Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch Marie YovanovitchGrand jury adds additional counts against Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and and Igor Fruman Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian Powell backs Biden at convention as Democrats rip Trump on security MORE was dismissed after she insisted that Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting CIA found Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden: report Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE's requests for investigations go through official channels, The Associated Press reported Thursday, citing a former diplomat who spoke with Yovanovitch.

The former diplomat told the AP that Yovanovitch was ousted earlier this year from her post after she insisted that a solicitation for Ukrainian officials to join an investigation be relayed based on protocol.

Yovanovitch declined to do "all this offline, personal, informal stuff” and was clear that the government had a formal process to request foreign assistance with probes, the former diplomat told the wire service.

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Yovanovitch was removed from her position in May. She is scheduled to testify Friday before House committees as part of their impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE. Lawmakers are also scrutinizing Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, as part of the probe.

The diplomat's recall was mentioned in the whistleblower complaint that is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. The complaint said that her time in the country was shortened because of allegations made by a former top Ukrainian prosecutor that the State Department later called "an outright fabrication."

The complaint also notes remarks from Giuliani that she was “removed ... because she was part of the efforts against the President.”

Trump, in his July 25 call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also said that Yovanovitch was “bad news,” according to a rough transcript of the call released by the White House.

“The former ambassador from the United States, the woman, was bad news and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news so I just want to let you know that,” he said.

On Thursday, 10 Democratic senators wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE asking for answers on Yovanovitch's ouster.

The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment.