Mike Pompeo apparently called Sean Hannity to ask about allegations against ex-Ukraine ambassador Yovanovitch
Fox News' Sean Hannity is in deep with the Trump White House.
The Hannity host was one of the several allies of President Trump who seemed to have it out for Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, spreading allegations of corruption against her on his show. And as those rumors reached the top of the State Department, Yovanovitch was told Secretary Mike Pompeo even called Hannity to see if they were true, a transcript of Yovanovitch's congressional testimony released Monday reveals.
Yovanovitch was fired earlier this year after consular officials planned to reject a visa application from former Ukraine prosecutor Viktor Shokin, against Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's wishes. Allegations that Yovanovitch had corrupt intentions started springing up and making their way to Trump, including through Hannity, who Yovanovitch said she could tell was "close" to Trump.
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Top state department official Phil Reeker eventually told Yovanovitch that Pompeo "or perhaps somebody around him was going to place a call to Mr. Hannity on Fox News to say, you know, what is going on?," Yovanovitch said in her testimony. Pompeo was apparently supposed to ask Hannity if he had "proof" of the allegations against Yovanovitch and "if not, stop," she continued. "And I understand that that call was made," Yovanovitch continued, though she wasn't sure if it was Pompeo or one of his staffers.
Yovanovitch said she was never told what happened on the call with Hannity. Find her whole testimony here.
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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
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