Nov 19, 2019

Volker calls Ukraine allegations against Biden "self-serving and not credible"

Axios

Former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker testified in an impeachment hearing Tuesday that allegations against Joe Biden and former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, which were promoted by former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko and spread in the U.S. by Rudy Giuliani, are "self-serving and not credible."

Why it matters: These allegations are now at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, as President Trump and Rudy Giuliani have come under scrutiny for working to push Ukraine to investigate Biden for corruption. Volker, who is one of the witnesses called by Republicans, is one of multiple officials who have testified that the allegations against Biden and Yovanovitch are baseless.

Go deeper: Live updates from Volker and Tim Morrison's testimony

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Axios

Highlights from Kurt Volker's and Tim Morrison’s testimonies

Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.

Former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and former National Security Council Russia adviser Tim Morrison — two witnesses called by Republicans — testified Tuesday afternoon in the second public impeachment hearing of the day.

The big picture: Volker was part of a cadre of officials who worked with Rudy Giuliani to push Ukraine to announce investigations into Trump's political rivals, though he testified Tuesday that he was not aware that the investigation would involve Joe Biden. Morrison testified that EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland informed him that nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine would be released if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the investigations.

Go deeperArrowUpdated Nov 20, 2019
Zachary Basu

Read Kurt Volker's opening statement in the impeachment hearing

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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.

Go deeperArrowNov 19, 2019
Axios

Read Adam Schiff's opening statement in the Volker-Morrison hearing

Photo: Shawn Thew - Pool/Getty Images

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) gave an opening statement Tuesday in the second impeachment hearing of the day, featuring former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker and former National Security Council official Tim Morrison.

The big picture: Schiff pointed out that both witnesses were requested by Republicans on the committee, but he also outlined a number of episodes detailed in both Volker and Morrison's closed-door depositions that could be perceived as damaging to President Trump.

Go deeperArrowNov 19, 2019