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Both Tim Morrison, the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, and Kurt Volker, the former special envoy to Ukraine, said they had not seen evidence of quid pro quo, bribery, or treason, in response to questions by GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Republican Congressman Brad Wenstrup criticized the intelligence community and disputed the widely accepted conclusion by American intelligence that Russia -- not Ukraine -- interfered in the 2016 presidential election. The Ohio representative said that members of the intel community were some of the same people who were involved in the "Russia collusion hoax" at the heart of a special counsel investigation.
Committee members continued their five-minute rounds of questioning, which they could yield to colleagues. They posed questions to Kurt Volker, the former special envoy to Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council and a deputy assistant to the president.
Tim Morrison, the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, testified that he didn't always follow through on suggestions from EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland. He said his predecessor, Fiona Hill, had described Sondland's role the "Gordon problem."
Republican counsel Steve Castor asked Tim Morrison -- the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council -- about concerns within the NSC about Alexander Vindman's judgment. He asked Morrison about concerns his predecessor, Fiona Hill, might have had, but Morrison's lawyer said the question was outside the scope of his testimony. Morrison did reference his earlier testimony, in which he said others had raised concerns about Vindman potentially leaking information, something Vindman denied earlier Tuesday.
Tim Morrison, the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, said "no" when asked by the Republican counsel whether he heard anything that concerned him during President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky. He also said he viewed the summary of the call, later released by the White House, as complete and accurate.
Tim Morrison, the outgoing senior director of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, said NSC legal counsel John Eisenberg told him the summary of the president's July 25 call had been placed in a highly secure server. Morrison said Eisenberg told him that the placement was an "administrative error" and a "mistake."
In his closed-door testimony, Kurt Volker, the former special envoy to Ukraine, said "investigations" weren't discussed at a contentious July 10 meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, replying "no" to a question about whether they came up. But his opening statement at public hearings Tuesday, Volker revised that account, and said they had been raised, corroborating the accounts of other participants.
Highlights and analysis of the impeachment inquiry against President Trump
The first public hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry were conducted in front of the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Committee member Congressman Eric Swalwell speaks to "Red & Blue" about his questioning.
CBS News White House correspondent Ben Tracy, CBS News intelligence reporter Olivia Gazis, Politico White House correspondent Anita Kumar, Washington Post reporter Eugene Scott and CBSN legal analyst Rikki Kleiman join "Red &Blue" to talk about the historic day on Capitol Hill.
Career diplomats took center stage as public impeachment hearings got underway into President Trump's dealings with Ukraine. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and Ambassador William Taylor answered questions in front of lawmakers. New York Times diplomatic correspondent Lara Jakes joined CBSN to discuss their testimony.
Both Republicans and Democrats are claiming victory after the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry Wednesday. CBSN political reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns and CBSN legal contributor Keir Dougall spoke to CBSN's "Red & Blue" about their observations from the hearing.
Democrats and Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee took turns lobbing questions at the first two witnesses in the impeachment hearings: William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. Republicans continued to blast the process, while Democrats pressed for answers about the conduct of President Trump, Rudy Giuliani and their allies.
As House Intelligence Committee members took turns questioning William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, and State Department official George Kent, several Republican members forcefully denounced the impeachment inquiry. Watch this portion of Wednesday's public hearing.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, asked the two witnesses at Wednesday's impeachment hearing whether they consider themselves "Never Trumpers," as President Trump has alleged. Watch the responses from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine.
In open congressional testimony, Kent said he though Giuliani's attempts "to gin up politically motivated investigations" were "infecting" U.S.-Ukraine relations
Questioned by Democratic counsel Wednesday, George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, testified there is "no factual basis" for allegations that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, something that has been floated by Trump allies. The U.S. intelligence community concluded it was Russia that interfered in the election.
State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent described on Wednesday his credentials and commitment to advancing U.S. interests and freedom in Ukraine. He then detailed what he saw as an attempt to contradict or undermine the national interest, and specifically to undermine then-Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Watch his opening statement in the first public impeachment hearing.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and counsel Daniel Goldman spent 45 minutes questioning the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, William Taylor, and State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent in the first day of public impeachment hearings. Watch this full portion of the hearing.
The impeachment inquiry against President Trump enters a new phase
From Veterans Day to the first public hearing in Congress' impeachment inquiry into President Trump, "Sunday Morning" takes a look at some notable events of the week ahead
The House Intelligence Committee has released the transcript from the impeachment inquiry testimony of state department official George Kent. Jeff Mason, a White House correspondent for Reuters, Jennifer Haberkorn, who covers Congress for the Los Angeles Times, and Eugene Scott, who covers politics for the Washington Post, spoke to CBSN's Elaine Quijano about what was learned from Kent’s testimony.
The House has released the testimony of State Department official George Kent, who testified before the joint House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry on October 15. CBSN political contributor and Associated Press White House reporter Zeke Miller joins CBSN with the latest.
George Kent told lawmakers the accusations against Marie Yovanovitch were "without basis, untrue, period"
After a Republican revolt led by Elon Musk and Donald Trump torpedoed a plan to fund the government, a new path forward remains unclear as Congress lurches toward Friday night's deadline.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione will return to NYC today after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania.
Gisèle Pelicot said she had no regrets, but hope for the future after a judge sentenced her ex-husband to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her for years.
President-elect Donald Trump was charged in a sprawling racketeering case related to the 2020 election.
A California judge issued a restraining order against a 20-year-old man who told FBI agents he'd been messaging with the Wisconsin shooter, authorities and court documents say.
Teamsters union says Amazon workers at seven warehouses plan to walk off the job Thursday morning in multiple states.
Drones have been banned from flying over nearly two dozen New Jersey towns until Jan. 17, the FAA says.
Oklahoma is preparing to execute Kevin Underwood, who killed a 10-year-old girl during a cannibalistic fantasy. It would be the 25th and last scheduled U.S. execution this year.
Senators advance bill that would expand Social Security benefits to millions of Americans, including teachers, firefighters and others with public pensions.
After a Republican revolt led by Elon Musk and Donald Trump torpedoed a plan to fund the government, a new path forward remains unclear as Congress lurches toward Friday night's deadline.
U.S. stocks are stabilizing following one of their worst days of the year.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione is returning to New York City after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania.
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be removed from the 2020 election case against President-elect Donald Trump.
Oklahoma is preparing to execute Kevin Underwood, who killed a 10-year-old girl during a cannibalistic fantasy. It would be the 25th and last scheduled U.S. execution this year.
U.S. stocks are stabilizing following one of their worst days of the year.
Teamsters union says Amazon workers at seven warehouses plan to walk off the job Thursday morning in multiple states.
The stock market is down sharply today after the Federal Reserve forecast fewer interest rate cuts in 2025 than expected.
It's the last year the American Women Quarters Program will put historical female figures on reverse side of coins.
TP-Link routers could be banned in the U.S. over national security concerns, according to a report.
After a Republican revolt led by Elon Musk and Donald Trump torpedoed a plan to fund the government, a new path forward remains unclear as Congress lurches toward Friday night's deadline.
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be removed from the 2020 election case against President-elect Donald Trump.
The new goal is part of the Paris Agreement, under which member nations must update their emission cut targets every five years.
Democrats elect a new party chair on Feb. 1, following the loss of the presidency and the Senate and the narrow failure to win the House in 2024.
Elliston Berry's life was turned upside down after a photo she posted on Instagram was digitally altered online to be pornographic.
A Louisiana patient is critically ill with severe respiratory symptoms from H5N1 bird flu, marking the 61st U.S. human case this year. California has declared a state of emergency. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder explains the public health risks.
Advocates say it is discrimination and are arguing for "insurance fairness" on the grounds that people who have joints surgically replaced typically don't face the same kinds of coverage challenges.
Seed oils are making headlines, prompting fears around whether they can have negative effects on your health. Here's what to know.
A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
"The mystery has finally been solved," Congo's health ministry says, after an unidentified disease outbreak started killing mainly women and children in a remote region.
Russia's Vladimir Putin, in his annual marathon news conference, laments "serious blunders" by his security forces and says he'll meet Trump "any time" about Ukraine.
Two highway crashes in southeastern Afghanistan killed a combined total of 50 people and injured 76, a government spokesman says.
"Mayotte is demolished," an airport security agent told President Emmanuel Macron as he arrived in the remote French territory five days after Cyclone Chido.
Officers arrested a woman who was the missing male's partner and another man who was her ex-partner, police said.
The incident happened one day after a blast caused by another improvised landmine killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded five others.
Sixteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys celebrates her Broadway musical "Hell's Kitchen" earning a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. In an exclusive interview, she revisits her alma mater to honor the teacher who inspired her and surprises students.
For 90 years, the Apollo Theater has shaped American culture, launching icons like James Brown and Aretha Franklin. This year, it became the first institution honored by the Kennedy Center, cementing its legacy as a hub of innovation.
Since 2014, Variety's "Actors on Actors" has showcased one-on-one conversations between Hollywood stars, offering unique insights into their craft. Co-editor-in-chief and executive producer Ramin Setoodeh joins us to discuss the series' impact.
The three surviving core members of the Grateful Dead, Bobby Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, talk to Anthony Mason about becoming Kennedy Center honorees, the band's legacy and loyal fans, and the magic of music and songwriting.
Surviving members of the Grateful Dead, Bobby Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, revisit the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will hear an appeal from TikTok over a federal law that would ban the social media giant if it is not sold by its Chinese parent company. Jan Crawford has more.
Elliston Berry's life was turned upside down after a photo she posted on Instagram was digitally altered online to be pornographic.
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
The Supreme Court plans to hear arguments in January on a challenge to a new law that could lead to the popular social media app TikTok being banned in the U.S. The Biden administration and lawmakers say the Chinese government's ability to collect data from TikTok poses a significant national security risk, while the app and its Chinese parent company ByteDance argue that the law is unconstitutional. CBS News Supreme Court producer Catherine Cole has more.
FAA data shows that lithium battery fires on U.S. flights have risen 388% since 2015, now occurring nearly twice a week.
Giant hornets, dubbed "murder hornets," have been eradicated in the U.S., five years after the invasive species was first detected in Washington state.
World coal use is set to reach an all-time high in 2024, the International Energy Agency says, in a year all but certain to be the hottest in recorded history.
From record-breaking temperatures to devastating disasters, 2024 brought the world closer to the reality of what climate change looks and feels like. CBS News national environmental correspondent David Schechter reports.
Researchers determined that dozens of men, women and children were violently killed and cannibalized in Bronze Age-era England.
In this episode of “ClimateWatch,” CBS national environmental correspondent David Schechter looks back at the devastating hurricanes, landslides, flooding and more that impacted the U.S. this year.
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case, has waived extradition and is being transported from Pennsylvania to New York. CBS News' Nicole Valdes has more.
UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione is returning to New York City after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania.
Luigi Mangione's lawyer says the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing is expected to waive extradition back to New York from Pennsylvania. CBS News' Nicole Valdes reports.
Officers arrested a woman who was the missing male's partner and another man who was her ex-partner, police said.
The incident happened one day after a blast caused by another improvised landmine killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded five others.
New analysis techniques and decades-old research helped NASA scientists identify an unusual black hole in a distant galaxy.
Here's why NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are stuck, but not stranded, at the International Space Station after launching into space in June.
NASA has delayed the return date for Boeing's Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. CBS News' Manuel Bojorquez reports on the decision to keep the two in space.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says he's optimistic the Trump administration will support the space agency's agenda.
Two astronauts who have been stuck in space since June will have to wait until at least the end of March to come home after NASA on Wednesday again pushed back their return date. Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer for the Franklin Institute, joined CBS News to discuss what's causing the delays.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Peterson's death sentence for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci has been overturned. Now his supporters are pushing for a complete retrial.
The seesaw marriage between the former ballerina and her much older husband only lasted four years, until she shot him on Sept. 27, 2020.
Cayley Mandadi's mother and stepfather go to extreme lengths to prove her death was no accident.
Live performances are in full swing this summer. Scroll through our concert gallery, featuring pictures by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
Sixteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys celebrates her Broadway musical "Hell's Kitchen" earning a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. In an exclusive interview, she revisits her alma mater to honor the teacher who inspired her and surprises students.
For 90 years, the Apollo Theater has shaped American culture, launching icons like James Brown and Aretha Franklin. This year, it became the first institution honored by the Kennedy Center, cementing its legacy as a hub of innovation.
Imtiaz Tyab tours a Syrian facility linked to the production of a street drug popular in the Middle East. The operation allegedly funded the exiled dictator's regime, adding to the legacy of pain left behind.
Reality TV star Paris Hilton celebrated a legislative victory in Washington as lawmakers approved a bill to regulate youth treatment facilities. Hilton, who says she was abused as a teenager in such a center, has championed this cause for years.
A Louisiana patient is critically ill with severe respiratory symptoms from H5N1 bird flu, marking the 61st U.S. human case this year. California has declared a state of emergency. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder explains the public health risks.