Last week, I returned to Washington for committee hearings and votes, however, few committees met. Nearly all attention was on the grilling of three individuals forced to testify at the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment hearings. These individuals were not on the Ukraine call in question, did not have a conversation with President Trump and were not direct witnesses of conversations with President Trump on aid to Ukraine.
Actually, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch stated in her deposition that President Trump’s policy toward Ukraine was stronger and more effective than the policy under President Obama. Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent testified that he, too, raised concerns about Hunter Biden being on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, being a possible conflict of interest.
Kent further testified that officials had strong assumptions that Burisma founder, Mykola Zlochevsky, had stolen money and a Ukrainian prosecutor had taken a bribe to close the case. During Wednesday’s hearing, Mr. Kent stated, “I think since U.S. taxpayer dollars are wasted, I would love to see the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office find who the corrupt prosecutor was that took the bribe and how much was paid.” Ambassador Bill Taylor testified that corruption in Ukraine has been a systemic, pervasive issue for many years.
Neither of these witnesses were willing to say they believed anything in the July 25 phone call between President Trump and President Zelensky was impeachable. In fact, they confirmed:
1. Ukraine did receive significant aid from the U.S.
2. No investigation into the Biden’s involvement with Burisma took place.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
