Congresswoman Val Demings Plays Key Role in Impeachment Trial

House Democrats presented their case against President Donald Trump today by laying out the timeline of the President’s alleged effort to force the Ukrainian government to investigate a political rival in exchange for military assistance. Democrats also outlined the significance of Ukraine to America and its allies’ national security.

Florida Representative Val Demings said, “A free and Democratic Ukraine is a shield against Russian aggression in Europe.”

Demings, an Impeachment Manager, explained the increasing significance of American support to Ukraine after 2014 when its citizens revolted against a pro-Russian leader in the Revolution of Dignity. According to Demings, the United States has contributed over a billion dollars in assistance to Ukraine, and European allies have added 18-billion dollars since 2014 to “purchase military services and equipment” made by American companies.

Earlier in the day, Demings and California Representative Zoe Lofgren meticulously connected the dots, pointing out the President’s personal attorney, Rudy Guiliani, acted at Trump’s direction to orchestrate a Ukrainian investigation of Democratic Presidential candidate, former Vice-President Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter.

Democrats charge that the plan was on track until Volodymyr Zelensky won the election in Ukraine and Giuliani did not have relationships with advisers in Zelensky’s “inner circle.” Giuliani allegedly continued with the plan which Democrats say included tarnishing the reputation of the then-Ambassador to Ukraine.

Demings stated, “They conspired for Ambassador Yovanovitch to be removed, and within hours of Mr. Guiliani saying, ‘He prayed Ambassador Yovanovitch would get fired,’ Ambassador Yovanovitch got a frantic phone call to get on the next plane…I think that’s disgraceful.”

She continued, “Even with the removal of Ambassador Yovanovitch, President Zelensky’s election victory threw a wrench into the President’s scheme…Ukrainian officials publicly pushed back. Now, please hear what I said, ‘Ukrainian officials pushed back.’”

As the day of testimony wore on into the evening, Democrats moved to prove that President Trump placed a hold on the aid to Ukraine until Zelensky announced an investigation, calling it “dirt for dollars.”

“It shows the great lengths the President was willing to go to pressure Ukraine to do his political dirty work,” Lofgren said. “He was legally advised to release the money, but he simply didn’t care.

Colorado Representative Jason Crow elaborated on the Latin phrase Americans have come to associate with Mr. Trump’s scheme: quid pro quo.

“Just hours after the call between President Trump and Zelensky, Duffy sent an email to OMB to put a hold on the aid,” Crow said. “It became crystal clear that the only reason for the hold was to put additional pressure on Ukraine.”

“President Trump acted corruptly,” Demings declared. “When it came down to choosing between the national interest of the country and his own personal interest – his reelection—President Trump chose himself.”