Article snippet: The first public impeachment hearing in 20 years featured two career diplomats on the front lines of MORE’s dealings with Ukraine. William Taylor, the acting ambassador to Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, testified for more than five hours amid a media frenzy and partisan bickering over the future of the Trump presidency. Here are five takeaways. Taylor was a credible witness There’s a good reason why Democrats called Taylor to testify before their first public hearing on impeachment. The former West Point graduate and decorated Vietnam War veteran with the booming baritone voice proved to be an authoritative and credible witness, demonstrating a command of facts and providing detailed testimony based on his personal notes full of names, dates and places. He asserted at the outset that he had no agenda against Trump or anyone else: “I am not here to take one side or the other, or to advocate for any particular outcome of these proceedings.” But in his testimony, Taylor described an “irregular” foreign policy channel with Ukraine led by MORE, Trump’s personal attorney, and explained why he had raised concerns with colleagues upon learning that the White House was withholding nearly $400 million in security aid until Kyiv agreed to open investigations helpful to Trump’s reelection. “That security assistance was so important for Ukraine as well as our own national interest. To withhold that assi... Link to the full article to read more