New transcript shows top US diplomat confirmed Ukraine quid pro quo
The House Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs Committees have released the transcript of testimony from Bill Taylor, a top administration official in Ukraine.
A newly released transcript confirms that top U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor told Congress during his closed-door testimony that the Trump administration engaged in a quid pro quo with the Ukrainian government over military aid.
Taylor’s testimony before the House Intelligence, Oversight, and Foreign Affairs committees was released Wednesday afternoon. The testimony provides corroborating evidence that the Trump administration was withholding roughly $400 million in military aid in order to pressure Ukraine to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden.
Taylor said it was “my clear understanding, security assistance money would not come until the President [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the investigation.” He then confirmed that the actions followed the definition of quid pro quo.
Q: So if they don’t do this, they are not going to get that was your understanding?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Are you aware that quid pro quo literally means this for that?
A: I am.
Taylor’s testimony is similar to that of Gordon Sondland’s, a Trump donor and his handpicked ambassador to the European Union. Sondland also linked military aid to Ukraine opening an investigation into Biden.
The House committees leading the impeachment inquiry have now released transcripts of five key witnesses.
Read excerpts of Taylor’s testimony below:
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
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