USAToday: Senator says he was blocked by Trump from telling Ukraine foreign aid was coming

[onetexan]

Source: USAToday

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he was blocked by President Donald Trump from telling Ukraine's president that U.S. aid was on its way amid accusations Trump was withholding it until the eastern European nation investigated his political rival.
Trump rejected Johnson's request in August after also refusing in May to back new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Oshkosh Republican told reporters Friday.
“I was surprised by the president’s reaction and realized we had a sales job to do,” Johnson said during a constituent stop in Sheboygan. “I tried to convince him (in August) to give me the authority to tell President Zelensky that we were going to provide that. Now, I didn’t succeed."

With his comments Friday, Johnson made clear that he was aware of allegations Trump was withholding aid to Ukraine for political reasons weeks before the public knew.
Trump, who faces a fast-moving impeachment inquiry over the matter, has denied the claim and Johnson has defended the president — but Johnson's story helps House Democrats confirm a key aspect of the probe.

Johnson was part of a delegation that attended Zelensky’s inauguration in May. He and others briefed Trump on the inauguration and urged Trump to back Zelensky but the president resisted the idea, Johnson said Friday. Johnson told the Wall Street Journal on Friday that Sondland told him that Ukraine would appoint a prosecutor who would, as Johnson put it, work to "get to the bottom of what happened in 2016 — if President Trump has that confidence, then he’ll release the military spending."

“At that suggestion, I winced,” Johnson told the Wall Street Journal. “My reaction was: Oh, God. I don’t want to see those two things combined.” He said he asked Trump about it and the president denied it.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/04/ron-johnson-says-trump-blocked-him-assuring-ukraine-aid/3868691002/

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More details on the article. Note Johnson is Republican. More pieces of the puzzle coming together!

[Tech]

1. Part of the group that spent the 4th of July in Russia last year.

[ck4829]

25. Interesting

[Midnight Writer]

2. So when GOP Johnson asked Trump he denied it. That shows conscience of guilt.

If it was a "perfect" phone call and everything was "beautiful", why would he deny it to a Republican Senator?

[onetexan]

4. Dumpster lies like he breathes, so i don't think it's conscience of guilt but to obfuscate.

Regardless, this further corroborates the whistleblower's story. If Republican senators are arguing there's no quid pro quo, it is confirmed by the texts revealed by Volker, and now by Ron Johnson's story. I'm guessing Johnson came out with it for self preservation purposes - to get out in front and minimize damage to himself, realizing sooner or later he will be roped into it as Schiff & team uncover the whole story.

[Cha]

3. Wow.. surprised at repub Ron Johnson.

[onetexan]

8. Guy's a bad egg Cha, his coming out is to preempt whatever consequences are coming his way later

[Cha]

9. It's a good sign then..

[ewagner]

14. Agree with onetexan....

Johnson is totally self-serving....

If it doesn't directly benefit him (at least politically) he won't do it...

This makes me think that Republicans in certain circles KNOW there is a shit-storm coming and are trying to seek cover before it hit...

also....

Johnson has not been known as the brightest of the Senators....what he has done here is politically about as ham-fisted as you can get.

Bottom line?

Something sinister is about to come out.

[onetexan]

15. Absolutely, this isnt a lone instance, its a coordinated effort involving many players

Frightening thought but also inyriguing how the plot thickens

[Marcuse]

19. "If it doesn't directly benefit him (at least politically) he won't do it... "

Last year, Sens. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) publicly announced support for gay marriage. Mr. Portman reversed his stance when his son came out in 2011, and publicized this decision last year.

"Knowing that my son is gay prompted me to consider the issue from another perspective: that of a dad who wants all three of his kids to lead happy, meaningful lives with the people they love, a blessing Jane and I have shared for 26 years," he wrote.[link:https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/BL-WB-46835?responsive=y|

[ck4829]

24. You know it

[dawg day]

27. He was the one just screaming that he doesn't trust

The FBI and CIA. Confused fella.

[AllyCat]

5. I'm sorry. RoJo is a bad person.

He sees people making the connection between him and Russia with his little trip there last year and is trying to figure out how to get out of trouble. I don’t trust him as far as I can spit.

[onetexan]

7. RJ is in deed a bad guy, &yes he's trying to save his own hyde

Now that this whole sham is coming to light. But his admission corroborates the veracity of the whistleblower & Volker's story. That is the point of the article.

[ewagner]

16. Agree...n/t

[Hal Zerozerozeronine]

6. Another Nail for Donny's Political

[ck4829]

23. Ha

[bucolic_frolic]

10. These GOP Senators are so dumb

Trump is micromanaging foreign aid? Does he understand what foreign aid is? They should know if Trump is doing anything it's for his own benefit and purposes. They really should know that by now. So Trump asking to withhold aid should have rung alarm bells.

[beachbumbob]

11. Johnson needs to be subpoenaed to appear and give testimony on this

as well as other GOP politicians and officials

[riversedge]

12. Agree. Put Ron Johnson under fire. NOW

[beachbumbob]

13. nothing better than placing people under oath infront of the american people.

ME? I can;t wait to hear some of these people take the 5th when they ordered to appear and talk, There only recourse is take the 5th

[ck4829]

22. Yep

[Hotler]

17. "At that suggestion, I winced," Johnson told the Wall Street Journal.

“My reaction was: Oh, God. I don’t want to see those two things combined.”

I don't believe that for a second. Those fuckers never know the difference between right and wrong. Theyspew it only when called on it.

[lindysalsagal]

18. So, Ronny's throwing Donny under the bus.

I just had to. Fish in a barrel.

[orleans]

20. he was a shit on meet the press

and got stupid chuck todd yelling! (it was kind of funny)

johnson pulled a ghouliani

https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/full-johnson-interview-gop-attacks-press-over-trump-s-ukraine-actions-70723653963

[wasupaloopa]

26. I think he was taken to the wood shed for what he said on Friday. Chuck Tod asked him about it and

all he did was recite conspiracy theories.

[ck4829]

21. K&R