Report: Vindman testified Ukraine call transcript omitted Trump referencing Biden


Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman told House impeachment investigators on Tuesday that the reconstructed transcript the White House released of President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not include critical words and phrases, three people familiar with his testimony told The New York Times.
Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, listened to the call from the Situation Room. During their conversation, Trump asked Zelensky to launch an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Vindman reportedly testified that the partial transcript, which included several ellipses, omitted Trump saying there were recordings of Biden discussing Ukraine corruption and Zelensky mentioning Burisma Holdings, the Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden was once a board member.
Because the call was not recorded by the United States, the reconstructed transcript was put together by note takers and voice recognition software. Vindman was tasked with updating the transcript, and he told investigators that he made changes to the sections where words were omitted, but only some of his edits were approved, the Times reports. Vindman also said he "did not think it was proper" for Trump to ask Zelensky to investigate Biden, and he reported what was said to a superior. Read more at The New York Times.
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.
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.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats