Diplomat testifies Trump cared more about investigations of Biden than Ukraine

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

The top US diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, told Congress in new testimony Wednesday that President Donald Trump cared more about an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden than he did about Ukraine.

Taylor on Wednesday revealed in his opening statement he'd learned additional information, testifying at the first House impeachment hearing that his staff was told the President's interest in Ukraine was the "investigations of Biden."

Taylor testified that an aide told him of a phone conversation Trump had with US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland on July 26, one day after Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Taylor's aide, who was accompanying Sondland to meetings in Kiev with Ukrainian officials, could hear Trump asking Sondland about the investigations, Taylor testified. Sondland "told President Trump that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward," Taylor said.

Taylor testified that his aide later asked Sondland what Trump thought of Ukraine.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/13/politics/public-impeachment-hearings-day-1/index.html

[riversedge]

1. Michael McFaul on msnbc just now saying This is a BOMBSHELL!!

[Lonestarblue]

2. Trump is about one thing only--whatever benefits him financially and personally.

He doesn’t care whether he destroys the country unless, of course, he is allowed to rule as a lifetime dictator. After hearing this morning’s testimony and seeing all of Trump’s odious obstruction of justice during the past three years, that we still have a Republican Party supporting everything Trump has done is frightening beyond belief. They are not stupid enough to believe that Trump is doing no harm. I saw a comment that Nunes, Meadows, and maybe Jordan (there were three) left the hearing during Goldman’s questioning. They simply do not care. Are they too on Russia’s payroll?

[Stuart G]

3. This is the BOMBSHELL: "Trump cared more about investigation of Biden than Ukraine"

...I heard Taylor say that this morning. Hard to cover that one up. Trump wanted dirt on Biden, it was more important than anything else. That is it, and that one is very easy to understand. In simple terms, All Trump wanted was "dirt" on a potential opponent. Nothing else mattered.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. Another GOP excuse bites the dust

Now we have someone who actually heard Trump personally ask about "investigations".

[LudwigPastorius]

5. "Taylor testified that an aide told him of a phone conversation..."

Despite my belief in the unassailable truth of Taylor's testimony, the committee needs to get his aid sworn in and on the record, or else this will be spun by the GOP as hearsay and "second-hand information".