US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi distributed a “fact sheet” on Monday, amid the ongoing impeachment inquiry, outlining what her office describes as a gross abuse of power by President Donald Trump.
The fact sheet reveals developments from the whistleblower complaint, which stated that Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who previously had business interests in Ukraine.
The fact sheet contains quotes from Trump to Zelensky, directly asking the Ukrainian president to collaborate with both US Attorney General William Barr as well as Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, in the investigation of Joe Biden and his son. It also highlights the involvement of Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The fact sheet suggests that Pence met with the Ukrainian president to inform him that aid would not be released to Ukraine in an attempt to coerce Zelensky to comply with investigating Joe Biden. In addition, Pompeo listened to the phone call between Trump and Zelensky, and was thus made aware of the alleged abuse of presidential power. Further, the fact sheet showed text messages between US officials which highlight that Trump was attempting to use a presidential visit and military aid as a bargaining chip.