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On November 13th, the first day of impeachment hearings against US President Donald Trump took place.
And it appeared more of a victory for the Republicans and Donald Trump, rather than the “damning picture” CNN and other MSM are attempting to claim the hearing painted.
A key takeaway from the entire hearing was that the Democrats “star witness” on the entire situation was William B. Taylor Jr., US ambassador to Ukraine.
The witness appears to have no first-hand knowledge, and has never met with Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, with Mick Mulvaney.
• No first-hand knowledge.
• Never spoke to President Trump.
• Never spoke to Rudy Giuliani.
• Never spoke to Mick Mulvaney.
• Never inquired about Ukrainian meddling in 2016 election.How can anyone have confidence in @RepAdamSchiff's star impeachment witness? pic.twitter.com/cQ1XT4zBid
— Oversight Committee Republicans (@GOPoversight) November 13, 2019
Listen to @Jim_Jordan review the unbelievable amount of hearsay these allegations are based on. Spread it far and wide.
This is what Washington Democrats are impeaching on? Seriously? pic.twitter.com/4LS8r31lCj
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) November 13, 2019
One of the most significant quotes from Taylor is this, in which he confirms that he is only repeating what he has heard:
“What I can do here for you today is tell you what I heard from people.”
“This was an abject failure for the Democrats and for Adam Schiff.” @EliseStefanik pic.twitter.com/LhIa0Q8Mb8
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
Taylor essentially said that he “was told” that Trump was more concerned with investigating Joe Biden, than with Ukraine itself.
Taylor said that a member of his staff overheard a telephone conversation in which the president mentioned “the investigations” to Gordon D. Sondland, the United States ambassador to the European Union, who told him “that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward.” After the call, the aide asked Sondland what the president thought of Ukraine. According to what Taylor was told, Sondland “responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for.”
The entire claim by William Taylor is the following, and it contains some questionable claims:
“Last Friday [November 8th], a member of my staff told me of events that occurred on July 26. While Ambassador Volker and I visited the front, this member of my staff accompanied Ambassador Sondland. Ambassador Sondland met with Mr. Yermak.
Following that meeting, in the presence of my staff at a restaurant, Ambassador Sondland called President Trump and told him of his meetings in Kyiv. The member of my staff could hear President Trump on the phone, asking Ambassador Sondland about “the investigations.” Ambassador Sondland told President Trump that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward.
Following the call with President Trump, the member of my staff asked Ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about Ukraine. Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for. At the time I gave my deposition on October 22, I was not aware of this information. I am including it here for completeness. As the Committee knows, I reported this information through counsel to the State Department’s Legal Adviser, as well as to counsel for both the Majority and the Minority on the Committee. It is my understanding that the Committee is following up on this matter.”
Essentially, his staff member remembered of a situation close to 4 months ago, exactly when it would be extremely convenient to provide it, with no first-hand knowledge, simply to stir things up and put some fuel into the fire. Similarly to much of the US’ international policy, its internal policy revolves around making claims that need little to no evidence, clearly.
The other witness in the impeachment hearing was US State Department official George P. Kent.
Kent testified that Mr. Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, conducted a smear campaign against the United States ambassador to Ukraine and led an effort to “gin up politically motivated investigations.” His opening statement presents that. [pdf]
Kent concluded that mid-August 2019, Rudy Giuliani was attempting to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open investigations into Biden and his son, and that the lawyer’s efforts “were now infecting U.S. engagement with Ukraine, leveraging President Zelensky’s desire for a White House meeting.”
Kent also alleged that there was a smear campaign against US officials in Ukraine and that living proof was the “removal” Marie L. Yovanovitch, the former United States ambassador to Ukraine.
“It was unexpected, and most unfortunate however, to watch some Americans — including those who allied themselves with corrupt Ukrainians in pursuit of private agendas — launch attacks on dedicated public servants advancing U.S. interests in Ukraine. In my opinion, those attacks undermined U.S. and Ukrainian national interests and damaged our critical bilateral relationship.”
The entire impeachment hearing was a sort of charade where all allegations were repeated, with some new ones added to them, substantiated by no evidence at all, as it becomes clear in Taylor’s answer in the video below:
#ImpeachmentSHAM #SchiffShow pic.twitter.com/DrR2s6vtRc
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
Notably, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik attempted to enter the actual transcript of the July 25th call between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into the record, since, according to the Republicans, Adam Schiff mischaracterized and “lied” to the US people.
He instantly cut off the Congresswoman and refused to acknowledge her claims.
WOW! SOOO SAD!! Shifty Schiff cuts off @EliseStefanik for wanting to enter the actual transcript of the July 25th call between President Trump and President Zelensky into the record, because Schify Schiff mischaracterized and LIED to the American People! #SchiftShow pic.twitter.com/SqbdvYUMXm
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
Notably, even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “the call was fine,” and accusing a foreign leader of lying is not a simple accusation. And, furthermore, why shouldn’t Zelensky be believed?
After the call – Ambassador Taylor met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the VERY NEXT DAY!
President Zelensky said, “The call was fine. I was happy with the call." pic.twitter.com/XujtOsQyge
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
Kent, in addition, admitted that Ukraine had a long-standing history of corruption, and as such the US President was skeptical about it and that Trump had a duty to protect US taxpayers’ money.
Mr. Kent affirmed Ukraine has a long-standing history of corruption.
And President Trump was deeply skeptical of this corruption.
The President has a duty to Americans to make sure their taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly. pic.twitter.com/RhThSpNZZW
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) November 13, 2019
Additionally, Taylor said that Ukraine was not aware of any withholding of funds, despite Democrats claiming that they were.
Moments ago…. https://t.co/XI41TPSHEp pic.twitter.com/u5xlrDRx8p
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
It is noteworthy how contradicting the testimonies are, with some later claims directly disproving some of those made earlier.
The entire situation surrounding the impeachment hearing is quite similar to how the US also conducts its foreign policy. Accusations are thrown left and right, far and wide, counterarguments are completely disregarded and evidence is a luxury that is very scarce and not even sought for.
Meanwhile, Trump partook in some good, old fashioned fearmongering, addressing the American people and telling them that the Democrats want to take their freedom, guns, and various other “commodities.”
— Dan Scavino Jr.?? (@Scavino45) November 13, 2019
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I laughed so hard at all these bufoons in the US Retard House of Clowns when they started saying bullshit about Russia. They had literally no idea what they were talking about, it was extreme cringe.
remember the zionists have people like this running America https://twitter.com/manemoguceje/status/1193832377656791041
Trump (re)appointed all the war hawks and sleazebags which he’d vowed to sweep out of Washington. Now these same characters turn around to work on his impeachment. Can’t say that I get very worked up about it.