The impeachment hearing has begun, and Rep. Jim Jordan wasted no time in demolishing Schiff’s first witness ex-Ukraine ambassador Bill Taylor.
Jordan took full liberty in using the opportunity to grill Taylor to expose the impeachment inquiry as the witch hunt it really is.
Jordan first established that,
1. Although Taylor met with Ukrainian President Zelensky 3 times after his call with Trump, Taylor never even once heard from Zelensky any mention that aid to the Ukraine was on hold.
2. Zelensky never announced, in public or private, any investigations into the Bidens.
Then, Jordan pointed out the twisted, unclear way Taylor claims he heard Ambassador Sondland admit there was “quid pro quo,” reading out loud this convulted sentence Taylor says gave him so-called “clear understanding”:
Ambassador Taylor recalls that Mr. Morrison told Ambassador Taylor that I told Mr. Morrison that I conveyed this message to Mr. Yermack on Sept 1, 2019 in connection with Vice President Pence’s visit to Warsaw and a meeting with President Zelensky.
After driving home these hard facts, Jordan finished Taylor, utterly, completely tearing him apart,
“This is what I can’t believe, and you’re their star witness. You’re their first witness. You’re the guy. You’re the guy, based on, this based on, I mean, I have seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than!”
Check out Jordan’s take-down of Schiff’s “star witness” Taylor on Twitter:
Here's Jordan's full questioning of Taylor on Youtube, as well:
PBS has more to say about Jordan's examination of the Democrats' first witness:
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan has told the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine that he is “wrong” to have said there was a clear understanding that President Donald Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations of Democrats.
Jordan was questioning William Taylor during the first public hearing in the House impeachment inquiry on Nov. 13. Watch in the player above.
Taylor has said his understanding was based on conversations with other diplomats. But Jordan said the president of Ukraine never announced an investigation and the aid was eventually released.
The Lexington Herald Leader added:
2:15 p.m.
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan has told the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine that he is “wrong” to have said there was a clear understanding that President Donald Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations of Democrats.
Jordan was questioning William Taylor during the first public hearing in the House impeachment inquiry.
Taylor has said his understanding was based on conversations with other diplomats. But Jordan said the president of Ukraine never announced an investigation and the aid was eventually released.
The aid was released in September following an outcry in the U.S. Congress.
Jordan mockingly called Taylor the Democrats’ “star witness” and said he’s “seen church prayer chains that are easier to understand than this.”
Taylor responded that he didn’t consider himself a star witness.
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