This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, the US impeachment inquiry continued with the testimony of William B. Taylor Jr., the US ambassador to Ukraine. Taylor's testimony marked the latest development in the inquiry, which has been investigating President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
According to a series of text messages revealed by a former colleague, Kurt D. Volker, the former special envoy to Ukraine, Taylor expressed his concerns about the Trump administration's actions. In one message, Taylor wrote that he thought it was 'crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.'
Democrats have argued that the mere suggestion by Trump that Ukraine investigate his political rivals is potentially impeachable conduct, calling it an abuse of power. Investigators are eager to uncover any evidence of an explicit quid pro quo, and Taylor's testimony could be crucial in filling out that picture.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and his administration has attempted to block witnesses from testifying. However, the House Intelligence Committee has issued subpoenas to compel witnesses to appear, and Taylor complied with the subpoena.
Meanwhile, Trump took to Twitter to denounce the impeachment inquiry, describing it as a 'lynching.' The tweet sparked swift outrage among Democrats and particularly African Americans, who pointed out the ugly history of lynching in the United States.
Representative Bobby L. Rush, Democrat of Illinois, implored Trump to delete his tweet, citing the history of lynching in the US. Some Republicans, including Representative Kevin McCarthy, were also uncomfortable with Trump's words, with McCarthy stating that he did not agree with the language used.
