Trump's former Russia aide set to give revealing testimony on Giuliani, Sondland
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON Fiona Hill, who was until recently President Donald Trumps top aide on Russia and Europe, plans to tell Congress that Rudy Giuliani and E.U. ambassador Gordon Sondland circumvented the National Security Council and the normal White House process to pursue a shadow policy on Ukraine, a person familiar with her expected testimony told NBC News.
Hills appearance next week before Congress has stoked fear among people close to the president, said a former senior White House official, given her central role overseeing Russia and Ukraine policy throughout most of the Trump administration.
Her plans to testify also pose a key test for whether congressional committees pursuing an impeachment inquiry can obtain testimony from other former officials who have left the administration, given the possibility that the White House may try to assert executive privilege to stop them from testifying.
Hill plans to say that Giuliani and Sondland side-stepped the proper process for accessing Trump on Ukraine issues, the person familiar with her expected testimony said, including circumventing John Bolton, who was Trumps national security adviser until September.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-former-russia-adviser-set-give-testimony-giuliani-sondland-n1064846
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)We do have very legally smart questionnaires.
BigmanPigman
(51,623 posts)I don't trust any of these bastards in DC.
Judi Lynn
(160,598 posts)zanana1
(6,125 posts)They don't have to threaten her with physical harm. They can threaten associates, family and friends.
groundloop
(11,521 posts)If that's the case tRump can certainly deny involvement or knowledge.
I certainly can't believe ANYONE working for tRump lifted a finger without strict instructions since he's a voracious micro-manager, and I can't wait until he's held accountable for his crimes.
BatteriesNotNeeded
(48 posts)If there are tapes that implicate those two stooges, then the orange menace can't circumvent using executive privelege.
tblue37
(65,477 posts)accessing Trump" implies that they accessed him in a way that avoided scrutiny from those who should have been scrutinizing them--and who should actually have been blocking access.
UpInArms
(51,284 posts)A Russia hawk and one of the U.S. governments foremost experts on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hill had wound down her role overseeing Russia and Europe policy at the National Security Council in July shortly before Trumps call with Zelenskiy. So its unclear how much she would know about that call, although she would have had deep knowledge of events leading up to the call.
At the White House, Hill was not viewed as a Trump loyalist, leading those close to Trump to worry that she cant be controlled or pressured not to reveal potentially damaging information about the president, the former senior White House official said.
Bayard
(22,123 posts)That could be the gift that keeps on giving, if corroborated, because he's going to lie to protect his own ass, first and foremost.
BumRushDaShow
(129,317 posts)and if need be, his own family if it gets to that.
Bayard
(22,123 posts)I'm betting Rudy knows way more now than Cohen ever did.
BumRushDaShow
(129,317 posts)Look at Michael Cohen. Under the bus, in jail, and full of secrets. And Cohen probably did more dirt than the Ghoul mainly due to the length of time he was employed.