Good grief, it was always inferred that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff had assembled a ‘star chamber’ proceeding in the HPSCI basement, but after actually reading the transcript of former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch to Schiff’s assembly the bloom is officially off the ruse.
Start by remembering: after the 2018 mid-terms, in preparation for the “impeachment” strategy, HPSCI Chairman Adam Schiff and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler hired Lawfare group members to become House committee staff.
Chairman Schiff hired former SDNY U.S. Attorney Daniel Goldman (link), and Chairman Nadler hired Obama Administration lawyer Norm Eisen and criminal defense attorney Barry Berke (link). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi then hired Douglas Letter as House General Counsel – all are within the Lawfare network.
Why is that important? Because hired Lawfare contractor Daniel Goldman was the inquisitor for the “deposition” of Ms. Yovanovitch. There are no Democrat politicians present other than Chairman Adam Schiff; it’s all staff. This deposition is a political ruse.
Not only was her appearance carefully orchestrated with Chairman Schiff’s staff, but Ms. Yovanovitch brought three lawyers with her to help construct the needs of the committee and protect Yovanovitch’s legal interests. [Transcript pdf available here]
We can only imagine who actually paid for lawyers Lawrence Robbins, Laurie Rubenstein and Rachel Li Wai Suen at the rate of $1,500/hr, per lawyer, ($3,500/hr).
I honestly don’t think Chairman Adam Schiff anticipates anyone actually reading these transcripts; particularly this one.
By design the State Department, nor any official or representative therein, was not allowed to attend the ‘deposition’ to monitor the interests or “equities” of the executive branch.
This might strike readers as a little curious who remember the DOJ and FBI witness interviews of current and former FBI and DOJ staff, where FBI and DOJ lawyers attended testimony and stopped witnesses from answering any question they decided were adverse to the interests of the institutions.
How is it that House hearing rules in 2017 and 2018 did not forbid executive branch FBI and DOJ lawyers, but yet House hearing rules in 2019 block the executive branch?
A curious shift in priority.
Additionally, prior to her appearance before the HPSCI “committee” (staff, lawyers and not politicians) to give her “deposition”, Ms. Yovanovitch, working with committee staff for maximum impact, gave her opening statement to the Washington Post so they could coordinate the media narrative surrounding her appearance. That little surface fact essentially encapsulates the entire purpose for Yovanovitch’s appearance. This is all a constructed political pantomime.
So far to page to page 57, the ambassador didnt seem to know anything, she heard rumors.The Ukrainians wanted inroads to DC to report things and she only pointed to the FBI, obviously they did not trust that, she sought no alternative.pg 35
Page 51 she isnt comfortable using open communications but still quite confused at what was happening around her.
Impeachment deposition: Pompeo and other State leaders ignored pleas to help ambassador amid Giuliani campaign
Seriously… Why the hell was the President’s personal attorney—who was paid half-a-million dollars from undisclosed sources by Lev Parnas, a man with Russian mob connections—covertly undercutting the U.S. State Department, and lobbying to have the official U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine removed?
We may soon find out. Parnas has agreed to comply with his subpoena to testify to House investigators. That’s more than can be said for the four subpoenaed White House staffers who declined to show up Monday in response to their own subpoenas.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign and the RNC have spent $10 million on TV ads like this one—because they have vast amounts of money, no problems telling lies, and know that advertising works.
Pretty much all you need to know about this farcical circus; Yavanovich is allowed to have THREE lawyers to protect her while witnesses those called by Republicans aren’t allowed to bring representation.
Trump can fire any Ambassador he wants.
Why was she ordering surveillance on US citizens?
Nothing but rumors and hearsay… yet positive proof of Biden protecting his son’s money for nothing (or Hillary’s uranium for Clinton Foundation Russian contributions scheme, for that matter) go totally ignored by Democrats.
@Greg: Brother, the president can send anyone to any country for diplomatic or investigating. During the time the President had good cause not to trust the FBI as if the dumb blonde didnt know that.
Thanks for the link nice to know my donation dollars are at work.
Now back to reading the transcript, not what MSDNC opines.
@Deplorable Me:
Page 57 Schiff begins leading the witness, page 63 the “infamous” 7th floor is mentioned.
Pg 68 she admits she knows nothing about the call so we have another hearsay witness.