This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
On November 15, 2019, Marie Yovanovitch, the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, testified before Congress in a tense session. Her removal from her position had sparked controversy, with some arguing that it was an 'employment disagreement.'
However, Democrats saw her ouster as part of a larger pattern of President Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rivals. They pointed to a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 25, 2019, in which Trump asked Zelensky to 'do us a favor' and look into the Bidens.
Yovanovitch's testimony highlighted the personal toll of Trump's actions. She described how Trump's public criticism of her had left her 'shocked, appalled, and devastated.'
When questioned by Representative Brad Wenstrup, Yovanovitch expressed her frustration at being smeared by Trump. Wenstrup cut her off, saying, 'Well I wasn’t asking you about that, so thank you very much, ma’am.'
