US Envoy testifies on Trump forcing Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden

Acting US ambassador to Ukraine, William Bill Taylor has reportedly confirmed on October 22 that President Donald Trump repeatedly sought to pressure Ukraine to investigate democrat opponent Joe Biden. Trump also threatened that the White House would not deliver US military assistance without results. A hearing on Trump's impeachment inquiry reportedly took place behind closed doors in which the envoy made the statement. Taylor is seen as a crucial witness in the case against Trump. As per reports, Taylor asked Sondland in a September text message if security assistance and White House are conditioned on investigations. Taylor, later told Sondland that he thinks it is crazy to be withholding security assistance just for the sake of a political campaign.

The envoy said that Trump wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "to state publicly" that he would investigate, cite reports. Taylor also said that the US ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, told him that "everything' was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance.

Read: Donald Trump Equates Impeachment To Lynching, Stirs US' Racist History

Response to the envoy's statement

In response to the testimony, Democratic congressman Adriano Espaillat tweeted that the results of the investigations are troubling and damning. The fresh statement by the envoy has surely affected the possibility of impeachment. A media poll on Tuesday showed support for Trump's removal from office is now 50 percent to 43 against. However, 87 percent of Democrats are reportedly pro-impeachment, compared to just six percent of Republicans.

Read: Supreme Court Lawyer Writes Trump Impeachment Book

Trump compared the investigation with 'Lynching'

Trump, on the other hand, said that he was a victim of 'lynching' which he also mentioned in his tweet on October 22. The term is linked in the United States to the darkest days of slavery and its long aftermath. Though he admitted to the fact that he asked Ukraine to investigate Biden, he denied Democrats' allegation that he tried to strongarm the Ukrainians by linking the delivery of US military aid. He also earlier called the investigation a "coup," a "hoax," a "witch hunt". Democrats expressed resentment over Trump's comparison with lynching as it is something very dark and offensive. Congresswoman Barbara Lee hit back on the same on twitter.

Read: Caught Up In Trump Impeachment, US Diplomats Fight Back

On the other hand, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley reportedly insisted that Trump did not mean to compare it to African-Americans in the past. Republican legislator, Senator Mitch McConnell called it an unfortunate choice of words and added that Trump's complaint is legitimate and that the process is totally unfair. Another supporter of Trump, Republican senator, Lindsey Graham, said Trump's comparison was in fact correct. 

Read: 'Trump, Pence Out Now' Cry NY Protesters Demanding For Impeachment