Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Robert MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezMSNBC signs Alicia Menendez as weekend anchor Senate confirmation drama highlights media hypocrisy Menendez calls on State to open investigation into delay in Ukraine aid MORE (D-N.J.) on Tuesday questioned Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Pompeo, Barr drawn into Ukraine web Embracing President Mike Pence might be GOP’s best play Pence advised Trump against releasing partial transcript of Ukraine call: report MORE and Energy Secretary Rick PerryJames (Rick) Richard PerryThe five most serious charges in the whistleblower’s complaint Gas prices could rise 15 to 30 cents following Saudi attack Trump envoy presses Saudi Arabia to allow nuclear inspections MORE regarding their travel to Ukraine as the White House faces scrutiny for its dealings with the country.
The questions in letters Menendez sent to Pence and Perry centered around Pence’s cancelled trip to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s inauguration and Perry’s trip in his place.
“Given your role as the leader of the official United States delegation to the inauguration, and the White House’s recent release of evidence that President TrumpDonald John TrumpFederal judge halts California law targeting Trump tax returns Trump agriculture chief: No guarantee small farms can survive Harris presses Twitter to ‘do something’ over Trump’s ‘coup’ tweet MORE requested that Ukraine’s government investigate his domestic political opponent, your insight into the U.S. delegation’s trip is of particular interest to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” Menendez wrote in his letter to Perry.
Menendez asked the energy secretary about who asked him to lead the delegation and why, as well as whether he was asked to convey “President Trump’s desire for assistance in investigating one of his political opponents or their family members, or unsubstantiated theories related to Ukraine’s involvement in the 2016 U.S. election.”
The Democrat asked Pence why his trip was canceled and also questioned him on his travel to the country in September.
“You met with President Zelensky in Warsaw, Poland. When asked by a reporter on that trip whether you could ‘assure Ukraine that the hold-up of that money has absolutely nothing to do with efforts, including by Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiPoll: 40 percent of Republicans say Trump ‘probably’ mentioned Biden on Ukraine call Pompeo, House chairmen clash in impeachment fight Overnight Defense: State approves M weapons sale to Ukraine | Pompeo rejects Dem demands for officials’ testimony | Dems worry about whistleblower’s safety | US, North Korea to hold talks MORE, to try to dig up dirt on the Biden family,’ you did not answer the question,” he wrote to Pence.
“As the summary of the call with President Zelensky demonstrates, President Trump requested a foreign government help investigate his domestic political opponent. While I hope that he was alone in making such an inappropriate request, your statements regarding your discussions with Ukraine officials raise questions whether you may have helped carry that message,” he added.
Menendez requested that the administration officials answer his questions by this Friday.
The inauguration trip is mentioned in the recently released whistleblower complaint in which Trump is accused of pushing Zelensky to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe BidenJoe BidenHarris presses Twitter to ‘do something’ over Trump’s ‘coup’ tweet Poll: 40 percent of Republicans say Trump ‘probably’ mentioned Biden on Ukraine call Pompeo, House chairmen clash in impeachment fight MORE for Trump’s benefit. The president has denied wrongdoing.
“On or around 14 May, the President instructed Vice President Pence to cancel his planned travel to Ukraine to attend President Zelenskyy’ s inauguration on 20 May,” the complaint said citing U.S. officials. “Secretary of Energy Rick Perry led the delegation instead.”
“According to these officials, it was also ‘made clear; to them that the President did not want to meet with Mr. Zelenskyy until he saw how Zelenskyy ‘chose to act; in office. I do not know how this guidance was communicated, or by whom. I also do not know whether this action was connected with the broader understanding, described in the unclassified letter, that a meeting or phone call between the President and President Zelenskyy would depend on whether Zelenskyy showed willingness to ‘play ball,'” it continued.
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