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Giuliani to Report on Ukraine Trip 12/11 06:26
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney,
said Tuesday that the president asked him to brief the Justice Department and
Republican senators on the findings of his recent trip to Ukraine.
Giuliani indicated he would aim to do so by week's end but did not provide
details. He would not discuss the contents of his findings.
Giuliani's trip last week prompted concern from many White House officials,
some of whom blame the lawyer for ensnaring Trump in the Ukraine affair that
has led to articles of impeachment.
As special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation wound down earlier
this year, Giuliani began pushing the belief --- one previously only held on
the fringes of the conservative movement --- that Ukraine may have also
attempted to interfere in the 2016 election. There is no evidence that happened.
The former New York City mayor also wanted to bring attention to the work
that former Vice President Joe Biden's son Hunter did in Ukraine and urged
Trump to demand Kiev investigate his possible political foe. That pressure was
at the heart of the articles of impeachment introduced in the House of
Representatives on Tuesday.
Even as impeachment swirled, Giuliani stunned Washington by traveling to
Ukraine this month to further his probe. The surprise journey drew condemnation
from Democrats and some scorn from Republicans and White House aides, many of
whom believed the sojourn to Kiev drew unwanted scrutiny ahead of the
impeachment vote. Trump, though, appeared to praise the trip when talking to
reporters in recent days.
"He says he has a lot of good information," Trump said Saturday. "I hear he
has found plenty."
But the venue for Giuliani's debriefing is uncertain. Sen. Lindsey Graham,
R-S.C., a staunch Trump ally, has said he had no plans for Giuliani to appear
before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has launched an inquiry into Joe
Biden and his communications with Ukrainian officials.
Meanwhile, Giuliani has alienated many in Trump's orbit, including Attorney
General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, both of whom have told
West Wing aides that the attention-seeking former mayor had become a liability
to Trump.
But while Trump has at times grown frustrated with Giuliani's faux pas, he
has told people close to him that he appreciates the former mayor's willingness
to defend him on television and his aggressive pursuit of corruption. He has
also repeatedly told reporters that the former prosecutor was the nation's
greatest crime fighter.
Giuliani returned Saturday from a trip that took him to Ukraine, Hungary and
Austria, where he said he was looking for documents and witnesses to support
unproven claims he has made about Hunter Biden and Ukraine's role in the 2016
election.
He was accompanied by correspondents from the conservative One America News
Network, which is producing a documentary about his work.
Giuliani outlined the details of his trip hours after House Democrats
announced two articles of impeachment against Trump, declaring his actions
toward Ukraine "betrayed the nation" as they pushed toward historic proceedings
that are certain to help define his presidency and shape the 2020 election.
The specific charges aimed at removing the 45th president of the U.S.: abuse
of power and obstruction of Congress.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, flanked by the chairmen of impeachment inquiry
committees at the U.S. Capitol, said they were upholding their solemn oath to
defend the Constitution. Trump responded angrily on Twitter: "WITCH HUNT!"
(KR)
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