In the impeachment proceedings against US President Donald Trump, the Democrats published new documents in the House of Representatives. They are said to further burden Trump in the Ukraine affair.
On Friday, they released WhatsApp messages from Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-born US citizen, a business partner of Trump’s private lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Parnas was in close contact with an adviser to Republican MP Devin Nunes, who sits on the House Secret Service committee. This was announced by committee chairman Adam Schiff in a letter published on Friday evening (local time). Schiff is the House’s leading indictment in impeachment proceedings against Trump, which began formally on Thursday.
The messages come from February to May last year. They are intended to prove that Nunes’ office was aware of Trump’s alleged efforts to urge Ukraine to investigate its democratic rival Joe Biden.
“He knew exactly who we were”
Parnas had made headlines shortly before the official trial against Trump on Thursday with the statement: “President Trump knew exactly what was going on.” Trump in turn stated that he did not know Parnas and had never spoken to him. Parnas then accused the President of lying. “We are not friends,” he told MSNBC. “But he knew exactly who we were.”
Among the materials now published is a photo showing a table with a seat card with Parna’s name next to one with President Trump’s – but no one can be seen on it.
There is also a greeting card on Parnas signed by the President and First Lady Melania Trump, in which the two thank him for his friendship.
Another photo shows Trump and Parnas together, Parnas stretching the thumb of his left hand up. Trump had said on Thursday that there were several such pictures of him with other people from various events. Parnas shows several other photos together with Giuliani.
Content questions
Trump is accused of abuse of office and a congressional handicap in the Ukraine affair. The Democrats accuse Trump of urging Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Selenskyj to investigate his biden, who could challenge him in the November presidential election. As a means of pressure, he is said to have withheld military aid for Kiev.
Trump is said to have illegally hindered the House investigation into the affair by blocking testimony and withholding important documents. The impeachment proceedings against the president began on Thursday with the reading of the indictment and the swearing-in of the senators. As of Tuesday, the process will focus on questions of content.
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Created: 01/18/2020, 09:07 AM
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