"Get rid of it": Trump recorded in a call demanding to fire Ukraine's ambassador
In an audio tape posted on ABC, the president is calling for the removal of Mary Jovanovich, one of the key figures in the affair that gave rise to the impeachment lawsuit against him. The recording, from a talk during a dinner attended by Giuliani's former associate, may bolster Democrats' arguments - if it turns out to be credible
"Get rid of it": Trump recorded in a call demanding to fire Ukraine's ambassador
Photo: Reuters, entries: Shaul AdamUS President Donald Trump called in 2018 to fire the embassy in Ukraine at the time, one of the main figures in the affair that spawned the impeachment proceeding against him - according to an audio tape released Friday on ABC. On the recording, Trump's voice was heard speaking at a small dinner in April of that year with his guests, including Lev Ferns - a former associate of Rudy Giuliani, the president's private lawyer. Frances himself mentioned the conversation in his media appearance last week.
If this is indeed an authentic tape, it will bolster the Democrats' argument that Trump's close associates have been trying for almost a year to remove Ambassador Mary Jovanovic because they saw it as an obstacle in efforts to persuade Kiev to launch an investigation against former Vice President Joe Biden.
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After transferring from office: Ukraine investigates suspected US ambassador for sentencing of Trump's impeachment to Senate; trial expected to open in third as in 2016: "Russian hackers broke into Biden's company" Research revealed that 3.5 million eligible Israelis Content for Portuguese citizenship and European passportValidating the tape will strengthen the Democrats' argument. Trump (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump at a Washington rally. January 24, 2020 (Photo: AP)
"Get rid of her," the same person identified as Trump in the recording sounds. "Get rid of her tomorrow, I don't care. Get rid of her tomorrow. Get rid of her. Okay? Do it."
Trump claims in his defense that he had the right to fire the ambassador, as he did in May 2019. "Every president in our history has had the right to put in his administration the people who support his agenda and policies," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grishham said.
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To the full article"Get rid of her tomorrow, I don't care." Jovanovich (Photo: Reuters)
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Mary Jovanovich testifies to Congress, November 15, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)
Ferns' attorney, Joe Bundy, said his client did not release the recording, but he added that he was glad it was released. "When I read the news, I was particularly pleased to see that everything Frances said about the event was true," said Bundy, referring to the dinner held on April 30, 2018. "This is another example of the fact that Frances's event is backed up with evidence through recordings, emails and messages."
Farnes, a Florida businessman, provided evidence for Democrats trying to convince Republican senators to support Trump's impeachment. He played a major role in Giuliani's plan to locate scandalist information in Ukraine on Biden in Trump's favor. He is on trial for campaign finance offenses in a separate case.
Glad the recording was released. France (Photo: AP)
Heart of France on arrival in New York court ahead of hearing on US President Donald Trump's ouster (Photo: AP)
