By Lisa Dejardins

[link removed]


**
HERE'S THE DEAL
IMPEACHMENT EDITION
------------------------------------------------------------
Nov. 8, 2019

While we pore through impeachment inquiry transcripts, in truth this moment feels like the relative calm before an even larger storm of news and action ahead.

What is happening? See our video summary ([link removed]) here. Or keep reading.

Latest transcripts show sharp concern from two top career diplomats
* Democrats released transcripts of testimony from Bill Taylor, U.S. charge d’affaires to Ukraine, and George Kent, who oversees Europe and Eurasia policy at the State Department. Both are longtime diplomats.
* Taylor and Kent testified that a second channel of decision-making about Ukraine rose in late summer, with the influence of partisan figures such as President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani overtaking and even blocking the work of officials and government staff.
* Both relayed that an official with the Office of Management and Budget told them and others that the president had ordered a hold on $390 million in aid that Congress had approved for Ukraine. Both said no one active on Ukraine policy in government understood or supported that decision, and it was seen as sending a dangerous message to the international community about U.S. policy in the region.
* Neither man personally heard the president make orders related to Ukraine aid or requiring Ukraine to launch investigations. Both heard U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland make that connection.

Report: Ukrainian president felt he had to launch investigations to get aid money
* The New York Times ([link removed]) and others reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his staff felt they would not get the millions of dollars in aid money without publicly committing to launch the investigations Trump wanted.
* The outlets report that Zelensky saw the investigations as counter to Ukrainian interests, but nonetheless planned to announce launching them on CNN.
* Days before that scheduled announcement, Congress became aware of the funding hold and it was removed. Zelensky, the outlets report, canceled the announcement.
* This is counter to what Zelensky told reporters in September: that he did not feel pressure.

Public hearings start next week
* At 10 a.m. ET next Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee will begin public hearings as part of its impeachment investigation.
* Wednesday’s witnesses: Bill Taylor ([link removed]) and George Kent ([link removed]) .
* On Friday, the committee will hear from former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch ([link removed]) .

Republicans want new witnesses
* Republicans have until Friday, under impeachment rules ([link removed]) passed by House Democrats, to submit a list of witnesses they would like to appear in public hearings.
* Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told the PBS NewsHour that Republicans would like to request some new witnesses who did not appear in closed session.

Taking two subpoenas off the table, Democrats signal fast track
* House Democrats have withdrawn a subpoena ([link removed]) for National Security Council aide Charles Kupperman, ending a court battle over his testimony.
* Instead, Democrats say they will apply whatever ruling comes from a similar case, which weighs whether former White House counsel Don McGahn must respond to their subpoena.
* House Democrats have also decided not to subpoena Kupperman’s boss, John Bolton. The two men share the same attorney and a Bolton subpoena may have similarly sparked a court battle.
* These moves indicate Democrats want to move on to public hearings and consideration of impeachment itself, rather than push courts for more testimony.

Democrats add one new subpoena - for the acting White House chief of staff
* Late Thursday, House Democrats issued a subpoena for testimony from acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.
* Mulvaney’s office has previously declared he will not testify.
* Democrats have stated that they see such refusal as evidence of obstruction.

Giuliani associate is cooperating with impeachment probe
* A key associate of Rudy Giuliani has told House lawmakers he will cooperate ([link removed]) with the impeachment investigation, as long as it does not conflict with his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
* Lev Parnas worked with Giuliani, President Trump’s personal attorney, in Ukraine, including on tasks for Trump, according to his attorney.
* Parnas is under federal indictment, charged with illegally funneling money from foreign donors to try to influence American politics. He has pleaded not guilty.

Two more witnesses speak behind closed doors
* David Hale, the No. 3 official at the State Department, spoke before the House impeachment panel behind closed doors on Wednesday. He is the highest-ranking career diplomat at State.
* Jennifer Williams, a foreign service officer detailed to work as a Russia/Europe analyst for Vice President Mike Pence, testified before the same panel Thursday. She is the first witness from the vice president’s office to speak to the House impeachment probe.

New Moments and Documents
* READ: Transcript of testimony by George Kent ([link removed]) , who oversees Europe and Eurasian policy at the State Department.
* READ: Transcript of testimony by Bill Taylor, ([link removed]) top U.S. diplomat in Kyiv
* READ: House Democrats’ letter to Republicans ([link removed]) asking for their witness requests

Thank you for reading.

Let us know what you think: Send feedback to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . We really do read all of your comments and questions!
[link removed]
Support Your Local PBS Station ([link removed])

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
For information about Friends of the NewsHour, please contact Alyson Brokenshire, senior director, principal and major gifts:

[email protected] | 703-998-2693
** www.friendsofthenewshour.org ([link removed])

Copyright © 2019 PBS NewsHour All Rights Reserved.
[email protected] | 1(800) 555-5555

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
PBS NewsHour . 3620 S. 27th St . Arlington, VA 22206 . USA