Article snippet: House Republicans argue report released Monday. In the report, which was viewed in draft form by The Hill before its release, Republicans claim there is no evidence to back up Democrats' allegations that Trump sought to use a White House visit and nearly $400 million in U.S. aid as leverage to get Kyiv to open two investigations that would benefit him politically. In the 123-page report that echoes the president's own defense arguments, Republicans don’t give an inch in admitting wrongdoing and attack the impeachment inquiry led by Democrats, describing it as a partisan campaign that aims to shake up the political system. “Understood in this proper context, the President’s initial hesitation to meet with President Zelensky or to provide U.S. taxpayer-funded security assistance to Ukraine without thoughtful review is entirely prudent,” the report reads. It argues that the evidence does not support Democrats’ allegations that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “to initiate investigations for the purpose of benefiting the President in the 2020 election,” nor that he “obstructed the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry” by blocking the testimony of multiple witnesses, including those with direct knowledge of such contacts with Kyiv. “Even examining evidence beyond the presidential phone call shows no quid pro quo, bribery, extortion, or abuse of power. The evidence shows that President Trump holds a deep-seated, genuine, and reasonable skepticism of Ukr... Link to the full article to read more