Tipsheet

NSC Official Was Worried Trump's Ukraine Phone Call Would Leak And Be Used For Partisan Purposes

Timothy Morrison, the National Security Council's Senior Director for European Affairs, told lawmakers on Thursday he was worried President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would leak and be used for partisan purposes. 

In his opening statement, which was obtained by Townhall, Morrison told Congress he had three concerns if there was a leak of the call's transcript. Morrison was listening to the phone call from the Situation Room and stated the transcript of the call that was released by White House was accurate.

"First, how it would play out in Washington's polarized environment; second, how a leak would affect the bipartisan support our Ukrainian partners currently experience in Congress; and third, how it would affect the Ukrainian perceptions of the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship," he said.

As Townhall previously reported, Morrison made it clear he "was not concerned that anything illegal was discussed."

"My recollection is that Ambassador Sondland’s proposal to [Ukrainian National Security Advisor Andriy] Yermak was that it could be sufficient if the new Ukrainian prosecutor general — not President Zelensky — would commit to pursue the Burisma investigation," he continued.

“I am pleased our process gave the president the confidence he needed to approve the release of the security sector assistance,” Morrison added. “I am proud of what I have been able, in some small way, to help the Trump administration accomplish."

A whistleblower filed a complaint over the phone call by accusing Trump of engaging in quid pro quo to have the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in exchange for military aid.