Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch called for an investigation Tuesday after new documents obtained by the House of Representatives suggest she may have been followed by associates of President Trump‘s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani while in Ukraine.
“Needless to say, the notion that American citizens and others were monitoring Ambassador Yovanovitch’s movements for unknown purposes is disturbing,” Yovanovitch’s attorney said in a statement, according to The Hill. “We trust that the appropriate authorities will conduct an investigation to determine what happened.”
The House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Reform committees released the documents turned over by indicted Giuliani associate Lev Parnas that included messages between him and Republican congressional candidate Robert Hyde.
DEMS DROP IMPEACHMENT FILE TROVE ON EVE OF KEY VOTE: HANDWRITTEN NOTES, MESSAGES TO UKRAINE AND MORE
Lev Parnas arrives at court in New York City, Dec. 2, 2019. Parnas, a close associate of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has provided a trove of text messages and photos to the House committee leading the impeachment inquiry. (Associated Press)
In one text, Hyde, a Trump donor, allegedly wrote to Parnas, “Wow. Can’t believe Trump hasn’t fired this b–ch. I’ll get right in that,” according to The Hill.
“Wow. Can’t believe Trump hasn’t fired this b–ch.”
— Text message purportedly written by Trump donor
In another message, he allegedly wrote, “they will let me know when she’s on the move,” in an apparent reference to Yovanovicth,” adding later, “if you want her out they need to make contact with security forces,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
“Guess you can do anything in the Ukraine with money,” he reportedly texted, after apparently establishing that Yovanovitch was under some form of surveillance.
The House released the documents as new evidence for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial related to Trump’s July phone call asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter’s involvement in the country.
Parnas and his business partner Igor Fruman, both U.S. citizens who emigrated from the former Soviet bloc, have been indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of conspiracy, making false statements and falsification of records related to allegations that they made outsized campaign donations to Republican causes after receiving millions of dollars originating from Russia.
Parnas’ attorney stated last year he would be willing to testify in the impeachment inquiry.
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Yovanovitch, who was recalled from her position last May, testified during the House impeachment hearings on an alleged smear campaign against her led by Trump allies.
Fox News’ Gregg Re contributed to this report.
