Trump releases Ukraine call transcript amid claims he is trying to distract from impeachment testimony
Earlier call makes no mention of fighting corruption despite White House telling reporters it did
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The White House has released the transcript of the president’s first phone call with Ukraine’s leader – a move many will see as an attempt to distract from testimony from a second impeachment witness.
Even before Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee was able to open the session on Capitol Hill, the White House released what it said was a transcript of a conversation Donald Trump had with Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, before the controversial July 25 phone call.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement, Mr Trump had taken the “the unprecedented steps to declassify and release the transcripts of both of his phone calls with president Zelensky so that every American can see he did nothing wrong”, even though administrations often release details of conversations.
Unlike Mr Trump’s phone July 25 phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the transcript of the earlier call, which ranking Republican congressman Devin Nunes read aloud, contained no mention of Joe Biden or his son.
Rather, the 16-minute conversation rather focusses on Mr Zelensky recently electoral victory.
“I have many friends in Ukraine who know you and like you,” Mr Trump tells Mr Zelensky in the call, according to the transcript, in truth a memo based on notes written by national security council staff. “We’ll have a lot of things to talk about, but we’re with you all the way.”
He also mentions onetime ownership of the Miss Universe franchise. “Ukraine was always very well represented,” he added
Yet, neither did the phone conversation contain any reference to fighting corruption, as the later conversation did, albeit that second call raised the issue in regard to Joe Biden and his son.
“This seems notable. There’s no mention of combatting corruption in the first transcript of Trump’s call with Zelensky, despite the White House telling reporters in an April readout that rooting out corruption was discussed,” tweeted CNN’s White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins. “I’ve asked the White House to explain the discrepancy.”
The phone call concluded with Mr Trump saying would like to invite Mr Zelensky to the White House.
“Well, thank you for the invitation. We accept the invitation and look forward to the visit,” Mr Zelensky replied.
Diplomats have testified that the state visit and the release of military aide was dependent on Kiev announcing a probe into the Bidens. Republicans have long alleged the former vice president improperly used his position to fire a prosecutor who represented a threat to his son, something for which there is no evidence,
Democrats launched their impeachment probe after a whistleblower claimed Mr Trump had improperly sought a “quid pro quo” from Mr Zelensky in his July 25 phone call. Mr Trump has denied any wrong doing and described events as a “witch hunt”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments