US diplomat says Donald Trump wanted Ukraine military aid linked to probe of Bidens

WASHINGTON – Allies of President Donald Trump made clear to Ukraine last summer that the release of military aid for the country would be contingent on whether it opened an investigation into an energy company that employed former Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter, a senior diplomat told lawmakers Tuesday in the House impeachment inquiry.

Bill Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine, said in his opening statement, obtained by The Associated Press, that he was "alarmed" by the linking of aid to investigations of Trump's Democratic rival Joe Biden. A source familiar with the statement confirmed its authenticity.

Taylor said the demand was relayed to him by Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a key Trump ally, during a phone call the two had. Sondland discussed Trump's interest in seeing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky make a public announcement about a probe into Burisma, the energy company that employed Hunter Biden as a member of its board of directors. Sondland also said Trump wanted an investigation of a theory about election interference by Ukraine, according to Taylor.

"During that phone call, Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelensky to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. election," Taylor said.

Taylor said it was made clear to him that if Ukraine did not agree to the investigation, there would be a "stalemate" over the nearly $400 million in military aid that Congress had approved for Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russian military aggression.

"I understood the 'stalemate' to mean that Ukraine would not receive the much-needed military assistance," Taylor said. "Ambassador Sondland said that this conversation concluded with President Zelensky agreeing to make a public statement in an interview with CNN."

Democrats on the three House committees investigating Trump's dealings with Ukraine – Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight and Reform – called Taylor's opening statement "explosive" and "a direct line" between Trump's demand for an investigation and the withholding of military aid.

"He drew a very direct line in the series of events he described between President Trump’s decision to withhold funds and refuse a meeting with Zelensky unless there was a public pronouncement by him of investigations of Burisma," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. "I do not know how you would listen to today's testimony by Ambassador Taylor and draw any other conclusion except that the president abused his power."

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and some other members gasped and sighed during Taylor's opening remarks. Lieu said, "In my mind, I kept saying wow, wow, wow." Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., called it "explosive." Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., described it as "juicy." Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., said it was "a code red."

“This is my most disturbing day in Congress so far, very troubling words," said Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., who has held the seat for 10 months.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said the House inquiry may need to "revisit previous witnesses" because Taylor’s testimony shed new light on them. Taylor also appeared to keep notes on his correspondence.

“He referenced personal notes that he keeps,” said Lynch. “You know, I don't want to get into this testimony, but he indicated that he kept extensive notes on all of this.”

But Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said there was "nothing new here, I think." Rep Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, slammed Democrats as "going out and leaking everything," though he did not comment when asked if the leaks were wrong.

Trump has insisted he was justified in urging Ukraine to investigation corruption. His administration has denied a "quid pro quo" that military aid would be released in exchange for the opening of an investigation.

In his statement to the lawmakers, Taylor described two channels of diplomacy between the U.S. and Ukraine, with him in the regular channel and the irregular channel guided by Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, which sought the investigation.

"But once I arrived in Kyiv, I discovered a weird combination of encouraging, confusing and ultimately alarming circumstances," Taylor said.

The State Department had directed Taylor not to appear as scheduled for the deposition because the White House has declared the inquiry illegitimate. But the Intelligence Committee subpoenaed Taylor and he complied, answering questions from Democratic and Republican lawmakers and staffers.

Trump has insisted he was justified in asking Ukraine to investigate corruption.

Sondland told the House inquiry Thursday that Trump had directed diplomats to consult Giuliani on Ukraine policy.

In a July 25 call, Trump asked Zelensky to open an investigation into Hunter Biden and his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, prompting an unnamed whistleblower to file a complaint alleging Trump used the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election.

Mick Mulvaney: Mick Mulvaney acknowledges Trump held up aid to pressure Ukraine, then rows back

In text messages released as part of special envoy Kurt Volker's testimony, Taylor questioned whether military aid was being withheld for political reasons.

"Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?" Taylor asked in a Sept. 1 text message to Volker and Sondland.

"Call me," Sondland texted back.

Taylor raised the issue again in a text Sept. 9. "As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," Taylor said.

Sondland said he called Trump before replying and then passed along the president's assurances. Trump had been "crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind ... I suggest we stop the back and forth by text," Sondland said. He told Taylor to call "S," presumably referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, if he wanted to discuss the matter further.

At an Oct. 17 news briefing, acting White House Chief of staff Mick Mulvaney made statements widely interpreted as saying aid to Ukraine was withheld in part because of Trump's desire for the country to investigate potential corruption regarding U.S. domestic politics.

Impeachment inquiry: Impeachment inquiry: Trump ambassador 'disappointed' with Rudy Giuliani's influence in Ukraine policy

Mulvaney later issued a statement saying his remarks had been misconstrued to "advance a biased and political witch hunt."

"Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election," Mulvaney said in the statement. "The president never told me to withhold any money until the Ukrainians did anything related to the server."

Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen, John Fritze, David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Impeachment: Envoy Bill Taylor says Trump tied Ukraine aid to Biden