Article snippet: A group of The Associated Press reported Sunday. The businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to Trump and his personal lawyer MORE while trying to funnel lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies, two people with knowledge of the plans told the outlet. The plan was derailed by former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's loss in the 2019 election to Volodymyr Zelensky, whose conversation with Trump about former Vice President MORE and his son Hunter Biden is now at the center of the House impeachment inquiry launched last month. Energy Secretary MORE took up efforts to install a new management team at the helm of the gas company after Zelensky's win, according to the AP. It is unclear whether Perry’s attempt to replace board members at Naftogaz was coordinated with the Giuliani allies pushing for a similar outcome, the AP reported. The Hill has reached out to the White House and Department of Energy for comment. The report could raise concerns that Trump allies may have been mixing business and politics when calling for the investigation into Hunter Biden, who served five years on the board of another Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. According to the AP, the associates attempting to change leadership at the state gas company might have had inside knowledge of the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine. For example, they appeared to know well in advance that Trump would recall the U.S. ambassador there. Three businessmen wer... Link to the full article to read more