POOL
Washington DC - 19 November 2019
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Adam Schiff, House Intelligence Committee Chairman:
"Was there any ambiguity about the President's use of the word Biden?
(Vindman: There was not)
It was pretty clear that the president wanted Zelenskiy to commit to investigating the Bidens, was it not?
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert:
"That is correct."
(Schiff: That is one of the favors that you thought should be properly characterized as a demand?)
That is correct.
(Schiff: And there is no ambiguity about that?)
In my mind, there was not."
++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jim Jordan, (R) Ohio:
"And Colonel, you never leaked information?"
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert:
"I never did. Never would. That is that is preposterous that I would do that."
++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jim Jordan, (R) Ohio:
"Your boss had concerns about your judgment, your former boss, Dr. Hill, had concerns about your judgment, your colleagues had concerns about your judgment. And your colleagues felt that there were times when you leaked information. Any idea why they have those impressions Colonel Vindman?"
++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Ukraine Expert:
"Yes, Representative Jordan. I guess I'll start by reading Dr. Hill's own words as she, she attested to in my last evaluation that was dated middle July right before she left. Alex is a top one percent military officer in the best army officer I ever worked with in my 15 years of government service. He's brilliant, unflappable and exercises excellent judgment. So it was exact. I'm sorry. I'm just exemplary during numerous visits and so forth and so on. But I think you get the idea. The date of that was. Yeah. Yeah. Let's see, I'm sorry. July 13th. So, Mr. Jordan, I would say that I can't say what Mr. (Tim)Morrisson. Why, Mr. Morrison questioned my judgment. We had only recently started working together. He's, he didn't he wasn't there very long. And we were just trying to figure out our relationship."
++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. John Ratcliffe, (R) Texas:
"Look, it's bad enough that the Democrats have forbidden White House lawyers from participating in this proceeding. It's hard enough to defend yourself without your lawyers present. But what's even worse is trying to defend yourself against an accusation that keeps changing in the middle of the proceeding. If Democrats accused the president of high crime or impeachable offense, he at least ought to know which one it is. And when Speaker Pelosi says this is all about bribery, she's promised us evidence of bribery that would be compelling and overwhelming. And instead, it's invisible."
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus126945
The credibility of the witnesses is under attack at the House Impeachment hearings Tuesday.
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff making a point there was 'no ambiguity' in the July 25th phone call where President Donald Trump wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to commit to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.
But Republicans turn their focus on discrediting the witnesses and the entire proceedings.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman rejected attacks on his judgment and credibility during the hearings by reading from a glowing performance review he received.
The review came from Fiona Hill, who was his boss on the National Security Council until this summer. She described Vindman as “brilliant” and “unflappable” and a stellar military officer with excellent judgment.
Vindman pulled out a copy of the review and read from it during questioning Tuesday from Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who asked the Army officer why some colleagues have raised questions about his judgment.
While Texas GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe used a foot-tall stack of transcripts to push back against Democrats saying President Trump tried bribing Ukrainian officials.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California has said it was “bribery” when Trump withheld U.S. military aid in hopes Ukraine would agree to investigate his Democratic opponents.
Ratcliffe displayed what he said was 3,500 pages of transcripts from impeachment inquiry interviews with federal officials.
He said the word “bribery” only appeared once. It was in a question one attorney asked about unfounded bribery allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden.
Tuesday’s two witnesses - White House national security advisers Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams - both told Ratcliffe they’ve not used “bribery” to describe Trump’s actions.
The Constitution cites “bribery” as an impeachable offense.
