Diplomat reportedly tried to support ousted Ukraine ambassador but was blocked by State Department
Despite instructions from the White House not cooperate, the latest State Department official testified before Congress on Saturday in the House impeachment inquiry.
Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, appeared before lawmakers under a subpoena Saturday in a closed-door deposition related to Congress' investigation of the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine. Reeker told House members he planned to release a statement in support of Marie Yovanovitch, the former ambassador to Ukraine, after she was forced out of the role by the Trump administration because she didn't agree with the White House's foreign policy practices in Ukraine, a person familiar with the testimony said. Ultimately, Reeker reportedly testified, he was blocked from doing so by David Hale, the under secretary of state for political affair and the No. 3 official in the State Department.
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