THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

>> I WAS STRUCK BY YOUR TESTIMONY THAT YOU WERE ALSO A PART OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

YOU TESTIFIED ABOUT RECEIVING HATEFUL CALLS AND ACCUSED OF BEING A MOLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

YOU TESTIFIED ABOUT DEATH THREATS AND CALLS AT YOUR HOME, THAT'S CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IN 2017.

>> I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS.

YOU DON'T STRIKE ME AS A WOMAN EASILY DETERRED.

YOU'RE NOT EASILY DETERRED, YOU?

>> NO.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I YIELD BACK.

>> THANKS TO THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.

ANOTHER FACT CHECKING.

MY CAUTION TO BOTH OF YOU REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT WHAT PRIOR WITNESSES OR WHAT YOU SAID MAY NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE FACTS.

THIS WAS FROM AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S AID.

HE SAID HE MET WITH THE AIDE BUT HE DIDN'T RECALL THE SPECIFICS BUT TISSUE OF INVESTIGATIONS WAS PROBABLY A PART OF THE -- THAT AGENDA OR MEETING.

NOW RECOGNIZE DR. WINSTROP.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

IN 1998, I VOLUNTARILY JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES BECAUSE I SAW OUR COUNTRY UNDER ATTACK.

BILL CLINTON WAS THE PRESIDENT.

I DIDN'T VOTE FOR BILL CLINTON BUT HE WAS MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

DIDN'T MATTER THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM.

I WAS GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT GETS TO LEGITIMATELY ELECT OUR LEADERS.

I'VE BEEN TO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DON'T GET TO.

IT'S NOT PRETTY.

I RESPECT OUR SYSTEM AND I ACCEPT THE RESULTS THAT ARE DETERMINED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

I DEPLOYED TO IRAQ 20005-06 WITH SOLDIERS FROM MANY BACKGROUND.

MOST IMPORTANT, WE WERE ALL AMERICANS.

THAT WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

OUR MISSION WE TREATED OUR TROOPS, WE TREATED THE ENEMY, WINNING OVER THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEVER KNEW US BECAUSE OF THEIR DICTATOR, SADDAM HUSSEIN.

HE SAID THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THEIR PROBLEMS AND THAT WAS HIS NARRATIVE.

SPEAKING OF NARRATIVES, DR. HILL, I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO SAY, YOU SAID BASED ON STATEMENTS THAT YOU HEARD SOMEBODY IN THIS COMMITTEE BELIEVES RUSSIAN DIDN'T CONDUCT A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S FALSE.

THAT'S MR. SCHIFF'S NARRATIVE.

IT'S FALSE.

WE DID A WHOLE REPORT ON IT.

WE AGREE THAT RUSSIA HAS DONE THIS SINCE THE SOVIET UNION.

THEY'RE BETTER AT IT.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

CERTAIN UKRAINIANS DID WORK AGAINST CANDIDATE TRUMP.

SOME WITH THE DNC.

IF THAT IS DEBUNKED, WHY HAS MR. SCHIFF DENIED ALEXANDER CHALUPA FROM COMING FORWARD TO DEBUNK IT?

I ASKED AMERICA, WAS IT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY FOR THE DNC AND THE CLINTONS TO PAY CHRISTOPHER STEELE TO DIG UP SOURCES ON THEIR POLITICAL RIVAL?

WAS IT GOOD FOR AMERICA TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT COLLUDING WITH RUSSIANS WHEN HE DID NOT COSTING THE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS?

AND BEING DEBUNKED BY SPECIAL COUNSEL?

I'D SAY THE FALSE NARRATIVE GOT CAUGHT.

WAS IT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY FOR AMERICANS AND FOREIGNERS ALIKE TO ATTEMPT TO ENTRAP MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SPECIFICALLY THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN?

SADLY I'VE COME TO BELIEVE THROUGH ALL OF THIS THAT SOME IN POWER DO THINK IT'S GOOD.

THEY THINK IT'S OKAY.

NOW WE'RE HERE IN AN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING, CERTAINLY A RIGHT THAT CONGRESS HAS AND APPARENTLY EVEN WITH VERY PARTISAN RULES.

I'M CURIOUS, THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE SPEAKER BEFORE THE WHISTLE-BLOWER COMPLAINT WAS EVEN OUT.

I'M CURIOUS WHY THE LAWYER FOR THE WHISTLE-BLOWER ANNOUNCED THAT THE COUP TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT, THAT HE ANNOUNCED THAT RIGHT AFTER TRUMP WON?

THAT'S PRETTY DAMNING.

I KNOW IT HURTS AFTER LOSING AN ELECTION, ESPECIALLY AS AMERICANS WE USUALLY GET OVER IT.

I IMAGINE IT WOULD HURT EVEN MORE IF YOU WERE PROMISED A POSITION IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION AND LOST.

YOUR HOPES AND YOUR DREAMS ARE DASHED.

NOW, I'VE SEEN PATRIOT FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

SPECIFICALLY ON JUNE 14th, 2017 AT A BALL FIELD IN VIRGINIA.

I'VE SEEN HATRED AND WAR.

I KNOW HATRED BLINDS PEOPLE.

I'VE BEEN IN WAR, I'VE STUDIED WAR.

COUPS CREATE DIVISION.

IT'S TIME FOR THIS PHASE OF THE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED AND PROCLAIMED DEMOCRAT COUP TO END.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I YIELD BACK.

>> COULD I SAY SOMETHING?

WE'VE HAD THREE -- >> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND.

THERE'S BEEN -- GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.

DR. HILL, YOU MAY RESPOND.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT DR DR. WINSTROP SAID WAS VERY POWERFUL ABOUT THE OVERCOMING OF HATRED AND PART OF OUR DIVISION.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CONGRESSMAN TURNER AND RATCLIFFE HAVE BOTH LEFT AS WELL.

BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US WHO CAME HERE UNDER LEGAL OBLIGATION ALSO FELT WE HAD A MORAL ONLIGATION TO DO SO, WE CAME AS FACT WITNESSES.

WHEN I WAS REFERRING TO QUESTIONS, IT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEPOSITION THAT I GAVE ON A OCTOBER 14th.

I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE TURN IN WHICH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WERE TAKING.

I UNDERSTAND THE POINT IS BEING RAISED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AS YOU HAVE JUST SAID, DR. WINSTROP UNDER THESE ARTICLES LAY OUT TAKING DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN OUR ELECTIONS.

I DIFFERENT BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE ANY INTERFERENCE OF ANY KIND IN OUR ELECTION.

IT WAS UNFAIR NOR PEOPLE TO ALREADY CALL THE ELECTION AND MAKE ATTACKS ON CANDIDATE TRUMP AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I KNOW THAT THIS HAS PUT A HUGE CLOUD OVER THIS PRESIDENCY AND ALSO OVER OUR WHOLE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHY I'M A NONPARTISAN PERSON AND AN EXPERT ON VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES.

I WANTED TO HELP.

I HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY THAT HE WANTED TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONS WITHES ARE.

WE HAVE TO.

WE CAN'T BE IN THIS UNENDING CONFRONTATION WITHES ARE.

WE HAVE TO STABILIZE THAT RERELATIONSHIP AND STOP THEM FROM WHAT THEY DID I2016.

THIS IS WHERE YOU PUT ACROSS, VERY ELOQUENTLY.

THE OTHER, WE'RE HERE JUST TO PROVIDE WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD.

I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR MANY MEMBERS THIS MAY BE HEARSAY.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THINGS I HEARD WITH MY OWN EARS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID A LOT OF THINGS.

I TOLD YOU WHAT HE TOLD ME AND WHAT OTHERS TOLD ME.

A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THINGS TO ME, AGAIN, AS WELL AND ALSO TO MR. HOLMES.

WE'RE HERE TO RELATE TO YOU WHAT WE HEARD, WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT WE DID.

AND TO BE OF SOME HELP TO ALL OF YOU IN REALLY MAKING A MOMENTOUS DECISION HERE.

WE ARE NOT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I DO, AGAIN, WANT TO UNDERSCORE WHAT YOU SAID HERE, DR. WINSTROP.

IT WAS ELOQUENT AND MOVING ABOUT YOUR SERVICE AND TRYING TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AGAIN AS AMERICANS, WE NEED TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN IN 2020 SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT THE FUTURE AND ABOUT MAKING THEIR VOTE IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WITHOUT ANY FEAR THAT THIS IS BEING INTERFERED BY -- FROM ANY CORNER WHATSOEVER.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING WHAT I THINK WAS ALSO A VERY ELEGANT AND HEARTFELT DEFENSE.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. HILL, MR. HOLMES, THANKS FOR BEING FACT WITNESSES.

WE'RE HERE AS FACT FINDERS AND WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

DR. HILL, I WANT TO VERIFY THIS STORY.

I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU WERE 11 YEARS OLD THERE WAS A SCHOOL BOY WHO SET YOUR PIG TAILS ON FIRE.

YOU WERE TAKING A TEST.

YOU TURNED AROUND AND WITH YOUR HANDS SNUFFED OUT THE FIRE AND PROCEEDED TO FINISH YOUR TEST.

IS THAT A TRUE STORY?

>> IT IS A TRUE STORY.

SURPRISED TO SEE THAT POP UP TODAY.

I TELL THAT OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE IT HAD SOME UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES AFTERWARDS.

MY MOTHER GAVE ME A BOWL HAIR CUT.

SO FOR THE SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH LATER IN THAT WEEK, I LOOKED LIKE RICHARD III.

>> IT UNDERSCORES THE FACT THAT YOU SPEAK TRUTH, THAT YOU ARE STEELY AND I TRULY RESPECT THAT.

LET ME ME HAVE TO YOUR TESTIMONY IN YOUR DEPOSITION.

YOU INDICATED YOU WERE DEEPLY TROUBLED BY AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S ATTACKS ON HER.

YOU SAID THAT ALL AMBASSADORS SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT.

IN THE CASE OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, HE COULD HAVE ASKED HER TO COME HOME.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IN FACT, THERE WAS A SYSTEMATIC CHARACTER ASSASSINATION THAT WENT ON.

THAT WENT ON FROM 2018, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

BUT YOU SAY -- THE MOST OBVIOUS EXPLANATION AT THIS POINT, IT HAS TO BE SAID, SEEMED TO BE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WANTED TO IMPROVE THEIR INVESTMENT POSITIONS INSIDE OF UKRAINE ITSELF.

YOU WERE THEN ASKED WHO DO YOU UNDERSTAND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER REMOVAL?

YOU SAID I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE THE RESULT OF THE CAMPAIGN THAT MR. GULIANI HAD SET IN MOTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE WRITING ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS THAT I WAS -- HAVE EXPECTED BETTER OF.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST THE CONSTANT DRUM BEAT OF THESE ACCUSATIONS THAT HE WAS MAKING ON THE TELEVISION.

SO RUDY GULIANI WAS PLAYING FAST AND FURIOUS IN UKRAINE, IT WOULD APPEAR.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND HE HAD NO OFFICIAL TASKING WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> NOT THAT I HAD BEEN TOLD OF.

>> HE FREQUENTLY MET WITH UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS THAT THEY OPEN AN INVESTIGATION.

>> I WAS LED TO UNDERSTAND, YES.

>> YOU SAID THAT MR. GULIANI WAS A MASSIVE PART OF OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH UKRAINE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT?

>> I THINK I ALREADY LAID THAT OUT IN AN EARLIER PART OF THE RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.

WE WERE ACTUALLY CONDUCTING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MIGHT BE A BORING STANDARD BILATERAL POLICY TOWARD UKRAINE, PUSHING THEM ON ISSUES OF THE ENERGY SECTOR, MORE BROADLY, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE.

WE WERE TRYING TO HELP UKRAINE REGAIN THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AFTER THE ATTACKS BY RUSSIA.

>> SO HOW DID MR. GULIANI'S INVOLVEMENT AFFECT THAT?

>> WE WORKED OUT OVER TWO YEARS AND CONJUNCTION WITH THE EMBASSY IN KIEV AN INTERAGENCY AGREED ACTION PLAN.

THOSES ARE THINGS THAT COLONEL VINDMAN AND OTHERS WERE WORKING ON.

RUDY GULIANI AND OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THIS.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WASN'T INTERESTING IN IT EITHER.

IT WAS BORING.

IT WOULDN'T MAKE FOR GOOD COPY IN THE PRESS.

IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT EVERYBODY ON A ROUTINE MOVES FORWARD ON.

>> MR. HOLMES, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER THAT RUSSIA TRIES TO ASSERT AGAINST UKRAINE.

SINCE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY NEVER GOT HIS WHITE HOUSE MEETING, DOESN'T THAT MAKE UKRAINE LOOK WEAK AND DOESN'T THAT BENEFIT RUSSIA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO PROMOTING PUTIN'S FALSE CLAIM OF UKRAINE INTERVENTION TO THE U.S. ELECTION ALSO BENEFITS RUSSIA, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

>> SO WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP MEETS PRIVATELY WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN AT THE G-20 SUMMIT, WHO DOES THAT BENEFIT?

>> DOESN'T HELP UKRAINE.

>> DOESN'T HOPE UKRAINE.

BY PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLING UKRAINE CORRUPT AND NOT NORTH KOREA, FOR INSTANCE, DOES THAT GO TO RUSSIAN'S BENEFIT?

>> DOESN'T HELP UKRAINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I THANK YOU.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO YOU.

>> YOU'RE YIELDING ME THREE SECONDS.

NOT EVEN I CAN MAKE USE OF THREE SECONDS.

MR. STEWART.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. HILL, MR. HOLMES, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR YOU THAT HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN ASKED OR MADE NOT ANY POINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.

I'LL CONCLUDE BY SOMETHING THAT I'VE SAID BEFORE.

THIS IMPEACH A PALOOZA FINALLY COMES TO AN END.

A YEAR OF RESISTANCE, 2 1/2 YEARS OF THESE ABSURD ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN COLLUSION.

WE'VE GONE FROM QUID PRO QUO TO BRIBERY TO EXTORTION.

SEVEN WEEKS OF HEARINGS, 16 SECRET CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS, 12 PUBLIC HEARINGS NOW OF WHICH YOU'RE THE LAST.

HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TESTIMONY.

I REALLY THINK FOR THOSE THAT HATE THE PRESIDENT, THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR MINDS BUT A LOT OF AMERICANS SAY IS THAT IT?

REALLY?

YOU'RE GOING TO IMPEACH AND REMOVE A PRESIDENT FOR THIS?

LIKE I SAID, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE PRESIDENT, YOU'VE COME TO THAT CONCLUSION.

MANY PEOPLE WANTED THIS THREE YEARS AGO.

FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS, THEY LOOK AT THAT AND THEY CAN SEE THIS.

NO EVIDENCE.

ZERO EVIDENCE OF ANY BRIBERY.

ZERO EVIDENCE OF EXTORTION.

ZERO EVIDENCE FIRST HAND OF ANY QUID PRO QUO.

YET IMPEACHMENT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE.

WHY?

BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN UNFAIR AND DISHONEST.

I KNOW WE HEAR THESE CROCODILE TEARS FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HEART BROKEN BECAUSE THEY FINALLY HAVE TO IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT.

WE KNOW THAT'S ABSURD.

THERE'S NO HEART BROKEN.

THERE'S NO PRAYERFUL TEARS OVER THIS.

THEY'RE GIDDY OVER THIS.

THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T KNOW THAT.

EVERYONE KNOW WHAT'S THEY'RE GOING TO DO NEXT.

THEY'RE GOING TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT AND SEND IT ON TO THE SENATE.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN TO A CONCERT.

YOU GOT THE WARMUP BAND AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MAIN ACT.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE IS THE WARM UP BAND.

THIS IS LIKE THE SIOUX CITY CROONERS.

THIS IS A BAND THAT NOBODY EVER HEARD OF.

THE WARMUP BAND IS OVER.

NOW WE GO ON TO THE MAIN EVENT IN THE U.S. SENATE.

IN THE U.S. SENATE THERE WON'T BE ANY SECRET TESTIMONY.

THERE'S NOT DISHONEST LEADERSHIP FOR A CHAIRMAN THAT REFUSES TO LET US ASK APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS OR DENY A DEFENSE.

WHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE IN THE COUNTRY DO YOU HAVE A TRIAL WHERE THE PROSECUTION PRESENTS A CASE AND THE DEFENSE ISN'T ABLE TO?

WE'LL GET TO THE TRUTH.

I'M TALKING NOW TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE WITNESSES THAT YOU NEED NEED TO CALL AND THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO ASK.

FIRST, YOU HAVE TO HEAR FROM THE WHISTLE-BLOWER.

NOW THEY CAN CHOOSE TO DO THAT IN CLOSED SESSION IF THEY WANT TO.

THAT'S UP TO THEM.

YOU CAN'T INITIATE AN IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND NOT HAVE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

WHO DID HE GET HIS INFORMATION FROM?

DID HE HAVE THE CLASSIFICATION AND CLEARANCES TO GET THAT INFORMATION?

WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN?

WHO HAS HE SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH INCLUDING SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE HERE?

I THINK OUR OWN CHAIRMAN NEEDS TO BE CALLED.

WHAT INTERACTIONS DID HE OR HIS STAFF HAVE WITH THE WHISTLE-BLOWER?

DID THEY HELP TO COORDINATE OR IN ANY WAY FACILITATE THE COMPLAINT?

DID THEY COORDINATE AND FACILITATE HIM?

WHAT ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN?

HOW DID HE GET HIS JOB?

WHAT DID HE DO TO EARN HIS SALARY?

HERE'S THE KEY TO THIS.

IF HE GOES THERE AND MAKES MONEY, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.

I DON'T CARE.

I WANT TO KNOW DID HE HAVE OFFICIALS -- OR CONVERSATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

GOVERNMENT POLICY CHANGED AT A PARTICULAR HIGH LEVEL BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE.

DEVIN ARCHER, FORM-BOARD MEMBER FROM BURISMA, ALEXANDER CHALUPA SAID THAT SHE PROVIDED ANTI-TRUMP INFORMATION, NELLIE OHR FROM FUSION GPS WHO HELPED TO CREATE THE RIDICULOUS STEELE DOSSIER?

I'D LIKE TO REMIND US WHAT I SAID YESTERDAY.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT A LOT.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE TUSSLE, THE FIGHT, THE DEBATE.

THEY LSO EXPECT BASIC FAIRNESS.

THESE PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT FAIR.

THE SENATE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THAT.

I AM CONFIDENT THEY WILL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THEM COMPLETING THE JOB THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE HERE.

WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.

>> MR. QUIGLEY.

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

DR. HILL WHEN WE LAST LEFT JULY 10, I BELIEVE AMBASSADOR BOLTON SAID TO YOU YOU GO AND TELL EISENBERG THAT I'M NOT PART OF WHATEVER DRUG DEAL THAT SONDLAND AND MULVANEY ARE COOKING UP.

YOU TELL THEM WHAT I HEARD AND SAID.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND YOU WENT TO SEE HIM?

>> DID GO TO SEE HIM.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM THAT DAY?

>> I BASICALLY GAVE HIM THE SAME SUMMARY THAT I'VE GIVEN TO YOU ON JULY 10.

>> OF WHAT TOOK PLACE?

>> OF WHAT TOOK PLACE, CORRECT.

INCLUDING SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT I SHARED WITH YOU AS WELL.

WHATTRANSPIRED AS I WAS WALKING IN.

>> DID YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO MEETINGS WITH HIM ABOUT THAT?

>> HE DID NOT HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON THE 10th.

I GAVE HIM THE QUICK SUMMARY.

WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD MEET AGAIN ON THE 11th, JULY 11th THE NEXT DAY.

I ALSO WANTED TO BRING IN WITH ME MY COLLEAGUE, WELLS GRIFFITH FOR ENERGY WHO HAD BEEN SITTING WITH MOW ON THE SOFA FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING.

I SUGGESTED THAT HE SPEAK WITH COLONEL VINDMAN AS WELL BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE WARD ROOM WHEN I ARRIVED AND ENGAGED IN SOME DISCUSSION BEFORE I GOT THERE.

BECAUSE AS I GOT INTO THE ROOM, THEY WERE CLEARLY IN THE COURSE OF CONVERSATION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR JOHN EISENBERG TO HERE FROM VINDMAN HIMSELF, WHAT HIS RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MEETING WERE.

>> DID YOU RAISE THE CONCERNS THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON HAD RAISED TO YOU TO MR. EISENBERG?

>> I CERTAINLY DID.

THE FIRST THING I RELATED TO HIM IS PRECISELY WHAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON HAD ASKED ME TO.

>> IN THE COURSE OF THE TWO MEETINGS, WHAT WAS MR. EISENBERG'S RESPONSE?

>> MR. EISENBERG TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.

HE SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COLONEL VINDMAN SHOULD FEEL FREE -- HE SAID THIS TO ME -- BRING ANY CONCERNS TO HIM IN THE FUTURE ANT THESE MEETINGS.

SIMILARLY MYSELF AND ANY OTHERS WITH ANY SUBSEQUENT FOLLOW UP IN TERMS OF THESE ISSUES BEING READ WITH THE PARTIES IN THE FUTURE.

>> HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING IN RESPONSE ABOUT HOW HE TOOK THAT MEETING, HOW HE WOULD DESCRIBE IT OR IF HE HAD ANY -- DID HE RAISE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT YOU TOLD HIM THAT TOOK PLACE?

>> NO, HE DID NOT.

HE LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE IMPARTED.

>> BACK TO THAT JULY 10th MEETING, THE SECOND MEETING THAT'S IN THE WARD ROOM, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WHO IS IN THAT MEETING BESIDES YOURSELF, THE TWO UKRAINIANS?

>> MR. YERMARK, HIS AIDE, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND AND A COUPLE PEOPLE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

I WONDERED IF ONE OF SECRETARY PERRY'S GROUP.

I CANNOT REMEMBER.

>> BUT AMBASSADOR VOLCKER WAS THERE.

>> HE WAS THERE.

HE DIDN'T SPEAK VERY MUCH DURING THAT MEETING.

I HEARD HIS DEPOSITION AND I READ HIS DEPOSITION WHERE HE DIDN'T RECALL THAT ENCOUNTER.

AGAIN, HE DIDN'T REALLY SPEAK.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS DOING MOST OF THE SPEAKING.

>> I THINK YOU DESCRIBED IT AS YOU CAME IN, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WASTALKING ABOUT HOW HE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH CHIEF OF STAFF MULVANEY FOR MEETINGS AND IF THEY'RE GOING FORWARD WITH INVESTIGATIONS.

WHILE THERE WAS TAKING ON, HOW WERE THE UKRAINIANS REACT SOMETHING.

>> AT THE TIME MR. YERMARK WAS QUITE IMPASSIVE.

HE HAD AN AIDE WITH HIM THAT WAS SITTING IN THE ORIGINAL MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR BOLTON AND TIME TO TIME ON THIS SIDE WHISPERING TO HIM.

I WAS NOT SURE.

I HAD NOT MET HIM BEFORE, ABOUT HOW GOOD HIS ENGLISH WAS.

I WASN'T SURE ON -- IF HE WAS HAVING POINTS OF CLARIFICATION FROM THE AIDE.

>> HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

>> YES.

I WASN'T HIGHLY SURE IF HE WAS FOLLOWING ALL OF THE BACK AND FORTH.

HE WAS MORE ALARMED OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS THIS BACK AND FORTH WITH SONDLAND AND VINDMAN ABOUT THE MEETING.

THEY WANTED THE MEETING.

AND HERE ARE U.S. OFFICIALS ARGUING ABOUT THE MEETING IN FRONT OF HIM.

THAT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HIM.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP TO THAT, SIR?

>> JUST ADD THAT YERMARK DOES UNDERSTAND ENGLISH.

>> MRS. STEFANIK.

>> I WANT THE SAY TO MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUE, NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE HAS SAID THAT RUSSIA DID NOT MED UNTIL THE 2016 ELECTIONS.

AS THE RANKING MEMBER STATED, WE POSTED RUSSIAN ACTIVE MEASURES IN 2016 WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW WE STRENGTHEN OUR CYBER RESILIENCY AND ELECTION SECURITY TO COUNTERS ARE.

I HAVE WORKED WITH MEMBERS OF THIS VERY COMMITTEE ON THIS ISSUE AND ALSO ON THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.

SO TO HAVE OUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUE SAY THESE UNTRUTHFUL STATEMENTS WREAKS OF POLITICAL DESPERATION IN THEIR OBSESSION TO MANIPULATE MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PARTISAN PROCESS FROM THE START.

THE DEMOCRATIC COORDINATE WITH THE WHISTLE-BLOWER, THE ASTOUNDING LEAKS, THE UNPRECEDENTED CLOSED DOOR PROCESS, CLOSED TO THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS, CLOSED TO THE PRESS AND TO THE PEOPLE.

STARTING THIS INQUIRY WITHOUT TAKING A VOTE AND WHEN FINALLY FORCED, IT WAS BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.

NOW FOUR MINUTES LEFT, I'M GOING TO TURN TO OUR TWO WITNESSES.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU DR. HILL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE PERSONAL ATTACK.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU EACH FACT-BASED QUESTION.

DR. HILL, YOU TESTIFIED THAT YOU HANDED OVER YOUR DUTIES ON THE NSC TO TIM MORRISON ON JULY 15th AND THAT YOU PHYSICALLY LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE ON JULY 19th, CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

>> SO THAT MEANS THAT BY THE TIME THERE WAS THE JULY 26 CALL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, YOU WERE NO LONGER ON THE NSC.

CORRECT?

>> I WAS TECHNICALLY ON THE PAYROLL OF THE NSC UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST, AUGUST 30 OF 2019.

I WAS NOT PHYSICALLY IN THE BUILDING AND I HANDED OVER MY DUTIES TO MR. MORRISON.

>> AND YOU WERE NOT ON THE CALL.

>> I WAS NOT.

>> AND YOU DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PREPARATION OF TALKING POINTS OR THE SPECIFIC COORDINATION OF SETTING UP THE CALL.

>> NOT FOR THAT CALL.

LET ME SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LONG ANTICIPATION THAT THERE WOULD BE A CALL.

SO THERE WAS A CALL PACKAGE PREPARED IN ADVANCE.

I CANNOT SAY HOW MUCH OF THAT CALL PACKAGE THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED SINCE, EXAMPLE, THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS THEN USED AS THE BE A I SICK MATERIAL FOR THAT CALL.

I DID TAKE PART IN THE PREPARATION OF THAT STANDARD CALL PACKAGE BUT I DID NOT TAKE ANY PART IN THE CALL ON THE 25th.

>> THE FIRST TIME YOU READ THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL IS WHEN IT WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> MR. HOLMES, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR MENTIONING THE BIPARTISAN DELEGATION THAT I LED ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVCES COMMITTEE WITH MY FRIEND, ANTHONY BROWN FROM MARYLAND.

WE DID HAVE AN EXCEPTIONALLY INFORMATIVE VISIT WHERE WE HIGHLIGHTED THE BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, IN PARTICULAR THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTERING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

WE DISCUSSED IN THE BRIEFINGS AT THE EMBASSY THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENSIVE LETHAL AID IN THE FORM OF JAVELINS, WHICH AS YOU BOTH STATED TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGIC DETERRENT TO RUSSIA.

I JUST WANT THE HIGHLIGHT ON A THE RECORD, THIS HAS BEEN ASKED, THE JAVELINS WERE PROVIDED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND NOT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I WOULD JUST SAY I THINK WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL OF OUR SECURITY TO UKRAINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL OF OUR SECURITY ASSISTANCE WHICH I STRONGLY SUPPORT.

THANKS FOR BEING A HOST ON THAT.

DR. HILL, BACK TO YOU.

THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING THE MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

YOU TESTIFIED THAT THERE WAS HESITANCY TO SCHEDULE THIS MEETING UNTIL AFTER THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YES.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS SPECULATION IN ALL ANALYTICAL CIRCLES IN UKRAINE AND OUTSIDE THE UKRAINE THAT ZELENSKY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE MAJORITY THAT HE NEEDED TO FORM A CABINET.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU TESTIFIED THAT ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE NSC'S HESITANCY WAS BASED ON BROADER CONCERNS RELATED TO ZELENSKY'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM.

THIS WAS IN SPECIFIC RELATION TO UKRAINIAN OLIGARCHS WHO BASICALLY WERE THE OWNER OF THE TV COMPANY THAT MR. ZELENSKY'S PROGRAM HAD BEEN A PART IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> JUST DISTILLING THIS DOWN TO THE KEY FACTS.

I WANTED TO ASK BOTH OF YOU THREE KEY QUESTIONS.

SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, UKRAINE ULTIMATELY DID RECEIVE THE AID, CORRECT, MR. HOLMES?

>> ULTIMATELY.

>> DR. HILL?

>> CORRECT.

ULTIMATELY.

>> THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION IN TO THE BIDENS, CORRECT, MR. HOLMES?

>> THEY DID NOT OPEN A NEW INVESTIGATION TO THE BIDENS.

>> CORRECT.

DR. HILL?

>> CORRECT.

>> AND THERE WAS IN FACT A MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ULTIMATELY AT THE U.N., IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THE PRESIDENT INVITED ZELENSKY TO THE OVAL OFFICE.

HAD A DATE UNDETERMINED.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

>> THE MEETING AT THE U.N. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY MET AT THE U.N. >> THEY DID BUT NOT IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

>> BUT THEY DID AT THE U.N. >> YES.

>> DR. HILL?

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU.

I YIELD BACK.

>> MR. SWALWELL.

>> DR. HILL, YESTERDAY A LOT OF AMERICANS WERE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND TESTIFIED THAT HE CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM UKRAINE?

THE PRESIDENT SAYS, THERE'S NO QUID PRO QUO.

THERE'S NO QUID PRO QUO.

LIKE BEING PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING AND BEING ASKED HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING AND SAYING I DIDN'T ROB THE BANK.

I DIDN'T ROB THE BANK.

BUT YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY IS THAT ON JULY 10 OF THIS YEAR YOU TOLD ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS THAT YOU HAD CONCERNS THAT A WHITE HOUSE MEETING WAS LINKED TO INVESTIGATIONS.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BASED ON WHAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID IN THE WARD ROAD.

>> SO AS EARLY AS JULY 10, THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS HAD KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST CONCERN BY A PRESIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE ABOUT A IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> DR. HILL, JUST LIKE YOU WERE -- WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN.

YOU HAD THAT SAME CONCERN WHEN YOU SAW MR. SONDLAND'S E-MAILS AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CHANNELS THAT YOU HAD BEEN WORKING ON.

I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOMETHING YOU TOLD US EARLIER.

YOU SAID YOU HAVE EVIDENCE AS RECENTLY AS THIS YEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP BELIEVES SOMEONE NACASH W THE UKRAINE DIRECTOR.

>> IT'S NOT CLEAR.

I WAS ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THIS IN MY DEPOSITION.

I DID NOT RAISE IT.

I WAS SURPRISED I WAS ASKED IF QUESTION.

>> YOU HEARD THAT NAME, CASH, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I DID.

BUT IT WAS IN PASSING AND I EXPLAINED THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THIS CAME UP.

I WAS ASKED A QUESTION IN THE COURSE OF MY DEPOSITION ABOUT THIS.

>> THE ONLY PERSON AT THE TIME THAT WORKED AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WAS CASH FATELL.

>> IT WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT I COULD THINK OF.

>> AND CASH PATEL FROM 2017 TO 2018 WORKED FOR RANKING MEMBER NUNES, RIGHT?

>> I FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT.

I WONDERED WHY I WAS ASKED ABOUT HIM.

I LOOKED IT UP.

>> DR. HILL, YOU CAUTIONED US ON A MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE PERHAPS PEDALLING ANY UKRAINIAN CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT COULD BENEFIT RUSSIA.

I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU HEARD THE NAME LES PARNAS FROM UKRAINE.

SOMEONE IN THIS INVESTIGATION THAT WAS INFLUENCING PRESIDENT TRUMP AND RUDY GULIANI ABOUT SOME OF THE DEBUNK CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT YOU REPRESENTED EARLIER.

>> I HEARD HIS NAME >> ARE YOU AWARE THAT MR. PARNAS WAS INDICTED FOR MAKING FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO REPUBLICANS IN U.S.

ELECTIONS?

>> I'M AWARE OF THAT.

>> ARE YOU AWARE OF YESTERDAY'S DAIY BEAST STORY REPORTING THE INDICTED UKRAINIAN, LEV PARNAS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH DEVIN NUNES ON HIS OVERSEAS INVESTIGATIONS?

>> I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, SKY UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PUT IN THE RECORD, DAILY BEAST STORY ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS FROM YESTERDAY.

FIRST TWO PARAGRAPHS READING PARNAS INDICTED.

NUNES AIDE DEREK HARVEY PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING WHICH WERE ARRANGED TO HELP NUNES INVESTIGATIVE WORK.

McMAHON DIDN'T SPECIFY WHAT THE INVESTIGATIONS ENTAILED.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE BEEN FALSELY ACCUSED THROUGHOUT THESE PROCEEDINGS BY THE RANKING MEMBER AS BEING A FACT WITNESS.

NOW IF THIS STORY IS CORRECT, THE RANKING MEMBER MAY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PROJECTING.

IN FACT, HE MAY BE THE FACT WITNESS IF HE IS WORKING WITH INDICTED INDIVIDUALS AROUND OUR INVESTIGATION.

I WANT TO GO TO WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

FIRST, IT'S YOUR CREDIBILITY, MR. HOLMES AND CAN YOU TELL US AND CONFIRM IN 2014 YOU RECEIVED THE WILLIAM RIFKIN AWARD FROM THE OBAMA STATE DEPARTMENT?

>> YES.

>> THAT IS FOR WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP AGAINST AN ADMINISTRATION POLICY, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS FOR SPEAKING UP IN THE WAY YOU DID.

WHAT WE'RE HERE ABOUT IS WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IN UKRAINE.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PICTURE.

WHO DO YOU SEE IN THE FOREGROUND OF THAT PHOTO?

>> PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

>> THAT'S A PHOTOGRAPH IN MAY 2019 WHERE NEWLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY VISITED EASTERN UKRAINE.

HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE FRONT LINES OF DONBASS AS PRESIDENT.

CAN YOU TELL TAX-PAYING AMERICANS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR HARD EARNEDED TAX PAYING DOLLARS HELPED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND THE MEN BESIDE HIM FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA AND THIS HOT WAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY, SIR.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WAS ELECTED ON AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY.

AT A TIME WHEN UKRAINIANS ARE DEFENDING THEIR SOVEREIGNTY FROM RUSH-BACKED SOLDIERS ATTACKING THEM.

THEY SAID 14,000 UKRAINIAN LIVES LOST IN THIS WAR SO FAR.

A FEW THIS WEEK ALREADY.

AND THIS IS A HOT WAR.

THIS IS NOT A FROZEN CONFLICT.

PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER AND DYING, INJURED EVERY WEEK.

DESPITE THE ON GOING WAR, THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO PURSUE PEACE.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO PURSUE A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN IN ORDER TO TRY TO BRING THIS WAR TO A CONCLUSION SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE ON WITH THE DIFFICULT THEY NEED TO MOVE ON TO WITH A ECONOMY AND WHAT NOT.

ONE OTHER THING, SIR, IF I MAY.

MR. TURNER HAD SUGGESTED EARLIER THAT SOMEHOW EMBARRASSED PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

I HAVE THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

THIS IS A GUY, JEWISH BACKGROUND, POST SOVIET INDUSTRIAL SUBURB, SOUTHERN UKRAINE WHO MADE HIMSELF ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ENTERTAINERS IN THE COUNTRY AND SOMEHOW GOT ELECTED PRESIDENT.

HE'S NOT GOING TO MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS A UKRAINIAN PATRIOT.

THIS IS A TOUGH GUY.

FRANKLY HE WITH STOOD A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE DIDN'T GIVE THAT INTERVIEW.

I HAVE THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR HIM, THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR HIM.

THEY HAVE CHOSEN HIM TO HELP DELIVER THE FULL MEASURE OF PROMISE OF THEIR REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY.

I THINK HE MERITS ALL OF OUR RESPECT.

>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN INTO THE RECORD.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. HURT?

>> THANK YOU, DR. HILL AND MR. HOLMES FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, I HAVE SAID THAT I WANT TO LEARN THE FACTS SO WE CAN GET TO THE TRUTH.

SO WHY ARE WE HERE?

BECAUSE OF TWO THINGS THAT OCCURRED IN THE PRESIDENT'S JULY 25 PHONE CALL WITH JUNE CRANIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

THE USE OF THE PHRASE "DO US A FAVOR" IN REFERENCE THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE MENTION OF THE WORD "BIDEN."

I BELIEVE BOTH STATEMENTS WERE INAPPROPRIATE AND CERTAINLY NOT HOW THE EXECUTIVE CURRENTS IN THE FUTURE SHOULD HANDLE A CALL.

OVER THE COURSE OF THESE HEARINGS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT IN MY VIEW HAVE UNDERMINED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND UNDERCUT UKRAINE A KEY PARTNER ON THE FRONT LINES AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.

WE HEARD U.S. OFFICIALS CARRYING UNCOORDINATED CONFUSING AND CONFLICTING MESSAGES THAT CREATED DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY IN KIEV AT A TIME WHEN A NEW REFORMIST ADMINISTRATION HAD JUST TAKEN OFFICE AND READY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND WORK WITH US TO ADVANCE THE U.S. AGENDAS.

I DISAGREE WITH THIS SORT OF BUNGLING FOREIGN POLICY.

THROUGH THESE HEARINGS, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE UNDERMINED THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT BY SUGGESTING IT'S SUBSERVIENT TO THE UNITED STATES AND WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES THEY WOULDN'T FUNCTION.

THE UKRAINIANS ARE IN A HOT WAR WITH RUSSIA AND THEY'RE HOLDING THEIR OWN.

WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF UKRAINIANS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WHILE I THOUGHT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WOULD BE ENGAGED IN OVERSIGHT OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNITIES, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT.

WE'RE HERE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES WE HAVE AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE LEARNED A FEW THINGS.

THE OFFICIALS ON THE JULY 25th CALL HAVE MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON WHETHER THE CALL WAS CONCERNING OR NOT.

JUST BECAUSE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OR NOT, DOES NOT MEAN THAT CORRUPTION RELATED TO BURISMA IS NOT CONCERNING.

ALSO, WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM RUDY GULIANI, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HUNTER BIDEN.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES, WHY THEY TALKED TO WHOM.

WE HAVE ALSO NOT HEARD FROM THE WHISTLE-BLOWER, SOMETHING THAT COULD OCCUR IN A CLOSED SETTING WITHOUT VIOLATING HIS OR HER ANONYMITY.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATIONS AND LEVEL OF COORDINATION THAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO HIS OR HER SUBMISSION OF THE COMPLAINT.

THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND EVEN TODAY, IT'S BEEN REITERATED IN 2017, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE THE DECISION TO PROVIDE LAID TO UKRAINE AFTER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION REFUSED TO DO SO.

UKRAINE IS RECEIVING ALL THE ASSISTANCE SUGGESTED BY CONTINUE.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HAS PROMISED TO FIGHT CORRUPTION.

AND AS YOU MENTION TODAY, UNDER PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S LEADERSHIP, WE'VE SEEN SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS ENDING THE RUSSIAN OCCUPATION OF EASTERN UKRAINE.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US?

AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE SHOULD BE COMPELLING, OVERWHELMINGLY CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE RUSHED OR TAKEN LIGHTLY.

I'VE NOT HEARD EVIDENCE PROVING THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED BRIBERY OR EXTORTION.

I REJECT THE NOTION HOLING THIS VIEW MEANS SUPPORTING ALL THE FOREIGN POLICY CHOICES WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

PARAPHRASE TIM MORRISON, TESTIMONY THIS WEEK, EVERY DAY THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON UKRAINE IS FOCUSED ON IMPEACHMENT, NOT THE CONFLICT IN THE DONBASS, NOT THE NEED FOR REFORMS IN UKRAINE'S GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY IS A DAY WE'RE NOT FOCUSED ON THE SHARED NATIONAL INTERESTS WITH KIEV.

I HOPE WE WON'T LET THIS VERY PARTISAN PROCESS KEEP US FROM AGREEING ON HOW A FREE AND PROS SPECIAL ROUSE UKRAINE IS IMPORTANT FOR THE SECURITY OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE I YIELD BACK MANY I TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT HAD THIS COMMITTEE BEEN GIVEN PROPER NOTICE, THE BUSINESS MEETING WAS TO FOLLOW LAST NIGHT'S MEETING AND HAD MR. CONWAY'S POINT OF ORDER BEEN RECOGNIZED, I WOULD HAVE VOTED NO ON THE COMMITTEE'S FIRST MOTION TO TABLE LAST NIGHT'S IMPROMPTU MEETING.

I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TEAM.

>> MR. CASTRO.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY.

FIRST WANT TO SAY BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULDN'T GO UNMENTIONED THAT THE CHARACTERIZATION BY ONE OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES OF THIS PROCEEDING I THINK WAS VILE, IRRESPONSIBLE AND DANGEROUS.

AND I WANT TO REMIND US WHY WE'RE HERE.

BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN GOVERNMENT, A WHISTLE-BLOWER, FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET OTHER PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION THAT THE PRESIDENT MAY HAVE COMMITTED A WRONG ACT.

WE HAVE NOW HEARD AND SEEN SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT IN FACT TRIED TO TRADE A POLITICAL FAVOR FOR OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.

THE MOST DAMNING WORDS COME FROM NO ONE ELSE BUT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ON THAT PHONE CALL WITH THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT.

WHERE HE ASKED FOR A FAVOR.

HE MENTIONED INVESTIGATIONS, AND MENTIONED THE BIDENS AND BURISMA.

HOWEVER, AS MR. HOLMES HAS TESTIFIED, MR. HOLMES ALSO OVERHEARD THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING TO HIS HAND-PICKED AMBASSADOR, AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS, MR. HOLMES ALREADY SAID THAT IN THE OFFICE, EVERYBODY KNEW OR MANY PEOPLE KNEW THAT THERE WAS -- THE PRESIDENT WANTED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BIDENS.

IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH MICK MULVANEY AND RUDY GULIANI HAVE NOT COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, MICK MULVANEY AND RUDY GULIANI HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ON THE ISSUE.

MICK MULVANEY, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, THE PERSON THAT WORKS WITH THE PRESIDENT THE MOST DAY IN AND DAY OUT WENT IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS AND BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT AN ADD VESTGATION HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITHHOLDING UP THE AID.

ADMITTED THAT THIS PROCESS WAS POLITICIZED.

RUDY GULIANI, THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL LAWYER ALSO ESSENTIALLY ADMITTED THAT THESE INVESTIGATIONS WERE AT ISSUE.

HE SAID THAT HE THINKS HE DID NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT.

SO WE HAVE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AND HEARD SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF WRONG DOING BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TAKE UP THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

MY CONCERN TODAY IS ALSO I FEEL AS THOUGH THE CANCER OF WRONG DOING MAY HAVE SPREAD BEYOND THE PRESIDENT AND IN TO OTHERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

I WANT TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

BEFORE I DO, I'D LIKE CHAIRMAN TO ENTER TWO ARTICLES IN THE RECORD IF I COULD.

ONE IS HEADLINED AFTER BOOSTS FROM PERRY, BACKERS GOT HUGE GAS DEAL IN UKRAINE.

THE OTHER IS ENTITLED, "WALL STREET JOURNAL," FEDERAL PROSECUTORS PROBE GULIANI'S LINKS.

>> MAY BE ENTERED.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU INDICATED THAT SECRETARY PERRY WENT -- WHEN HE WAS IN THE UKRAINE HAD PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH UKRAINIANS.

BEFORE HE HAD THOSE PRIVATE MEETINGS IN A MEETING WITH OTHERS INCLUDING YOURSELF, I BELIEVE, HE PRESENTED A LIST OF AMERICAN ADVISERS FOR THE UKRAINE ENERGY SECTOR.

DO YOU KNOW WHO WAS ON THAT LIST?

>> SIR, I DIDN'T SEE THE NAMES OPEN THE LIST MYSELF.

>> DO YOU KNOW IN ALEX CRANBERG AND ALEX BLAZER WAS ON THE LIST?

>> I HAVE HEARD THAT BLAZER IS ON THE LIST.

>> WAS IT -- BEFORE SECRETARY PERRY DID THIS, WE ALSO HEARD IN TESTIMONY BEFORE THAT AMBASSADOR SONDLAND ALSO HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH SOMEBODY.

HOW UNUSUAL WAS IT BEFORE THESE GUYS SHOWED UP FOR DIPLOMATS OR U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE PRIVATE MEETINGS WHERE THEY INSIST THAT NOBODY ELSE BE IN THE ROOM?

>> VERY RARE.

ALMOST NEVER.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ALSO ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT WE SET, BOTH OF YOU.

YOU'RE HERE AS FACT WITNESSES BUT ALSO PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR THIS COUNTRY.

LET'S PUT ASIDE DONALD TRUMP FOR A SECOND.

IF THE CONGRESS ALLOWS A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES NOW OR LATER TO ASK A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, HEAD OF STATE TO INVESTIGATE A POLITICAL RIVAL, WHAT PRECEDENT DOES THAT SET FOR AMERICAN DIPLOMACY, FOR THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS OVERSEAS AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?

>> IT'S A VERY BAD PRECEDENT.

>> VERY BAD PRESENT.

GOING FORWARD, IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I WOULD RAISE OBJECTION.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

I YIELD PACK.

>> THANK YOU.

I WANT TO YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN CONWAY.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. HILL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ONE OF PUTIN'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVES IN THE UNITED STATES IS TO SOW UNREST WITHIN OUR NATION, TO CAUSE US TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THERE'S TENSION THOUGH IN CONDUCTING OUR BUSINESS THE WAY WE SHOULD.

YOU KNOW, PLAYING IN PUTIN'S HANDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE I DISAGREE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, IT'S UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION AND MY COLLEAGUES BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE FUNCTIONING UNDER THAT CONSTITUTION.

THESE HEARINGS, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN VERY DIVISIVE IN OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUING TO PUSH THAT WAY.

I THINK IT PLAYS INTO PUTIN'S HANDS.

NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULDN'T PLAY TO HIS HANDS.

ONE OF THEM IS TO BE THE LOSER IN THE 2016 ELECTION HAS FOR THREE YEARS CONTINUED TO ARGUE THAT BECAUSE SHE WON THE POPULAR VOTE AND SHE AND HER FRIENDS WON THE POPULAR VOTE THAT SOMEHOW ELECTION WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND WE SHOULDN'T TRUST IT AND THE VICTORY RESOUNDING SHOULDN'T BE TRUSTED.

HAS THAT HELPED PUTIN OR PLAY INTO THE NARRATIVE THAT HE WOULD LIKE FOR US, THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED AND SHOULDN'T BE TRUSTED?

>> YES, IT DOES.

>> SO THE R.T., PUTIN'S -- WOULD YOU AGREE R.T. IS PUTIN'S PROPAGANDA MACHINE IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> I WOULD AGREE.

>> IS IT APPROPRIATE NOR THE R.T. TO BE USED TO AFFECT PUBLIC POLICY ON OUR NATION?

THERE'S BEEN A LONG SERIES OF ADVERTISEMENTS OR PROGRAMS ON R.T.

GOING AGAINST FRACKING, TO SAYING IT'S BAD AND TRYING TO AFFECT PUBLIC POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES.

IS THAT APPROPRIATE USE OR SHOULD AMERICANS BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT?

>> NO THE TENSE THAT AMERICANS SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION THAT R.T. AND OTHER OUTLETS ARE USED TO PROPAGATE THIS INFORMATION, YES.

I WASN'T SURE -- >> JUST FRACKING IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN OUR NATION.

IF WE DID AWAY WITH FRACKING, THE UNITED STATES WOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION TO DOMINATE OIL PRODUCTION AND WOULD PLAY TO STRENGTHENING PUTIN'S HANDS -- >> THAT'S CORRECT.

IN 2011, NOVEMBER 2011, I SAT NEXT TO VLADIMIR PUTIN AT A CONFERENCE IN WHICH HE MADE PRECISELY THAT POINT.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE HAD DONE SO.

TO A GROUP OF AMERICAN JOURNALISTS AND EXPERTS.

WE STARTED IN 2011 MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE SAW AMERICAN FRACKING AS A GREAT THREAT TO RUSSIAN INTERESTS.

WE WERE STRUCK BUT HOW MUCH HE STRESSED THIS ISSUE.

SINCE 2011, PUTIN HAS MADE A BIG DEAL OF THIS.

>> SO AMERICANS PAY ATTENTION TO R.T. AND MISGOOD NIGHTED BUT THE PROPAGANDA IS NOT IN THE NATION'S BEST INTERESTS.

MR. HOLMES, IN YOUR ROLE, YOU'RE PRIVILEGE TO A LOT OF STUFF.

OFFICIAL THINGS AND THINGS THAT ARE BEST KEPT BETWEEN YOU AND THE OFFICIAL FOLKS AS YOU DEAL WITH.

IS THERE AN EXPECTATION AMONG THE PRINCIPALS THAT YOU RIP SENT THAT YOU WILL EXERCISE SOME DISCRETION?

IN WHAT YOU SHARE WITH OTHERS?

>> YES, SIR.

>> WE HARD A HARD DOWN PINNING DOWN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH, THE ONE THAT YOU OVERHEARD.

OUR AMBASSADOR HAD NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.

BLUSTERING AROUND WITH WHAT HE'S DONE.

COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT INFORMATION IS UNFLATTERING TO THE PRESIDENT, UNFLATTERING TO THE AMBASSADOR AND THAT YOUR DISCRETION IS ADD ODDS HERE.

YOUR TESTIMONY OR DEPOSITION SAID YOU SHARED THAT WITH FOLKS THAT YOU THOUGHT WOULD FIND IT INTERESTING.

I'D, THAT EVERYBODY ON THE BACK ROW WOULD FIND IT INTERESTING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS NECESSARILY A CRITERIA.

ON A GO-FORWARD BASIC CAN YOU ARTICULATE IN THE FUTURE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING TO THE OFFICIAL AND ITS OFFICIAL THAT YOU SHARE WITH IT THE AMBASSADOR, THAT'S FINE.

FOLKS OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY THAT DON'T HAVE A NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU WOULDN'T YIELD THEM WITH YOUR RECOUNTING OF THOSE INSTANCES?

>> I THINK IT WAS GORDON SONDLAND -- >> NO, NO.

MY -- >> THE SECOND THING IS -- >> LET THE -- >> LET ME CLARIFY THE QUESTION.

>> GIVE ME -- >> LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION -- >> IT'S MY QUESTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I GET TO CLARIFY MY QUESTION TO GET THE ANSWER.

I HOPE I GET A FEW MORE SECONDS BECAUSE OF THE INTERRUPTION.

HIS PATIENCE IS THIN.

I WAS WORKING HARD NOT TO IRRITATE HIM BUT I FAILED HIM AGAIN.

THE QUESTION IS, YOU YOUR DISCRETION.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND DID NOT RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY.

GOT THAT.

YOU'RE IN ROOMS -- YOU'VE BEEN IN ROOMS 17 YEARS THAT PEOPLE TRUST WHATEVER WENT IN THE ROOM, YOU KEPT IT TO THE OFFICIAL CHANNELS AND YOU DIDN'T SHARE IT.

I'M ASKING YOU TO ARGUE ON YOUR OWN BEHALF THAT INTERESTING IS NOT SOME SORT OF A CRITERIA THAT YOU USE WHEN YOU SHARE INFORMATION FROM MEETINGS.

SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION.

>> SIR, I SHARED THE INFORMATION THAT I NEED TO SHARE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO KNOW IT.

I DID NOT SHARE ANY INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW.

>> BUT DID YOU DID USE THE WORD INTERESTING IN YOUR DEPOSITION -- >> TIME TO YIELD BACK.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT I BROUGHT BEFORE THIS PROCESS I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

I HAVE COME HERE BECAUSE YOU SUBPOENAED ME TO SHARE WHAT I KNOW.

>> YOU WERE CUT OFF WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MR. SONDLAND'S INDISCRETION.

DID YOU -- >> THAT'S PATENTLY UNFAIR.

>> MR. CONWAY -- >> TO INTERRUPT THE WITNESS -- >> YOU'RE CERTAINLY ABLE TO INTERRUPT ME.

YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS DIAS THAT HAS UNLIMITED TIME.

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE ABUSING THAT POWER AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> THE GENTLEMAN WILL CEASE.

WE ALLOW THOSE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS -- >> THAT APPLY TO YOU AS WELL?

>> MR. HOLMES, MUCH IS MADE ABOUT THE USE OF SERVICE OR DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS.

MY READING OF HISTORY IS THAT AMERICAN PRESIDENTS HAVE USED IRREGULAR CHANNELS.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> MY READING OF HISTORY IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING HOWEVER THOSE IRREGULAR CHANNELS HAVE BEEN CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH THE REGULAR ONES OR AT LEAST IN FURTHERANCE OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.

WOULD YOU AGREE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, SIR.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MR. GULIANI'S EFFORTS WERE CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH THE REGULAR CHANNELS LIKE AMBASSADOR TO THE UKRAINE?

>> NO.

>> WERE THEY IN FURTHERANCE HOFF THE FOREIGN POLICIES THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD?

>> NO, SIR.

>> MR. HOLMES, IF LEFT UNCHECKED, DO YOU THINK THAT RUSSIA WOULD EITHER BY MEANS OF FORCE 0 OTHER MALIGNED MEANS SUBJUGATE UKRAINE, ATTEMPT TO RENDER IT A CLIENT STATE IF NOT OCCUPY IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S BEEN SAID THAT WITHOUT UKRAINE, RUSSIA IS A COUNTRY.

WITH IT, IT'S AN UMPIRE.

>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN TREATED TO A GATLING GUN FIRE OF MYTH PROPAGATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

IT REMINDS ME OF THAT OLD EXPRESSION ABOUT THE BIG LIE IF YOU TELL IT OFTEN ENOUGH AND KEEP REPEATING IT, PEOPLE WILL COME TO BELIEVE IT.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SOME OF THAT.

HERE'S A SAMPLE.

THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T SOLICIT CAMPAIGN ASSISTANCE FROM UKRAINEA CLEAR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW.

YES, HE DID.

THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T WITHHOLD VITAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE IN FURTHERANCE OF A SUBJECTIVE TO OBTAIN THAT CAMPAIGN ASSISTANCE.

YES, HE DID.

RUDY GULIANI WAS ACTING JUST ON HIS OWN, KIND OF AS A ROGUE.

NO, HE WASN'T.

THAT ALL OF THIS IS BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

STEMS FROM A PRINCIPALED INTEREST.

NO IT WASN'T.

IT'S OKAY TO ATTACK PATRIOTIC DIPLOMATS IN PUBLIC SERVICE IF THEY STAND IN YOUR WAY AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP.

NO, IT ISN'T.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE BIG LIES.

HERE'S THE BIG TRUTH.

THE PRESIDENT DID IT.

HE DID IT.

WE ALL JUST CAME FROM THE FLOOR.

IT'S A MAJESTIC CHAMBER.

IN THE FRONT, THERE'S TWO PORTRAITS.

ON THE LEFT IS MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT, GEORGE WASHINGTON.

ON THE RIGHT IS THE PERSON THAT CAME TO THIS COUNTRY THAT HELP US STAND UP OUR FLEDGLING DEMOCRACY.

HERE'S ANOTHER BIG TRUTH.

WITHOUT HIS HELP, WE PROBABLY WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN OFF THE GROUND.

THAT ASSISTANCE FROM MANY OTHER COUNTRIES WHO WERE HELPING US TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT HAD NEVER BEEN CREATED BEFORE.

IT WAS AN AUDACIOUS IDEA.

THIS NOTION OF A DEMOCRACY OF SELF-GOVERN NANCE, OF FREEDOMS LIKE SPEECH AND PRESS AND RELIGION AND EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY.

MOST OF ALL, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE ROOTED IN THE PREMISE OF THE RULE OF LAW.

NOT MONARCHS.

NOT MILITARY STRONG MEN THE RULE OF LAW.

OTHERS HELPED US TO GET HERE.

WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.

I FRANKLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A PAY IT FORWARD MOMENT.

SO WHEN THE PRESIDENT DID IT, HE PUT AT RISK THE SECURITY OF UKRAINE, A STRATEGIC ALLY AND A DEMOCRACY WITH THEIR MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE.

SIX YEARS AGO THIS DAY WHEN THEIR GOVERNMENT SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIGN THAT MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, ROSE UP TO THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY WANTED WHAT WE HAVE.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT DID IT, HE PUT OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK.

BUT WHAT HE DID MOST IMPORTANTLY WAS PUT AT RISK THAT IDEA THAT MAKES US EXCEPTIONAL BECAUSE I.D.

BELIEVE AMERICA'S TRULY EXCEPTIONAL.

WE ARE A COUNTRY ROOTED IN SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAS EVER TRIED BEFORE.

RULE OF LAW.

HE PUT THAT AT RISK.

WHEN HE DID WHAT HE DID.

THE PRESIDENT DID IT.

THE ONLY QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS WHAT LE WE DO.

I YIELD BACK.

>> MR. JORDAN?

>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

DR. HILL, DURING YOUR DEPOSITION, I ASKED YOU WAS CHRISTOPHER STEELE'S DOSSIER A RABBIT HOLE.

YOU REMEMBER THE ANSWER YOU GAVE?

>> YES, I THOUGHT IT WAS A RABBIT HOLE.

>> AND YOU ALSO SAID A COUPLE PAGES LATER IN THE DEPOSITION AND THE TRANSCRIPT THAT I HAVE HERE OF YOUR DEPOSITION THAT YOU THOUGHT HE GOT PLAYED.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> THAT IS FAIR.

YES.

>> I WAS STRUCK BY A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU SAID.

A NUMBER OF THINGS I THOUGHT YOU WERE ON TARGET.

ONE IS ON PAGE 7.

YOU SAID THIS.

PRESIDENT PUTIN AND THE RUSSIAN SECURITY SERVICES WEAPONIZE OUR OWN POLITICAL OPPOSITION RESEARCH.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016.

EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU CALLED IT, YOU KNEW IT, YOU SAW IT.

THE DNC HIRED PERKINS COUEY WHO HIRED FUSION GPS WHO HIRED CHRISTOPHER STEELE WHO TALKED TO RUSHES AND GAVE THEM GARBAGE THAT HE COMPILED IN A DOSSIER AND OUR FBI USED IT.

THEY USED IT AS PART OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS THAT THEY OPENED IN JULY OF 2016 WHERE THEY SPIED ON TWO AMERICAN CITIZENS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

MY GUESS IS THAT IS PROBABLY NEVER HAPPENED IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND EXACTLY WHAT DR. HILL TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016.

EXACTLY WHAT SHE TALKED ABOUT.

FOR TEN MONTHS, JIM COMEY AND HIS TEAM DID AN INVESTIGATION.

AFTER TEN MONTHS THEY HAD NOTHING.

WE DEPOSED MR. COMEY.

HE TOLD US, AFTER TEN MONTHS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A THING.

THAT DIDN'T MATTER.

DIDN'T MATTER.

WE GOT THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION.

$32 MILLION, 19 LAWYERS, 40 FBI AGENTS, 500 SEARCH WARRANTS, 2,800 SUBPOENAS AND THEY CAME BACK THIS SPRING AND WHAT DID THEY TELL US?

NO COLLUSION, NO CONSPIRACY, NO COORDINATION.

THE GUYS ON THE OTHER SIDE DON'T CARE.

THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE DOING WHAT DR. HILL SAID A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT THINGS IN HER OPENING STATEMENT.

THEY'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT DR. HILL TALKED ABOUT.

THE IMPACT OF THE 2016 CANDIDATE IS IN EFFECT TODAY.

OUR NATION IS BEING TORN APART.

TORN APART.

I'VE NEVER SEEN US THIS DIVIDED.

IT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR CULTURE, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR NATION.

THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS ARE DOING.

NO CONSPIRACY, NO COORDINATION, NO COLLUSION.

THEY DON'T CARE.

NOW THIS.

THIS WHOLE IMPEACHMENT THING, AS THE WITNESS SAID YESTERDAY, THE WITNESS SAID YESTERDAY, WITHOUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ZELENSKY ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION, THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET A CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT, WEREN'T GOING TO GET A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT AND WEREN'T GOING TO GET AID FROM THE UNITED STATES.

GUESS WHAT?

UKRAINE GOT THE CALL, THEY GOT THE MEETING, AND THEY GOT THE MONEY AND THERE WAS NEVER AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS -- BUT THEY DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A REPORT.

I ASSUME SOMETHING TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE PROCESS IS GOING GO FORWARD AND THERE WILL BE A TRIAL IN THE SENATE ALL BASED ON AN ANONYMOUS WHISTLE-BLOWER THAT CAME FORWARD WITH NO FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, BIASSED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, WORKED WITH JOE BIDEN.

NOW ALL THIS.

NOW ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS -- DR. HILL IS RIGHT.

HE SAID IT.

WE GOT TO STOP THIS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.

THEY'RE DOING IT ALL 11 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION.

THE MOST TELLING THING IS WHAT THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID SUNDAY.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID SUNDAY.

THIS IS SCARY.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID SUNDAY.

NATIONAL SUNDAY MORNING TV SHOW.

SHE SAID THE PRESIDENT IS AN I POSTER.

THE GUY THAT 63 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED FOR THAT WON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE LANDSLIDE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND IMPOSTER.

SAD.

IT IS SAD WHAT THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH.

I WISH IT WOULD STOP.

UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK IT IS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD BACK.

>> MR. WELCH.

>> I WANT TO USE MY TIME TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

TODAY'S WITNESSES AND THE ONES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE PROVIDED AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

NOT JUST IN ALL YOUR CAREERS BUT HAVING TO COURAGE AND THE A PATRIOTISM TO SHARE YOUR FACTS WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

YOU DO SO AT CONSIDER RISK TO YOURSELVES AND YOU CLEARLY STEPPED FORWARD FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT YOU BELIEVE IT'S YOUR DUTY.

IN ALL YOUR TESTIMONY RE-AFFIRMS A VERY CENTRAL FACT, PRESIDENT TRUMP CONDITIONED OUR FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ON GETTING A VALUABLE POLITICAL BENEFIT FROM UKRAINE.

YOU WANTED UKRAINE'S NEW PRESIDENT TO CREATE ETHICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT JOE BIDEN, PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING INVESTIGATIONS.

AND TO PRESSURE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO TAKE THAT ACTION THAT WOULD BENEFIT HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL INTERESTS, HE WITHHELD VITAL MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE AND REFUSED TO MET WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

AS WE HEARD FROM MR. HOLMES AND DR. HILL TODAY, THAT MEETING WAS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO UKRAINE AND IMPORTANT IN SENDING A MESSAGE TO RUSSIA ABOUT OUR UNYIELDING SUPPORT.

THE WITNESSES HAVE MADE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR WHAT THE WITNESS DID.

IT EQUALLY CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS LAUNCHED A COVER-UP.

DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO HIDE THIS ABUSE OF POWER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY THE ADMINISTRATION REFUSES TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO THIS COMMITTEE.

IT WHY THE WHITE HOUSE HAS TAKEN THE UNPRECEDENTED POSITION THAT SENIOR OFFICIALS COULD IGNORE CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS AND REFUSE TO TESTIFY.

THAT'S WHY ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF MULVANEY, SECRETARY STATE POMPEO AND OTHERS HAVE NOT TESTIFIED.

NOW THE PRESIDENT AND EVEN SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE ARE PRETENDING THIS IS NORMAL.

IT IS NOT.

IT MUST NEVER BE.

NO OTHER PRESIDENT HAS BETRAYED HIS OFFICE LIKE THIS BY PUTTING HIS OWN SMALL POLITICAL INTERESTS ABOVE OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.

I ASK SOME OF OUR WITNESSES WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN ANY AMERICAN CITY OR TOWN IF THE MAYOR STOPPED FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND UNTIL THE CHIEF OF POLICE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION TO THE MAYOR'S POLITICAL RIVAL OR A GOVERNOR OR MEMBER OF CONGRESS DID THAT?

THE ANSWER IS CLEAR.

IT WOULD BE WRONG, ILLEGAL AND IT WOULDN'T BE TOLERATED.

WOULD VIOLATE THE MOST BASIC TRUST WE HAVE IN PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

IF IT HAPPENED WITH A MILITARY COMMANDER A COURT-MARTIAL WOULD FOLLOW.

IF IT HAPPENED IN A CORPORATION, A CEO WOULD BE FIRED.

WE KNOW THIS CONDUCT IS WRONG.

THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO SAY IT ISN'T.

HE SAYS IT'S PERFECT.

HE WOULD DO IT AGAIN TOMORROW.

THE SAME RULES APPLY TO MAYORS, GOVERNORS, CONGRESS, CEOs.

EVERYBODY ELSE IN AMERICA.

THEY APPLIED TO THE PRESIDENT, TOO.

WHETHER YOUR A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, YOU'D LIKE MSNBC OR FOX, EVERY AMERICAN BELIEVES ONE OF OUR NATION'S FOUNDING PRINCIPALS, NO PERSON IS ABOVE THE LAW, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT.

JULY 24th DIRECTEDER MUELLER TESTIFIED ABOUT RUSSIAN STATE SPONSORED SYSTEMATIC INTERFERENCE IN OUR 2016 ELECTION.

HE EXPRESSED APPREHENSION THIS COULD BE THE NEW NORMAL.

THE DAY AFTER, PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND ASKED A FAVOR.

THAT FAVOR WAS THAT UKRAINE INTERFERE IN OUR 2020 ELECTION.

IF WE ALLOW THIS TO STAND TO BECOME THE NEW NORMAL, IT WILL BE THE STANDARD FOR ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS AND GOOD CONSCIOUS NONE OF US CAN DO THAT.

THIS CONDUCT CORRUPTING OUR DEMOCRACY, CORRUPTS HOW OUR COUNTRY CONDUCTS FOREIGN POLICY AND THREATENED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE SECURITY OF ALL AMERICANS.

IT IS IN MY VIEW A CLEAR BETRAYAL OF THE PRESIDENT OATH OF OFFICE.

I YIELD BACK.

>> MR. MALONEY.

>> TWO QUICK HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS.

ASK UNANIMOUS CONCEPT TO ENTER AN ABOUT STORY IN THE RECORD ENTITLED 70% OF AMERICANS SAY TRUMP'S ACTIONS TIED TO UKRAINE WERE WRONG DATED NOVEMBER 18, 2019.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

>> ALSO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER A NEW YORKER STORY ENTITLED THE INVENTION OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORY ON BIDEN AND UKRAINE, HOW A CONSERVATIVE DARK MONEY GROUP THAT TARGETED HILLARY CLINTON SPREAD THE STORY THAT MAY LEAD TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT.

>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

DR. HILL, FIRST OF ALL, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOME EPIC MANSPLAINING YOU WERE FORCED TO ENDURE BY MR. TURNER.

SOME THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.

I APPRECIATE YOUR FOREBAREANCE.

I'M FASCINATED BY THE MEETINGS ON JULY 10.

YOU HAD THE MEETING IN BOLTON'S OFFICE.

THERE'S A FOLLOW ON MEETING IN THE WARD ROOM.

YOU GET THERE A LITTLE LATE.

VINDMAN IS TALKING TO SONDLAND AND THEY'RE GOING AT IT ABOUT SONDLAND'S DESIRE TO ASSERT THAT THE MEETING WILL HAPPEN IF THERE'S THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

IS THAT SUM AND SUBSTANCE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS ISN'T A POLICY DISAGREEMENT, RIGHT?

>> NO, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THE SOURCE OF YOUR CONCERN IS NOT A POLICY DISAGREEMENT.

IT'S NOT A PROCEDURAL DISAGREEMENT EITHER HOW -- >> I'M SORRY.

YES, IT'S NOT CORRECT.

>> IT'S NEITHER POLICY OR PROCEDURE THAT IS BOTHERING YOU OR FOR THAT MATTER THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, MR. BOSTON.

>> CORRECT.

>> THAT'S NOT WHY HE SENT YOU DOWN THERE, TO SEE HOW THE MEETING IS GOING.

>> CORRECT.

>> HE INSTRUCTION YOU GO TO THE LAWYER.

EVER BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REPORT TO THE NSC LAWYER BEFORE?

>> THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME MYSELF I WAS INSTRUCT ADD COUPLE TIMES.

THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO.

>> WHY DID HE SEND YOU TO REPORT THIS TO THE LAWYER?

>> WELL, HE CLEARLY WANTED TO HAVE HIMSELF ON THE RECORD AS NOT BEING PART OF WHAT WAS BASICALLY AN AGREEMENT TO HAVE A MEETING IN RETURN FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I AND COLONEL VINDMAN WERE PART OF THIS AS WELL.

THERE'S AGREEMENT ABOUT NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC POLITICS.

>> DID YOU HAVE A CONCERN?

>> I DID.

JULY 10 IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT CRYSTALLIZED TO ME THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY A DIFFERENT CHANNEL GOING ON HERE.

POLICY CHANNEL AND A DOMESTIC POLICY CHANNEL AND WE'RE NOT IN THAT CHANNEL.

>> YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A POLITICAL ERRAND AND YOU WERE DOING NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY IS HOW YOU DISTINGUISH THOSE TWO CHANNELS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU FELT IT WAS IMPROPER, WHAT WAS OCCURRING BY MR. SONDLAND.

>> IT WAS IMPROPER AND INAPPROPRIATE.

WE SAID THAT IN REAL TIME.

>> AND HERE'S MY POINT.

IF IT WAS IMPROPER AND YOU WENT SO FAR AS TO REPORT THIS TO THE LAWYERS, WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF YOUR DISAGREEMENT WITH MR. SONDLAND WHO HAS COME HERE AND SAID, HE HAD NO IDEA THAT BURISMA MEANT BIDENS UNTIL MUCH, MUCH LATER THAN JULY 10th.

WE KNOW THAT HE AND AMBASSADOR VOLCKER HAD A BLIZZARD OF INTERACTIONS WITH MR. GULIANI, AMENDING STATEMENTS FOR THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT.

THIS WENT ON ALL SUMMER.

YET, HOW IS IT YOU HAD THIS DISAGREEMENT IN FRONT OF THE UKRAINIANS WHICH SENT THEM OUT IN THE HALLWAY AT SOME POINT?

DID HE ASK, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION OF CORRUPTION GENERALLY.

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING SO WORRIED ABOUT?

>> HE DIDN'T PUT IT IN THAT WAY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM LISTENING TO HIM IN HIS DEPOSITIONS AND WHAT I READ, WHAT HE DEPOSED, HE MADE IT CLEAR HE WAS SURPRISED THAT WE HAD SOME KIND OF OBJECTION.

YOU MAY REMEMBER IN HIS DEPOSITION AND WHEN HE WAS HERE, HE DIDN'T REMEMBER THE MEETING IN THE SAME WAY.

>> YOU SAID IT WAS OBVIOUS TO YOU -- EXCUSE ME.

>> IT WAS OBVIOUS TO TO ME.

>> YOU SAID THAT BURISMA MEANT BIDENS.

>> YES.

>> AND MR. MORRISON FIGURED IT OUT WITH A GOOGLE SEARCH.

IS IT CLEAR THAT MR. SONDLAND WAS IN THE DARK ABOUT THIS ALL SUMMER?

YOU HAD AN ARGUMENT ABOUT IT.

WHAT DID -- >> HE WAS -- >> I'M SORRY.

>> HE DID NOT SAY BIDENS.

HE JUST SAID BURISMA.

HE SAID 2016 AND I TOOK IT TO MEAN THE ELECTIONS AS WELL AS BURISMA.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPEARANCE.

>> MRS. DEMINGS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HILL AND MR. HOLMES FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I HAVE NO DOUBT AFTER TODAY THAT WE'RE A BETTER NATION BECAUSE OF IT.

WE ALL KNOW BY NOW THAT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT TRUMP SENT AN ORDER TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THAT CONGRESSIONAL LEADER PROVE MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE BE PUT ON HOLD.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED THAT UKRAINE IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AND EXPANSION IN EUROPE.

RUSSIA'S PRIORITY IS TO UNDERMINE THE UNITED STATES.

IS THAT RIGHT, DR. HILL?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT, MR. HOMES?

>> YES.

>> DR. HILL, IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, IS IT IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT UKRAINE WITH THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT MILITARY AID?

>> YES.

>> MR. HOLMES?

>> YES.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES TODAY AND YOU ALREADY TESTIFIED THAT UKRAINE IS IN WAR RIGHT NOW WITH RUSSIA.

ISN'T IT TRUE, MR. HOLMES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE WAS EVENTUALLY DELIVERED TO UKRAINE, THE FACT THAT IT WAS DELAYED TO A COUNTRY THAT IS ACTIVELY IN WAR SIGNALLED TO RUSSIA THAT PERHAPS THE BOND BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE UNITED STATES WAS WEAKENING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND EVEN THE APPEARANCE THIS THE U.S.-UKRAINE BOND IS SHAKY COULD EMBOLDEN RUSSIA TO ACT IN AN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE WAY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU ALSO TESTIFIED THAT IT WAS, AND I QUOTE, A UNANIMOUS VIEW OF THE UKRAINE POLICY COMMUNITY THAT THE AID SHOULD BE RELEASED BECAUSE SUPPORTING UKRAINE IS IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.

DR. HILL, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THOR INTO UKRAINE POLICY COMMUNITY WERE UNANIMOUSLY IN AGREEMENT?

>> WELL, WE'VE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE BEFORE.

I JUST WANT YOU TO INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT.

IN 2008, RUSSIA ALSO ATTACKED THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA.

I WAS A NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AT THAT PARTICULAR JUNCTURE.

WE WARNED TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WE BELIEVE THERE WAS A REAL RISK OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN GEORGIA AND RUSSIA.

IN FACT, WE ALSO BELIEVED AT THAT POINT THAT RUSSIA MIGHT ATTACK UKRAINE.THIS IS IN 208 WHEN BOTH GEORGIA AND UKRAINE SOUGHT AN ACTION PLAN IN NATO.

RUSSIA THREATENED THEM OPENLY.

AND SAID THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES.

IN THE WAKE OF THE ATTACK ON GEORGIA, PRESIDENT PUTIN MADE IT CLEAR TO THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA AT THE TIME, THIS WAS RELATED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE GEORGIAN GONE THAT PUTIN SAID TO HIM, YOUR WESTERN ALLIES PROMISED A GREAT DEAL.

THEY DIDN'T DELIVER.

I THREATENED, I DELIVERED.

WE HAD MADE ALL KINDS OF PROMISES TO GEORGIA AND UKRAINE IN THAT TIME FRAME AND WE DIDN'T COME THROUGH.

SO PUTIN IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY HINT THAT WE WILL NOT FOLLOW-THROUGH ON PROMISES THAT WE MADE BECAUSE HE WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW-THROUGH ON A THREAT.

AS INDEED HE ULTIMATELY DEED.

HE THREATENED UKRAINE IN 2008 AND IT WASN'T UNTIL 2014 WHEN UKRAINE TRIED TO CONCLUDE AN ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT HE STRUCK.

HE HAD BEEN THREATENING IT FOR THE WHOLE PERIOD SINCE 2008.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. HILL.

MR. HOLMES, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO OTHER ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES WHEN MILITARY HOLDS OR ASSISTANCE ARE IMPOSED WITH NO EXPLANATION?

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND IN TERMS OF THE GOOD FAITH AND GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S.?

>> WHETHER THEY CAN TRUST US.

>> POLICIES CHANGE BUT U.S.

INTERESTS DON'T EXCEPT FOR THE TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING OUR NATION.

THANKS FOR BEING TWO OF THEM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS FOR COMING IN AND THANK YOU FOR YOURS IS.

YOU STATED IN YOUR DEPOSITION THAT YOU WERE ACCUSED OF BEING A MOLE FOR GEORGE SOROS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU SAID IN YOUR DEPOSITION SPECIFICALLY THAT A CONSPIRACY LAUNCHED AGAINST YOU BY CONVICTED FELON ROGER STONE ON THE SHOW INFO WARS LED BY ALEX JOENGZ, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS AT THE TIME HE LAUNCHED IT, AND I DIDN'T USE THOSE EXACT WORDS.

BUT IT WAS ON INFO WARS IN 2017.

MORE RECENT LEAP BEFORE MR. STONE WAS AT TRIAL, THEY WERE AT IT AGAIN.

THE SAME INFO WARS, AND ADDING EMBELLISHMENTS.

>> I'LL QUOTE WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT YOU.

WE HERE AT INFO WARS, ROGER STONE SPEAKING, FIRST IDENTIFIED FIONA HILL, THE GLOBALIST LEFTIST, GEORGE SOROS WHO INFILTRATEED McMASTER'S STAFF.

I ASSUME YOUR NOT A >> I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR THESE THINGS.

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> I AGREE.

>> INTERESTINGLY.

YOU STATED IN YOUR DEPOSITION THAT A SIMILAR CONSPIRACY THEORY HAD ACTUALLY BEEN LAUNCHED AGAINST MARIE YOVANOVITCH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND YOU SAID SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I SAW THIS HAPPENING TO AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH, AGAIN, I WAS FURIOUS, BECAUSE THIS IS AGAIN, JUST A WHIPPING UP AN ANTI-SEMITIC CONSPIRACY THEORY ABOUT GEORGE SOROS TO TARGET NON-PARTISAN CAREER OFFICIALS.

ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID?

>> I DID SAY THAT, YES.

>> AND I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING WITH CONCERN WHAT'S HAPPENED TO OTHER NON-PARTISAN CAREER OFFICIALS.

WE HAD LT.

COLONEL ALLEX VINDMAN, AN AMERICAN QUESTIONED FOR HIS CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT IN A VERY UNFAIR WAY, QUESTIONING HIS LOYALTY TO THE COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE HE'S ALSO OF UKRANIAN JEWISH DESCENT.

WOULD YOU SAY THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETING YOU, SPUN IN PART BY FOLKS LIKE MR. STONE, AS WELL AS FUELED BY RUDY GIULIANI AND OTHERS -- BASICALLY HAVE A TENT OF ANTI-SEMITISM TO THEN.

>> WHEN IT'S ABOUT GEORGE SOROS THEY DO.

>> IN THE EARLY 1900s.

THE POLICE PRODUCED WHAT THEY CALLED THE ELDERS OF RYAN.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE INTERNET AND BOOK SHOPS ELSEWR.

THIS IS THE LONGEST ANTI-SEMITIC TROVE WE HAVE IN HISTORY.

AND AGAINST MR. SOROS WAS ALSO CREATED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

AND THIS IS THE NEW PROTOCOL OF THE ELDERS OF ZION.

I SBENLDED TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE I WAS INVITED TO COME INTO THE ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S AN OUTRAGE.

xá*>> I'M SORRY YOU'VE BEEN WRAPPED UP IN CRACK POT CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

>> TURN TO RUDY GIULIANI.

YOU BECAME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT RUDY GIULIANI'S ROLE IN UKRAINE BETCORRECT.

CORRECT.

>> I YOU SERVED IN GEORGE BUSH, AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION.

I ASSUME THEIR LAWYERS WERE NEVER DIRECTING OR HEAVILY INFLUENCING UKRAINE POLICY?

>> I'M NOT EVEN SURE I KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

>> THE KILO CONCERN FOR HAVING SOMEONE LIKE RUDY GIULIANI HAVING AN INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, IS THAT THAT POLICY MAY NOT BE OPERATING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF AMERICA, BUT PERHAPS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF RUDY GIULIANI OR HIS CLIENTS OR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID IN MY DEPOSITION ON OCTOBER 14th, AND FRANKLY THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING WHEN I HEARD MR. RUDY GIULIANI.

>> SOME OF THE ASSOCIATES INCLUDED INDICTED FOLKS.

IGOR FRUMAN AND LEV PARNAS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WE HAVE AN INTERESTING CHARACTER IN CHICAGO NAMED MR. FIRTASH, AND HE'S BEEN INDICTED FOR FEDERAL BRIBERY AND OTHER CHARGES, RIGHT?

>> I KNOW OF HIM FROM MY WORK, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE ALL ASKING IS WHETHER AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN UKRAINE IS POTENTIALLY BEING RUN IN THEIR INTERESTS, AND NOT OUR OWN?

>> IT CERTAINLY APPEARS IT'S BEING USED, A SUBVERSION OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY TO PUSH THESE PEOPLE'S PERSONAL INTERESTS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT INCLUDES THE MEMBER QUESTIONING.

I'LL NOW GO TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.

MR. NUNES, DO YOU HAVE CLOSING REMARKS?

>> THANK YOU.

I STRESSED THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT WAS A PRETEXT FOR DONALD TRUMP'S POLITICAL OPPONENTS TO DO WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO SINCE HE WAS ELECTED.

OUST THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.

THE BRIEF TIMELINE ILLUSTRATES THE WIDE RANGE OF EXTRAORDINARY ATTACK HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FACED.

>> IT STARTED IN JUNE OF 2016 WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS JUST A CANDIDATE.

ON BEHALF OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND THE HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN, FUSION GPS HIRES CHRISTOPHER STEELE TO WRITE A COLLECTION OF FALSE ALLEGATIONS ATTRIBUTEED TO RUSSIAN SOURCES CLAIMING THAT DONALD TRUMP IS A RUSSIAN AGENT.

FAST FORWARD TO JANUARY 6, 2017.

FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY LEAKS THE BRIEF TO CNN, AND BUZZ FEED PUBLISHES THE DOSSIERS.

JANUARY 20th, ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INAUGURATION DAY, THE "WASHINGTON POST" RUNS A STORY, THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP HAS BEGUN.

JANUARY 30th, 10 DAYS LATER, WHILS WHIS'S CURRENT LAWYER TWEETS HASH TAG QUEUE HAS STARTED.

FIRST OF MANY STEPS.

HASH TAG REBELLION, HASH TAG IMPEACHMENT WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY.

>> MARCH 22nd.

DEMOCRATS ON THIS COMMITTEE FALSELY DECLARE ONINGS THATAL TV THEY HAVE MORE THAN CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN COLLUDEED WITH RUSH A.

AN ARTICLE IS FILED AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NOVEMBER 15th, DEMOCRATS FILE ADDITIONAL ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AS YOU SEE, THIS WAS JUST IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.

HE WAS SUBJECTED TO A COORDINATED SMEAR OPERATION DESIGNED TO FALSELY PORTRAY HIM AS A RUSSIAN AGENT.

AS WELL AS ATTEMPTS TO IMPEACH HIM.

>> THIS ALL OCCURRED THIS NOW INFAMOUS CALL APPROXIMATE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.

IN 2018 THE ATTACKS CONTINUEED OFTEN FROM EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING POLICIES.

ON FEBRUARY 2nd, 2018, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS RELEASE A MEMO REVEALING THAT THE FBI USED FABRICATIONS, STEELE DOSSIER TO GET A WARRANT TO SPIEF ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE.

SEPTEMBER 5th, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" PRINTS A COLUMN BY AN ANONYMOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL WHO EXPLAINS THAT HE AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS ARE QUOTE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FRUSTRATE PARTS OF TRUMP'S AGENDA."

DECEMBER 7th.

JAMES COMEY ADMITS TO CONGRESS, THE STEELE DOSSIER WAS UNVERIFIED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FBI USED IT TO GET A WARRANT TO SPY ON A TRUMP CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATE.

THE RUSSIA HOAX WAS A MAIN FOCUS OF ATTACKS GOING INTO 2019.

WHEN THAT OPERATION COLLAPSED A NEW IMPEACHMENT PRETEXT HAD TO BE FOUND.

MAY 4th, 2019, ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN PROCLAIMS "I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT, HE WILL GET RE-ELECTED."

JULY 24th OF THIS YEAR, SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS ABOUT HIS REPORT WHICH DEBUNKED THE CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATES CONSPIRED WITH RUSSIA TO HACK THE 2016 ELECTION.

JULY 25th, JUST THE VERY NEXT DAY, A NEW ANTI-TRUMP OPERATION BEGINS AS SOMEONE LISTENS TO THE PRESIDENT'S PHONE CALL WITH UKRANIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND LEAKS THE CONTENTS TO THE SO-CALLED WHISTLEBLOWER.

SEPTEMBER 13th DEMOCRATS ON THIS COMMITTEE TAKE THE EXTRAORDINARY STEP OF RELEASING A PRESS RELEASE RELATED TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER'S COMPLAINT.

OCTOBER 2nd IT'S REVEAL THAD DEMOCRATIC STAFF ON THIS COMMITTEE HAD CONTACT WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER BEFORE HE SUBMITTED HIS COMPLAINT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CONTRADICTING DEMOCRAT DENIALS THAT SUCH CONTACTS HAD OCCURRED.

OCTOBER 31st, HALLOWEEN, PROBABLY THE MOST APPROPRIATE DAY, DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTE TO OPEN OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS ROOM OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS IS A SHOW TRIAL.

THE PLANNED RESULT OF THREE YEARS OF POLITICAL OPERATIONS AND DIRTY TRICKS.

CAMPAIGNS WAGED AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT.

AND LIKE ANY GOOD SHOW TRIAL, THE VERDICT WAS DECIDED BEFORE THE TRIAL EVER BEGAN.

AFTERALL, AFTER DENOUNCING THE PRESIDENT AS A RUSSIAN AGENT AND THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, HOW COULD THE DEMOCRATS NOT IMPEACH HIM?

IF THEY DON'T MOVE TO OVERTHROW HIM, IT WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THEIR OWN DIRE WARNINGS ABOUT THE THREAT HE POSES.

THE DEMOCRATS ONLY NEEDED A PRETEXT WHEN THE RUSSIAN DOSSIERS AND INVESTIGATIONS FAILED TO DO THE JOB, THEY MOVEED TO PLAN B, THE UKRAINE HOAX.

THE SPECTACLE WITH SECRET DEPOSITIONS AND MID-HEARING PRESS CONFERENCES IS NOT MEANT TO DISCOVER THE FACTS.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A SPECIFIC STORY LINE TO BE PUSHED FORWARD BY THE DEMOCRATS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS IN THE MEDIA.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS WE APPROACH THANKSGIVING, SPEAKER PELOSI HAS JUST SAID TODAY.

USMCA, THE FREE TRADE DEAL WITH CANADA AND MEXICO WON'T BE SIGNED THIS YEAR.

SO I HOPE MR. SCHIFF WILL CLARIFY HOW MUCH LONGER WE WILL WASTE ON THIS EFFORT, AND WHAT OTHER VITAL WILLING HE'S WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR THIS IMPEACHMENT CRUSADE.

WILL THERE BE EVEN MORE SECRET DEPOSITIONS ACCOMPANIED BY THE USUAL FLOOD OF DEMOCRATIC LEAKS?

WILL WE HAVE MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH DEMOCRATIC WITNESSES, BUT NOT OURS?

>> THE MINORITY ARE THE DARK WHAT THE COMMITTEE WILL BE DOING WHEN THE COMMITTEE RETURNS.

SO IS, M. >> JAMES MADISON WARNED US ABOUT THE DANGER POSED BY THE MAJORITY.

TO AVOID THAT THREAT THEY CREATED A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

BUT IS THERE A BETTER EXAMPLE OF THE TYRANNY OF MAJORITY THAN THE WAY THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN RUN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?

THE PROCESS THAT IS GROSSLY UNFAIR CAN ONLY STEM FROM A CYNICAL MAJORITY WILLING TO BREAK LONG ESTABLISHED PRECEDENTS, TRAMPLE ON LEGITIMATE MINORITY CONCERNS, AND IMPOSE THEIR ABSOLUTE WILL ON THIS BODY THROUGH SHEER FORCE OF NUMBERS.

EXPLOITING THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AS A VENUE FOR IMPEACHMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GROSSEST APPROACHES FILLED WITH CYNICAL MANIPULATIONS, LARGE AND SMALL.

BUT THIS FARCE WILL SOON MOVE TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHERE IMPEACHMENT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS.

I WISH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WELL IN FIGHTING THIS TRAVESTY AND DEFENDING THE IDEA, WHICH AT ONE TIME RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT NOT LONG AGO.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S VOTE ACTUALLY MEANS SOMETHING.

YIELD BACK.

>> THANK THE GENTLEMAN.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.

YOU'RE NOT DEMOCRATIC WITNESSES OR REPUBLICAN WITNESSES.

YOU'RE NON-PARTISAN WITNESSES AND YOU HAVE STUCK TO THE FACTS AS IT SHOULD BE.

FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE HEARING TODAY, AND DR. HILL, YOU WERE CRITICIZED SEVERAL TIMES BY MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T BACK DOWN FROM IT.

YOU'RE MUCH MORE DIPLOMATIC THAN I AM, I HAVE TO SAY.

ANYONE WATCHING THESE PROCEEDINGS, ANYONE READING THE DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPTS WOULD HAVE THE SAME IMPRESSION THAT YOU EVIDENTLY HAD FROM HEARING MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT THE RUSSIA HOAX.

THAT THE WHOLE IDEA THAT RUSSIA HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE 2016 ELECTION WAS A HOAX PUT OUT BY THE DEMOCRATS.

AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN PUSHING OUT THIS IDEA.

IT IS TRUMPETED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, AT TIMES, WOULD COMMENT AND TWEET AND PROPAGATE THE IDEA THAT RUSSIA'S INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTION WAS A HOAX.

AND OF COURSE, WE ALL REMEMBER THE DEBACLE IN HELSINKI WHEN THE PRESIDENT STOOD NEXT TO VLADIMIR PUTIN.

I WISH I HEARD THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION WE HEARD TODAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT QUESTIONED THAT FUNDAMENTAL CONCLUSION OF OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.

BUT, OF COURSE, THEY WERE SILENT WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT.

THEY'LL SHOW INDIGNATION TODAY, BUT COWER WHEN THEY HEAR THE PRESIDENT QUESTIONING THE VERY CONCLUSIONS THAT ARE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS REACHED.

BUT WE SAW SOMETHING INTERESTING ALSO TODAY.

MY COLLEAGUES SOUGHT TO USE YOU DR. HILL TO BESMIRCH THE CHARACTER OF COLONEL VINDMAN.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

IT WAS INTERESTING FOR THIS REASON.

THEY DIDN'T REALLY QUESTION ANYTHING COLONEL VINDMAN SAID.

AFTER ALL, WHAT COLONEL VINDMAN SAID WAS WHAT YOU SAID.

HE WAS IN THE JULY 10th MEETING.

HE HEARD THE SAME QUID QUO PRO, THE SAME COMMENTS BY SONDLAND.

IF YOU WANT THIS MEETING, UKRANIANS, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT -- YOU HAVE TO ANNOUNCE YOU'RE DOING THE INVESTIGATIONS.

HE HEARD THE SAME QUID QUO PRO YOU DID.

SO WHY ARE THEY SMEARING HIM?

>> MR. HOLMES YOU TESTIFIED JUST AS COLONEL VINDMAN SAID, THAT HE WARNED ZELENSKY ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN U.S.

POLITICS.

YOU DON'T QUESTION THAT.

THEY DIDN'T TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT.

WHY SMEAR THIS PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT, JUST LIKE THE SMEAR OF AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH.

IT'S JUST GRATUITOUS.

THEY DON'T QUESTION THE FACTS.

IT'S JUST GRATUITOUS.

THE ATTACK ON YOU, MR. HOLMES THAT YOU WERE INDISCREET IN MENTIONING THIS CONVERSATION TO OTHERS.

THE INDISCRETION IS WHEN THE AMBASSADOR CALLS THE PRESIDENT -- AND THE COUNTRY KNOWN FOR RUSSIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND EAVESDROPPING.

THAT'S MORE THAN INDISCRETION.

THAT'S A SECURITY RISK.

BUT WHY, A ATTACK YOU, MR. HOLMES.

THEY DIDN'T QUESTION ANYTHING YOU SAID.

THEY DIDN'T QUESTION THE CONVERSATION YOU OVERHEARD.

AMBASSADOR SONDLAND DIDN'T QUESTION WHAT YOU SAID.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ONE THING THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO KNOW THE DAY AFTER THAT CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IS, IS HE GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATIONS >> AND SONDLAND SAID YES, HE'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK.

>> THEY DON'T QUESTION THAT.

WHY ATTACK YOU?

THEY DIDN'T QUESTION YOUR TESTIMONY WHEN YOU SAID, AND I THINK YOU ASKED MR. SONDLAND, "DOES DONALD TRUMP GIVE A BLANK -- I WOULD LIKE TO USE THE WORD HERE, ABOUT UKRAINE.

HE SAID HE DOESN'T GIVE A BLANK.

HE ONLY CARES ABOUT THE BIG STUFF.

AND YOU SAID THERE'S BIG STUFF HERE.

UKRAINE IS AT WAR IN RUSSIA THAT'S BIG STUFF.

>> AND HIS ANSWER WAS, NO, NO, NO.

HE CARES ABOUT THE BIG STUFF THAT MATTERS TO HIS PERSONAL INTERESTS, LIKE THE BIDEN INVESTIGATION THAT GIULIANI WANTS.

I MEAN, ONE QUESTION POSED BY YOUR TESTIMONY, MR. HOLMES IS WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT?

DO WE CARE ABOUT THE BIG STUFF, LIKE THE CONSTITUTION, LIKE AN OATH OF OFFICE, OR DO WE ONLY CARE NOW ABOUT PARTY?

WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT?

LET'S GO BEYOND YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY.

LET'S LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW NOW AFTER THESE DEPOSITIONS, THESE SECRET DEPOSITIONS.

PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT IN THESE SECRET DEPOSITIONS WHICH APPARENTLY NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO HEAR, NO MEMBER BUSINESS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST ME AND THE WITNESS.

ONLY OVER A HUNDRED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE SECRET DEPOSITIONS.

AND THE MINORITY WAS JUST SO UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY GOT THE SAME TIME THEY GOT IN THESE OPEN HEARINGS.

IT WAS THE SAME FORMAT.

THAT WAS THE SECRET STAR CHAMBER THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT.

WHAT DID WE LEARN THROUGH THE DEPOSITIONS AND THROUGH THE TESTIMONY?

SO MUCH OF THIS IS UNDISPUTED.

WE LEARNED THAT A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT NAMED MARIE YOVANOVITCH KNOWN FOR FIGHTING CORRUPTION, WIDELY RESPECTED THROUGHOUT THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WAS RUTHLESSLY SMEARED BY RUDY GIULIANI, BY THE PRESIDENT'S OWN SON, BY THEIR FRIENDS ON FOX PRIME TIME, AND A HOST OF OTHER CHARACTERS.

HER REPUTATION WAS SULLIED SO THEY COULD GET HER OUT OF THE WAY, WHICH THEY DID.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT WAS GRATUITOUS.

THE PRESIDENT COULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF HER ANY TIME HE WANTED.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THIS PRESIDENT.

NO.

HE HAS TO SMEAR AND DESTROY THOSE THAT GET IN HIS WAY.

AND SOMEONE FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE WAS GETTING IN HIS WAY.

SO SHE'S GONE.

SHE'S GONE.

AND THIS MAKES WAY ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.

SHE LEAVES THE THREE AMIGOS COME IN.

THE THREE AMIGOS.

TWO OF WHOM NEVER MADE THE CONNECTION THAT BURISMA MEANS BIDEN.

IT TOOK TIM MORRISON 30 SECONDS ON GOOGLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

BUT WE'RE TO BELIEVE, I GUESS, THAT IN ALL THE COMPANIES IN ALL THE WORLD, THAT RUDY GIULIANI JUST HAPPENED TO BE INTERESTED IN THIS ONE?

THAT'S ABSURD.

THE INTEREST, OF COURSE, WAS AN INVESTIGATION OF DONALD TRUMP'S RIVAL, THE ONE THAT HE PAESHTLY FEARED THE MOST.

AND THEY WERE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO GET UKRAINE TO DO THAT DIRTY WORK, TO DO THAT POLITICAL INVESTIGATION.

AND SO IT BEGAN.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SET UP A PHONE CALL UNTIL YOU MAKE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS.

THAT WAS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND'S TESTIMONY.

THE FIRST QUID QUO PRO WAS JUST GETTING ON THE PHONE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE QUID QUO PRO INVOLVING THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING.

AND WITNESS AFTER WITNESS, AND NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CONTESTED THIS -- TALKED ABOUT JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT MEETING WAS TO THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE, AND WHY?

THEY'RE AT WAR IN RUSSIA.

THEY'RE MOST IMPORTANT ALLY IS THE UNITED STATES.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND IF PRESIDENT ZELENSKY CAN SHOW HE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IT MEANS TO HIS PEOPLE THAT THIS NEW PRESIDENT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT PATRON, AND IT MEANS TO THE RUSSIANS THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK.

THIS PRESIDENT -- THIS NEW PRESIDENT NEGOTIATING WITH A FAR CONSPIRACY POWER THAT INVADED HIS COUNTRY IS GOING INTO NEGOTIATION WITH PUTIN OVER HOW TO RESOLVE THIS CONFLICT, WHETHER HE HAS GOOD LEVERAGE OR LOUSY LEVERAGE DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE RUSSIANS THINK HE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT.

AND THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T GIVE HIM THAT, NOT WITHOUT GETTING SOMETHING IN RETURN.

WOULDN'T GIVE HIM THAT OFFICIAL ACT, THAT WHITE HOUSE MEETING, WITHOUT GETTING SOMETHING IN RETURN.

AND THAT RETURN WAS INVESTIGATIONS OF HIS RIVAL THAT WOULD HELP HIS RE-ELECTION.

AN OFFICIAL ACT FOR SOMETHING OF CLEAR VALUE, AND SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

THE BIG STUFF, AS SONDLAND EXPLAINED TO YOU, MR. HOLMES, -- TO HELP HIS CAMPAIGN.

NOW HE ALSO HEARD ABUNDANT TESTIMONY ABOUT THE OTHER QUID QUO PRO.

THE WITHHOLDING OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE WHICH NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN.

THERE'S NO DEBATE AMONG MY COLLEAGUES.

EVERYONE IN THE NSC AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, EVERYONE SUPPORTED IT.

EVERYONE.

REVIEWS NEEDED TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE UKRAINE WAS MEETING ANTI-CORRUPTION STANDARDS THAT HAD BEEN DONE, AND FOUND TO MEET THE CRITERIA.

THE AID SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED, BUT IT WAS WITHHELD, AND NO ONE COULD GET AN EXPLANATION WHY UNTIL IT BECAME CLEAR TO EVERYONE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LEVERAGE.

IF THERE WAS EVER DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE MAN CLOSEST TO THE PRESIDENT WHO MEETS WITH HIM EVERY DAY, MICK MULVANEY, ERASED ALL DOUBT.

YOU'RE DARN CAN RIGHT.

YES, WE TALKED ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTION INVESTIGATION.

AND YES, THIS WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF HOLDING UP THE MILITARY AID.

YOU KNOW, JUST GET USED TO IT.

JUST GET OVER, IT OR WHATEVER IT WAS THAT HE SAID.

BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ROLL.

THOSE ARE MY WORDS, NOT HIS.

BUT THAT'S THE IMPORT.

YEAH, THERE'S GOING TO BE POLITICS, AND JUST GET OVER IT.

WELL, IF WE CARE ABOUT THE BIG STUFF, WE CAN'T JUST GET OVER IT.

NOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD A LOT OF DEFENSES TO ALL OF THIS EVIDENCE WHICH HAS PILED UP DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, AND YOU HEAR YOU TESTIFY, MR. HOLMES, IT WAS CLEAR THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE WAS WITHHELD.

IT WAS CLEAR TO ALL THE AMERICANS.

IT WAS CLEAR TO THE UKRANIANS.

YOU TESTIFIED THE UKRANIANS FELT PRESSURE.

THEY STILL FEEL PRESSURE.

WHAT DO MY COLLEAGUES SAY IN THE SAME HEARING.

I GUESS THEY'RE NOT LISTENING.

THE UKRANIAN FELT NO PRESSURE, NO EVIDENCE THEY FELT PRESSURE.

WHICH GETS INTO THEIR NEXT DEFENSE WHICH IS IT'S ALL HEARSAY.

IT'S ALL HEARSAY.

NOW MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES, I GUESS, ARE NOT LAWYERS.

LAWYERS OUT THERE UNDERSTAND JUST HOW WRONG THEY ARE ABOUT WHAT HEARSAY IS.

LET'S JUST DISCUSS THIS IN TERMS THAT ALL PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND.

THE IMPRESSION THEY WOULD HAVE YOU TAKE FROM ITS ALL HEARSAY IS BECAUSE WE IN THIS COMMITTEE WERE NOT IN THAT WARD ROOM WITH YOU, DR. HILL.

WE WERE NOT IN THE MEETING WITH DR. BOLTON, THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THE ROOM, IT'S ALL HEARSAY.

AFTERALL, YOU'RE RELATING WHAT YOU HEARD, AND YOU'RE SAYING IT, SO IT MUST BE HEARSAY, AND THEREFORE, WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT, DO WE?

WE DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT THIS MEETING IN THE WHITE HOUSE WAS BEING WITHHELD BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WANTED THESE MEETINGS -- THESE INVESTIGATIONS.

WE CAN'T ACCEPT THAT.

WELL, IF THAT WERE TRUE, YOU COULD NEVER PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE IN COURT UNLESS THE JURY WAS ALSO IN THE WARD ROOM.

THAT'S ABSURD.

THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE, ALL THE TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT QUID QUO PROS.

ARE WE SAYING -- AND THAT'S CRAZY.

AND IF MY WORST NIGHTMARE IS THE RUSSIANS GET IT, AND I'LL QUIT IF THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE DOCUMENTS, THE FEW DOCUMENTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT THAT WEREN'T PRODUCED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WHERE SONDLAND COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATIVE INTEREST OF THE PRESIDENT AND THEY DON'T ACCEPT THE DOCUMENTS EITHER.

I GUESS THE DOCUMENTS ARE ALSO HEARSAY.

NOW, MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE CONVINCEING IF THEY WERE JOINING US IN DEMANDING THAT THE DOCUMENTS BE PRODUCED, BUT OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT.

WE KNOW WHY NOT.

BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTS ARE LIKE ONE WE SAW ON THE SCREEN THAT IMPLICATE OTHERS, INCLUDING SECRETARY POMPEO.

SO OF COURSE, DONALD TRUMP AND SECRETARY POMPEO DON'T WANT US TO SEE THOSE DOCUMENTS.

BUT APPARENTLY, IT'S ALL HEARSAY.

EVEN WHEN YOU ACTUALLY HEAR THE PRESIDENT, MR. HOLMES, THAT'S HEARSAY.

WE CAN'T RELY ON PEOPLE RELYING ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS.

WE CAN ONLY RELY ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS, AND THERE WE SHOULDN'T EVEN RELY ON THAT EITHER.

WE SHOULDN'T REALLY RELY ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID IN THE CALL RECORD.

WE SHOULD IMAGINE HE SAID SOMETHING ELSE.

SOMETHING ABOUT ACTUALLY FIGHTING CORRUPTION INSTEAD OF WHAT HE SAID WHICH WAS -- I WANT YOU TO DO US A FAVOR.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS 2016 CROWDSTRIKE CONSPIRACY THEORY, AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK INTO THE BIDENS.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSEED TO RELY ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S HEARSAY.

THAT'S ABSURD.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE SAYING, YOU CAN'T RELY ON THE TESTIMONY OF THE BURGLARS DURING WATERGATE, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY HEARSAY.

OR YOU CAN'T CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THEY TRIED TO BREAK IN BECAUSE THEY GOT CAUGHT.

THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY CAME FOR, SO YOU KNOW, NO HARM, NO FOUL.

THAT'S ABSURD.

THAT'S ABKURD.

BUT THE OTHER -- THE OTHER DEFENSE BESIDES IT FAILED.

THE SCHEME FAILED AND THEY GOT CAUGHT.

THE OTHER DEFENSE IS THE PRESIDENT DENIES IT.

I GUESS THAT'S CASE CLOSED, RIGHT?

THE PRESIDENT SAYS, REALLY QUITE SPONTANEOUSLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS ASKED THIS WAY.

NO QUID QUO PRO.

WHAT THE DO YOU WANT FROM UKRAINE?

NO QUID QUO PRO.

THIS IS I'M NOT A CROOK DEFENSE.

YOU SAY IT, AND I GUESS THAT'S THE END OF IT.

WELL, THE ONLY THING WE CAN SAY IS THAT IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THE SITUATION IS DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF NIXON'S CONDUCT AND TRUMP'S CONDUCT.

WE'VE SEEN HE WAS FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN A THIRD RATE BURGLARY OF THE DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE WITHHOLDING OF RECOGNITION IN THAT WHITE HOUSE MEETING, THE WITHHOLDING OF MILITARY AID TO AN ALLY AT WAR.

THAT IS BEYOND ANYTHING NIXON DID.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW IS NOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIXON AND TRUMP.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT CONGRESS AND THIS ONE.

AND SO WE ARE ASKING, WHERE IS HOWARD BAKER WHERE IS HOWARD BAKER?

WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GO BEYOND THEIR PARTY, TO LOOK TO THEIR DUTY?

I WAS STRUCK BY COLONEL VINDMAN'S TESTIMONY, BECAUSE HE SAID HE ACTED OUT OF DUTY.

WHAT IS OUR DUTY HERE?

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE ASKING.

NOT USING METAPHORS ABOUT BALLS AND STRIKES OR OUR TEAM AND YOUR TEAM.

I'VE HEARD MY COLLEAGUES USE THOSE METAPHORS.

THIS IS ABOUT DUTY.

WHA IS OUR DUTY?

WE ARE, AND THIS GOES TO MR. HECK'S POINT.

WE'RE THE INDISPENSABLE NATION.

WE STILL ARE.

PEOPLE LOOK TO US FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JOURNALISTS FROM THEIR JAIL CELLS IN TURKEY, VICTIMS OF MASS KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

PEOPLE WHO GATHERED IN THE SQUARE WANTING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

PEOPLE IN CHINA.

PEOPLE IN UKRAINE WHO WANT A BETTER FUTURE.

THEY LOOK TO US.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK TO THE RUSSIANS.

THEY'RE NOT LOOKING TO THE CHINESE.

THEY CAN'T LOOK TO EUROPE WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS.

THEY LOOK TO US INCREASINGLY, AND THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY SEE, BECAUSE WHAT THEY SEE IS AMERICANS SAYING DON'T ENGAGE IN POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS.

AND WHAT THEY SAY BACK IS, OH, YOU MEAN LIKE THE BIDENS AND THE CLINTONS THAT YOU WANT US TO INVESTIGATE?

WHAT THEY SEE, THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE.

THAT IS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY FOR US, BUT A GREATER TRAGEDY FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

NOW I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT WHEN THE FOUNDERS MADE A MECHANISM FOR IMPEACHMENT, THEY FRP WORRIED IF SOMEONE TOOK THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND AND USEED IT FOR PERSONAL GAIN, AND NOT BECAUSE OF CARE ABOUT THE BIG THINGS THAT MATTER LIKE NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE AND ALLIES AND WHAT THE COUNTRY STANDS FOR.

I HAPPEN TO THINK THAT'S WHY THEY PUT THAT REMEDY IN THE CONSTITUTION.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONSULT OUR CONSCIENCE AND OUR CONSTITUENTS AND DECIDE WHETHER THAT REMEDY IS APPROPRIATE HERE, WHETHER THAT REMEDY IS NECESSARY HERE.

AND AS YOU KNOW, NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT THEY COLLEAGUE SAID, I RESISTED GOING DOWN THIS PATH FOR A LONG TIME.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY I COULD RESIST NO MORE, AND IT CAME DOWN TO THIS.

IT CAME DOWN TO ACTUALLY TIMING.

IT CAME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THE DAY AFTER BOB MUELLER TESTIFIED, THE DAY AFTER BOB MUELLER TESTIFIED THAT DONALD TRUMP INVITED RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE.

HEY, RUSSIA, IF YOU'RE LISTENING GET HILLARY'S E-MAILS, AND LATER THAT DAY THEY TRIED TO HACK HER SERVER.

THE DAY AFTER HE TESTIFIED THAT NOT ONLY DID TRUMP INVITE THAT INTERFERENCE, BUT THAT HE WELCOMED THE HELP IN THE CAMPAIGN, AND THEY MADE FULL USE OF IT.

THEY LIED ABOUT IT.

THEY OBSTRUCTED THE INVESTIGATION INTO IT, AND ALL OF THIS IS IN HIS TESTIMONY AND REPORT -- THE DAY AFTER THAT DONALD TRUMP IS BACK ON THE PHONE ASKING ANOTHER NATION TO INVOLVE ITSELF IN ANOTHER U.S. ELECTION.

THIS PRESIDENT BELIEVES HE IS ABOVE THE LAW BEYOND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN AN UNETHICAL PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES THEY'RE ABOVE THE LAW.

AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO PEOPLE WATCHING HERE AND AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD IN THE WORDS OF MY GREAT COLLEAGUE ACCIDENT, WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.

ADJOURNED.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF WITH AN EMPHATIC STATEMENT AT THE END.

HE SAID THIS PRESIDENT BELIEVES HE'S ABOVE THE LAW.

NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES HE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

THIS AFTER ABOUT 20, 25 MINUTES OF DESCRIBING THE COURSE OF EVENTS THAT LED TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS BEING CONDUCTED BY THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.

FIVE DAYS OF WITNESSES, AND WE GO INTO A PERIOD WHERE THE COMMITTEE WE'RE TOLD WILL PERHAPS HAVE MORE SBNSS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

BUT ACCORDING TO ALISE DESIARDINS WE DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE MORE WITNESSES IN PUBLIC BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE.

I'M JUDY WOODRUFF OVERSEEING THE LIVE COVERAGE ALL THIS DAY WITH NICK SCHIFRIN, AND NICK, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE TO SUM IT UP, WE STARTED THE DAY WITH THESE WITNESSES, FIONA HILL, AND DAVID HOLMES GIVING US MORE OF THE PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT BROKE DOWN BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

UKRAINE OFFICIALS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT CAME TO DENYING AID.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT IS DIVIDED AS IT WAS AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE -- UNFORTUNATELY WAS A PARTISAN COMMITTEE, AND NOT DESIGNED TO BE PARTISAN.

BUT THE TAKEAWAY OF TODAY, JUDY, ARE THREE THINGS.

A REAL DIVIDE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND STAFF, AND THE PRESIDENT'S ALLIES.

THAT WAS VOICED BY FIONA HILL WHO DESCRIBES WHAT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WAS DOING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY, AND AMBASSADOR SONDLAND WAS ON A QUOTE DOMESTIC POLITICAL ERRAND.

HERE POINT WAS OF COURSE BURISMA MEANT BIDEN.

SHE CALLS IT NOT CREDIBLE THAT ANYONE DOES OBJECT REALIZE THAT BURISMA MEANT BIDEN.

NUMBER TWO, A REAL FOCUS ON TWO DAYS.

JULY 25th, AND JULY 26th.

JULY 25th WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKS TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND MENTIONS THE WORD BIDEN.

THE NEXT DAY PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID THAT WAS PRETTY SENSITIVE.

AND GORDON SONDLAND SAID IS THE THE PRESIDENT GOING TO DO THE INVESTIGATIONS.

AND A DEBATE ABOUT UKRANIAN INFLUENCE IN 2016.

FIONA HILL ACCUSING THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS COMMITTEE OF PEDDLING RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION AND SAYING THAT THE REPUBLICANS PUSHED BACK SAYING WE DID ACCUSE RUSSIA OF MEDDLING, BUT WE THINK UKRAINE MAY HAVE ALSO.

>> SHE POINTED OUT THAT A LOT OF COUNTRIES CRITICIZED.

AND THE ONLY COUNTRY TRUMP RAISED THIS ABOUT WAS UKRAINE MIEKE TO YOU, SUM UP WHAT WE HEARD TODAY, AND WHETHER THIS BRINGS THE DEMOCRATS CASE TO A PLACE WHERE IT IS STRONGER THAN WHAT THEY STARTED THE HEARINGS.

>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR THE FINAL WITNESS THEY CALLED, HOLMES, PUTS THE CONCERNS FOR THE INVESTIGATION DIRECTLY INTO THE PRESIDENT'S MOUTH.

YESTERDAY WE HEARD IT COMING TO THE DOOR OF THE OVAL OFFICE.

TODAY WE HEARD IT -- THERE WAS A WITNESS WHO HEARD INVESTIGATIONS, BIDENS COMING OUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S MOUTH.

THE DEMOCRATS CLEARLY FEEL THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CASE HERE, AND YOU SAW THAT IN CHAIRMAN SCHIFF'S CLOSEER.

THEY'VE SHOWN PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR, AND THE PRESIDENT WAS WILLING FOR IT, AND IT WAS DONE BY HIS AGENTS.

I THINK THEY'VE GOT A STRONG CASE.

>> STEWART.

WE HEARD ANOTHER DAY OF MID-LEVEL OFFICIALS TRYING TO GUESS WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS DOING, AND NOT BEING SURE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THE CHAIRMAN INVOKE HOWARD BAKER, WHO FAMOUSLY SAID ABOUT WATERGATE, WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW, AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT.

I'VE GOT TO SAY, AFTER FIVE DAYS OF HEARINGS, THE ANSWER I'M GETTING IT BEATS ME.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN AN INSIGHT INTO THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSALS HERE.

THAT MEANS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO MAKE THEIR CASE.

>> QUICKLY BEFORE I GO TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S BECAUSE THE WITNESSES ARE NOT CREDIBLE?

>> NO.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT -- WHAT HE'S SAID AND DONE.

>> WE VBT HEARD FROM GIULIANI, POMPEO AND BOLTON.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD THEM.

>> A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO GO TO YAMICHE ALCINDOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE PRESIDENT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.

IS IS THE WHITE HOUSE FEELING BETTER, YAMICHE, AFTER THE HEARINGS OR WORRIED.

>> THE WHITE HOUSE SAY THE HEARINGS ARE SECOND HAND ACCOUNTS AND PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS THINKING.

STEWART'S ARGUMENT THAT THE PRESIDENT ISN'T IMPLICATED.

NO ONE THAT TESTIFIED THAT THE PRESIDENT TOLD THEM, YOU NEED TO HOLD UP THAT MILITARY AID IN EXCHANGE FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIDENS.

GORDON SONDLAND CAME CLOSE TO THAT WHEN HE SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT'S ORDERS.

THEN HE SAID I ASSUMED THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED.

I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS.

>> AND LISA, BEFORE WE WRAP UP AT THE CAPITAL.

THERE WON'T BE MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

DEMOCRATS ARE FEELING CONFIDENT ABOUT THE CASE THEY'RE LAYING OUT.

WE SUSPECT THAT THEY WILL NOW FOUS ON WRITING A REPORT.

THAT WILL GO TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH WILL DECIDE IF ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ARE NECESSARY.

THAT'S THE PROCESS.

I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF IS WHAT DID THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SAY.

WHAT'S THE CONVERSATION OVER THANKSGIVING TABLES.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECTS THE PROCESS.

WHAT VOTERS THINK.

>> AND WE HEARD THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, ADAM SCHIFF SAY WE NEED TO CONSULT OUR CONSCIENCE AND OUR CONSTITUENTS AS THEY DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO THAT DOES WRAP UP OUR SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS PART OF OUR REPORTING.

TO YOU, YAMICHE, TO LISA, NICK, MIEKE, STEWART, THE IMPEACHMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ARE WRAPPING UP.

SO JOIN UG TONIGHT ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR FOR FULL ANALYSIS AT THE REGULAR TIME.

I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND FOLLOW ALL THIS ON TELEVISION AND ONLINE.