Last week, Mike Pompeo said he didn't know anything about Trump's Ukraine call
A senior State Department official told The Wall Street Journal on Monday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listened in on President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but during an interview last week, he made it sound like he was in the dark about the entire situation.
While appearing on ABC News' This Week, Pompeo was asked by Martha Raddatz about the whistleblower complaint submitted in response to the phone call, which involved Trump discussing Ukraine opening an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. "What do you know about these conversations?" Raddatz asked.
"So, you just gave me a report about a I.C. whistleblower complaint, none of which I've seen," Pompeo responded, before quickly pivoting to talk about what the Trump administration has done for Ukraine. Raddatz prefaced her next question by saying, "You say you know nothing about this," and then asked Pompeo about Trump's assertion that it was "perfectly fine" to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political opponent. "I think I saw a statement from the Ukrainian foreign minister yesterday, said there was no pressure applied in the course of the conversation," Pompeo said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pompeo went on to say it "wouldn't be appropriate" to release a transcript of the call, but just a few days later, the White House made public a summary of the conversation. Catherine Garcia
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published