Giuliani Associate Drops New Evidence In Trump Impeachment

New evidence has come to light related to the impeachment of Donald Trump via the release of notes, text messages and documents on the cell phone of Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. From Politico:

The material released on Tuesday contains several handwritten notes, emails, encrypted messages, and other documents that underscore the close relationship between Parnas and Giuliani, who was actively pursuing an effort last year to push the Ukrainian government to announce investigations targeting Trump’s political rivals. The documents also complicate one of Trump’s oft-stated defenses of his actions toward Ukraine.

A previously undisclosed May 2019 letter from Giuliani to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is among the tranche of documents the Democrat-led committee made public on Tuesday.

In the letter, which was obtained from Parnas’ cell phone that was turned over the Intelligence Committee on Sunday, Giuliani asked for a half-hour meeting with Zelensky as the former New York City mayor was pursuing investigations targeting former Vice President Joe Biden — and Giuliani made clear that he was acting with Trump’s “knowledge and consent” and in his capacity as a “personal” attorney for the president.

Trump, though, has stated that he was acting on behalf of the U.S. government when he allegedly pushed for the investigations.

Giuliani specifically said in his letter to the president of Ukraine he wanted the meeting as he acted in “his capacity as personal counsel to President Trump,” not for the United States.

cf. “I would like you to do us a favor though” pic.twitter.com/JUnTfDzvEh

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 14, 2020

Among the evidence just produced by the House Intelligence Committee – a note from Parnas saying “get Zalensky to Annonce that the Biden case will be investigated” pic.twitter.com/nswPgc1kmF

— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) January 14, 2020

These texts from former congressional candidate Robert Hyde to Lev Parnas, about his surveillance of Ambassador Yovanovitch, are incredibly creepy. pic.twitter.com/qerUWh82Hc

— Susan Simpson (@TheViewFromLL2) January 14, 2020

Um holy sh*t. This certainly makes it sound like Parnas and co. were actively tracking Yovanovitch’s movements. This could explain why Yovanovitch was moved out of Ukraine so quickly. https://t.co/4rBRB06ZGN pic.twitter.com/5Gc8WcGPih

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 14, 2020