Here’s the tape of Donald Trump saying “take her out” about U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch
Earlier today, ABC News reported that it had heard an audio tape of Donald Trump saying “take her out” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch in April of 2018. At the least, this confirms that Trump’s Ukraine scandal had been going on for much longer than previously known. Considering that Trump made the remark in response to comments made by Lev Parnas, it’s being widely interpreted as Trump instructing Lev and Igor Fruman to do something criminal to her. In any case, the most crucial part of the tape has now been released.
Even as Lev Parnas’ attorney Joseph Bondy was on MSNBC confirming that he has a copy of the recording and he’s just given it to the House, but that he wasn’t ABC’s source, ABC went ahead and posted a portion of the tape on its website. Sure enough, Trump can be heard yelling things like “Get her out of there” and “Take her out.” Watch the clip below; the recording of Trump begins about 45 seconds into the video clip:
This is all unfolding rather quickly now. ABC News has begun posting the tape. The House is surely going to use the tape for its own purposes while Donald Trump’s lawyers are trying to put on his impeachment trial defense tomorrow. We’ll see where this goes, but it’s certainly not a good development for Trump.
Bill Palmer is the publisher of the political news outlet Palmer Report