James Melville Assesses Marie Yovanovitch’s Testimony

AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE COULDN'T GET EVEN, SHE WAS TOLD THAT SECRETARY POMPEO COULD NO LONGER DEFEND HER.

SHE NEVER GOT ANY SUPPORT FROM HIM.

DESCRIBE FOR ME WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE THE STATE DEPARTMENT IN THAT, ON THAT LEVEL.

WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF A LEADER IS TO STICK UP FOR THE LEADER'S TEAM AND OBVIOUSLY, THE DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE ALL FEEL IN THAT LACK OF SUPPORT, THAT WAS EVIDENT IN AMBASSADOR YOVANOVITCH'S CASE AND IN OTHERS IS ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHERE LOYALTY SEEMS TO ONLY MOVE IN ONE DIRECTION.

LET ME CARRY ON ON THIS LINE BECAUSE MARIE YOVANOVITCH SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, YES, THE PRESIDENT, ANY PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO APPOINT AND WITHDRAW AN AMBASSADOR.

EVERYBODY, ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE BUT NONETHELESS, THE POINT REMAINS.

AND YET, SHE, SHE SAID YES, OF COURSE.

WHY NOT?

MAYBE HE WANTS TO WITHDRAW ME BUT WHY DID HE AND HIS OFFICIALS HAVE TO SMEAR ME?

WHY DID THEY HAVE TO RUIN MY REPUTATION OR TRY TO DO SO?

UNDER QUESTION AGAIN FROM THE DEMOCRATIC COUNSEL, ASKED ABOUT THE INTIMIDATION SHE'D BEEN FEELING AND THREATENED WITH.

LET'S LISTEN.

HE SAID, WELL, SHE'S GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND READ YOU WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS?

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

BUT I WAS VERY CONCERNED.

WHAT WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT?

SHE'S GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS.

IT DIDN'T SOUND GOOD.

IT SOUNDED LIKE A THREAT.

HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THAT?

EVER HEARD OF ANY OTHER AMBASSADORS WHO HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT, PERSONALLY, OF THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN HEADS OF STATES OR HEADS OF CAB BET SECRETARIES?

NO.

CERTAINLY NOT IN MY EXPERIENCE HAVE I SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.