Giuliani shares details on what he told Trump about ex-ambassador Marie Yovanovitch
Rudy Giuliani told The New York Times on Monday that he spoke with President Trump "a couple of times" about former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and how he believed she was standing in the way of investigations that could politically benefit Trump.
Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, said he told the president that Yovanovitch was blocking visas for Ukrainian prosecutors who wanted to come to the United States and share evidence with him that he alleged could be damaging to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Giuliani said Trump connected him with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who asked Giuliani to send him more details. Just a few weeks later, at the end of May, Yovanovitch was recalled from her post.
Giuliani told the Times he thinks the information he shared likely convinced Trump and Pompeo to have Yovanovitch removed, adding: "If I was attorney general, I would have kicked her out. I mean, secretary of state." On Monday night, Giuliani told Fox News host Laura Ingraham he "forced her out" because of alleged "corruption." In an interview with The New Yorker published earlier Monday, Giuliani said he needed Yovanovitch "out of the way" because she was "going to make the investigations difficult for everybody."
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.
During the impeachment inquiry, several witnesses — including Yovanovitch — told the House Intelligence Committee that Giuliani was behind a smear campaign against the former ambassador, a career diplomat. On Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on whether to impeach Trump, who has been accused of abusing the power of his office by pressuring Ukraine to help his re-election chances by investigating Democratic rivals and obstruction of Congress.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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 is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published