A marathon day of public testimony in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump is over. Filled with plenty of snark from both sides of the aisle, the 11-hour day began with testimony from National Security Council member Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and Vice President Pence's aide Jennifer Williams.
Highlights include:
- Vindman was born in Ukraine and his family fled the former Soviet bloc country when he and his twin brother were three-years old. In his opening statement, Vindman told his father not to worry, adding: "I will be fine for telling the truth." Vindman said his dad made the right decision to come to the U.S., "in search of a better life."
- In his testimony, Vindman said it was improper and inappropriate for President Trump to request Ukraine's president to investigate the Bidens.
- Vindman also testified that he is unaware of any evidence linking Ukraine to interference in the 2016 U.S. election, as has been alleged by Republicans.
- As for Williams, she monitored the July call in which the President asked Ukraine's leader and called it "unusual" since it involved a domestic political matter.
- Later, lawmakers heard from former U.S.-Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker and former National Security Council aide Tim Morrison.
- Volker went back on statements he made in a closed-door meeting, suggesting that hedidhear officials talk about pushing Ukraine to conduct investigations.
- Meantime, Volker expressed concerns about Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's unofficial diplomatic efforts in Ukraine. Volker also stressed that Ukraine's new government had nothing to do with anything that "may have happened in 2016."
Source:C-SPAN