So much has happened after two weeks of public testimony during the House impeachment inquiry. Here’s the important backstory that lead us to where we are today. [Thread.]
A local D.C. news site, The Hill, helped amplify dubious claims made by a senior Ukrainian official, all of which are detailed in the whistleblower complaint that started it all. Here’s the story behind it. [2/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/26/how-a-dc-news-site-amplified-dubious-ukraine-claims/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/2...
Republicans are defending President Trump in the impeachment inquiry by saying he gave more military aid than his predecessor, but it came only after the reluctant president was convinced it would be good for U.S. business. [3/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/15/trump-resisted-ukraine-sale-javelin-antitank-missile/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/1...
Cause and effect: The demise of the special envoy post—originally occupied by Kurt Volker—is one of the first tangible signs that fallout from the impeachment probe has left a lasting impact on U.S. policy toward Ukraine. [4/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/07/state-scrap-special-envoy-ukraine-impeachment-investigation-giuliani-trump/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/0...
The ever-expanding probe into the Trump administration’s apparent efforts to coerce foreign governments into digging up dirt on political rivals has even lower-level State Department officials wondering if they, too, need to lawyer up. [5/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/11/pompeo-state-department-reels-impeachment-inquiry-sinks-morale-ukraine-trump-giuliani/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/1...
After a spell of silence, the impeachment inquiry has finally caught up to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo—at the worst possible time. [6/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/20/pompeo-impeachment-trump-congress-ukraine-state-department/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/2...
All of this may put pressure on U.S. democratic presidential candidates to establish a solid stance on crucial foreign policy issues. FP’s @michaelphirsh explains why. [7/7] https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/20/how-trump-impeachment-forced-foreign-policy-back-2020-presidential-election-race/">https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/2...