Trump donor accused of spying on Yovanovitch hands 'everything' to Congress, reports say
Robert Hyde reportedly gives documents to House Foreign Affairs Committee showing exchanges with Rudy Giuliani associate
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.A donor to Donald Trump who was accused of "stalking" the former ambassador to Ukraine at the behest of Rudy Giuliani's associates has provided documents to Congress as it opens its investigation into the ousting of Marie Yovanovitch, a crucial witness in the president's impeachment.
The Daily Beast reports that Robert Hyde, a Republican congressional candidate from Connecticut, gave "everything" he had between himself and Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani who has been indicted for campaign finance violations involving foreign money.
Mr Hyde told the outlet he gave the House Foreign Affairs Committee "everything that I had between Parnas and I". He said the committee wanted to "talk about Parnas and how I know him" and said that "you should look into Parnas. Bad man".
Messages given to House Democrats last month showed Mr Hyde's communication with Mr Parnas suggested that Ms Yovanovitch was under physical surveillance before she was recalled from her post last year, allegedly at Mr Giuliani's urging. Mr Hyde says he was only "joking around" in those messages, and that Ms Yovanovitch was not being stalked.
The ambassador was allegedly an interference in the president's efforts to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky to find politically damaging information on former vice president and political rival Joe Biden, whose son was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.
That scheme was at the heart of the abuse of power charge in Mr Trump's impeachment, which also included an obstruction of Congress charge for the ensuing alleged cover-up.
In a recently released audio recording captured by Mr Parnas, Mr Trump can be heard telling him and Igor Fruman to "get rid of her" and "take her out".
In his 25 July phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, which was at the heart of his impeachment, Mr Trump said of Ms Yovanovitch: "Well, she's going to go through some things."
In the weeks leading up to her departure from Ukraine, Ms Yovanovitch was the target of a smear campaign, partly in coordination with a reporter from Washington website The Hill, intended to discredit the ambassador and legitimise her removal.
Congress continues to investigate Mr Giuliani's efforts despite the president's acquittal in his impeachment trial in the Senate, where Republicans blocked efforts to bring witnesses to the stand or introduce any newly emerged evidence.
After she left Ukraine, Ms Yovanovitch became a senior state department fellow at Georgetown University, then announced her retirement in January. She served as an ambassador in several countries under three presidents before her appointment to Ukraine, where she served from August 2016 until her removal in May 2019.
She gave testimony to the impeachment hearings late last year, receiving a round of applause from observers as she left the chamber.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments