The whistleblower alleged that President Trump "pressured" President Zelensky to "initiate or continue an investigation into the activities of former Vice President Joseph Biden and his son, Hunter Biden."[1] The call summary, however, shows that President Trump referenced the Bidens only in passing and that the presidents did not discuss the topic substantively.[2]
The whistleblower alleged that President Trump "pressured" President Zelensky to "locate and turn over servers used by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and examined by the U.S. cyber security firm Crowdstrike."[3] The call summary, however, demonstrates that while President Trump mentioned Crowdstrike and "the server," President Trump never made any request that President Zelensky locate or turn over any material.[4]
The whistleblower alleged that President Trump "praised Ukraine's Prosecutor General, Mr. Yuriy Lutsenko, and suggested that Mr. Zelensky might want to keep him in his position."[5] The call summary is not clear about which prosecutor general President Trump is referring to— Ambassador Volker testified he believed President Trump was referring to Lutsenko's predecessor, Viktor Shokin[6]—and President Trump never specifically referenced Lutsenko.[7] President Trump also never suggested or intimated that President Zelensky should "keep [Lutsenko] in his position."[8]
The whistleblower also alleged that T. Ulrich Brechbuhl, Counselor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, listened in on the July 25 phone call.[9] Subsequent reporting, confirmed by a letter sent by Brechbuhl's attorney, indicated that Brechbuhl was not on the call.[10] *** Setting aside the whistleblower's mischaracterization of President Trump's phone call with President Zelensky, the best available evidence shows no coercion, threats, or pressure for Ukraine to investigate the President's political rival for the President's political benefit. The call summary shows no quid pro quo, the initial read-outs relayed no substantive concerns, and both President Zelensky and President Trump have repeatedly said publicly there was no pressure. These facts refute the Democrats' allegations.
- ↑ Whistleblower letter, supra note 85, at 2.
- ↑ Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, supra note 15.
- ↑ Whistleblower letter, supra note 85, at 2.
- ↑ Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, supra note 15, at 3.
- ↑ Whistleblower letter, supra note 85, at 3.
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 355.
- ↑ Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, supra note 15.
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ Whistleblower letter, supra note 85, at 3.
- ↑ Christina Ruffini (@EenaRuffini), Twitter (Sept. 26, 2019, 12:41 p.m.), https://twitter.com/EenaRuffini/status/1177307225024544768; Letter from Ronald Tenpas to Adam Schiff, Chairman, H. Perm. Sel. Comm. on Intelligence (Nov. 5, 2019).
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