Presidents Can Fire Who They Want, Aid To Ukraine Under President Trump Increased, And Burisma Was Well Known For Its Corruption

The Facts:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY:

Rep. Adam Schiff and House Democrats will try to convince the public that Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was wrongfully terminated due to a smear campaign.

Importantly, Ambassador Yovanovitch has no relationship to the whistleblower complaint and had left Ukraine on May 20, 2019 before any of the events concerning the impeachment inquiry were alleged to have taken place.

Despite complaints by the Ambassador and Democrats, Presidents can hire and remove ambassadors at their discretion.

In matters of disagreement over policy, Presidents have the authority to overrule their subordinates; Presidents, and not subordinates, set the foreign policy of the United States.

Yovanovitch's deposition again makes clear the United States aid to Ukraine got "stronger" over the past three years and sent a message to Russia and Ukraine that the U.S. supported Ukraine.

Yovanovitch's deposition again highlighted President Trump's concern with rampant corruption in Ukraine and Yovanovitch herself testified that Burisma and its leadership suffered from widespread allegations of corruption.

TODAY, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE MARIE (MASHA) YOVANOVITCH WILL TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE INTELIGENCE COMMITTEE

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff And House Democrats Will Try To Convince The Public That Yovanovitch Was Wrongfully Terminated Due To A Smear Campaign

Today, Former U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch Will Testify In Front Of The House Intelligence Committee. "In a tweet Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said diplomats Bill Taylor and George Kent will testify in an open hearing on Nov. 13. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch will appear on Nov. 15, Schiff said." ( CNBC , 11/06/19)

On November 4, 2019, Adam Schiff Released The Transcript Of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch's Testimony Claiming She Was Forced From Her Position After A Vicious Smear Campaign. "Amb. Yovanovitch is a dedicated American diplomat who was forced from her position after a vicious smear campaign orchestrated by the president's allies. Today, we're releasing her transcript, and that of another committed public servant, Amb. McKinley." ( Twitter , 11/04/19)

Ambassador Yovanovitch Has No Relationship To The Whistleblower Complaint And Had Left Ukraine Before Any Of The Events Concerning The Impeachment Inquiry Were Alleged To Have Taken Place

Ambassador Yovanovitch Arrived In Ukraine On August 22, 2015 And Left Ukraine Permanently On May 20, 2019. YOVANOVITCH: "I arrived in Ukraine on August 22,2015, and I left Ukraine permanently on May 20, 2019." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch Makes Clear That Many Events Including President Trump's July 25th Phone Call With President Zelensky And All The Discussion Surrounding The Phone Call And The Delay Of Aid To Ukraine Happened In The Summer Of 2019. "There are several events that occurred after I was recalled from Ukraine. These include President Trump's July 25th call with President Zelensky; all of the many discussions that have been in the press surrounding that phone call; and any discussion Surrounding the reported delay of security assistance to Ukraine in summer 2019. So that happened after I departed." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

As Yovanovitch Admitted, Presidents Can Hire And Remove Ambassadors At Their Own Discretion

U.S. Ambassadors Serve At The Pleasure Of The President." NPR'S SCOTT SIMON: "U.S. ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, and they represent a particular administration's foreign policy. Wasn't President Trump well within his rights to call back his ambassador from the Ukraine?" ( NPR , 10/05/19)

The President Has The Power To Remove At His Discretion Any Officer Appointed By The Senate. "In the absence of specific legislative provision to the contrary, the President may at his discretion remove an inferior officer whose term is limited by statute,606 or one appointed with the consent of the Senate." ( Legal Information Institute , Accessed 11/14/19)

Concerning Her Removal, Yovanovitch Admitted During Her Deposition That It Was "The President's [Decision] To Make, As We Know." QUESTION: "I think where we were was I had asked you, you were explaining what your reaction to Deputy Secretary Sullivan was?" YOVANOVITCH: "I was upset. And I, you know, I wanted an explanation because this is rather unusual. But he could not offer one beyond the fact that the President had made a decision. And it is the President's to make, as we know." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Despite Repeated Farcical Arguments By Democrats, Presidents Have The Authority To Overrule Their Subordinates And Members Of The State Department Serve At The Pleasure Of The President

Yovanovitch Repeatedly Testified That The State Department Did Not Issue A Statement In Her Support Because Of Fear The President Might "Undermine" The Statement. QUESTION: "I'm sorry, it could be what?" YOVANOVITCH: "It could be undermined." QUESTION: "The statement could be undermined? YOVANOVITCH: "Uh-huh." QUESTION: "By whom?" YOVANOVITCH: "The President." QUESTION: "In what way?" YOVANOVITCH: "Well, a tweet or something. I mean, that was not made specific to me." CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF: "I just want to make sure I'm understanding. The statement you' re talking about, is that the requested statement by the secretary of State?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yeah." SCHIFF: "So you were informed, basically, that the statement was not going to be issued by the Secretary of State because it could be undermined by the President?" MS. YOVANOVITCH: "Yes. No statement was going to be issued, not by the Secretary, not by anybody else." SCHIFF: "Because if the secretary did issue a statement, it might be undermined by the President?" YOVANOVITCH: "Uh-huh." SCHIFF: "Is that a Yes?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yes, that is a Yes." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

The Secretary Of State Is Appointed By The President And Carries Out The President's Foreign Policies Through The State Department. "The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President's foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service, and U.S. Agency for International Development." ( U.S. State Department, Accessed 11/14/19)

The Secretary Of State Is The Head Of The Department Of State. "There shall be at the seat of government an executive department to be known as the 'Department of State,' and a Secretary of State, who shall be the head thereof." ( U.S. State Department, Accessed 11/14/19)

"The Secretary Implements The President's Foreign Policies Worldwide Through The Department And Its Employees." "The Secretary implements the President's foreign policies worldwide through the Department and its employees." ( U.S. State Department , 02/18)

Yovanovitch's Deposition Once Again Makes Clear The Strong Support The President Has For Ukraine

Yovanovitch Testified She Was Encouraged And Satisfied That The Administration Was Doing Enough To Support Ukraine. QUESTION: "Were you satisfied that the administration was doing what was necessary to support Ukraine?" YOVANOVITCH: "In what respect?" QUESTION: "In, you know, helping them deter Russian aggression, helping them with foreign aid, foreign assistance?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yeah." QUESTION: "Was it enough?" YOVANOVITCH: "I think that, you know, I was the ambassador to Ukraine, so you always want more, right? So I think on the nonmilitary side, we actually were sort of at capacity in terms of what the Ukrainian government, Ukrainian civil society could absorb. I think on the other side, on the military security side, I think we were still exploring ways that we could provide additional assistance to Ukraine." QUESTION: "But things were moving in the right direction. Is that a fair statement? Increasing?" YOVANOVITCH: "Certainly in the interagency. And, yes, increasing." QUESTION: "Were you encouraged by that?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yes, I thought that was a positive." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch Said That Because Of "President Trump's Decision To Provide Lethal Weapons" Along With Other Efforts, "Our Policy Actually Got Stronger Over The Last Three Years." YOVANOVITCH: "No. You know, I mean, I was the chief spokesperson for our policy in Ukraine. And I actually felt that in the 3 years that I was there, partly because of my efforts, but also the interagency team, and President Trump's decision to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine, that our policy actually got stronger over the three last years." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch Said That Lethal Weapons Were Important In Sending A Message To Russia And "Also To The Ukrainians That We Support Ukraine." QUESTION: "But ultimately you felt that the lethal weapons were more important?" YOVANOVITCH: "Are you asking for my opinion? QUESTION: "Yes." YOVANOVITCH: "Yes. I felt that it was important, although it was also important, I mean, I think, just to be clear, it's not like we were providing unlimited numbers of Javelins. We were providing a very set amount, and there are a lot fewer Javelins than there are Russian tanks. So it was a symbolic message to Russia and also to the Ukrainians that we support Ukraine." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch: "Every Russian Tanker Knew Those Javelins Were coming To Ukraine Or Maybe Were Already In Ukraine And It Gives Them Pause When They Are Given An Order." YOVANOVITCH: "And it was, I think, you know, every Russian tanker knew that those Javelins were coming to Ukraine or maybe were already in Ukraine and it gives them pause when they are given an order." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch's Testimony Makes Clear The Rampant Corruption Within Ukraine Including The Well Known Corruption Of Burisma

Yovanovitch Testified That It Was Generally Known That Burisma Suffered From Allegations Of Corruption. QUESTION: "Was it the general understanding that Burisma was a company that suffered from allegations of corruption?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yes." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch Testified That The Head Of Burisma Had At Various Times Been Under Investigation. QUESTION: And it's the head of the company? YOVANOVITCH: "Mr. Zlochevsky?" QUESTION: Yes, the former minister. YOVANOVITCH: "What about him?" QUESTION: "That he had at various times been under 'investigation." QUESTION: "Yes." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

In Her Written Testimony, Yovanovitch Said That In Oligarch-Dominated Ukraine, Corruption "Is Not Just Prevalent, It Is The System." QUESTION: "ln your testimony, your written testimony, you said that in oligarch-dominated Ukraine, where corruption 'is not just prevalent, it is the system…" ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

Yovanovitch Also Testified Of President Trump's Deep-Rooted Skepticism About Ukraine's Business Environment And That President Trump Shared This Concern Directly with President Poroshenko In Their First Meeting In The Oval Office. QUESTION: "Were you aware of the President's deep-rooted skepticism about Ukraine's business environment?" YOVANOVITCH: "Yes." QUESTION: "And what did you know about that?" YOVANOVITCH: "That he - I mean, he shared that concern directly with President Poroshenko in their first meeting in the Oval Office." ( Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch Deposition , 10/11/19)

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