As part of their impeachment efforts, House Democrats called State Department official William Taylor two weeks ago to testify in a closed-door hearing. It didn’t go well for them.
Taylor served as the charge d’affairs of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and transcripts of his testimony have now been released.
They show that not only was he not on President Trump’s July telephone call with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, he didn’t even see the readout until it was declassified.
“And this isn’t firsthand.”
“I did not see any official readout of the call until it was publicly released on September 25th,” he said.
So while Taylor claimed to have a “clear understanding” that security assistance was predicated on Zelensky investigating Joe and Hunter Biden, this understanding wasn’t based on anything he personally heard. Rather, he depended on others to relay the information.
“And this isn’t firsthand. It’s not secondhand. It’s not thirdhand,” Rep. Lee Zeldin pointed out to Taylor. “But if I understand this correctly, you’re telling us that Tim Morrison told you that Ambassador Sondland told him that the president told Ambassador Sondland that Zelensky would have to open an investigation into Biden?”
Taylor admitted that was true, and when asked whether he had “any other source that the president’s goal in making this request was anything other than The New York Times,” the official said he didn’t. What’s more, Taylor had no contact with either the president or Rudy Giuliani.
Rep. John Ratcliffe attacked the idea of a quid pro quo by noting how Ukraine’s government wasn’t even aware that a hold had been put on military aid.
“So, if nobody in the Ukrainian government is aware of a military hold at the time of the Trump-Zelensky call, then, as a matter of law and as a matter of fact, there can be no quid pro quo, based on military aid,” Ratcliffe asserted. “I just want to be real clear that, again, as of July 25th, you have no knowledge of a quid pro quo involving military aid.”
“July 25th is a week after the hold was put on the security assistance,” Taylor replied. “And July 25th, they had a conversation between the two presidents, where it was not discussed.”
“And to your knowledge,” Ratcliffe continued, “nobody in the Ukrainian government was aware of the hold?”
“That is correct,” Taylor conceded.
996 Responses
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog post. Keep writing.
I really like and appreciate your article post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
I think this is a real great post. Great.
I think this is a real great post.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
I am so grateful for your article.Really thank you! Will read on…
I enjoy looking through an article that will make men and women think. Also, thanks for permitting me to comment!
After checking out a few of the blog posts on your site, I really appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and let me know your opinion.
I really liked your post.Really thank you! Want more.
Thank you for your blog article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
I really love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you create this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my own blog and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Cheers!
Hello there! This article could not be written much better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!
Say, you got a nice post. Really Cool.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after going through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly pleased I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!
That is a very good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read post!
Very informative article post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Your style is so unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
Great information. Lucky me I recently found your website by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!
A big thank you for your blog post.Much thanks again. Really Great.
Im obliged for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Really enjoyed this blog. Really Great.
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me. Thank you!
Great blog article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people do not talk about such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!!
I’m pretty pleased to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for your time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every part of it and i also have you book marked to see new information in your web site.
Wow, great article. Great.
I truly appreciate this article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
I love it when people get together and share views. Great blog, keep it up!
Really enjoyed this blog article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
Really informative post.Really thank you! Awesome.
You made some really good points there. I looked on the net to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.
This is the right web site for anybody who would like to understand this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic which has been discussed for ages. Great stuff, just wonderful!
May I simply say what a relief to find a person that genuinely knows what they are discussing over the internet. You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people should read this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that you’re not more popular since you certainly have the gift.
That is a good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Short but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!
You should be a part of a contest for one of the most useful sites online. I will recommend this site!
Thank you for your blog post.Thanks Again. Want more.
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you so much, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting similar RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Say, you got a nice post. Keep writing.
I blog frequently and I really appreciate your content. This article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your Feed as well.
Thanks-a-mundo for the article.Really thank you! Really Cool.
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I absolutely loved every bit of it. I have you saved as a favorite to check out new things you post…