William Taylor Laughs At GOP Counsel’s Questions About Trump’s Behavior At Public Impeachment Hearing

William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine, laughed at questions from House Republicans in his impeachment hearing on Wendesday. Taylor, who was called in as an open-session witness, was questioned alongside Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent.

When the GOP Counsel Steve Castor questioned Taylor, he laughed at one of the questions: whether the Rudy Giuliani’s irregular diplomatic channel was “outlandish as it could be.”

Taylor acknowledged that it was outlandish.  

“This irregular channel of diplomacy is not as outlandish as it could be, is that correct?” GOP counsel asked Taylor. Taylor agreed, adding: “It’s a little unusual for the US ambassador to EU to play a role in Ukraine policy.”

“I am not here to take one side of another, or to advocate for any particular outcome,” Taylor stated. “My sole purpose is to provide facts.”

Taylor’s testimony – precisely his answer and behavior – further implicated that Trump pressured Ukraine. GOP committee members tried to show that Trump did not pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Amid intense GOP pressure, Taylor testified that Trump appeared to act in pursuit of his own best interest – Trump abused his powers and bullied people into advancing his own political agenda – exactly the points that the Democratic members were attempting to prove.  

Article by Emily Bevacqua