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A2 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 15 January 2020

Democrats release new documents on eve of impeachment trial

By MARY CLARE JALONICK to a statement. Some of
and ERIC TUCKER the materials were made
Associated Press public while others were
WASHINGTON (AP) — marked as sensitive.
House Democrats have Parnas and his business
released a trove of docu- partner, Igor Fruman, both
ments they obtained from U.S. citizens who emigrated
Lev Parnas, a close asso- from the former Soviet bloc,
ciate of President Donald were indicted last year on
Trump's personal lawyer charges of conspiracy,
Rudy Giuliani, including making false statements
a handwritten note that and falsification of records.
mentions asking Ukraine's Prosecutors allege they
president to investigate made outsize campaign
"the Biden case." donations to Republican
The documents show Par- causes after receiving mil-
nas communicating with lions of dollars originating
Giuliani and another at- from Russia. Several of the
torney about the removal documents show Parnas
of Marie Yovanovitch, the communicating with Giu-
former U.S. ambassador to liani and another attorney,
Ukraine. Parnas received Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Victoria Toensing, about
messages from a man Adam Schiff, D-Calif., leaves a lengthy closed-door meeting with the Democratic Caucus at the the removal of Yovano-
named Robert F. Hyde who Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. vitch. Her removal, pushed
appeared to be describ- Associated Press by Trump, was at the center
ing detailed surveillance of of the Democrats' inquiry.
Yovanovitch while she was with Zelenskiy "as personal Yovanovitch testified in the
in Ukraine. Democrats re- counsel to President Trump House impeachment hear-
leased the files Tuesday as and with his knowledge ings that she was the victim
they prepared to send arti- and consent." of a "smear campaign."
cles of impeachment to the Also among the docu- Trump on a July 25 call had
Senate for Trump's trial. The ments is a handwritten note promised Zelenskiy that
documents add new con- on stationery from the Ritz- Yovanovitch was "going to
text to their charges that Carlton Hotel in Vienna that go through some things."
Trump pressured Ukraine to says "get Zalensky to An- Roughly two months ear-
investigate Democrats as nonce that the Biden case lier, she had been recalled
he withheld military aid to will be Investigated." Trump from her diplomatic post.
the country. asked Zelenskiy in a July On April 23, the day before
Parnas was in frequent call to investigate his po- Yovanovitch was direct-
communication with Giu- litical rival, Democrat Joe ed to return to the United
liani and with Ukrainian of- Biden, and his son Hunter. States, Giuliani texted Par-
ficials as he worked as an Hunter Biden served on the nas, "He fired her again."
intermediary, the messages board of a gas company Parnas texted back, "I pray
show. Parnas appeared to based in Ukraine. it happens this time I'll call
be pushing unsubstantiat- In a letter outlining the evi- you tomorrow my brother."
ed allegations that Demo- dence, Democrats said Parnas also received mes-
crat Joe Biden and his son, that Parnas' attorney con- sages from Hyde, who re-
Hunter Biden, were some- firmed that Parnas wrote ferred to Yovanovitch as
how engaged in corrup- the notes. a "bitch." Hyde is now run-
tion in Ukraine. The documents — includ- ning for a U.S. House seat in
Among the documents is ing phone records, texts Connecticut.
a screenshot of a previ- and flash drives turned After texting about the am-
ously undisclosed letter over by Parnas — were bassador, Hyde gave Par-
from Giuliani to Ukrainian sent to the House Judiciary nas location updates over
President Volodymir Zelen- Committee by three other the course of a week. In
skiy dated May 10, 2019, House committees "to be one text, Hyde wrote: "She's
which was before Zelens- included as part of the of- talked to three people. Her
kiy took office. In the letter, ficial record that will be phone is off. Her computer
Giuliani announces himself transmitted to the Senate is off." He said she was un-
as Trump's personal lawyer along with the Articles of der heavy security and "we
and requests a meeting Impeachment," according have a person inside."q