Poroshenko had authorized an effort to criticize Ambassador Yovanovitch.[1] Ambassador Volker testified that he had no firsthand knowledge of Ambassador Yovanovitch criticizing the President; however, he said that "President Trump would understandably be concerned if that was true because you want to have trust and confidence in your Ambassadors."[2]
Despite recognizing the President's prerogative to dismiss ambassadors, some in the U.S. foreign policy apparatus voiced concerns about Ambassador Yovanovitch's removal. Ambassador McKinley testified that he resigned from the State Department because he believed that it failed to protect its diplomats.[3] However, Ambassador McKinley did not resign when he first learned that Ambassador Yovanovitch had been called home, despite knowing that she had been recalled.[4] He only resigned months later, after the whistleblower's account and the President's comments to President Zelensky about Ambassador Yovanovitch during the July 25 call transcript became public.[5]
Ambassador Yovanovitch testified that her removal from Kyiv had little effect on her career with the State Department. Her post was scheduled to end only a matter of weeks after her recall.[6] Although she had considered extending her tour, a decision had not been officially made.[7] Ambassador Yovanovitch explained that she had been planning to retire following her tour in Ukraine and "[s]o I don't think from a State Department point of view [the recall] has had any effect."[8] The recall also did not affect her compensation.[9] Ambassador Yovanovitch explained that the State Department was helpful in securing her a position with Georgetown University.[10]
4. Ambassador Volker, Ambassador Sondland, and Secretary Perry were all senior U.S. government officers with official interests in Ukraine policy.
Contrary to allegations that President Trump orchestrated a "shadow" foreign policy channel to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival, evidence shows that the U.S. interactions with Ukraine were led by senior U.S. officials. These officials, Ambassador Volker, Ambassador Sondland, and Secretary Perry, had attended President Zelensky's inauguration in May 2019 and all had official interests in U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
Ambassador Volker explained that "we viewed ourselves as having been empowered as a Presidential delegation to go there, meet, make an assessment [of whether President Zelensky was a legitimate anti-corruption reformer], and report" to President Trump.[11] He said that they
- ↑ Kent deposition, supra note 65, at 232.
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 90.
- ↑ McKinley transcribed interview, supra note 423, at 20, 24-25.
- ↑ Id. at 33-34.
- ↑ Id. at 35-36. See also Karen DeYoung, Senior adviser to Pompeo resigns, Wash. Post, Oct. 10, 2019.
- ↑ Yovanovitch deposition, supra note 115, at 114-16, 140.
- ↑ Id. at 22, 114-16, 122.
- ↑ Id. at 139-40.
- ↑ Impeachment Inquiry: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, supra note 4.
- ↑ Yovanovitch deposition, supra note 115, at 139.
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 206.
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