WISCONSIN U.S.
SENATOR
RON
%JOHNSON WAS
A
MAIN
PLAYER IN
THE
%EVENTS
NOW
EMBROILING
THE
NATION
%IN
IMPEACHMENT
PROCEEDINGS
%AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
%SENATOR JOHNSON
IS
CURRENTLY
THE
%CHAIRMAN OF THE
EUROPEAN
%SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
SENATE
%FOREIGN
RELATIONS
COMMITTEE
AND
%AS
SUCH,
HAS
WORKED
ON
UKRAINE
%ISSUES
CLOSELY.
%HE
RELEASED
A
10-PAGE
LETTER%THIS WEEK AT
THE
REQUEST
OF
%IMPEACHMENT
COMMITTEE
%REPUBLICANS,
DETAILING
HIS
%TIMELINE
AND
VERSION
OF
EVENTS
%AROUND THE
WITHHOLDING
OF
NEARLY%$400 MILLION IN U.S.
MILITARY
%AID
TO
UKRAINE.
%WE
SAT DOWN
WITH
THE
SENATOR
FOR
%A
LONG
FORM
INTERVIEW ON THE
%MATTER.%YOU CAN FIND
THE
FULL
INTERVIEW
%ON
OUR
WEBSITE
AT
%PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
%TONIGHT,
AN
E
ERPT
OF
!
EXCERPT
OF
OUR
%DISCUSSION WITH
SENATOR
JOHNSON.
%GIVEN YOUR
POSITION
AND
STRONG
%SUPPORT O
F
UKRAINE,
WHAT
IS
YOUR
%REACTION
TO
THESE
IMPEACHMENT
%HEARINGS WITH
THE THREE
%WITNESSES,
RUNNING
THE RUDY
%GIULIANI DIPLOMACY OF
THIS
FOR
%THAT, AT THE
BEHEST OF THE
%PRESIDENT
WITH THE MILITARY AID%IN
THE
BALANCE,
WHAT
IS
YOUR
%REACTION?%>>
WELL, FIRST OF ALL
I
THINK
%IT'S
VERY
UNFORTUNATE
THIS HAS
%BEEN
EXPOSED AND
MADE
S
O
PUBLIC.
%WE
OFTEN REFER TO
THE
%LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS
AS
SAUSAGE
%MAKING.
%THE SAME
CAN
BE
SAID
FOR
SOME
%FOREIGN POLICY AS
WELL,
AND
WE
%TRUTHFULLY WERE WELL
UNDERWAY I
N
%THAT
SAUSAGE-MAKING
PROCESS,%BOTH WITHIN
THE
ADMINISTRATION,%BUT ALSO
BETWEEN
THE
BRANCHES,
%AND THIS
DID
NOT
HAVE
TO
BE
%DRAWN
INTO
SO
PUBLICLY
EXPOSED,
%IT DIDN'T HAVE TO
RESULT
IN
AN
%IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY,
WHICH
IS
%SOME
PRETTY SERIOUS BUSINESS.
%SO
FROM
M
Y
STANDPOINT,
MY
%REACTION IS
IT'S
VERY
%UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD T
O
GO
%THROUGH
THIS
PROCESS.%>> YOU
DON'T FEEL
AS
THOUGH THE
%AMERICAN PEOPLE
DESERVE
TO
KNOW
%WHAT IS
HAPPENING
WITH
U.S.
AID
%TO UKRAINE AND
THE
ALLEGED
%DIRECTION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP
%AND
HIS
LAWYER
FOR
THAT
COUNTRY
%TO
INVESTIGATE A
POLITICAL
%OPPONENT?%>>
IT'S
RESULTED
IN
WHAT%PRESIDENT TRUMP THOUGHT
WAS
%PRETTY
IMPORTANT, WAS
TO
RELEASE
%THE
TRANSCRIPT
OF
HIS
%CONVERSATION WITH A
PRESIDENT OF
%ANOTHER COUNTRY.
%THAT
SETS A
VERY
DANGEROUS
%PRECEDENT.
%IT'S GOING TO
BE
VERY
DIFFICULT
%FOR FUTURE
PRESIDENTS TO
HAVE
%CANDID
CONVERSATIONS WITH
WORLD
%LEADERS.
%WE'VE WEAK
ENDED
EXECUTIVE
%PRIVILEGE.
%IT
CERTAINLY HASN'T HELPED
OUR
%RELATIONSHIP WITH
UKRAINE.
%SO
THIS
HAS
JUST
BEEN
AN
%UNFORTUNATE SITUATION ALL THE
%WAY AROUND.%>>
LET
ME
JUST
UP
PACK
THIS A
%LITTLE
BIT.
%TESTIMONY
FROM ONE OF
THE THREE
%AMIGOS, THE
U.S.
AMBASSADOR
TO
%THE
E.U.
SAID
THAT
EVERYONE
WAS%IN THE
LOOP ON
THE PRESIDENT
%TRUMP
DIRECTIVE
TO
GET
UKRAINE
%TO INVESTIGATE
THE 2016
%CAMPAIGN,
AND
BURISMA
OR
JOE
%BIDEN'S SON.
%WERE
YOU IN
THE
LOOP ON
ALL
O
F
%THAT?%>>
WHAT
I
WAS IN
THE
LOOP
IN
IS
%VERY --
DESCRIBED
IN
GREAT
%DETAIL IN
MY
10-PAGE RESPONSE
TO%THE HOUSE
REQUEST.
%AND SO
I'D
LET
MY
LETTER
STAND
%ON
ITS
OWN.
%CERTAINLY I
UNDERSTOOD THAT%PRESIDENT TRUMP
WAS
HIGHLY
%FRUSTRATED
BY THE
FACT
THAT
%THERE
WERE
RUMORS
IN
UKRAINE
%INVOLVED --
THAT
UKRAINE
WAS
%INVOLVED IN
THE 2016
ELECTION.
%BY THE
WAY, THERE'S
PLENTY
OF
%UNANSWERED QUESTIONS WHEN
IT
%RELATES TO THAT
AS
WELL.%>>
TOP
SECURITY
OFFICIALS
AND
%DIPLOMATS
SAY
THAT
UKRAINE 2016
%ELECTION
MEDDLING
WAS
RUSSIAN
%DISINFORMATION, A
FICTIONAL
%NARRATIVE, ADVANCING
RUSSIAN
%INTERESTS.
%WHAT ABOUT
THAT?
%>>
THERE'S
PLENTY
OF
EVIDENCE
%THAT
THERE
WAS
INVOLVEMENT BY
%DEMOCRATS IN
THE HILLARY
CLINTON%CAMPAIGN
AND
THE
DNC,
AND
AGAIN
%THE PRESS BY AND
LARGE
IS
NOT%PARTICULAR LIQUEUR
JUST ABOUT
%PARTICULARLY CURIOUS ABOUT
THAT,
%WHICH ALSO
DRIVES
CONSERVATIVES
%LIKE
ME
AND PRESIDENT
TRUMP
%NUTS,
SO
THAT'S
WHY
I'M
%SYMPATHETIC WITH PRESIDENT
%TRUMP, HE SAID
HE'D LIKE
TO
KNOW%WHAT HAPPENED
WITH
UKRAINE.
%SO
WOULD
I.
%>>
BACK
TO PRESIDENT TRUMP MORE
%SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU
THINK
IT'S
%PROPER FOR
A
PRESIDENT TO
ASK
A
%FOREIGN
LEADER
TO
INVESTIGATE
A
%POLITICAL OWE
!
OPPONENT?%>>
I
DON'T
THINK
THAT'S WHAT WAS
%HAPPENING.
%I'VE
NEVER
HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP
%SAY,
HEY,
DIG
UP
SOME DIRT
ON
MY
%POLITICAL OPPONENT.
%WHAT I
HEARD
HIM
SAY
IS,
YOU
%KNOW, I
THINK SOMETHING
HAPPENED
%IN 2016.
%AND
SO
AGAIN, IT'S
CERTAINLY
NOT
%AN
IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE, LET'S
%PUT IT
THAT
WAY.
%>>
IMPEACHMENT
TESTIMONY
SAYS%THERE
WAS
A QUID PRO
QUO,
U.S.
%AID IN
RETURN
FOR
MEETINGS
AND
%INVESTIGATIONS.
%YOU
SAID YOU
WINCED
WHEN
YOU
%HEARD OF
CONDITIONS, BUT
THAT%THE PRESIDENT
DENIED
IT.
%WHY DID
YOU
WINCE?%>>
WELL,
AGAIN,
I
WAS
CALLING
UP
%GORDON
ZONDLAND
WHO
PRETTY
%WELL -- THIS IS
WHAT
HE
PRESUMED
%OR HEARD FRO
M
PEOPLE
LIKE RUDY%GIULIANI.%SO
NO,
I
WINCED
BECAUSE
AGAIN,
I
%WAS
SUPPORTIVE OF
PROVIDING
THAT
%MILITARY
SUPPORT
BECAUSE
UKRAINE
%IS GROUND ZERO
IN
OUR
%GEOPOLITICAL
COMPETITION TO
%RUSSIA.
%THIS IS
THE
TIM
E
TO SHOW
%STRENGTH AND
RESOLVE AND
I
WAS
%CONCERNED ABOUT THAT
SIGNAL.
%SO THAT'S
WHY
I
CALLED
UP%PRESIDENT
TRUMP THE
DAY
AFTER --%OR HE
CALLED
ME
BACK
UPON
M
Y
%QUESTION
AFTER
OF
TALKED
TO
%GORDON
ZONDLAND,
TO
LET
%PRESIDENT
EXCELLENCE
KE -- LET
%THAT FUNDING TO
BE
RELEASED.
%HE
GAVE A
VERY CONSISTENT
%REASON, CORRUPTION AND IN
%INADEQUATE SUPPORT FOR
MILITARY
%ASSISTANCE.%>> SPEAKING OF
THAT,
DEMOCRATS,
%SPECIFICALLY THE CHAIR OF
THIS
%IMPEACHMENT
COMMITTEE, SAYS THAT
%THAT'S
NOT
WHAT THIS
WAS
ABOUT.
%LET'S TAKE
A
LISTEN
TO
WHAT
A
DAM
%SCHIFF
SAID THIS
WEEK.%>>
MY
COLLEAGUES
HAVE
TRIED
TO
%MAKE
THE
ARGUMENT
HERE
TODAY
AND
%WE'VE HEARD
IT
BEFORE
THAT THE
%PRESIDENT WAS
JUST
INTERESTED
IN
%FIGHTING
CORRUPTION.
%THAT'S OUR
GOAL, FIGHTING
%CORRUPTION
IN
UKRAINE,
THIS
%TERRIBLY
CORRUPT
COUNTRY.
%THE
PROBLEM, OF
COURSE,
WITH
%THAT IS
THERE'S
N
O
EVIDENCE OF
%THE
PRESIDENT
TRYING
T
O
FIGHT
%CORRUPTION.
%THE EVIDENCE
ALL
POINTS IN
THE
%OTHER
DIRECTION,
THE
EVIDENCE%POINTS TO
THE
DIRECTION OF THE
%PRESIDENT
INVITING
UKRAINE
TO
%ENGAGE IN
THE
CORRUPT
ACT
OF
%INVESTIGATING A
U.S.
POLITICAL
%OPPONENT.%>>
WHAT'S
YOUR
RESPONSE TO
THAT,
%
SENATOR?%>>
I
THINK
CONGRESSMAN
SCHIFF
IS
%COMPLETELY NOT
CREDIBLE.
%FROM
HIS
CHAIRMANSHIP
CHAIR,
H
E
%READ
A
FALSE
NARRATIVE OF
THE
%TRANSCRIPT.%KNOWING
THAT A
LOT
OF
AMERICANS%WOULD
ACTUALLY
BELIEVE
THAT'S
%WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID.
%HE
DIDN'T.
%HE LIED
TO
THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC.%>> WHAT
WAS
YOUR
REACTION
TO%RUDY GIULIANI
RUNNING,
QUOTE,
A
%SHADOW
FOREIGN
POLICY
AND
%PUSHING
THE
UKRANIAN GOVERNMENT
%TO
PURSUE
POLITICAL
%INVESTIGATIONS OF THE
BIDEN
%FAMILY THAT
WOULD BENEFIT%PRESIDENT
TRUMP,
UNQUOTE,
AS
%STATED
BY
DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR
%CHRIS
MURPHY?%>>
TO
MY
KNOWLEDGE
-- RUDY
%GIULIANI, DEURNLG
THE
!
2016 --
I
REALLY DON'T
%KNOW WHAT
HE'S
DOING,
OBVIOUSLY
%I
READ THE NEWS
REPORTS
AS
WELL.
%I
CAN'T AS
A
BLANKET
STATEMENT
%SAY
HIS
INVOLVEMENT
PROBABLY
%HASN'T
BEEN
PARTICULARLY
%HELPFUL.%>>
YOU
SAIR YOU
BELIEVE
THE
%IMPEEVE CH
INQUIRY IS
AN
EFFORT
%TO
SABOTAGE THE
TRUMP
%ADMINISTRATION
AND
LUMP
%DECORATED NATIONAL SECURITY%
MEMBERS AS PART OF THAT EFFORT.
%SHOULD WE BELIEVE
THAT
THESE
TOP
%LEVEL SECURITY
ADVISORS
AND
%DIPLOMATES THAT WE'RE
HEARING
IN
%THESE
HEARINGS
ARE
LYING UNDER
%OATH?%>>
I
VALUE THEIR
SERVICE.
%BUT
I
ALSO
RECOGNIZE, THERE IS
A
%BIAS, AND
THERE
IS
SOMETHING
%GOING
WRONG
WITHIN
GOVERNMENT.
%THERE'S
BEEN
A
CONCERTED
I
THINK
%PROBABLY
COORDINATED
EFFORT
%SINCE THE DAY
AFTER PRESIDENT
%TRUMP'S
ELECTION TO
SABOTAGE
HIS
%ADMINISTRATION.
%LOOK N
O FURTHER
THAN
THE
%ATTORNEY THAT
THE
WHISTLEBLOWER
%HIRED, MARK
ZADE, TWO
TWEETED 10
%DAYS
AFTER
THE
INAUGURATION WITH
%WORDS
LIKE
COUP,
REBELLION
AND
%IMPEACHMENT
WILL
FOLLOW
%ULTIMATELY.%I THINK THAT
KIND OF
GIVES
YOU
%SOME
SENSE
THAT
MAYBE
THERE'S
%SOMETHING ELSE GOING
ON
HERE,
%MAYBE
THERE IS
A
CONCERTED
%EFFORT TO
SABOTAGE
THIS
%ADMINISTRATION THAT
STARTED
VERY
%EARLY IN
THIS
PRESIDENT'S%ADMINISTRATION.
%HOPEFULLY WHAT THIS
WILL
DO LONG
%TERM, IT'S
BEEN DONE A
LOT
OF
%DAMAGE TO
OUR
DEMOCRACY,
TO
%FUTURE
PRESIDENTS.
%REALLY,
NOT
THAT
PARTICULARLY
%HELPFUL
FOR
UKRAINE,
LET'S TRY
%AND TURN
THAT
SITUATION AROUND
%AND LET'S TRY
AND
GAIN
SOME
%OPPORTUNITY OUT OF
THIS
AND
%EXPRESS AMERICA'S
STRONG SUPPORT
%FOR THE
COURAGEOUS
PEOPLE OF
THE
%UKRAINE.%>> SENATOR
RON
JOHNSON,
WE LEAVE
%IT
THERE.
%THANK YOU SO
MUCH
FOR
YOUR
TIME.%>>
HAVE A
GOOD
DAY.
%>>
AGAIN,
THE
FULL
INTERVIEW
CAN
%BE
FOUND
ON
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG.
%MEANWHILE, IN
WISCONSIN,
%DECLINING
NUMBERS
OF
PEOPLE
%THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD
BE
%IMPEACHED.
%THE
LATEST MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL
%POLL
CONDUCTED IN THE MIDST
OF
%IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS
SHOWS
40%
%OF REGISTERED
VOTERS
THINK
TRUMP
%SHOULD
BE
IMPEACHED.
%THAT'S DOWN
FROM
44%
LAST
MONTH.
%53% DO NOT THINK
SO,
AND
6%
SAY
%THEY DON'T KNOW.
%THOSE
NUMBERS
WERE 51
AND
4%
%LAST
MONTH.
%IN
ADDITION, PRESIDENT TRUMP
%HOLDS SMALL
LEADS
OVER
EACH OF
%THE
TOP FOUR
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
%CANDIDATES.
%THREE OF
THE
DEMOCRATS
HELD
%SMALL
LEADS IN