75 Rudy Giuliani, Twitter (Apr. 8, 2019) (online at https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1115171828618731520).
76 Specifically, between April 8 and April 11, phone records show the following phone contacts:
six calls between Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Parnas (longest duration approximately five minutes), AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02115-ATTHPSCI_20190930-02131;
four calls between Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Solomon (all on April 8, longest duration approximately one minute, 30 seconds) AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02114-ATTHPSCI_20190930-02115;
nine calls between Mr. Parnas and Mr. Solomon (longest duration four minutes, 39 seconds) AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00885-ATTHPSCI_20190930-00906; and
three calls between Mr. Parnas and Ms. Toensing (longest duration approximately six minutes), AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00885-ATTHPSCI_20190930-00905.
77 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02125, ATTHPSCI_20190930-03236.
Date Connecting Time (EDT) Duration of Call Caller Recipient
04/10/19 12:00:36 0:35 Giuliani, Rudy Nunes, Devin
04/10/19 12:10:35 0:00 Nunes, Devin Giuliani, Rudy
04/10/19 12:10:37 0:31 Nunes, Devin Giuliani, Rudy
04/10/19 12:11:10 SMS UNKNOWN Giuliani, Rudy
04/10/19 12:12:35 2:50 Giuliani, Rudy Nunes, Devin
04/10/19 12:15:38 0:00 Giuliani, Rudy Nunes, Devin
78 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00902.
79 Jay Sekulow, personal counsel to President Trump, stated that the President was disappointed that Mr. diGenova and Ms. Toensing had to withdraw due to a conflict of interest, but noted that “those conflicts do not prevent them from assisting the President in other legal matters. The President looks forward to working with them.” Trump’s Legal Team Remains in Disarray as New Lawyer Will No Longer Represent Him in Russia Probe, Washington Post (Mar. 25, 2018) (online at www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-another-blow-to-trumps-efforts-to-combat-russia-probe-digenova-will-no-longer-join-legal-team/2018/03/25/8ac8c8d2-3038-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html).
80 For example, between April 1 and April 7, Ms. Toensing exchanged approximately five calls with Mr. Parnas and two calls with Mr. Giuliani. In addition, on April 10, Ms. Toensing and Mr. Giuliani spoke for approximately six minutes, 19 seconds. AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02126. Mr. diGenova and Ms. Toensing were also very active on social media in promoting these conspiracy theories as well as the false accusations against Ambassador Yovanovitch. See, e.g., Ryan Saavedra, Twitter (Mar. 23, 2019) (online at https://twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1109546629672009728); Victoria Toensing, Twitter (Mar. 21, 2019) (online at https://twitter.com/VicToensing/status/1108751525239762944); Victoria Toensing, Twitter (Mar. 24, 2019) (online at https://twitter.com/VicToensing/status/1109882728101625856).
81 Retainer Letter, diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Yuriy Lutsenko, and Kostiantyn Kulyk (Apr. 12, 2019); Retainer Letter, diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Viktor Shokin (Apr. 15, 2019).
82 On April 12, less than a week after the latest piece in The Hill, Ms. Toensing signed a retainer agreement between diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Mr. Lutsenko, and his former deputy Kostiantyn Kulyk, two of the primary sources for Mr. Solomon’s articles. The Committees’ obtained a copy of this document which is not signed by the Ukrainians, but a spokesman for Ms. Toensing and Mr. diGenova confirmed that the firm represented Mr. Lutsenko. See Giuliani Weighed Doing Business with Ukrainian Government, Wall Street Journal (Nov. 27, 2019) (online at www.wsj.com/articles/giuliani-weighed-doing-business-with-ukrainian-government-11574890951).
The first paragraph of the retainer agreement sets forth the services to be provided by diGenova & Toensing, LLP to their Ukrainian clients:
Yurii Lutsenko and Kostiantyn Kulyk (“Clients”) hereby engage the firm of diGenova & Toensing, LLP (“Firm” or “Attorneys”) to represent them in connection with recovery and return to the Ukraine government of funds illegally embezzeled from that country and providing assistance to meet and discuss with United States government officials the evidence of illegal conduct in Ukraine regarding the United States, for example, interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.
See Retainer Letter, diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Yuriy Lutsenko, and Kostiantyn Kulyk (Apr. 12, 2019).
The scope of representation—which includes representing Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Kulyk in meetings with U.S. officials regarding Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections—mirrors the allegations reported in The Hill, pursued by Mr. Giuliani on behalf of President Trump, and pushed by the President on his July 25 call with President Zelensky. According to the retainer agreement, Mr. Lutsenko was to pay diGenova & Toensing, LLP $25,000 per month, plus costs, for four months for this work. See Retainer Letter, diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Yuriy Lutsenko, and Kostiantyn Kulyk (Apr. 12, 2019).
On April 12, the same day Ms. Toensing signed the retainer agreement with Mr. Lutsenko, phone records show contacts between Ms. Toensing, Mr. Giuliani, and Mr. Parnas, as well as contacts between Mr. Parnas and Mr. Solomon, and Mr. Parnas and Rep. Nunes. In addition, among these calls are contacts between Mr. Giuliani and a phone number associated with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), an unidentified number (“-1”), and a phone number associated with the White House:
Date Connecting Time (EDT) Duration of Call Caller Recipient Source
04/12/19 9:48:57 0:24 Toensing, Victoria Parnas, Lev AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00908
04/12/19 10:40:19 3:25 Parnas, Lev Toensing, Victoria AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00909
04/12/19 11:05:25 0:03 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02134
04/12/19 11:05:39 12:10 “-1” Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02134
04/12/19 13:13:49 0:12 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02135
04/12/19 13:18:46 0:07 Toensing, Victoria Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02135
04/12/19 13:26:54 0:24 Giuliani Partners Parnas, Lev AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00911
04/12/19 14:11:22 0:03 “-1” Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02136
04/12/19 14:11:27 0:03 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02136
04/12/19 14:17:46 0:07 Toensing, Victoria Parnas, Lev AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00912
04/12/19 15:09:22 0:02 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00912
04/12/19 15:09:32 0:01 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00912
04/12/19 15:16:09 1:38 Parnas, Lev Solomon, John AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00912
04/12/19
15:48:09 0:03 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02137
04/12/19 16:10:49 0:00 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 16:10:51 0:02 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 16:10:51 0:02 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
4/12/19 16:12:53 1:00 Parnas, Lev Nunes, Devin AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 16:54:11 0:00 Nunes, Devin Parnas, Lev AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 16:54:13 0:02 Nunes, Devin Parnas, Lev AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 17:07:20 1:27 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00913
04/12/19 17:17:36 7:52 Sekulow, Jay Giuliani, Rudy AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-03565
04/12/19 17:24:05 1:49 Parnas, Lev Solomon, John AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00914
04/12/19 17:26:48 0:28 Parnas, Lev Solomon, John AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00914
04/12/19 17:30:19 8:34 Parnas, Lev Nunes, Devin AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00914
04/12/19 17:39:25 0:53 Parnas, Lev Solomon, John AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00914
04/12/19 19:56:43 5:03 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02139
Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Kulyk were not the only Ukrainians who appear to have engaged with diGenova & Toensing, LLP. On April 15, Ms. Toensing signed another retainer agreement between diGenova & Toensing, LLP and former Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. Again, the Committees’ copy is not signed by Mr. Shokin. A spokesman for Ms. Toensing and Mr. diGenova acknowledged that the firm represented “Ukrainian whistleblowers,” but claimed that the identities of those clients (other that Mr. Lutsenko) are protected by attorney-client privilege. See Giuliani Weighed Doing Business with Ukrainian Government, Wall Street Journal (Nov. 27, 2019) (online at www.wsj.com/articles/giuliani-weighed-doing-business-with-ukrainian-government-11574890951).
The first paragraph of the retainer agreement outlined the services to be rendered:
Viktor Shokin (“Client”) hereby engaged the firm diGenova & Toensing, LLP (“Firm” or “Attorneys”) to represent him for the purpose of collecting evidence regarding his March 2016 firing as Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the role of then-Vice President Joe Biden in such firing, and presenting such evidence to U.S. and foreign authorities.
See Retainer Letter, diGenova & Toensing, LLP, Viktor Shokin (Apr. 15, 2019).
The subject matter of the agreement—the activities of Vice President Biden—again echo Mr. Solomon’s pieces in The Hill, conspiracy theories spread by Mr. Giuliani on behalf of President Trump, and the President’s statements about Vice President Biden on his July 25 call with President Zelensky.
83 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-00947-ATTHPSCI_20190930-00950.
84 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02222-ATTHPSCI_20190930-02223.
Date Connecting Time (EDT) Duration of Call Caller Recipient
04/23/19 14:00:56 1:50 Giuliani, Rudy Parnas, Lev
04/23/19 14:15:18 0:18 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/23/19 14:15:43 0:11 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/23/19 15:20:17 0:11 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/23/19 15:50:23 8:28 “-1” Giuliani, Rudy
85 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02224.
86 Rudy Giuliani, Twitter (Apr. 23, 2019) (online at https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1120798794692612097).
87 Giuliani Fires Back at Hillary Clinton’s Remarks on Mueller Probe, Fox News (Apr. 24, 2019) (online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDtg8z12Q7s&feature=youtu.be).
88 AT&T Document Production, Bates ATTHPSCI_20190930-02229-ATTHPSCI_20190930-02237.
Date Connecting Time (EDT) Duration of Call Caller Recipient
04/24/19 7:17:48 0:42 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy
04/24/19 7:47:57 0:37 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 7:48:39 0:21 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 7:49:00 0:31 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy
04/24/19 7:49:00 0:20 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 7:49:35 4:53 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 7:54:52 0:24 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 13:03:50 13:44 OMB Phone Number Giuliani, Rudy
04/24/19 16:42:52 8:00 Parnas, Lev Giuliani, Rudy
04/24/19 18:38:57 0:44 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 18:42:43 8:42 “-1” Giuliani, Rudy
04/24/19 20:09:14 0:06 Giuliani, Rudy White House Phone Number
04/24/19 20:12:08 3:15 White House # Giuliani, Rudy
89 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 31-32.
90 Yovanovitch Dep. Tr. at 22.
91 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 21-22.
92 Yovanovitch Dep. Tr. at 129.
93 Yovanovitch Dep. Tr. at 139.
94 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 28.
95 Sondland Hearing Tr. at 21.
96 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 131-132.
97 Hale Dep. Tr. at 16-17; Hale Dep. Tr. at 112-113; Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 21.
98 “I only met her when I took this job, but immediately I understood that we had an exceptional officer doing exceptional work at a very critical embassy in Kyiv. And during my visits to Kyiv, I was very impressed by what she was doing there, to the extent that I asked her if she’d be willing to stay, if that was a possibility, because we had a gap coming up.” Cooper-Hale Hearing Tr. at 63.
99 Cooper-Hale Hearing Tr. at 64.
100 Biography of Marie L. Yovanovitch, Department of State (online at https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/261588.htm).
101 McKinley Transcribed Interview Tr. at 37.
102 Reeker Dep. Tr. at 26.
103 Kent Dep. Tr. at 188-189.
104 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 18-19.
105 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 18-19.
106 Hill-Holmes Hearing Tr. at 18-19, 45-46.
107 Holmes Dep. Tr. at 142.
108 What “Corruption” Means in the Impeachment Hearings, New Yorker (Nov. 16, 2019) (online at www.newyork
er.com/news/our-columnists/the-corruption-of-the-word-corruption-and-so-much-else-amid-the-impeachment-hearings).
109 22 U.S.C. § 3941.
110 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 110-111.
111 Ambassador Yovanovitch said: “Although then and now I have always understood that I served at the pleasure of the President, I still find it difficult to comprehend that foreign and private interests were able to undermine U.S. interests in this way. Individuals who apparently felt stymied by our efforts to promote stated U.S. policy against corruption, that is, to do our mission, were able to successfully conduct a campaign of disinformation against a sitting ambassador using unofficial back channels. As various witnesses have recounted, they shared baseless allegations with the President and convinced him to remove his ambassador despite the fact that the State Department fully understood that the allegations were false and the sources highly suspect.” Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 22.
112 Hill-Holmes Hearing Tr. at 78-79.
113 Yovanovitch Dep. Tr. at 313-314.
114 Yovanovitch Hearing Tr. at 22.
115 Kent-Taylor Hearing Tr. at 25.
116 Kent. Dep. Tr. at 131-132.
117 Kent-Taylor Hearing Tr. at 31-32.
118 Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky Unseats Incumbent in Ukraine’s Presidential Election, Exit Polls Show, Washington Post (Apr. 21, 2019) (online at www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-ukraine-votes-in-presidential-runoff-a-comedian-looks-to-unseat-the-incumbent/2019/04/21/b7d69a38-603f-11e9-bf24-db4b9fb62aa2_story.html).
119 Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky Unseats Incumbent in Ukraine’s Presidential Election, Exit Polls Show, The Washington Post (Apr. 21, 2019) (online at www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-ukraine-votes-in-presidential-runoff-a-comedian-looks-to-unseat-the-incumbent/2019/04/21/b7d69a38-603f-11e9-bf24-db4b9fb62aa2_story.html).
120 The White House, Memorandum of Telephone Conversation (Apr. 21, 2019) (online at https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6550349/First-Trump-Ukraine-Call.pdf).
The Impeachment Report Page 26