Tipsheet

Rep. Stefanik Highlights Obama's Own State Dept. Having Concerns About Hunter Biden

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) used her time during Friday's impeachment inquiry hearing to highlight how former President Barack Obama's State Department had concerns over Hunter Biden, his Vice President's son, taking a board member position at Burisma Holdings.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch became aware of concerns involving Hunter Biden and Burisma when the Obama administration was preparing Yovanovitch for her Senate confirmation hearing.

"This was in the form of practice questions and answers. This is your deposition. And you testified that in this particular practice Q & A with the Obama State Department, it was not just generally about Burisma and corruption, it was specifically about Hunter Biden and Burisma. Is that correct?" Stefanik asked.

"Yes it is," Yovanovitch answered.

"And the exact quote from your testimony, Ambassador, is, 'The way the question was phrased was what can you tell us about Hunter Biden, you know, being named to the board of Burisma.' So for the millions of Americans watching, the State Department was so concerned about potential conflicts of interest from Hunter Biden's role at Burisma that they rated themselves while prepping the wonderful Ambassador nominee before her confirmation," Stefanik said.

"And yet our democratic colleagues and the chairman at this committee cried foul when we dare ask that same question that the Obama State Department was so concerned about. But we will continue asking it," Stefanik added.

Stefanik then asked to get on the record the lethal aid to Ukraine was not provided by "President Obama. It was provided by President Trump?"

"That is correct," Yovanovitch answered.