Page 2 - aruba-today-20190921

A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 21 September 2019
Trump, in call, urged Ukraine to investigate Biden's son

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, MI- plaint was based on a se-
CHAEL BALSAMO and LISA ries of events, one of which
MASCARO was a July 25 call between
Associated Press Trump and Ukrainian Presi-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- dent Volodymyr Zelenskiy,
dent Donald Trump urged according to a two people
the new leader of Ukraine familiar with the matter. The
this summer to investigate people were not autho-
the son of former Vice Pres- rized to discuss the issue by
ident Joe Biden, a person name and were granted
familiar with the matter said anonymity.
Friday. Democrats con- Trump, in that call, urged
demned what they saw Zelenskiy to probe the ac-
as a clear effort to dam- tivities of potential Demo-
age a political rival, now cratic rival Biden's son
at the heart of an explosive Hunter, who worked for a
whistleblower complaint Ukrainian gas company,
against Trump. according to one of the
It was the latest revelation people, who was briefed
in an escalating contro- on the call. Trump did not
versy that has created a raise the issue of U.S. aid to
showdown between con- Ukraine, indicating there
gressional Democrats and was not an explicit quid pro
the Trump administration, quo, according to the per- President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in
which has refused to turn son. the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, Washington.
over the formal complaint Biden reacted strongly late Associated Press
by a national security of- Friday, saying that if the re-
ficial or even describe its ports are true, "then there is The government's intelli- of the United Nations next During a rambling interview
contents. truly no bottom to President gence inspector general week. The Wall Street Jour- Thursday on CNN, Giuliani
Trump defended himself Trump's willingness to abuse has described the whistle- nal first reported that Trump was asked whether he
Friday against the intelli- his power and abase our blower's Aug. 12 complaint pressed Zelenskiy about had asked Ukraine to look
gence official's complaint, country." He said Trump as "serious" and "urgent." Biden. into Biden. He initially said,
angrily declaring it came should release the tran- But Trump dismissed it all The standoff with Congress "No, actually I didn't," but
from a "partisan whistle- script of his July phone con- Friday, insisting "it's noth- raises fresh questions about seconds later he said, "Of
blower," though he also versation with Zelenskiy "so ing." He scolded reporters the extent to which Trump's course I did."
said he didn't know who that the American people for asking about it and said appointees are protecting Giuliani has spent months
had made it. The com- can judge for themselves." it was "just another political the Republican president trying to drum up poten-
hack job." from oversight and, spe- tially damaging evidence
"I have conversations with cifically, whether his new about Biden's ties to
many leaders. It's always acting director of national Ukraine. He told CNN that
appropriate. Always ap- intelligence, Joseph Magu- Trump was unaware of his
propriate," Trump said. "At ire, is working with the Jus- actions.
the highest level always tice Department to shield "I did what I did on my own,"
appropriate. And anything the president. he said. "I told him about it
I do, I fight for this country." Democrats say the admin- afterward.
Trump, who took questions istration is legally required Still later, Giuliani tweet-
in the Oval Office along- to give Congress access ed, "A President telling a
side Australian Prime Min- to the whistleblower's com- Pres-elect of a well known
ister Scott Morrison, whom plaint, and Rep. Adam corrupt country he bet-
he was hosting for a state Schiff of California has said ter investigate corruption
visit, was asked if he knew he will go to court in an ef- that affects US is doing
if the whistleblower's com- fort to get it if necessary. his job." Democrats have
plaint centered on his July The intelligence commu- contended that Trump, in
25 phone call with Ukrai- nity's inspector general the aftermath of special
nian President Zelenskiy. said the matter involves the counsel Robert Mueller's
The president responded, "most significant" responsi- Russia investigation, may
"I really don't know," but bilities of intelligence lead- have asked for foreign as-
he continued to insist any ership. sistance in his upcoming re-
phone call he made with a House Democrats also are election bid.
head of state was "perfect- fighting the administration Trump further stoked those
ly fine and respectful." for access to witnesses and concerns earlier this year in
Trump was asked Friday if documents in impeach- an interview when he sug-
he brought up Biden in the ment probes. gested he would be open
call with Zelenskiy, and he In the whistleblower case, to receiving foreign help.
answered, "It doesn't mat- lawmakers are looking The inspector general ap-
ter what I discussed." But into whether Trump law- peared before the House
then he used the moment yer Rudy Giuliani traveled intelligence committee be-
to urge the media "to look to Ukraine to pressure the hind closed doors Thursday
into" Biden's background government to aid the but declined, under admin-
with Ukraine. president's reelection effort istration orders, to reveal to
Trump and Zelenskiy are by investigating the activi- members the substance of
to meet on the sidelines ties of Biden's son. the complaint.q