Volker Testimony Destroys Narrative Of Diplomatic Turmoil Following Ukraine Phone Call

The United States’ former envoy to Ukraine told congressional investigators neither country’s officials were concerned about anything in the July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until a campaign of leaks alleging abuse of power began surfacing in late August. Far from the media-fed narrative of officials being physically shaken by the call, Kurt Volker told lawmakers no one had expressed any concern to him about it, or about later allegations that requests for Ukraine’s help in corruption investigations was improper.

Trump bars envoy’s testimony, escalating impeachment fight

President Donald Trump intensified his fight with Congress Tuesday over the Democrats’ impeachment investigation, as the administration blocked a US diplomat from testifying behind closed doors about the president’s dealings with Ukraine. House committee chairmen said they would subpoena the envoy to force him to appear.

Intel Community Secretly Gutted Requirement Of First-Hand Whistleblower Knowledge

Between May 2018 and August 2019, the intelligence community secretly eliminated a requirement that whistleblowers provide direct, first-hand knowledge of alleged wrongdoings. This raises questions about the intelligence community’s behavior regarding the August submission of a whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump. The new complaint document no longer requires potential whistleblowers who wish to have their concerns expedited to Congress to have direct, first-hand knowledge of the alleged wrongdoing that they are reporting.

Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown

The Senate on Thursday easily passed a stopgap bill to avert an end-of-month shutdown, even as lawmakers signaled bigger spending fights ahead over President Trump’s desired U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Intel chief rejects Ukraine cover-up

An intelligence community whistleblower said Ukrainian officials emerged from a July phone call with President Trump convinced they needed to investigate former Vice President Joseph R. Biden and the Democratic Party in order to get on Mr. Trump’s good side, according to documents made public Thursday.

Trump says U.S. reaches trade deals with Japan, no word on cars

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

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