Testimony of Marie Yovanovitch in 'impeachment' case takes new turn after Trump's Twitter post

(Patria) – A Twitter post by US President Donald Trump presented to witness in the 'impeachment' case, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, caused a fierce reaction from Democrats.

Trump said via Twitter:

- Wherever Marie Yovanovitch went, things went bad. Start in Somalia and how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukraine, where the new Ukrainian president spoke unfavorably about her during our second phone call. The President of the United States has the absolute right to appoint ambassadors.

This message from the US President was presented to Yovanovitch during the second day of her testimony before the US House Intelligence Committee in the 'impeachment' proceedings against the US President.

Chairman of the Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff read Trump's post to Ambassador Yovanovitch and asked for her comment.

- I can't speak to what the President is trying to do, but I think the effect of it is intimidation, she said.

Schiff responded to her statement: 'I want you to know, Ambassador, that some of us here take witness intimidation very, very seriously.'

A fierce reaction followed from other committee members from the Democratic party; even Fox News, which is sympathetic to Trump, criticized his post, stating that Yovanovitch is a credible witness, writes Euronews.

However, Republican representative Jim Jordan explained that 'the President was frustrated by the relentless attack on him that began even before he became president,' and that he believes this is behind his Twitter post.

Another Republican representative, Mark Walker, agreed with his explanation: 'I don't think it's about intimidating a witness, but about redirecting so that people understand, especially those in the State Department, that they are acting on the President's orders.'

Republican Doug Heye, who often criticizes Trump, stated that his Twitter post will not change public opinion about the hearing: 'The parties in the battle have drawn their lines, people have already formed their opinions. The problem with Trump is that instead of being the counter-puncher he presents himself as, he always takes the bait,' Heye claims, adding that Trump 'despite the wishes of even his staff, will never stop tweeting,' writes Euronews.