Politics

Donald Trump impeachment trial: President accused of ‘ordering removal of US ambassador to Ukraine’ as prosecution opening closes



Donald Trump  has been accused of saying he wanted to get rid of the US ambassador to Ukraine following the emergence of a tape provided to congressional investigators. 

It comes amid the US president’s trial in the Senate, after the House accused him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine to probe Joe Biden while withholding military aid the nation. 

The recording was provided to congressional investigators by Lev Parnas, an associate of Mr Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Mr Parnas was reportedly among a small group speaking with Mr Trump when the recording was made. In the recording, Mr Trump demanded the removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch at an April 2018 dinner at his hotel in Washington, according to ABC News.

The impeachment trial continues in the Senate (REUTERS)

The ambassador’s removal a year later has become an issue in the president’s ongoing impeachment trial.

The recording also appears to contradict the president’s statements that he did not know Mr Parnas, a key figure in the investigation.

A speaker, who appears to be Mr Trump, says on the clip: “Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.”

Mr Parnas and associate Igor Fruman worked with Mr Giuliani on a push to get Ukraine to announce it would investigate former vice president Mr Biden.

On the recording, the two men tell Mr Trump the US ambassador had been insulting him, which leads directly to the apparent remarks by the president.

The White House denied any suggestion of presidential wrongdoing.

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff, walks from the podium as the Democrats finishing presenting their case (AP)

The tape came as Democratic House prosecutors concluded their final arguments on Friday.

They said the president would continue to abuse his position ahead of the 2020 election unless Congress intervenes to remove him from office.

“He is who he is,” Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told senators.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump (AP)

“You cannot leave a man like that in office.

“You know it’s not going to stop. It’s not going to stop unless the Congress does something about it.”

After three days of Democratic presentations before Republican senators, the president’s legal team are expected to start tabling their defence on Saturday morning.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said: “Every president in our history has had the right to place people who support his agenda and his policies within his administration.”

Republicans have defended Mr Trump’s actions as appropriate and are casting the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

The Senate is heading next week towards a pivotal vote on Democratic demands for testimony from top Trump aides, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton who refused to appear before the House.

It would take four Republican senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses, and so far the numbers appear lacking.

“This needs to end,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump confidant. He said he does not want to hear from Mr Bolton or the Bidens.



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