Newly Revealed Trump Administration Texts On Ukraine Appear To Show Clear Quid Pro Quos

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
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My how things are unraveling!!


Newly released text messages sent by senior Trump administration officials appear to show clear instances of the White House brazenly pressuring Ukraine for political favors in exchange for cooperation from the U.S. government.


The texts were released late Thursday by the chairs of three House committees, who wrote in a letter to colleagues that they had “grave concerns” after speaking with State Department officials as part of the chamber’s unfolding impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump’s July 25 call with the leader of Ukraine. The three chairs wrote that the shocking texts were “only a subset of the full body of materials” that had been obtained, the entirety of which they planned to release in the coming days.


(Read the full document at the bottom of this article.)


The text message were largely sent by Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, and Kurt Volker, who was until last month the State Department’s special envoy to Ukraine, to Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.


In one instance that appears to be an overt quid pro quo, Volker texted Yermak just hours before the two presidents were set to speak. In the message, Volker said the White House would work to “nail down the date for [a] visit to Washington” but only on the assumption that “President Z convinces trump he will investigate/‘get to the bottom of what happened’ in 2016.”


Trump’s July 25 call with Zelensky has become the flashpoint for a Democratic impeachment inquiry after a reconstruction of the call showed multiple instances of Trump pressuring his counterpart to investigate a prime political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son Hunter. -- there`s more to this article....
 

woolfe9998

Lifer
Apr 8, 2013
16,242
14,243
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Yup, the Ukrainians actually drafted a declaration stating that they would start an investigation.
 

dawp

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
11,347
2,710
136
so far it looks like the whole front end of this admin is in it up to their eyeballs, trump, pence, barr, pompous, and rudy for good measure
 
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UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,554
10,234
136
The hilarious thing (which I’m not sure that I fully believe) is that Sondland and Volker are claiming they drew up all these plans just to “pacify” the President and didn’t expect it to go anywhere. “Pacify” was their word, not mine. I think that could just be some CYA baloney, but lends credence to the theory that Trump is a big baby throwing temper tantrums who wields too much power to just be disobeyed or ignored.
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
12,031
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[9/9/19, 12:47:11 AM] Bill Taylor: As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.
[9/9/19, 5: 19:35 AM] Gordon Sondland: Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intentions. The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind. The President is trying to evaluate whether Ukraine is truly going to adopt the transparency and reforms that President Zelensky promised during his campaign I suggest we stop the back and forth by text If you still have concerns I recommend you give Lisa Kenna or Sa call to discuss them directly. Thanks.

Seems Bill Taylor is calling it as he sees it and the other guy wants to be sure not to leave text.
 
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pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,487
5,697
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Seems Bill Taylor is calling it as he sees it and the other guy wants to be sure not to leave text.

That text is hilarious.
I can't count how many Gordon Sondlan messages I have sent in response to the various Bill Taylors I've dealt with over the years.I persdonally would have left off the " I suggest we stop the back and forth by text " part and ended it with the "If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Lisa Kenna or Sa"

Usually the Bill Taylors of the world "take the hint".
 

sportage

Lifer
Feb 1, 2008
11,492
3,163
136
I don't like the word "Appear" in the title.
Words like that are where Trump always finds his way out.
His escape plan.
The Fox News taking point.

No matter the reporting... if the reporting includes the word or words "appear", appears", "may have", "possibly", "could have", "most likely", "could have maybe possibly", or... the worst word of them all "IF", then whatever that news it will be forgotten and ignored.
I.e. Donald Trump shot and killed Nancy Pelosi with a gun on 5th avenue "if" we find witnesses willing to talk.
So they can't, Nancy dies, and Trump claims FAKE NEWS, and it ends there..... as always.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,685
136
Yup, the Ukrainians actually drafted a declaration stating that they would start an investigation.

I mean, sure, why not, right? They already know there's nothing there so they'll humor Trump, give him the old okey-dokey to get the aid money. I'd expect minimal investigative effort, if any. The head of Burisma has already been cleared & is back home in Ukraine living the good life regardless of what might have happened under the Yanukovych regime. Shee-it, Sherlock. Hunter Biden was appointed to the board after all that happened, anyway, in an effort to bolster the company image & attract Capital.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
25,993
12,252
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I mean, sure, why not, right? They already know there's nothing there so they'll humor Trump, give him the old okey-dokey to get the aid money. I'd expect minimal investigative effort, if any. The head of Burisma has already been cleared & is back home in Ukraine living the good life regardless of what might have happened under the Yanukovych regime. Shee-it, Sherlock. Hunter Biden was appointed to the board after all that happened, anyway, in an effort to bolster the company image & attract Capital.
Them actually doing something is not the point. Mr. reality TV has to have the Ukrainain government agreeing with Trump publicly that the Bidens need to be investigated. You, we, all know he could give 2 shits about corruption. He cares that he's shoving the Ukraine into the Russian sphere, and using government power to effect our next election.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,359
4,640
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Them actually doing something is not the point. Mr. reality TV has to have the Ukrainain government agreeing with Trump publicly that the Bidens need to be investigated. You, we, all know he could give 2 shits about corruption. He cares that he's shoving the Ukraine into the Russian sphere, and using government power to effect our next election.
Right, it is not about anything happening, it is about Trump being able to say that Biden is corrupt and have something, no matter how slim, to point at as proof.
 

sportage

Lifer
Feb 1, 2008
11,492
3,163
136
Well it seems this is all up to the democrats to figure out and impose punishment because republicans aren't going to do ANYTHING.
Republicans wont say anything, wont do anything, they just look the other way kind of like when a pan handler is standing on a street corner asking for money.
The same-o republicans might say a few discouraging words against Trump, but it ends there.
The same-o being Mitt Romney and, well, Mitt Romney. And no one listens to Mitt Romney anymore on either side.
Looks like we'll have to deal with this on 5th avenue. ;)
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
Was there any real doubt about it? Did people really think Trump was worried about corruption? In Ukraine?
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,766
6,335
126
As the Investigation continues, Pelosi should give everyone involved, including Trump, a limited time offer: Resign within 7 days and you will be protected from Federal Prosecution. Maybe in December, tie it in with the Holidays.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,829
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Well, for me the video on network news of Trump and the Ukrainian leader where the latter declares he wasn't under pressure seals it. It's clear to me that he only said that because he had to. It wasn't true at all. He's a small fish in a big pond and Trump is a BIG FISH. Quid pro quo is exactly what it was. Trump's a deal maker, it was one of his deals.
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
26,082
15,533
136
Anyone else notice a dip in post quantity from our resident right wing leaning members?