The Republicans demanded the public hearing of two key figures in the Ukraine affair. They want in the course of the investigation into a possible impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump on the one hand Hunter Biden as a witness, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. On the other hand, the anonymous whistleblower must also be heard, who had filed a complaint because of a telephone conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj.
This is what the Republicans demanded in a letter from Saturday to Adam Schiff. This leads the investigations of the democrats for a possible impeachment procedure against Trump. For the first time, public hearings of witnesses are planned for next week.
The Democrats accuse Trump of abusing his position so that the Ukrainian government intervenes in his favor in the US election campaign. Trump rejects the allegations and repeatedly speaks of a "witch hunt".
Committee examines request
The Republicans unilaterally refer to the investigations of the Democrats as they criticize that as a minority in the House of Representatives they merely suggest but can not summon witnesses. The highest-ranking Republican Intelligence Committee member, Devin Nunes, wrote that a statement by Hunter Biden would increase transparency in an "opaque and unfair trial." Schiff said that the Intelligence Committee in the House of Representatives is reviewing the request.
Both the whistleblower and Hunter Biden are among the central figures in the Ukraine affair. In the telephone conversation submitted by the anonymous whistle, Trump encouraged head of state Selenskyj to investigate, which could harm his political opponent Joe Biden.
Even Democrats want to listen to whistleblowers
The Republicans want to hear from the whistleblower where he got the information for his complaint. The Democrats also voted to listen to the whistleblower. A few weeks ago, it was said that precautions needed to be taken to protect the identity of the person.
Hunter Biden, on the other hand, is in the spotlight as he worked for the Ukrainian gas company Burisma until last April. Against the gas company was determined at times because of possibly illegal business.
Trump accuses Joe Biden of wanting to protect his son from the Ukrainian judiciary as Vice-President by urging the Attorney General's dismissal. Joe Biden rejects the allegations. He is one of the most promising candidates for the presidential candidacy of the Democrats in the November 2020 election, in which Trump stands for re-election for the Republicans.
more on the subject
Trump wants to publish another telephone protocol
Trump promised to release the minutes of another phone call with the Ukrainian president next week. "Probably" it will be released on Tuesday, said Trump on Saturday at the military airbase Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington. "There has never been a president who has been so transparent," said Trump.
However, it is questionable to what extent this helps the clarification of the Ukraine affair. The telephone conversation that took place in April following the election of Selensky has not played a prominent role in the debate about the President's possible abuse of power. From the disputed conversation at the end of July, a protocol has been published, but the phone call is not verbatim reproduced.