Dorian.,[1] According to Ambassador Taylor's testimony, Vice President Pence reiterated President Trump's views for "Europeans to do more to support Ukraine and that he wanted the Ukrainians to do more to fight corruption."[2]
On September 17, Secretary of State Pompeo had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko.[3] According to a readout from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Secretary Pompeo "affirmed U.S. support for Ukraine as it advances critical reforms to tackle corruption, strengthen the rule of law, and foster an economic environment that promotes competition and investment. The Secretary expressed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."[4]
On September 18, President Zelensky and Vice President Pence spoke by telephone.[5] The two discussed President Zelensky's upcoming meeting with President Trump on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly and Ukraine's effort to address its corruption challenges.[6]
7. The evidence does not establish a linkage between a White House meeting and Ukrainian investigations into President Trump's political rival.
The evidence in the Democrats' impeachment inquiry does not show that a White House meeting was conditioned on Ukraine's willingness to investigate President Trump's political rival. Although the anonymous whistleblower, citing "multiple" secondhand sources, alleged that President Trump sought to withhold a meeting to pressure President Zelensky to "play ball,"[7] publicly available information contradicts the whistleblower's claim. For example, Andrey Yermak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, admitted in an August 2019 New York Times article that he discussed with Mayor Giuliani both meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky and investigations.[8] The Times reported, however, that Yermak and Mayor Giuliani "did not discuss a link between the two."[9]
Other firsthand testimony obtained during the impeachment inquiry supports this finding. For example, Ambassador Volker, the key interlocutor with the Ukrainian government, clearly testified that there was no "linkage" between a White House meeting and Ukrainian actions to investigate President Trump's political rival. He explained:
Q. Did the President ever withhold a meeting with President Zelensky until the Ukrainians committed to investigating those allegations?
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 130; Taylor deposition, supra note 47, at 35.
- ↑ Taylor deposition, supra note 47, at 35.
- ↑ U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko (Sept. 17, 2019), https://ua.usembassy.gov/secretary-michael-r-pompeos-call-with-ukrainian-foreignminister-vadym-prystayko/.
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ The White House, Readout of Vice President Mike Pence's Phone Call with President of Ukraine (Sept. 18, 2019).
- ↑ Id.; see also Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 317-18.
- ↑ Whistleblower letter, supra note 85, at 7.
- ↑ Kenneth P. Vogel & Andrew E. Kramer, Giuliani renews push for Ukraine to investigate Trump's political opponents, N.Y. Times, Aug. 21, 2019.
- ↑ Id.
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