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Connolly, a Virginia lawmaker, said Kent described Giuliani’s campaign to oust the US ambassador to Ukraine outside of the State Department channels as having “undermined 28 years of US efforts to try to promote the rule of law in Ukraine.”
Kent testified behind closed doors on Tuesday before the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and Ukraine.
Kent told lawmakers in his role as deputy assistant secretary in the European and Eurasian Bureau, he was responsible for six countries, including Ukraine.
Connolly said that Kent testified when he was given a warning to lie low, he took time off he had already scheduled to attend his daughter’s wedding and then go hiking in Maine.
When he returned, he said, he focused on the other countries.
Connolly said Kent testified that Trump removed Yovanovitch after he heard the false narrative being echoed by Giuliani and his associates that was critical of the ambassador.
After the meeting, Connolly said the three officials conveyed to the Ukrainian President that they were handling Ukraine policy.
Connolly told reporters that Volker called Sondland, Perry and Volker the “three amigos.”
Sondland, who has been subpoenaed, is expected to testify Thursday.
Republicans once again accused Democrats of running an impeachment investigation that was unfair to the US President, charging they were selectively leaking information to fit their narrative and should release transcripts of the interviews.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, specifically criticized Connolly for speaking to reporters about Kent’s interview.
“He was barely there, and he walks out and he starts telling the public of what substantively happened behind closed doors,” Zeldin said. “This is a disgusting strategy that has been on display.”
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, who is leading the impeachment investigation, told reporters Tuesday that they have made “dramatic progress in answering some of the questions” surrounding the call. But the California President also criticized the State Department, charging that witnesses had provided documents to State that were not being turned over to Congress.
“We know from the additional witnesses who have come forward that there are additional documents that they have provided the State Department but have not been given to Congress,” Schiff said. “And so the evidence of obstruction of Congress continues to mount.”
This story has been updated with additional developments Tuesday.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Alex Rogers, Haley Byrd and Clare Foran contributed to this report.
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