Just one day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, the transcript of a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky confirm that the U.S. president pressed Zelensky to investigate former Vice-President and 2020 Democratic presidential front runner Joe Biden.
As ESSENCE previously reported, Trump previously insisted that nothing unethical was discussed during the conversation; nor, he claimed, was the phone call itself problematic.
“No quid pro quo, there was nothing,” Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn earlier this week. “It was a perfect conversation.”
“The fact is that the President of the United States, in breach of his constitutional responsibilities, has asked a foreign government to help him in his political campaign at the expense of our national security, as well as undermining the integrity of our elections,” Pelosi said in response to the release of the transcript.
“That cannot stand,” the House Speaker continued, before repeating what she said upon announcing the formal impeachment inquiry. “He will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
In addition to the treasonous conversation, Trump also put a hold on millions in military aid to Ukraine several days before the call.
Former Secretary of State and two-time Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weighed in on social media, tweeting, “The president of the United States has betrayed our country. That’s not a political statement—it’s a harsh reality, and we must act. He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”
Trump, who on Wednesday called the impeachment inquiry a “witch hunt” and “presidential harassment,” is scheduled to meet with Zelensky, then he will hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon, the White House announced.
Read full transcript of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky below.
