"I really wasn't sure what exactly was going on," she added, as Yovanovitch detailed how she was puzzled and alarmed by public criticism from Donald Trump, Jr., and even Fox News talk host Sean Hannity.
"(O)ne of the senior Ukrainian officials was very concerned, and told me I really needed to watch my back," the former ambassador added.
"I understand, everyone understands, that I served at the pleasure of the President, I was nevertheless incredulous that the U.S. Government chose to remove an ambassador based, as far as I can tell, on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives," she said.
At some point, Yovanovitch was told that Pompeo or someone on his behalf called Sean Hannity, to ask why Hannity kept attacking her on his show pic.twitter.com/LWnVNcWrZp
— Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) November 4, 2019
Yovanovitch testified that in Feb 2019 a Ukrainian official, Minister Avakov, warned her about Giuliani's work with Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, the former NYC mayor's associates indicted by SNDY. Message: watch her back. https://t.co/Ybg8YlWikj pic.twitter.com/JtSrub1dPy
— Abigail Tracy (@abigailtracy) November 4, 2019
The two men from Florida named by the Ambassador - Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman - were arrested as they attempted to leave the United States in October, and subsequently charged with campaign finance violations.
Asked about criticism featured in the rough transcript of the phone call between President Trump and the Ukraine leader, Yovanovitch said she was worried by what she read in that White House document - as the President called her 'bad news.'
"I hate to be repetitive, but I was shocked," the Ambassador testified, as investigators pointed out where Mr. Trump said she was 'going to go through some things.'
"Did you feel threatened?" Yovanovitch was asked.
"Yes," she replied.
Yovanovitch on Trump telling Zelensky that she was “going to go through some things”:
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 4, 2019
“I didn't know what it meant. I was very concerned. I still am.”
Q: Did you feel threatened?
A: “Yes.”https://t.co/TPNG09AB6x
The other transcript released on Monday came from Michael McKinley, who recently resigned as a top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Two more transcripts will be released on Tuesday, from the former special U.S. envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, and from the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland.
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