Today the former U.S. envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker was dragged in to testify privately before Congress regarding Trump’s alleged ‘quid pro quo’ with the Ukrainian president regarding an investigation into Joe Biden:
FOX NEWS – Former U.S. envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker appeared on Capitol Hill Thursday as one of the first witnesses to go before a congressional body amid the impeachment probe triggered by the whistleblower complaint on President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Volker is participating in a closed-door transcribed interview with members of the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees after the complaint mentioned him as having allegedly played a role in Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s investigations connected to Ukraine. Volker resigned soon after the complaint was made public last week.
Democrats must’ve been hoping this would be a gold mine for impeachment.
But according to multiple Republicans, Volker’s testimony didn’t help Democrats at all:
Talking to reporters outside the hearing, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, praised Volker as “unbelievably knowledgeable about what was going on in Ukraine” and called him a “true professional in our diplomatic corps.”
“But not one thing he said comports with any of the Democrats’ impeachment narrative,” he added. “Not one thing.”
Republicans – including Jordan and Meadows emerged – and told reporters that nothing Volker has said so far advances Schiff’s probe. They refused to get into details as the interview is ongoing
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 3, 2019
Mike Tuner, Republican member on the House Intel Committee agrees:
Turner says in statement: ”It is my strong belief that Volker would not have been involved in nor permitted anything inappropriate, let alone illegal, in his service to our country…. I do not believe that Volker’s testimony advanced Schiff’s impeachment agenda.”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 3, 2019
And another…
An official familiar with the testimony of State Dept. official Kurt Volker describes the testimony as a “setback” for Schiff’s impeachment efforts.
So far, Volker’s testimony “does nothing to advance Chairman Schiff’s theory of the case,” the official says.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 3, 2019
When Democrats were asked about it, they wouldn’t comment at all…
Just asked Schiff about GOP contention that Volker testimony has undercut his probe. He declined to comment but called Trump’s comments today “repugnant,” saying it’s “dangerous” for our elections and “dangerous our security” to invite foreign interference in elections.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 3, 2019
Democratic members who left the briefing, Gerry Connolly and Jamie Raskin, refused to comment
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 3, 2019
Sounds like the interview was a bust for Democrats.
Oh by the way, shifty Schiff also refused to answer questions about his knowledge of the fake whistleblower:
Schiff refused to comment about the whistleblower and whether any one on his staff knows whistleblower identity
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 3, 2019