“I do not know Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me,” she planned to say, according to the opening statement. AdvertisementIt was two months after her removal that Trump asked Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky for “a favor” during a July 25 telephone conversation, sparking the whistleblower complaint filed weeks later that ultimately led to the impeachment inquiry. Earlier this week, the White House directed Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, not to testify to the same committees. Sondland’s lawyer said Friday that the former Oregon hotelier, who was appointed ambassador after donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, will testify on Thursday. Yovanovitch’s name featured prominently in the indictment in New York of two businessmen who helped Giuliani set up meetings in Ukraine.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 11, 2019 16:09 UTC