This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
On October 11, 2019, Marie Yovanovitch, the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, testified in the impeachment inquiry, defying the Trump administration's directive against her appearance.
Yovanovitch portrayed the State Department as being 'attacked and hollowed out from within,' warning that unless it backs up its diplomats, more of them will leave and the wrong message will be transmitted around the world.
She stated that 'bad actors' in Ukraine and elsewhere will 'see how easy it is to use fiction and innuendo to manipulate our system,' serving the interests of 'strategic adversaries, like Russia.'
Yovanovitch's defiance raises the possibility that other government officials will follow suit, as she called upon State Department leaders and Congress to defend the institution, saying 'I fear that not doing so will harm our nation's interest, perhaps irreparably.'
The turnabout appeared to validate the tactics adopted by Democrats, who have issued rapid-fire subpoenas since opening the inquiry two weeks ago, warning that any attempts by the administration to block their fact-finding will become fodder for an article of impeachment charging Mr. Trump with obstructing Congress.
