Trump Has New Explanation for Ukraine Request

He says he didn't ask Zelensky to do him a favor
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 5, 2019 9:20 AM CST
Trump Has New Explanation for Ukraine Request
President Trump leaves 10 Downing Street in London after attending a NATO reception hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)

President Trump has, somewhat belatedly, offered a new explanation for his language in the July 25 phone call with Ukraine's president that may lead to his impeachment. The president, accused of abusing his office by asking a foreign leader to investigate a political rival, now says that when he asked Volodmyr Zelensky to do "us" a favor, he didn't mean himself, or the White House, but all Americans, the Daily Beast reports. "When I said, in my phone call to the President of Ukraine, 'I would like you to do US a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it.' With the word 'us' I am referring to the United States, our Country," Trump tweeted Wednesday. Democrats say the call was part of Trump's "monthslong effort" to solicit interference in the 2020 election.

Trump slammed impeachment proceedings in more tweets Thursday morning, saying Democrats had a "historically bad day" Wednesday, when the House Judiciary Committee began its hearings. "They have no Impeachment case and are demeaning our Country. But nothing matters to them, they have gone crazy," Trump said. "Therefore I say, if you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business." He added: "We will have Schiff, the Bidens, Pelosi and many more testify, and will reveal, for the first time, how corrupt our system really is." (Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the House will formally draft articles of impeachment.)

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