WaPo: Trump's own Russia ambassador nominee: The Ukraine stuff is problematic

[Roland99]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/30/trumps-own-russia-ambassador-nominee-ukraine-stuff-is-problematic/

President Trump’s nominee to become the next ambassador to Russia suggested Wednesday that Trump’s and Rudolph W. Giuliani’s efforts with regard to Ukraine have crossed a line.
Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan didn’t directly rebuke the two of them, but under questioning about various aspects of the Ukraine scandal, he implied that what Trump and his personal lawyer have been up to is at the very least problematic.

At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) asked Sullivan broadly whether it was okay to ask foreign governments to investigate domestic political opponents.

“Soliciting investigations into a domestic political opponent — I don’t think that would be in accord with our values,” Sullivan said. He added later: "The concept of investigating a political rival … that would be inconsistent with our values.”

...

Sullivan sought to draw a line between his sentiment and what transpired in Ukraine, suggesting it might be okay if such an investigation was merely a part of a broader anti-corruption push. But there is no evidence it was. Evidence has shown repeatedly that Trump and his team pushed specifically for two investigations that carry obvious political benefits and not others. There is no evidence of them pushing for other investigations.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, there goes that appointment.