WASHINGTON — The first hearing on impeachment in Washington confirms everything, says your Democrat Congressman Andre Carson.
Carson is a member of the House Intelligence Committee, which questioned two witnesses in the impeachment investigation yesterday.
Carson said the testimony by Ukraine Ambassador Bill Taylor and deputy assistant Secretary of State George Kent proves “the President abused his power and compromised our national security in a scheme designed to force the Ukrainian government to investigate a political rival.”
“Through the hearing, it became even clearer how the President and his associates used a White House meeting and hundreds of millions in U.S aid as a bargaining chip for Ukraine, putting our ally in a terrible position,” Carson said in a statement after the hearing.
In his line of questioning during the hearing, Carson pressed Kent on several issues.
“A corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor gave an interview and made claims that the ambassador provided officials with a ‘Do Not Prosecute’ list. Sir, do you have any reason to believe this is true,” Carson asked.
“I have every reason to believe this is not true,” Kent replied.
“Some in Ukraine probably disliked her (former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch) efforts to help Ukraine root out corruption is that correct,” asked Carson.
“As I mentioned in my testimony,” Kent replied. “You can’t promote principled anti-corruption action without pissing off corrupt people,” Kent replied.
“Some of those people helped Giuliani (President Trump’s personal lawyer) smear her did they not,” Carson asked.
“They did,” Kent replied.
Former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch is scheduled to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Friday.
(Photo: Tom Williams/Getty Images)
