Democrats Set Rapid Timetable for Trump Impeachment Probe

Photo: ukraine presidential press servi/Shutterstock

House Democrats have settled on a narrow impeachment inquiry into President Trump centered on his campaign to enlist Ukraine to hurt a political rival, a rapid strategy that will produce hearings within a few weeks and build to a possible vote by November.

That plan was put into action immediately on Friday, when a trio of House committees issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for records of interactions between the president and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and the Ukrainian government. The Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees, which had requested the material about three weeks ago, also scheduled depositions starting next week with five State Department officials, including the former ambassador to Ukraine who was ousted earlier this year when she was recalled to Washington.

Kurt Volker stepped down Friday from his post as U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations after drawing scrutiny for his interactions with Mr. Giuliani, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Mr. Volker in July introduced Mr. Giuliani to a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak. He suggested a three-way call the next week, and Mr. Giuliani met with Mr. Yermak in Madrid in August.

The State Department, which has confirmed Mr. Volker introduced Mr. Giuliani to Mr. Yermak but has said Mr. Giuliani was acting in his capacity as a private citizen, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Democrats’ approach to the impeach inquiry involves several committees but puts control into the hands of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and the Intelligence Committee—one of the only panels for which she has handpicked the Democratic members. Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) said Friday that members of his committee would work through the next two weeks, while Congress is officially in recess, and he is planning hearings as soon as next week.

Read the rest from the WSJ HERE.

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