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On Thursday morning, President Trump expressed his disgust at the explosive whistleblower complaint, slamming the intelligence officer and White House aides who had helped him as an "almost spy" and had suggested that it was treasonous.
Speaking at a private event with US diplomats in New York, Trump called the journalists "scum" and raged over the new impeachment procedure of the Democrats, which had been motivated by the whistleblower 's complaint alleging that Trump had attempted to arm the Ukrainian leader to interfere in the 2020 election.
The intelligence officer, still unidentified, admitted he did not listen to Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July. . "
"Basically, this person has never seen the report, has never seen the call, she has never seen the call – heard something and decided that he or she, or whoever it is hell that they saw – they are almost a spy, "Trump said.
"I want to know who the person is, who is the person who gave the information to the whistleblower? Because it's close to a spy, he continued. "Do you know what we did in the past when we were smart? Right? Spies and betrayal, we used to handle it a little differently than we do now. "
Some participants laughed at this threatening remark, but the Ballroom at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York remained largely silent.
A participant at the event provided the Los Angeles Times with a recording of the President's remarks. The event was organized so that the President could thank the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, and his staff as he closed four days of meetings around the United Nations. General Assembly of the United States.
Trump spoke at the moment when Joseph Maguire, Acting Director of National Intelligence, was defending the whistleblower at a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee, claiming that the "individual" had acted the right way "and respected the law" every step of the way ".
Representative Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who heads the committee and interviewed Maguire, later stated that Trump's rude comments in New York were intended to intimidate witnesses in the investigation. rapidly evolving indictment.
"This kind of incitement to violence will only cool other witnesses when they come forward. And that's the very intention of intimidating the witnesses, "said Schiff.
"It is clear that the President will do [the inquiry] as difficult as possible and do it in the most dangerous and least ethical way possible, "he added.
Schiff then made an official statement on this subject with the representative Eliot L. Engel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the representative Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the Supervisory Committee, inviting the President to put an end to these attempts. # 39; intimidation.
"President Trump is fully aware that our committees are seeking the testimony of this whistleblower and others mentioned in the whistleblower's complaint released today as part of the investigation into the dismissal of the House, and the laws of our country prohibit efforts to discourage, intimidate or otherwise put pressure on a witness testimony in Congress, "reads the statement.
The President has often expressed his nostalgia for the brutal violence of the past, and his rhetoric has been cited by some who have resorted to physical violence.
His remarks on Thursday sparked strong criticism from former national security officials, Democratic lawmakers and whistleblowers.
"As we have seen not only this week, but throughout the history of our country, whistleblowers are essential to the protection of democracy, the rule of law and of our Constitution, "said Louis Clark, executive director of the Government Accountability Project, a non-partisan group. . "The whistleblowers must be celebrated and protected, not targeted."
The president evoked the whistleblower almost as soon as he began his remarks on a podium in front of a blue background in the low ceiling ballroom, again claiming that his phone call with Zelensky was "perfect ".
The White House on Wednesday released the appeals report, which largely corroborates the whistleblower 's complaint. After Zelensky asked to buy US anti-tank missiles to fight Russia-backed separatists, Trump responded by asking for "a favor," including help to investigate Joe Biden, the former vice president who wanted to be appointed to the Democratic presidency.
In his remarks, Trump spoke of his clumsy meeting with Zelensky on Wednesday, during which both leaders were questioned about the implied counterpart detailed in the call summary and the whistleblower 's complaint.
"They said," Is he pressuring you? "Said Trump, describing the question to Zelensky. He replied that he had felt no "impulse", but also said that he did not want to be involved in an American political quarrel. .
"You know, these animals in the press," continued Trump. "They are animals, some of the worst human beings you'll ever meet."
Someone in the room shouted "False news!"
"They are scum," Trump continued. "Many of them are scum, and then you have good reporters, but few of them, I'll be honest with you."
He then accused Senator Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), Who met Zelensky in Kiev this month, of pressuring the Ukrainian leader for he accuses Trump of inappropriate behavior. .
"The Democratic senators went over there and armed the guy," said Trump, affecting Murphy's voice for a moment. "You'd do well to do this or you will not get any money from Congress." Oh, I see, that's good? "
"And then you have Sleepy Joe Biden, who is silly like a rock," continued Trump. "This guy was silly at his best day and he still has not had his best day. He is silly like a rock. So, you have Sleepy Joe and his child, who has a lot of problems, he was thrown into the sea. Listen, I will not do it, it's a problem … so we will not understand why. He was kicked out of the navy and this young man is now going to Ukraine with millions of dollars. He becomes a consultant for $ 50,000 a month and he knows nothing compared to other employees of this company. He is stiff. He knows nothing. He leaves with $ 50,000.
Hunter Biden was fired from the navy in 2014 after being tested positive for cocaine. From 2014 to 2019, he served on the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, the largest private gas company in Ukraine, whose owner has been extensively reviewed by Ukrainian prosecutors for risk of abuse. power and illegal enrichment. Hunter Biden was not charged with any wrongdoing during the investigation.
Trump, while continuing to speak, expressed his dismay that he is the one being investigated, not Biden.
"They talk about me and I did not do anything," he says, protecting himself slightly. "I do not know if I'm the most innocent person in the world."
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