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Deputy White House Counsel Michael Purpura downplayed allegations that President Trump withheld a White House invitation from the new Ukrainian president as leverage to secure investigations into his political rivals. The allegations of a quid pro quo are at the center of the abuse-of-power charge against Trump, and have been supported by witnesses who testified in the House.
But Purpura said this narrative was “nonsense” because Ukraine didn’t announce investigations, and Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
“You are probably wondering, how could the House managers claim that there was a quid pro quo for a meeting with President Trump when the two presidents actually did meet without President Zelensky announcing any investigations?” Purpura asked.
Purpura continued, “Well, the House managers moved the goalposts again. They claimed the meeting could not be just an in-person meeting with President Trump, what it had to be was a meeting at the Oval Office and in the White House. That’s nonsense.”
But this argument glosses over the differences between a short meeting at the UN and the symbolic value of a White House visit.
Remember: Some witnesses testified in the House inquiry that Zelensky wanted an invitation to the White House because it was important for him to send a signal to the Kremlin, and other adversaries, that his new administration in Ukraine had strong support from the US.
Purpura’s comments ignores several relevant statements from Zelensky himself, who repeatedly told Trump that he wants to visit Washington specifically. This happened in both of their phone calls last year, according to rough transcripts released by the White House. Zelensky even made a joke during their meeting in New York that Trump “forgot” to give him a date for the DC visit.
Trump-Zelensky phone call on April 21, 2019
- TRUMP: When you’re settled in and ready, I’d like to invite you to the White House. We’ll have a lot of things to talk about, but we’re with you all the way.
- ZELENSKY: Well, thank you for the invitation. We accept the invitation and look forward to the visit. Thank you again. The whole team and I are looking forward to that visit.
Trump-Zelensky phone call on July 25, 2019
- ZELENSKY: I also wanted to thank you for your invitation to visit the United States, specifically Washington DC.
Later in the call…
- TRUMP: Whenever you would like to come to the White House. feel free to call. Give us a date and we’ll work that. out. I look forward to seeing you.
- ZELENSKY: Thank you very much. I would be very happy to come and would be happy to meet with you personally and get to know you better.
Trump-Zelensky pool spray on September 25, 2019
- ZELENSKY: And I want to thank you for the invitation to Washington.
- TRUMP: Right.
- ZELENSKY: You invited me. But I think — I’m sorry, but I think you forgot to tell me the date. But I think in the near future.
- TRUMP: They’ll tell you the date.
CNN’s Nicolle Okoren contributed reporting
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