Testifying Oct. 29 before the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry, Ukraine expert on the National Security Council Lt. Col. Michael Vindman testified there were gaps in 73-year-old President Donald Trump’s July 25 transcript of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Omitted were the name of former Vice President Joe Biden, when Trump asked Zelensky to look into Joe’s 50-year-old son Hunter Biden. Vindman told House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) that Trump’s transcript did not mention asking Zelensky about recordings of Joe discussing Ukrainian corruption while Zelensky mentioned Burisma Holdings, the Cyprus-based Ukrainian natural gas company where Hunter served on the board. Democrats believe that Trump asking Zelensky about a U.S. presidential candidate is an impeachable offense.
When releasing the July 25 transcript of the call with Zelensky, the White House indicated that it was a facsimile, not a verbatim recording, of the phone conversation. Democrats took Vindman’s admission about omissions as proof of White House cover-up related to Trump asking Volodymyr to dig up dirt on the Bidens. Democrats piecing together their impeachment case against Trump don’t give the president the benefit of the doubt. Instead of deliberately omitting key details of the conversation, the transcript was the best the White House could provide, given the limitations of human memory listening to the call. “The notes and recollections of the Situation Room Duty officers and National Security policy staff,” who listen to officials conversations. Trump contends he did nothing wrong, nor did anyone at the White House deliberately alter the phone call transcript.
Yet if you listen to Democrats or their friends in the press, you’d think an undeniable cover-up was going on. Vindman said he saw no mention of Burisma Holdings on the transcript, something he heard in the conversation. If you follow Vindman’s logic, it’s clear that Trump wanted information on Hunter Biden, who earned at least $50,000, as much as $150,000, a month on Burisma’s board. Hunter admitted on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Oct. 15 that he would not have had the Burisma job without his father. Hunter also admitted it was probably not the best idea to take the Burisma job. Vindman’s deposition confirms he recalls hearing about Burisma that was not in Trump’s July 25 transcript. But anything Vindman recalls about a Burisma points to Trump asking Zelensky to look into Hunter Biden who earned untold sums of cash from Burisma’s board.
Democrats have built their impeachment case on Trump interfering with the 2020 presidential election, seeking information from a foreign government on a presidential candidate. But if you listen to Vindman, it’s clear that Trump was more interested in Hunter Biden, not Joe. His interest with Joe had to do with the former Vice President boasting to the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018 about withholding $1 billion in Ukraine’s military aid until former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko fired chief prosecutor Viktor Shokin who was looking into corruption a Burisma Holdnings. Vindman recalls hearing Burisma Holdings because that was the company Joe’s son, Hunter, got large sums of cash. Hunter said what he did was “perfectly legal,” despite admitting it was not the best idea. Last time anyone checked, Hunter Biden is not running for elective office.
Democrats and the press would have you believe it’s unlawful for a president to investigate corruption with a foreign government of any U.S. citizen. But Democrats looking to impeach Trump can’t figure out whether it’s illegal for a president to inquire to a foreign leader about suspected corruption. Joe admitted that he withheld foreign aid in Ukraine until he got Shokin fired. There’s less certainty that Trump was withholding Ukraine’s military aid in exchange for dirt on the Bidens. What’s clear from Vindman’s recollection is that Burisma Holdings came to mind, the company, Hunter, not Joe, worked for in Ukriane. Democrats can’t possibly think that because Joe is one-of-twenty candidates running for the nomination, his son Hunter is off limits for the president to inquire about. Asking Zelensky for a “favor,” does not mean Trump sought to interfere with the 2020 presidential election.
Vindman’s recollection about Burisma Holdings points to Trump’s interest in Hunter Biden, more than Joe. Since Hunter isn’t running for any elective office, he’s fair game to go after, if there’s any questions of corruption. Democrats have built their impeachment case around Trump meddling in the 2020 presidential election. Asking Zelensky about Hunter Biden doesn’t directly impact Joe’s presidential bid. If it comes out he got Hunter the cushy job in Ukraine, then voters need to take that under consideration when voting. Hillary can blame the Kremlin on exposing her corruption at the DNC but, ultimately, it’s Hillary’s monkeying around with the DNC. Russia didn’t meddle in the U.S. election they provided valuable information kept from the American public. Democrats can’t possibly think that going after Hunter Biden violates U.S. election laws.
