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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 15 OcTOber 2019

Ex-National Security Council official testifies to Congress

By MICHAEL BALSAMO and be called before Congress
MARY CLARE JALONICK is the still-anonymous gov-
Associated Press ernment whistleblower who
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fiona touched off the impeach-
Hill, a former top National ment inquiry.
Security Council expert Top Democrats say testi-
on Russia, testified to Con- mony and evidence com-
gress behind closed doors ing in from other witnesses,
Monday, the latest former and even the Republican
Trump administration offi- president himself, are back-
cial to be subpoenaed as ing up the whistleblower's
part of the House impeach- account of what trans-
ment inquiry into President pired during Trump's July 25
Donald Trump. phone call with Zelenskiy.
Hill wouldn't comment as Lawmakers have grown
she arrived on Capitol Hill, deeply concerned about
but the hearing stretched protecting the person from
beyond 10 hours. Her attor- Trump's threats and may
ney said she had received not wish to risk exposing the
a congressional subpoena whistleblower's identity.
and would "comply and Schiff said Sunday that
answer questions" from Democrats "don't need the
lawmakers. She resigned whistleblower, who wasn't
from the White House Na- Former White House advisor on Russia, Fiona Hill, center, leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Mon- on the call, to tell us what
tional Security Council over day, Oct. 14, 2019, after testifying before congressional lawmakers as part of the House impeach- took place on the call."
the summer. ment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Schiff said it "may not be
She was the first White Associated Press necessary" to reveal the
House official to appear as whistleblower's identity
part of the House impeach- a closed-door interview naed Hill. closed-door deposition. as the House gathers evi-
ment inquiry. Her appear- Wednesday, the day af- "She was going to come, Later this week, U.S. am- dence. "Our primary inter-
ance came despite a ter George Kent, another she'd agreed to come, she bassador Gordon Sond- est right now is making sure
White House vow to halt State Department official, was going to come volun- land, Trump's hand-picked that that person is protect-
any and all cooperation is scheduled. It is unclear if tarily but he's going to sub- ambassador to the Euro- ed," he said.
with what it termed the "il- they will appear. poena her, I believe, so he pean Union, is expected But Trump strongly object-
legitimate" impeachment Republicans called on Rep. could ask certain questions to appear for a deposition ed.
probe. The White House did Adam Schiff, the chairman and again keep those se- against the wishes of the "Adam Schiff now doesn't
not immediately respond of the House intelligence cret except for the certain White House, after being seem to want the Whis-
to questions about wheth- committee, to release tran- things he wants to leak," subpoenaed. He's expect- tleblower to testify. NO!"
er they had sought to limit scripts of the depositions to Jordan said. "The tragedy ed to tell Congress that his the Republican president
Hill's testimony. the public. The California here and the crime here is text message reassuring tweeted early Monday.
A former top aide to Secre- Democrat said Sunday that that the American people another envoy that there "We must determine the
tary of State Mike Pompeo having witnesses appear don't get to see what's go- was no quid pro quo in their Whistleblower's identity to
has also been asked to ap- behind closed doors would ing on in these sessions." interactions with Ukraine determine WHY this was
pear for an interview this prevent them from know- The subpoena was issued was based solely on what done to the USA."
week, according to several ing what other witnesses because of attempts by Trump told him, according The impeachment inquiry
officials familiar with the said. the Trump administration to to a person familiar with his is testing the Constitution's
planning. "We want to make sure that direct witnesses not to co- coming testimony. system of checks and bal-
Michael McKinley, a career we meet the needs of the operate with the impeach- Sondland's appearance, ances as the House presses
foreign service officer and investigation and not give ment inquiry and to limit set for Thursday, comes forward with the probe and
Pompeo's de facto chief of the president or his legal the testimony of witnesses, after a cache of text mes- the White House dismisses it
staff, resigned Friday, end- minions the opportunity to an official working on the sages from top envoys pro- as "illegitimate" because
ing a 37-year career, as tailor their testimony and in impeachment inquiry told vided a vivid account of there has been no formal
the impeachment probe some cases fabricate testi- The Associated Press. Hill their work acting as inter- vote of the House to open
turns its focus on the State mony to suit their interests," complied with the sub- mediaries around the time impeachment proceed-
Department in the Ukraine Schiff said on CBS' "Face poena and was answering Trump urged Ukraine's new ings. In calling for a vote,
matter. the Nation." questions from both Demo- president, Volodymr Zelen- the White House is trying
The sources were unauthor- Rep. Jim Jordan, the top crats and Republicans, the skiy, to start investigations to press House Demo-
ized to discuss the planning Republican on the House official said. into a company linked to crats who may be politi-
and granted anonymity. oversight committee, said The official spoke on con- the family of Democratic cally reluctant to put their
House Democrats asked he learned Monday morn- dition of anonymity in or- rival Joe Biden. names formally behind
that McKinley appear for ing that Schiff had subpoe- der to discuss details of the One witness who may not impeachment.q