Schiff pounces on Trump lawyer who seemingly admits investigations in Ukraine weren't 'foreign policy'


President Trump's impeachment lawyers just told on themselves.
That's what Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) argued after Trump's legal team said Rudy Giuliani wasn't conducting any "foreign policy" in Ukraine. After a bipartisan group of senators asked in Trump's impeachment trial if he could promise "that private citizens will not be directed to conduct foreign policy unless formally designated by the president and the State Department," the defense rejected the entire premise.
"I want to make clear that there was no conduct of foreign policy being carried out here by a private person," said Trump lawyer Patrick Philbin. That "private person" is in reference to Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer (who is not a government employee) who represented him in Ukraine as he allegedly pushed for investigations into Trump's political rivals. In Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump instructed his Ukrainian counterpart to "speak to" Giuliani and repeatedly said he'd have Giuliani call to help "get to the bottom" of it all.
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.
Schiff pounced on the opportunity to point out what he called a "breathtaking admission" by Trump's defense. As Schiff put it, Philbin's insistence that no such promise from Trump was even needed actually proved a point argued by Democrats — that Trump and Giuliani weren't conducting foreign policy in their quest for investigations in Ukraine, but a "domestic political errand" meant to boost Trump's re-election odds. Schiff called it "startling" that Philbin would seemingly admit there was no public interest at heart in the first place. Watch the moment below. Summer Meza
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami