WASHINGTON--U.S. President Donald Trump's former Russia adviser testified for more than nine hours on Monday behind closed doors as the latest witness summoned in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry against Trump over his request that Ukraine investigate a domestic political rival.
Fiona Hill, former senior director for European and Russian Affairs on Trump's National Security Council, made no comments to reporters on arriving or leaving a secure room in the U.S. Capitol where she spoke to the House Intelligence Committee and two other panels. Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin told reporters that Hill "was a remarkably thorough and authoritative witness" who recalled "particular events and particular meetings."
Raskin, a member of the House Judiciary and Oversight panels that also are investigating Trump, declined to give details of her testimony. As they have done in the past, Republican lawmakers complained that the hearings were closed to the public and that transcripts were not being released.
The pace of the House Democrats' investigation quickened on Monday as they lined up additional witnesses to testify in closed sessions. Michael McKinley has agreed to appear voluntarily for a closed transcribed interview on Wednesday, just days after he announced his resignation as a senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Also, a person familiar with the proceedings confirmed that Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper would be interviewed by the committees on Friday. Trump has denied wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine.
The Democrats' inquiry could prompt the House to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - leading to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. Unlike the Democratic-controlled House, the Senate is led by Trump's fellow Republicans, who have shown little inclination to remove him.
Adding to the almost dizzying number of developments, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal investigators for at least the past couple of months have been questioning witnesses as they look into Rudy Giuliani's business dealings in Ukraine. Giuliani has been acting as Trump's personal lawyer.
Justice Department officials in Washington referred a request for comment to the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, where a spokesman declined to comment.
Giuliani faces a Tuesday deadline to produce documents related to the Ukraine matter subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee. He has not said whether he will comply. The former New York mayor has defended his actions as proper in his role as Trump's lawyer.
In yet another development, Trey Gowdy, a former Republican congressman who was announced last Wednesday as joining Trump's outside legal team for the impeachment fight, no longer will be doing so, at least for now, according to Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump. Sekulow praised Gowdy last week as "a great asset" to the legal team.
