A senior White House national security official confirmed key elements of testimony linking American military assistance to demands for Ukrainian investigations, adding new evidence to the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
Tim Morrison, the National Security Council's senior director for European and Russian affairs, testified behind closed doors Thursday that U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland had discussed withholding military assistance until Ukraine committed to investigating Burisma, an energy company previously associated with Hunter Biden.
Morrison's account largely supported earlier testimony from William Taylor, the top American diplomat in Ukraine.
Military Assistance Linked to Investigation
According to Morrison, Sondland told a senior Ukrainian official that releasing nearly $400 million in military assistance depended on Ukraine committing to an investigation involving Burisma.
Morrison disputed one detail of Taylor's testimony. He recalled that Sondland suggested a commitment from Ukraine's prosecutor general would be sufficient, rather than requiring President Volodymyr Zelensky personally to make the announcement.
Nevertheless, Morrison confirmed the central allegation that military assistance was being linked to an investigation involving the family of Trump's potential political opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Concerns Inside the White House
Morrison also revealed that former National Security Council official Fiona Hill had warned him about an unusual diplomatic effort involving Sondland and Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
The effort operated outside normal diplomatic channels and focused on persuading Ukraine to reopen investigations involving Burisma.
Morrison said he listened to Trump's July 25 telephone conversation with Zelensky and subsequently asked White House lawyers to review the call.
However, he emphasized that he did not believe anything illegal had been discussed and considered the White House's published summary of the conversation accurate.
Impeachment Investigation Gains Another Witness
Morrison's testimony comes as House investigators examine whether Trump improperly used American foreign assistance to obtain investigations that could benefit him politically.
Trump denies wrongdoing and maintains that his conversation with Zelensky was appropriate.
Thursday's testimony provides investigators with another account supporting allegations that military aid was connected to demands for Ukrainian investigations, while leaving questions about Trump's direct involvement in that arrangement unresolved.
With additional witnesses expected to testify, the impeachment inquiry continues to examine how American foreign policy toward Ukraine became entangled with the president's political interests.