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Ukrainian Foreign Minister: No Link Between Aid And Investigation

Fox News

David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko denied Thursday that United States Ambassador to the European Community Gordon Sondland linked military assistance to Ukraine to any investigation into alleged misconduct by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

President Donald Trump referenced the story during a “Keep America Great” rally in Bossier City, Louisiana as he talked about the opening day of the impeachment hearings.

“Once again, their lies will be exposed, just like the last time.Their schemes are already unraveling. You saw yesterday, when they asked those two Never Trumpers, ‘What exactly do you think you will impeach him for?’ And they stood there and went, like, what? But they are unraveling, and their sinister plans will fail. They have already failed, as far as I’m concerned.”

Then Trump mentioned the story.

“So, as I’m getting out of that beautiful air plane, Air Force One … This just came out. Big story. ‘New remarks from top Ukrainian official damage Democrats’ impeachment narrative.’ Just came out. I only read it because they don’t like to report stories like this,” Trump said, pointing to the media cameras in the distance.(RELATED: House Republicans Release 18-Page Memo Featuring Their Case Against Impeachment)

During questioning Wednesday, Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan suggested there was absolutely no evidence linking aid to any investigation. “President Zelensky didn’t announce he was going to investigate Burisma or the Bidens. He didn’t do a press conference and say I’m going to investigate the Bidens, we are going to investigate Burisma. He didn’t tweet about it … he didn’t do the CNN interview and announce he is going to investigate Burisma or the Bidens. So three face-to-face meetings and it doesn’t come up. No linkage whatsoever.” (RELATED: Trump Supporters Speak Out Against Impeachment)

Ranking Member Devin Nunes (L), Republican of California, speaks with Representative Jim Jordan (R), Republican of Ohio, and Republican Counsel Stephen Castor (C), during the first public hearings held by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as part of the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump, with witnesses Ukrainian Ambassador William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent testifying, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., November 13, 2019. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

Ranking Member Devin Nunes (L), Republican of California, speaks with Representative Jim Jordan (R), Republican of Ohio, and Republican Counsel Stephen Castor (C), during the first public hearings held by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., Nov. 13, 2019. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

The congressman also noted that aid to Ukraine was not withheld despite their being no investigation. “You said you have a clear understanding that those two things were going to happen. The money was going to get released but not until there was an investigation and that, in fact, didn’t happen. So what I’m wondering is, where did you get this clear understanding?”