Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman:
Background: Army Officer, Purple Heart recipient for armed combat in Iraq, numerous commendations and meritorious medals, Foreign Area Officer for U.S. embassies in Ukraine and Russia, Military Affairs Officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delegation for the National Security Council to Ukraine.
Relevance: Was one of several that personally listened in on the infamous phone call between Trump and Ukrainian president Zelensky.
Statements: "What I heard was inappropriate and I reported it […] out of a sense of duty," because "the connection to investigate a political opponent was inappropriate and improper."
"...in order to get the White House meeting, President Zelensky would have to deliver these investigations."
Jennifer Williams:
Background: Bachelor's Degree in international security from Georgetown University, Master's degree in public policy from Princeton University, political appointee to the Secretary of Homeland Security by former President Bush, 13 years at the Department of State for Middle East and Near Eastern Affairs, special advisor to Vice President Mike Pence on European and Russian affairs.
Relevance: Williams accompanied Pence to Poland to meet with Zelensky regarding the $400 million in military aid and she was also one of several that personally listened in on the phone call between Trump and Zelensky.
Statements: "[the call] involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter."
Gordon Sondland:
Background: Hotel real estate businessman, Oregon liaison to the White House, appointed a member of the Commission on White House Fellows by former president Bush, worked on Mitt Romney's presidential transition team, donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee, appointed by Trump as U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
Relevance: Worked directly with Trump, Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton on Ukrainian matters.
Statements: "[Coordinated] at the express direction of the president of the United States."
“[We] worked with Mr. Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine matters at the express direction of the president of the United States.”
"I know that members of this Committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a ‘quid pro quo? As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”
"Mr. Giuliani’s requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit for President Zelensky. Mr. Giuliani demanded that Ukraine make a public statement announcing investigations of the 2016 election/DNC server and Burisma. Mr. Giuliani was expressing the desires of the President of the United States, and we knew that these investigations were important to the President."
“Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret.”
“They knew what we were doing and why.” "My lawyers and I have made multiple requests to the State Department and the White House for these materials. Yet, these materials were not provided to me. They have also refused to share these materials with this committee.”
“Simply put, we played the hand we were dealt. We all understood that if we refused to work with Mr. Giuliani, we would lose an important opportunity to cement relations between the United States and Ukraine. So we followed the president’s orders.”
“Ukrainians needed those funds to fight against Russian aggression. I tried diligently to ask why the aid was suspended, but I never received a clear answer.”
“In the absence of any credible explanation for the suspension of aid, I later came to believe that the resumption of security aid would not occur until there was a public statement from Ukraine committing to the investigations of the 2016 election and Burisma, as Mr. Giuliani had demanded.”
What you got, Snoopy?
Last edited by SpokenTruth - on 22 November 2019