Trump Learned Of Whistleblower Complaint Just Before He Released Ukraine Aid

President Donald Trump walks along the colonnade after greeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival at the White House on November 13, 2019. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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President Donald Trump learned of the whistleblower’s complaint in late August, just before he released the frozen military aid to Ukraine in September.

According to the New York Times, that debriefing by White House lawyers Pat Cipollone and John Eisenberg could also explain where Trump got the phrase “quid pro quo,” which he used on a call around the same time to Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, before it had become the default phrase to describe the situation.

It is unclear how many details Trump was given about the complaint.

Trump had been facing bipartisan pressure to unfreeze the aid, but when Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) met with him days after the freeze, Trump said that he hadn’t yet made up his mind about releasing it. Trump reportedly flew into a rage when Johnson asked if the money’s release was dependent upon some action of Ukraine’s.

“‘No way,’” Mr. Trump said, per Johnson. “‘I would never do that. Who told you that?’”

The aid was originally frozen just hours after Trump had his famous call with Ukraine President Volodymy Zelensky on July 25.

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  1. Avatar for ljb860 ljb860 says:

    Trump reportedly flew into a rage when Johnson asked if the money’s release was dependent upon some action of Ukraine’s.

    Is the tell that that is exactly why tRUmp withheld the aid.

  2. It is unclear how many details Trump was given about the complaint.

    Since it was Barr handling you can be assured that, Trump was given al the details that he wanted including the identity.

    “‘No way,’” Mr. Trump said, per Johnson. “‘I would never do that. Who told you that?’”

    Now that is an statement that could be written in the Bible, neither Trump or Johnson would never, ever lie.

  3. Avatar for jtx jtx says:

    Yes way!

  4. Of course! It’s always and forever about “The Donald” even at the expense of American national security or the security of an ally. The aid to Ukraine was to donnie just leverage to personal gain and nothing more. Which just happens to be the definition of corruption.
    Some life lesson for young Barron to see his father acting like a thug and stepping on his dick in the process.

  5. These nincompoops are so bad at lying.

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