NATIONWIDE — This is the second week of the public hearings and Tuesday will be the busiest day yet for impeachment hearings as four people are expected to testify, with two of them who have heard the phone call between the two presidents.
- Jennifer Williams listened to phone call between US, Ukrainian presidents
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It will also be the first time that the American public is expecting to hear first-hand testimony regarding that July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, listened to that phone call, and she provided insight into the vice president's dealings with Zelenskiy.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a top expert on Ukraine working in the White House, also listened to the call and said he was concerned by it.
The phone call first came to attention when an anonymous government whistleblower filed a complaint.
In the phone conversation, Trump asked for a "favor," according to an account provided by the White House. He wanted an investigation of Democrats and 2020 rival Joe Biden. Later it was revealed that the administration was also withholding $400 million in military aid from Ukraine.
Republicans argue the money was given to Ukraine without any investigation and there was no quid pro quo.
Trump also wanted Hunter Biden, the former vice president's son, looked into. Hunter Biden sat on the board of the Ukrainian gas company called Burisma while his father was vice president.
In 2014, as vice president, Biden was at the forefront of American diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine's fragile democratic government as it sought to fend off Russian aggression and root out corruption.
President Barack Obama's White House said there was no conflict with Hunter Biden's work for a Ukrainian gas company because the younger Biden was a private citizen.
Impeachment inquiry testimony is expected to stretch from Tuesday through Thursday. Besides Williams, three other people are expected to testify on Tuesday.
Such as:
- The National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
- Vindman had testified he was alarmed by Trump's request to investigate the Bidens.
- Ambassador Kurt Volker, who is a former envoy to the Ukraine.
- Tim Morrison, a White House aide with the National Security Council and who also heard the July phone call. However, said he did not see the president's actions as inappropriate.
Last Friday, former U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testified. The ousted ambassador said to Trump impeachment investigators how she felt threatened upon learning that Trump had allegedly promised Ukraine's leader she was "going to go through some things."
Yovanovitch, asked about the potential effect of a presidential threat on other officials or witnesses, replied, "Well, it’s very intimidating."
Also last week, George Kent, a senior State Department official in charge of Ukraine policy, and Bill Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, testified. Both had previously testified behind closed doors.
They both testified there was a demand from the Trump administration that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden in exchange for receiving $400 million in military aid.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.