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Former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker testified Tuesday in the second public impeachment hearing of the day.

Why it matters: Volker was part of a cadre of officials who worked with Rudy Giuliani to push Ukraine to announce investigations into Trump's political rivals, but he maintains that he never believed those investigations to include Joe Biden. In one major change from his closed-door deposition, Volker said in his opening statement that EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland brought up "investigations" in a meeting with Ukrainian officials at the White House.

Read Kurt Volker's opening statement in the impeachment hearing

Volker, the first witness to testify behind closed doors, made at least one major change to his testimony.

Politics

Kurt Volker

Former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker testified Tuesday in the second public impeachment hearing of the day.Why it matters: Volker was part of a cadre of officials who worked with Rudy Giuliani to push Ukraine to announce investigations into Trump&#x27;s political rivals, but he maintains that he never believed those investigations to include Joe Biden. In one major change from his closed-door deposition, Volker said in his opening statement that EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland brought up &quot;investigations&quot; in a meeting with Ukrainian officials at the White House.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Read Kurt Volker's opening statement in the impeachment hearing

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