-Good morning, everyone.
This is the second in a series of public hearings
the committee will be holding as part of
the House's impeachment inquiry.
It is no coincide that in the now-infamous July
25th call with Zelensky, Donald Trump
brings up a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor and praises him.
Against all evidence, Trump claims
that this former prosecutor general
was "very good, and he was shut down,
and that's really unfair."
But the woman known for fighting corruption,
his own former ambassador,
the woman ruthlessly smeared and driven from her post,
the President does nothing but disparage.
-I think it's important that I read this into the record
so that there's no confusion over this first phone call
that occurred on April 21st with President-elect Zelensky,
and I'd like to read it.
The President --
"I'd like to congratulate you on a job well-done
and congratulations on a fantastic election."
Zelensky -- "Good to hear from you.
Thank you so very much.
It's nice to hear from you."
-Ukrainians who prefer to play by the old,
corrupt rules sought to remove me.
What continues to amaze me is that they found Americans
willing to partner with them,
and, working together, they apparently succeeded
in orchestrating the removal of a US ambassador.
-Were you aware that President Trump
had specifically made reference to you in that call?
-No.
-What was your reaction to learning that?
-I was shocked, absolutely shocked,
and devastated, frankly.
-What do you mean by devastated? -I was shocked and devastated
that I would feature in a phone call
between two heads of state in such a manner,
where President Trump said that I was "bad news"
to another world leader
and that I would be going through some things.
So, I was -- it was a terrible moment.
-As we sit here testifying,
the President is attacking you on Twitter,
and I'd like to give you a chance to respond.
I'll read part of one of his tweets.
"Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad.
She started off in Somalia. How did that go?"
What would you like to respond to the President's attack
that everywhere you went turned bad?
-Well, I, I mean, I don't think I have such powers,
not in Mogadishu, Somalia, and not in other places.
I actually think that where I've served over the years,
I and others have demonstrably made things better.
-I know Ms Stefanik,
you had a few quick questions for the ambassador.
I yield to you, Ms Stefanik. -Thank you, Mr Nunes.
Ambassador Yovanovitch, thank you for being here today.
-The gentlewoman will suspend -- the gentlewoman will suspend.
-What is the interruption for this time?
It is our time.
-The gentlewoman will suspend. You are not recognized.
Mr Nunes, you are minority counsel.
-I just recognized -- -Under the House Resolution 660,
you are not allowed to yield time except to minority counsel.
-The ranking member yielded time to another member of Congress.
-No, that is not accurate.
-You're gagging the -- -That is accurate.
-He's one of the more influential officials
in the Ukraine, correct?
-He is. -I believe he's one of the few
that spanned both the Poroshenko Administration
and the Zelensky Administration?
-Yes, that's correct.
-Looking back on his comments in hindsight,
do you see how that might create a perception
that a very influential Ukrainian
was advocating against then-candidate Trump?
-That he was doing what? I'm sorry?
-Just advocating -- he was out to get him.
He was -- he said some real nasty things.
-Well, sometimes that happens on social media,
and, you know, are you asking me whether it's appropriate?
Probably not.
While I obviously don't dispute that the President has the right
to withdraw an ambassador at any time,
for any reason, but what I do wonder
is why it was necessary to smear my reputation, also.
-Well, I wasn't asking about that,
but thank you very much, ma'am.
-Do you have any information regarding the President
of the United States accepting any bribes?
-No.
-Do you have any information regarding any criminal activity
that the President of the United States
has been involved with at all?
-No. -The President
praises the corrupt.
He praises the corrupt Lutsenko.
He condemns the just -- you.
And then he asks for an investigation of the Bidens.
There is no camouflaging that corrupt intent.
We are adjourned.
-Mr Speaker, I speak on condition?
-Please allow the witness to leave.
-Mr Chairman, you disparage --
you disparage those members on this side of the aisle.
We should have a chance to respond
to your disparaging remarks.