Republicans in Congress take the reins in impeachment defense amid damaging testimony for Trump

CNN ^ | Oct. 24, 2019 | Jeremy Herb, Manu Raju, Lauren Fox and Phil Mattingly

[Innovative]

Faced with a barrage of damaging headlines for President Donald Trump stemming from impeachment inquiry testimony, congressional Republicans are beginning to coalesce around a strategy aimed at discrediting key witnesses and taking a more confrontational stance against the Democratic-led impeachment process.

Republicans on Thursday ramped up their skepticism of the testimony delivered by US diplomat Bill Taylor — which undercut White House claims Ukraine aid wasn't tied to an investigation that could help him politically — and the Senate's No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune walked back earlier concerns he expressed about Taylor's opening statement.

Republicans in the Senate have also shown little interest in investigating the frozen Ukraine aid, with two committee chairmen signaling that's not a priority right now.

Congressional Republican lawmakers and aides say they are taking the reins to defend the President in the impeachment inquiry amid mounting fears that the White House is not consistent nor organized enough to lead the President's defense. But their efforts come as the President publicly and privately is pushing congressional Republicans to toughen up their defense of him as the Democratic impeachment process marches forward.

[exDemMom]

Republicans in the Senate have also shown little interest in investigating the frozen Ukraine aid, with two committee chairmen signaling that's not a priority right now.

According to Biden’s confession, the aid was not actually withheld, but *would be* if a certain prosecutor was not fired. Of course, CNN expects its audience to be utterly un- and misinformed to the point where it is incapable of recognizing that the insinuations against Trump are the actions that Joe Biden actually conducted.

[patriotfury]

blank in / blank out -

Now just substitute a tweeked Congressman’s name, and we have the actual story.

[Sacajaweau]

There's absolutely nothing damaging in Taylor's testimony. He went around soliciting people to support his imaginary "quid pro quo". Two of the people he approached even told him to get lost.

I read his 15 page introduction.

He's the whistle blower.

In another vein, the only protection a whistle blower is entitled to is job security. Anonymity is NOT one of those protections.

[enumerated]

“ We are posting CNN articles, because we need to be aware of what they are saying, because many people still get their news from the MSM, including CNN.”

Bull crap.

We already know their lies because we have heard them a million times.

The only reason you post this crap is because you are obsessed with it - you are like the rubberneckers on the freeway - you can’t resist looking at the twenty car pile up because you want to see some blood and guts.

And you are wrong and abetting the enemy, giving them free publicity.

I come to FR to hear the truth - not CNN lies.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Taylor is a member of the Board of Directors of the East Europe Foundation (EEF), Kyiv, Ukraine. IE: Soros organization
https://www.usubc.org/site/past-usubc-events/usubc--quot-roundtable-briefing-quot--with-ambassador-william--bill--taylor---------------executive-vice-president--us-institute-of-peace--usip---washington--dc

[Libloather]

‘They Got Nuthin’’ isn’t exactly a barrage of damaging headlines.

[samtheman]

Just like suppressed voters. Name one!

Just like collusion. Point to any!

Now quid pro quo. Show me the evidence!

[Arkansas Tider]

As much as it would disgust me, we need to go to democratic town halls and ask what have you done to make my life better over the last two years. Fight fire with fire, the answers should be very comicle.

[originalbuckeye]

I find it odd that there are HOURS of ‘secret testimony’ every day, but only a line or two ‘leaked’ to hurt Trump. You would think the Left would be able to find more info to spin, out of all that ‘testimony’.

[originalbuckeye]

They check who you are and only allow ‘friendlies’ into their Town Halls. Sometimes some of the ‘friendlies’ ask tough questions, but it’s rare.

[Maris Crane]

What a disgraceful first sentence in this disgusting article.

CNN REALLY IS FAKE NEWS.

[Maris Crane]

All I can say is:

All of those people who TESTIFIED IN SECRET HAD BETTER BE RESSCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
If that does not happen, the hateful dims will swear we are making it up.

RESCECULE ALL OF THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE TESTIFIED.!!!
PUBLICLY!!!

[Robert DeLong]

The damaging fake leaks is more like it.

[Eleutheria5]

Damaging headlines. To CNN it’s one and the same as testimony. Conspiracy Nut Network.

[rockinqsranch]

"Republicans in Congress take the reins in impeachment defense amid damaging testimony lies for Trump"

[Right Wing Assault]

Damaging testimony? Prove it even happened. What are you hiding? Let us see it live on TV.

[jmaroneps37]

Damaging testimony? How does FNN know about it?

[Right Wing Assault]

Bull crap.

You deny this? -> "...many people still get their news from the MSM, including CNN."

[OrioleFan]

Schiff staffer went to Europe on Burissma funded trip to coach Taylor’s testimony. Corruptocrat Democraps.

[Liz]

Republicans on Thursday ramped up their skepticism of the testimony delivered by US diplomat Bill Taylor —
which undercut White House claims Ukraine aid wasn't tied to an investigation that could help him politically —
the Senate's No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune walked back earlier concerns he expressed about Taylor's opening statement.

‌ U.S.‌ ‌Ambassador‌ ‌to‌ ‌Ukraine,‌ ‌ Bill‌ ‌Taylor,‌ ‌a‌ ‌key‌ ‌witness‌ ‌for‌ ‌Democrats‌ ‌pursuing‌ ‌ impeachment‌ ‌
(served‌ ‌for‌ ‌nine‌ ‌years‌ ‌as‌ ‌senior‌ ‌advisor‌ ‌to‌ ‌U.S.-Ukraine‌ ‌Business‌ ‌Council), ‌ ‌which‌ ‌ has‌ ‌co-hosted‌ ‌scores‌ ‌of‌ ‌events‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌Atlantic‌ ‌Council.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌
The‌ ‌Atlantic‌ ‌Council‌ ‌is‌ ‌funded‌ ‌by‌ ‌and‌ ‌works‌ ‌in‌ ‌partnership‌ ‌with‌ ‌Burisma,‌ ‌the‌ ‌natural‌ ‌gas‌ ‌ company‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌center‌ ‌of‌ ‌allegations‌ ‌regarding‌ ‌Joe‌ ‌Biden‌ ‌and‌ ‌his‌ ‌son,‌ ‌Hunter‌ ‌Biden.‌ ‌

First Annual US-Ukraine Business Forum scores VP Joe Biden as keynoter
The first-annual US-Ukraine Business Forum, hosted by the Chamber in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce,
took place July 13, 2015, in Washington. Participants included high-level government and business leaders from both countries.

Moderator: Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Key Speakers:
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine
Penny Pritzker, Obama's U.S. Department of Commerce Secy
Aivaras Abromavicius, Ukraine Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Bruce Andrews, Obama's Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13, 2015 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden addresses a U.S.-Ukraine business forum in Washington, DC. The conference, titled 'U.S.-Ukraine Business Forum: Choices for Growth,' brought together business leaders from the two countries for high-level talks aiming to advance the Ukrainian economy. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

SOURCE https://www.uschamber.com/first-annual-us-ukraine-business-forum