Former US Ambassador to the Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, described President Donald Trump's statements about her in a telephone conversation with the Ukrainian leader as shocking and threatening. She felt threatened by the statements and feared retaliation, she told members of the House of Representatives.
This is clear from a transcript of her statement, which was published on Monday. The closed-door hearing took place on 11 October and was part of the preliminary investigation into possible impeachment of Trump over the Ukraine affair.
Ambov Yovanovitch is a dedicated American diplomat orchestrated by the president's allies.
Today, we're releasing her transcript, and that of another committed public servant, Amb. McKinley.https: //t.co/1y8beUdeLr
Experienced diplomat Yovanovitch told MEPs in detail how Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others were campaigning to achieve their replacement and destroy their reputation. She was "shocked" when she heard about it in late 2018, Yovanovitch said. The Foreign Ministry did not protect her from these machinations.
Yovanovitch also said in her statement how she sought advice from Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the EU. He told her to praise Trump on Twitter. "He said, 'You know the President, well, you may not know him personally, but you know what kind of things he likes, you know, go out aggressively, and praise or support him.'"
The US government had Yovanovitch early in the spring withdrawn from their ambassador post. Without further explanation she was told that Trump had lost confidence in her, Yovanovitch said. According to her, the State Department told her then that there were security concerns. "It's about your safety, you have to get home right away, you have to take the next plane home."
"Did you feel threatened?" - "Yes."
In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj on July 25, Trump had encouraged his colleagues to investigate, which could harm his political rival Joe Biden. A September White House record of the call showed that Trump had also made disparaging remarks about the ex-ambassador.
"Well, she's going to go through some things," Trump said in a phone conversation about Yovanovitch. When asked, she said, "I did not know what that meant, I was very worried, I still am." When asked if she felt threatened, she replied, "Yes."
Meanwhile, US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff has announced that more transcripts of witness interviews will be released in the coming days. In addition, the panel would soon begin with the public hearing of witnesses.