“Lebaron didn’t initiate the letter if you read it. He was passing on a demarche from Washington. He was the messenger, nothing more.”
Given the fact then that he was just relaying the opinion of the administration and other higher-ups (and assuming that Lebaron was telling the truth in the August 12 letter)- I’m guessing this is why the Senate (Menendez and others) abruptly cancelled the hearings?
All LeBaron did was write the transmittal letter with the demarche attached. As someone who spent 28 years in the Foreign Service, I can tell you that there is no way that an Ambassador or Charge’ would send such a letter without clearance from Washington and more than likely, the substance was drafted in Washington with interagency clearance and approval, including by the NSC.