Ukrainian foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko said Thursday that U.S. Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon Sondland had “never” linked U.S. aid to Ukrainian investigations of the 2016 elections or the Biden’s role in stopping a probe of Burisma.
Prystaiko spoke the day after the first public hearings in the House Intelligence Committee as part of the “impeachment inquiry,” where two witnesses said they came to believe there had been such a link — though only some time after Politico reported on August 28 that aid had been held up by the Trump administration.
One of the witnesses, Chargé d’affaires Bill Taylor, introduced new evidence that a staffer told him recently that he overheard Sondland speaking to President Donald Trump the day after his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing “investigations.” The staffer also told Taylor that Sondland said that Trump was more interested in investigations than anything else.
As Breitbart News’ Kristina Wong noted, that new evidence — which is fourth-hand hearsay, plus opinion — added little new information, but was cited by Democrats and journalists as evidence that aid might have been linked to investigations Trump had asked the new Ukrainian government to pursue.
Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers withdraw request for civilian clothes, accuse prosecutors of creating a ‘spectacle’
Rashida Tlaib Defends Antifa Member Sentenced to 100 Years for Attempted Assassination, Calls Punishment ‘a Travesty and Totally Unjustified’
Watch: Sophie Cunningham’s Death Stare Went Super Viral as She Considered Smashing Heads to Defend Caitlin Clark
Colorado mom allegedly bought alcohol daily for 16-year-old daughter found dead with 173 empty bottles
WATCH: AOC won’t rule out Senate bid after New York progressives notch primary wins: ‘Inspired and encouraged’
Chinese drone monopoly put on notice amid concerns over CCP spying: ‘Strategic mistake’
Reporter’s Notebook: Lawmakers wrestle over whether AI can make the grade in America’s classrooms
Usha Vance Mocks New York Times After Outlet Gets Weird About Her Maternity Outfit
Supreme Court Delivers Big 2nd Amendment Win, Striking Down Restrictive Concealed Carry Law
WATCH: Hearing derails as purple-haired Dem points finger, screams at chair to put DHS chief ‘in his place’
USPS wouldn’t deliver ballots in states that refuse to fork over mail-in voter info under proposed rule
Supreme Court hands Trump two major immigration victories
FBI joins probe into ‘Free Karmelo’ mob that allegedly beat woman while chanting support for killer: police
Watch: Alan Dershowitz Reveals the Sickest Public Part of Bill Gates’ Friendship With Epstein – Says ‘There’s a Smell’ to Gates’ Testimony Prep
Nancy Guthrie ransom notes don’t match suspect’s behavior, profiler says: ‘I don’t believe they’re real’
On Thursday, Prystaiko said that there had been no link in discussions at the time with Sondland, as Reuters reported:
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Thursday that U.S. ambassador Gordon Sondland did not explicitly link military aid to Kiev with opening an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Interfax Ukraine reported.
…
“Ambassador Sondland did not tell us, and certainly did not tell me, about a connection between the assistance and the investigations. You should ask him,” Prystaiko said about Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
…
“I have never seen a direct relationship between investigations and security assistance,” Prystaiko was quoted as saying by Interfax. “Yes, the investigations were mentioned, you know, in the conversation of the presidents. But there was no clear connection between these events.”
Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers withdraw request for civilian clothes, accuse prosecutors of creating a ‘spectacle’
Rashida Tlaib Defends Antifa Member Sentenced to 100 Years for Attempted Assassination, Calls Punishment ‘a Travesty and Totally Unjustified’
Watch: Sophie Cunningham’s Death Stare Went Super Viral as She Considered Smashing Heads to Defend Caitlin Clark
Colorado mom allegedly bought alcohol daily for 16-year-old daughter found dead with 173 empty bottles
WATCH: AOC won’t rule out Senate bid after New York progressives notch primary wins: ‘Inspired and encouraged’
Chinese drone monopoly put on notice amid concerns over CCP spying: ‘Strategic mistake’
Reporter’s Notebook: Lawmakers wrestle over whether AI can make the grade in America’s classrooms
Usha Vance Mocks New York Times After Outlet Gets Weird About Her Maternity Outfit
Supreme Court Delivers Big 2nd Amendment Win, Striking Down Restrictive Concealed Carry Law
WATCH: Hearing derails as purple-haired Dem points finger, screams at chair to put DHS chief ‘in his place’
USPS wouldn’t deliver ballots in states that refuse to fork over mail-in voter info under proposed rule
Supreme Court hands Trump two major immigration victories
FBI joins probe into ‘Free Karmelo’ mob that allegedly beat woman while chanting support for killer: police
Watch: Alan Dershowitz Reveals the Sickest Public Part of Bill Gates’ Friendship With Epstein – Says ‘There’s a Smell’ to Gates’ Testimony Prep
Nancy Guthrie ransom notes don’t match suspect’s behavior, profiler says: ‘I don’t believe they’re real’
In his closed-door testimony last month, which was released by the House Intelligence Committee several days ago, Sondland told the committee that he had spoken frequently with Prystaiko and other Ukrainian officials during the period in question.
Sondland is due to testify in the public hearings next week.
Story cited here.
