Hill and Holmes: Everyone knew Burisma investigation was about the Bidens

Sondland and Volker said they didn't realize Burisma was about the Bidens. Hill and Holmes tore that claim apart. [View in browser]( [Image]( NOVEMBER 22, 2019 Fiona Hill, President Donald Trump's former top adviser on Russia and Europe, and David Holmes, a counselor for political affairs at the U.S. embassy in Ukraine, [testified before the House Intelligence Committee]( for more than five hours on Thursday — capping the week's long list of public hearings in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry. [Image] Photo by AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Hill butted heads with Republican lawmakers after accusing them of echoing Russian propaganda by repeatedly bringing up the "fictional narrative" that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election. "I would ask that you please not promote politically driven falsehoods that so clearly advance Russian interests," Hill said. "I refuse to be part of an effort to legitimize an alternate narrative that the Ukrainian government is a U.S. adversary, and that Ukraine — not Russia —attacked us in 2016." She issued a dire warning that Russian intelligence and its proxies are gearing up to interfere again in 2020 — and that the U.S. is "running out of time to stop them." "Our nation is being torn apart," she testified. [Image] Photo by Getty/Jim Watson David Holmes, in his testimony, [described in great detail](how Rudy Giuliani directed a shadow Ukraine diplomacy team that included Gordon Sondland, Kurt Volker, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry — a trio known as the "three amigos." Holmes also described the now-famous phone call he overheard between President Trump and Gordon Sondland, where Sondland told Trump that "Zelenskiy loves your ass" and that Trump asked Sondland if they were "going to do the investigation." Holmes, in his testimony, offered a comical observation about how outrageous many — even Sondland — found the arrangement to be. He recalled a time when Sondland, frustrated with how “active in the media” Giuliani had been “with respect to Ukraine,” exclaimed, “Dammit, Rudy. Every time Rudy gets involved he goes and f---- everything up.” Reporting via [Adam Edelman](, [Josh Lederman, Peter Alexander and Dareh Gregorian]( IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [Nicolle: 'It's gonna take a dead Russian hooker at the bottom of the Hudson before Republicans wake up']( While discussing the likelihood that Republicans would would turn on President Trump and vote for his impeachment and subsequent removal, Nicolle Wallace shares a theory of what it would take for them to do so. (Deadline: White House) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Trump, the emo songwriter]( Photographers captured Trump’s notes, and a meme was born on the White House lawn. (All In) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Fiona Hill: When women show anger, it's not fully appreciated]( Durin impeachment testimony, Fiona Hill explains, "When women show anger, it's not fully appreciated." Maya Wiley reacts. (11th Hour) [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS - Sen. Amy Klobuchar on a potential impeachment trial & 2020 ([Last Word]() - Impeachment witness rips 'domestic political errand' for Trump ([Maddow]() - David Jolly uses John Bolton's own words to show why he needs to testify ([Video]() - What three critical impeachment witnesses have in common: They're immigrants ([11th Hour]() - Rosenberg: The U.S. is supposed to be a beacon of light and hope. This is heartbreaking. ([Video](Rosenberg: The U.S. is supposed to be a beacon of light and hope. This is heartbreaking)) - Deval Patrick: ‘We need change that’ll last’ ([Hardball]() - McFaul: Hill's testimony is 'very damning for the president of the United States' ([Video]() - Russian propaganda seen fusing with Republican Ukraine narrative ([Maddow]() - Laurence Tribe: No good reason for Dems to delay impeachment ([Video]() - Hill and Holmes: Everyone knew Burisma investigation was about the Bidens ([11th Hour]() - Chris Hayes on the parallels between Netanyahu and Trump ([All In]() QUOTE OF THE DAY [“John Bolton wasn’t shy about selling the information for $2 Million in a book deal, but he won’t provide it to the Congress, when 3 of his deputies are doing so.]( [That’s disgusting and it’s cynical.”]( — Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, to Rachel Maddow on John Bolton's reluctance to testify WHAT TO WATCH FRIDAY No other witnesses are known to be coming forward for public hearings in the impeachment inquiry. The next steps are uncertain, and this could be the end of this phase. We will continue to update you on the latest. Watch MSNBC and follow the [NBC News impeachment inquiry live blog]( for more. This newsletter was prepped for you by Stephanie Haberman. Tell us what you think of the news and [drop us an e-mail](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily). Check out [our YouTube feature](, "The Day That Was," a review of MSNBC's primetime coverage. Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe here](. [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily) [Image] Follow MSNBC [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Check out the MSNBC channel on Apple News Download the NBC News Mobile App and watch MSNBC [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)