Report: Bill Taylor To Step Down As Acting Ukraine Ambassador At The End Of The Year

Top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William B. Taylor Jr. testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on November 13, 2019. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Acting Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor will reportedly soon leave his post at the U.S. Embassy in Kiev.

Unnamed current and former officials told NBC News on Tuesday that Taylor is expected to do so on Jan. 2, roughly six months after he began filling in for Marie Yovanovitch, who was ousted in May.

Politico reported on Monday that the Trump administration is still looking for a permanent replacement for Yovanovitch.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to make his first visit to Ukraine next month, according to Politico. However, the precise date has not yet been announced. It is unknown whether Taylor will still be in Kiev upon the secretary of state’s arrival.

An anonymous congressional staffer told NBC News that Pompeo “is not going to want to be in a photo with Taylor.”

Taylor played a critical role in the House’s impeachment investigation. His witness testimony confirmed that the Trump administration was withholding a White House meeting and congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to force Zelensky into announcing investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.

Taylor also told impeachment investigators that his staffer had overheard Trump asking E.U Ambassador Gordon Sondland about the status of “the investigations” by the Ukrainians, directly implicating Trump in the scheme.

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  1. Avatar for dont dont says:

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For your service to our country.

  2. Taylor played a critical role in the House’s impeachment investigation. His witness testimony confirmed that the Trump administration was withholding a White House meeting and congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to force Zelensky into announcing investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.

    Taylor also told impeachment investigators that his staffer had overheard Trump asking E.U Ambassador Gordon Sondland about the status of “the investigations” by the Ukrainians, directly implicating Trump in the scheme.

    Always remember and never forget:

    Those who say he is guilty, testified under oath.

    Those who say he is not guilty, have not testified under oath.

    Big difference. Must be repeated loudly and often.

  3. I’m sure the list of folks that want Trump shit dumped on them is long. Should be able to fill the position quickly.

  4. It will be interesting to lear if he was pushed out or if he decided to leave (due to pressure or because he was just done dealing with the crap). He’s done good for the nation, both in his service and in his honesty, hopefully people take him as an example of what government workers are like.

  5. An anonymous congressional staffer told NBC News that Pompeo “is not going to want to be in a photo with Taylor.”

    That’s just cruel. Taylor was looking forward to it so much.

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