Schiff Staffer’s Meeting With Impeachment Witness Marked Turning Point in Ukraine Controversy

The Epoch Times ^ | October 24, 2019 Updated: October 24, 2019 | IVAN PENTCHOUKOV

[E. Pluribus Unum]

During a weeklong trip to Ukraine in late August, a staff member for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) met with the top U.S. envoy in Kyiv, who is now a key witness in the House Democrat-run impeachment inquiry.

Thomas Eager traveled to Ukraine from Aug. 24 to 31 and met with Chargé d’Affaires William Taylor on Aug. 25, according to a travel disclosure form (pdf) filed with the House of Representatives.

Taylor briefed Eager and other staffers about the “political environment in Ukraine, as well as its relations with various partners, especially the United States,” according to an itinerary composed by the Atlantic Council, which sponsored the trip.

The timing of Eager’s trip lines up with major events that are now the focus of the impeachment inquiry. Lawmakers are investigating, in part, whether President Donald Trump’s request for Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, was connected to a temporary hold placed on military aid to Ukraine.

Three days after Eager met with Taylor, Politico published a story based on a leak that revealed publicly for the first time, that aid to Ukraine was on hold. According to Taylor’s testimony, Ukrainian officials were unaware of the hold until the leak.

“Amazingly, news of the hold did not leak out until August 29,” Taylor told lawmakers, on Oct. 22.

Politico published the story on Aug. 28 and updated it on Aug. 29. The news outlet claims to have received the leak on Aug. 28 from a “senior administration official.” It’s currently unclear whether Taylor was the leaker or had any involvement in the leaking of the information.

The day after Eager departed Ukraine, Taylor wrote a text message explicitly questioning, for the first time, whether the aid and the Ukrainian president’s potential White House visit were...

[lodi90]

Sadly, Graham and the GOP Senate are keeping a lid on this explosive evidence of an ongoing coup against POTUS.

[magua]

I think Matt Gaetz was a tipping point. Matt is now a player.

[bk1000]

By ignoring or suppressing this information they are playing with fire. Trump will not be railroaded, even if the so-called GOP goes along with it. We won’t stand for it.

[rktman]

Impeachement inquiry? Was there a vote in the house and passed that went unreported? Oh. DUH? Dem special rules. How silly of me.

[Liz]

Adam Schiff Staffer Met with Impeachment Witness on Ukraine Trip

Adam Schiff’s signature appears on the required post-travel disclosure form filed with the House Committee on Ethics documenting his staffer's visit to Ukraine. The form signed by Schiff says that Eager’s trip to Ukraine was paid for by the “Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.”

(hat tip yournews.com)

The form bearing Schiff’s signature (above) describes the visit thusly: Series of meetings and visits with gov’t officials, party officials, civil society and private sector reps in Ukraine to learn about ongoing political and military issues, including conflict in the East.

The costs for Eager’s visit listed on the form are $2202.91 for transportation, $985.50 for lodging, and $630.15 for meal expenses.

Speaking to Breitbart News, Gonzalez confirmed that Eager started his one-year fellowship with the organization in January and that Eager is still a fellow. Gonzalez said the pre-planned trip was part of the fellowship program, which also includes a full year of round tables and other educational events. She said it was not within her portfolio to comment on issues of funding from Burisma or other donors.

[semimojo]

The trip to Ukraine was a bunch of House staffers, of both parties, who met with a bunch of Ukranian military, political and media people.

As charge de affairs Taylor briefed the group when they arrived, which makes sense.

The trip had obviously been planned for months and there's no indication anyone met with Taylor alone.

Hard to see much here.

[HotHunt]

[Demanwideplan]

Exactly. Trump is the most formidable President in my lifetime and has the backbone and support to withstand whatever they want to throw at him.