10 things you need to know today: November 7, 2019

Diplomat describes "clear understanding" Ukraine aid hinged on investigations, Democrats schedule public impeachment hearings, and more

Bill Taylor.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

1. Diplomat described 'clear' link of Ukraine aid and investigations

The top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, said in House impeachment inquiry testimony made public Wednesday it was his "clear understanding" that the transfer of military aid to Ukraine was being held up until Kyiv promised to investigate Democrats. Taylor said U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland told him President Trump wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma," where former Vice President Joe Biden's son served on the board, and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He said he and others "sat in astonishment" as a White House budget official said in July that Trump was delaying the military aid. A transcript of Sondland's testimony was released Tuesday indicating he believed the White House had linked the aid to an investigation of Democrats.

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Harold Maass, The Week US

Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.