fundamentally not true. And so I think, when you talk about overcoming skepticism, that's kind of what I'm talking about, getting these guys out there publicly saying: We are different.[1]
Although subsequent reporting has connoted a connection between "Burisma" and the Bidens,[2] the Democrats' witnesses testified that they did not have that understanding while working with the Ukrainian government about a potential statement. Ambassador Volker explained that "there is an important distinction about Burisma" and that Vice President Biden or Hunter Biden were "never part of the conversation" with the Ukrainians.[3] He also testified that the Ukrainians did not link Burisma to the Bidens: "They never mentioned Biden to me."[4] Ambassador Volker also made clear that following his initial conversation with Mayor Giuliani in May 2019, Mayor Giuliani "never brought up Biden or Bidens with me again. And so when we talked or heard Burisma, I literally meant Burisma and that, not the conflation of that with the Bidens."[5]
Ambassador Sondland testified that he was unaware that "Burisma" may have meant "Biden" until the White House released the July 25th call transcript on September 25.[6] In fact, Ambassador Sondland testified that he recalled no discussions with any State Department or White House official about former Vice President Joe Biden or Hunter Biden.[7] Ambassador Sondland testified that he did not recall Mayor Giuliani ever discussing the Bidens with him.[8] Testimony and text messages reflect that Ambassador Volker, Ambassador Sondland, and Ambassador Taylor communicated about Ukraine's commitment to fight corruption throughout the summer. Ambassador Taylor testified that in a phone conversation on June 27, Ambassador Sondland told him that President Zelensky "needed to make clear to President Trump that he, President Zelensky, was not standing in the way of 'investigations.'"[9] Ambassador Taylor said he did not know to what "investigations" Ambassador Sondland was referring, but that Ambassador Volker "intended to pass that message [to President Zelensky] in Toronto several days later."[10]
In early July, Ambassador Volker explained the dynamic directly to President Zelensky in Toronto, emphasizing the need to demonstrate a commitment to reform. Ambassador Volker testified:
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 71-73.
- ↑ See, e.g., Paul Sonne, Michael Kranish, & Matt Viser, The gas tycoon and the vice president's son: The story of Hunter Biden's foray into Ukraine, Wash. Post, Sept. 28, 2019.
- ↑ Volker transcribed interview, supra note 60, at 73.
- ↑ Id. at 193.
- ↑ Id. at 213.
- ↑ Sondland deposition, supra note 51, at 70.
- ↑ Id. at 33. Ambassador Sondland testified that Burisma was "one of many examples" of Ukrainian corruption. Id. Ambassador Sondland mentioned Naftogaz as another example of Ukrainian corruption and lack of transparency that "[came] up at every conversation." Id. at 71, 99.
- ↑ Id. at 33.
- ↑ Taylor deposition, supra note 47, at 25.
- ↑ Id. at 62-65.
57
