So first it all started with the Whistleblower Complaint.
The complaint is here in full
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/09/77617349 ... -heres-how
1. Abuse of power of the Office of PresidentIn the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. Government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election. This interference includes, among other things, pressuring a foreign country to investigate one of the President's main domestic political rivals. The President's personal lawyer, Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, is a central figure in this effort. Attorney General Barr appears to be involved as well.
Over the past four months, more than half a dozen U.S. officials have informed me of various facts related to this effort.
2. Seeking foreign interference in US 2020 Election (again)
3. There are witnesses to the abuse of power that can corroborate abuse witnessed.
So much has been made of the whistleblower and the fact that he did not witness the alleged abuse.
Its always challenging when established protocols are circumnavigated. They originate to prevent mixed messaging and facilitate transnational communication. Having official channels delivering approved messaging and another messaging that counters the approved narrative, leads to confusion and lack of clarity between states.Over the past four months, more than half a dozen U.S. officials have informed me of various facts related to this effort. The information provided herein was relayed to me in the course of official interagency business.
It is routine for U.S. officials with responsibility for a particular regional or functional portfolio to share such information with one another in order to inform policymaking and analysis.
Trump and a number of Republicans have attempted to undermine the whistleblower, require his identity, raise claims of witch-hunt etc his usual tantrum-like displays, and despite I forget the number now .. of Republican Party members present in the closed door inquiry ... a group of pubs stormed the Inquiry demanding public access ... HOWEVER, now that public hearings are now in progress, these same storming pubs call it a *public spectacle* ____Starting in mid-May, I heard from multiple U.S. officials that they were deeply concerned by what they viewed as Mr. Giuliani's circumvention of national security decision making processes to engage with Ukrainian officials and relay messages back and forth between Kyiv and the President. These officials also told me:
that State Department officials, including Ambassadors Volker and Sondland, had spoken with Mr. Giuliani in an attempt to "contain the damage" to U.S. national security; and
that Ambassadors Volker and Sondland during this time period met with members of the new Ukrainian administration and, in addition to discussing policy matters, sought to help Ukrainian leaders understand and respond to the differing messages they were receiving from official U.S. channels on the one hand, and Mr. Giuliani on the other.
During this same timeframe, multiple U.S. officials told me that the Ukrainian leadership was led to believe that a meeting or phone call between the President and President Zelenskyy would depend on whether Zelenskyy showed willingness to "play ball" on the issues that had been publicly aired by Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Giuliani.
Pretty much damned if you do and damned if you dont... ____
As soon as Ive had the opportunity to get up to speed am interested to see how they are progressing.
Bare in mind this is the first day .. I believe Taylor and one other appeared today ... but cant be sure till I look it up.