- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Trump Demands 'Transparency' From Dems Who 'Attempted to Force' New Ukraine President to 'Do Things'

© REUTERS / Al DragoUS President Donald Trump speaks before presenting the Medal of Freedom to former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera
US President Donald Trump speaks before presenting the Medal of Freedom to former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera  - Sputnik International
Subscribe
US President Donald Trump found himself in a tough situation following an impeachment launched against him on Tuesday by Congressional Democrats, who allege that Trump illegally attempted to pressure Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to restart a probe into possible illegal activities by former US Vice President Joe Biden's son.

Trump argued on Wednesday that he fully supports transparency on what he described as the "so-called whistleblower information," noting that he urges "Joe Biden and his son Hunter" to be transparent as well. 

The US president also demanded transparency from Democrats "that went to Ukraine and attempted to force the new President to do things that they wanted under the form of political threat."

Meanwhile, US Vice President Mike Pence expressed his full support for Trump's statement, arguing that the president "did nothing wrong" just as he said "a week ago."

Pence highlighted that the disclosed transcript of the July Trump phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "reveals that despite reckless accusations in the media and by Democrats on Capitol Hill that the President threatened aid to Ukraine and demanded a specific act, it just never happened…".

The vice president also pointed out what considered to be an "ironic thing", noting that "the only time it [threats and demands] did happen that we know about is when former Vice President Joe Biden threatened over a billion dollars in aid to Ukraine in exchange for a specific act."

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said during a press briefing on Tuesday that the Democrat-controlled House was moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry into Trump over allegations that he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in order to boost his own 2020 re-election bid.

Trump said that the Democrats' investigation of his phone call with President Zelenskyy, which took place on 25 July, was a "political witch hunt". Later the White House released what it described as the transcript of the phone talk, in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cooperate on a probe of former Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter.

Several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Adam Schiff, said the call proved corruption and supported impeachment.

Republican lawmakers incuding Senator Lindsey Graham, Congressman Jim Jordan and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said the call shows Trump did not break any laws and that Democrats are trying to undo the results of the 2016 US presidential election.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала