Read Laura Cooper's opening statement in the impeachment hearing

Defense Department official Laura Cooper is testifying Wednesday in the second impeachment hearing of the day.

The big picture: In her opening statement, Cooper testified that she became aware President Trump had ordered a hold on security assistance to Ukraine in July due to his concerns about corruption. She stated that she advocated for a meeting with the president to explain why the aid should go forward, and that she was never offered a reason for why the hold was lifted.