HERE'S THE DEAL
IMPEACHMENT EDITION

Four witnesses down, five to go this week. Let’s get right into what’s happened so far:

Volker admits he missed how the president saw Burisma, Biden

• In public testimony today, former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker told lawmakers that he was wrong to assume that references by the president and others to a “Burisma investigation” were about fighting corruption in general. He now realizes it was about investigating former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board at Burisma. 
• He said he did not think it is appropriate to ask a foreign government to investigate a political foe, as the president did. 
• But Volker also testified that he did not think there was a requirement, or quid pro quo, that Ukraine announce investigations in order to get military aid or a White House meeting it was pursuing. He called the connection a “nuance” aimed at building trust with President Trump.

Pence staffers offer different views of Trump-Zelensky call

• Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg is the national security adviser to Vice President Pence and listened to the July 25 call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
• Kellogg released a statement yesterday saying “he heard nothing wrong or improper” and “has no concerns.”
• Earlier in the day, Jennifer Williams, who works on Kellogg’s staff and also was on the call, testified before Congress that she thought the call was unusual and inappropriate.
• Williams said that she felt it was unusual for the president to raise a domestic concern - the investigation of the Biden family. She also said she felt it was political, because former Vice President Biden is a “political opponent of the president.”

Morrison says call wasn’t illegal, but also wouldn’t recommend it

• Tim Morrison was a top staffer for Russia and European policy on the National Security Council staff.  He left the job October 31.
• Yesterday he added to his previous testimony about the Trump-Zelensky call, which he had told lawmakers he didn’t see as “illegal.”  Asked yesterday if he thought it was “appropriate,” Morrison testified that he would not recommend that kind of interaction. 

Vindman becomes central point of praise, attacks

• Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is an active duty Army officer who is currently working on the National Security Council staff, focused on Ukraine. He raised repeated, serious concerns about the Trump-Zelensky call.

• Democrats praised his career and willingness to challenge the president’s words. Republicans attacked Vindman’s credibility and pushed him to reveal the identity of the intelligence community staffer with whom he spoke. 

• Specifically, Republicans questioned Vindman’s decision to wear his Army uniform to the hearing and his request to be called by his military title. Vindman responded that he wanted to defend his service and loyalty to the country after political and social media attacks on his reputation.

• Republicans also asked if Vindman leaked information to reporters and if he knew the identity of the whistleblower who raised the original Ukraine complaint. Vindman insisted he has never leaked. He said he did not know the identity of the whistleblower, but also  refused to answer questions that Democrats said could have exposed the whistleblower’s identity.

• Democrats praised Vindman’s career and also his family story, with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., accusing Republicans of trying to smear him based on his immigrant past.