House Panel Releases Transcripts From First Witnesses

CNN reports:

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told House lawmakers last month that the State Department leaders did not speak up for her because they had concerns that President Donald Trump would undermine it, possibly using Twitter.

“What I was told is that there was concern that the rug would be pulled out from underneath the State Department if they put out something publicly,” Yovanovitch said according to a transcript of a closed-door interview released publicly Monday. “You know, that perhaps there would be a tweet of disagreement or something else.”

The transcripts from Yovanovitch and former State Department adviser Michael McKinley are the first that have been released, and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, said more would be coming this week, including former special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland on Tuesday.

Amb. Yovanovitch is a dedicated American diplomat who was forced from her position after a vicious smear campaign orchestrated by the president’s allies.

Today, we’re releasing her transcript, and that of another committed public servant, Amb. McKinley.https://t.co/1y8beUdeLr

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) November 4, 2019

JUST IN: House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff says House Democrats will release transcripts from Kurt Volker and Gordon Sondland tomorrow. https://t.co/XC4zRoBkGP pic.twitter.com/V5fuBpPa1J

— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) November 4, 2019

Of all of the Democrats’ dopey hoaxes (the collusion hoax, the Mueller is investigating a crime hoax, the “Adam Schiff is a smart guy” hoax) the “whistleblower” hoax is by far the dumbest. We have the transcript. We see it. Move along now kids.

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) November 4, 2019

NEW: Rep. Adam Schiff says the White House officials who have “defied congressional subpoenas and refused to appear” for depositions will “further add to the body of evidence on a potential obstruction of Congress charge against the president.” https://t.co/MC1IDhEAh5 pic.twitter.com/bSXn5iYjr0

— ABC News (@ABC) November 4, 2019