In an effort to legitimize their impeachment case against President Trump House Democrats on Friday released a cache of text messages from former US envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, following his closed-door testimony on Thursday.
House Republicans who were in the meeting say Volker’s testimony undercuts House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) impeachment efforts. According to Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Volker made “crystal clear” that Trump didn’t pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. Zeldin has called for the transcript of the interview to be made public as soon as possible.
“I really believe it is in the best interest of the American public to have maximum transparency,” said Zeldin, adding “I really believe that releasing the transcript as quickly as possible, allowing the American public to both read every question asked as well as every answer given is better than hearing from some third party.”
Ohio Republican Michael Turner, an Intelligence Committee member, said he does “not believe that Volker’s testimony advanced Schiff’s impeachment agenda.”
“The facts we learned today undercut the salacious narrative that [House Intelligence Chairman] Adam Schiff is using to sell his impeachment ambitions,” said Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) said in a joint statement following Volker’s deposition. “We hope the American people get to read the transcript of today’s testimony and see the truth.”
So, faced with testimony that apparently damages the impeachment narrative - the left has instead pounced on text messages that the MSM breathlessly reports are ‘damning,’ and which they say shows Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani running a ‘shadow shakedown’ in Ukraine.
The ‘gotcha’ is a text from US diplomat to Ukraine William Taylor, who said in a Sept. 9 text message to US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland: “I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”
To which Sondland replies “Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions. The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo’s of any kind,” adding “I suggest we stop the back and forth by text.”
Two more texts from the batch released by House Democrats would indicate that there are things that weren't put in writing. And that career diplomat Bill Taylor is uncomfortable with how the situation with a Trump meeting/Ukraine funding has been unfolding. pic.twitter.com/9ynmHDidIL
— Tamara Keith (@tamarakeithNPR) October 4, 2019
So - the left’s argument here hinges on a diplomat’s opinion about a quid pro quo, which another diplomat shoots down.
The second argument, proffered by NBC News, is that Giuliani ran a ‘shadow shakedown’ of Ukraine.
According to Democrat Rep. Eric ‘let’s nuke gun owners’ Swalwell “We saw further evidence that there was a shadow shakedown going on, and that the lead, the lead deputy for the president was Rudy Giuliani. You had an experienced diplomat working for free, special envoy Mr. Volker, who, in many ways, was a front for work that was being done on the side parallel to his efforts by Rudy Giuliani.”
Let’s see the transcripts…
via zerohedge
From B. Sanders to M. Waters to J. Pelosi and on down the line to bitch Clinton: the demoncrat party is a disgrace to America. They are guilty of everything they are accusing Trump of. As far as I am concerned it is a shame that Sanders walked out of the hospital instead of being carried out and I wish the other names mentioned would follow closely behind him. To HELL with all of them.
What we are all seeing is what the face of desperation looks like! The demoncrats are running out of time and ammunition in their treasonous quest to take down the duly elected POTUS Donald Trump. They are reduced to grasping at straws, in a vain attempt to destroy a Presidency and thereby preserve their own careers. When all is said and done, the dems are going to fall hard!! I can’t wait.
Everyone knew when the rats called Volker that they would hide, or redact it too make Trump RESIGN. A major coup is coming. I do pray that our PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ALL STAY VERY VIGILANT. WHAT THE LEFT IS DOING NOW IS INSANE AND THEY HAVE NO SOULS. BEING VINDICTIVE PARASITES THEY ARE EXTREMELY CAPABLE OF ANYTHING.
It’s all playing out perfectly. We pray that Pres. Trump gets the rest he needs to put up with these treasonous bastards trying to illegally assault the executive branch of our government. They are out of control because their lies, corruption, graft and crimes are being exposed. Their allies, the MSM, continue to hide the truth, and as CNN goes under, and new media organizations dedicated to truth rise up, America is changing from the ground up. The old guard who has made their fortunes by controlling all power in America must go. The old guard failed to protect America, and gave away the future of the Millennials and Generation Z to gain and hold their power. They must be made to pay back the ill gotten gains. Sanctions are in order. Drain the Swamp. Eliminate most of the FBI. Delete the CIA. Force the DOJ to protect America. Thanks, Pres. Trump!!!!! We are with you!!!!
Every time the demonrats think they have the upper hand, Trump comes out clean. They thought and promoted Volker’s testimony as “the bee’s knees”, and were dumbfounded when he negated their media whore’s tabulations. The media reported on selected quotes, but the whole thing came out in the hearing; which amounted to a big fat nothing-burger.
Adam-leaky-liar-Schiff-ty is one of the dumbest demonrats there ever was. Wonder why Pill-osi chose him over Nads-handler? Nads-handler was on the impeachment trail, defending the demonrat’s hold on their money-making empire, destroying anyone Trump ever talked to . . . was he taking too long?
I guess Schiff-ty is a liability because there isn’t a microphone he doesn’t love, or a camera he hasn’t lied to. Either he’s too stupid for the good of the party, or he actually has done something illegal that might damage the party.
Wonder who else he will call to further Trump’s innocence?
The Dems are just disgusting liars and thieves. I pray they get whats coming to them. ( And Rinos Too)