Krishnamoorthi: Impeachment investigation offers 'ample evidence of wrongdoing'

A two-week whirlwind of witnesses has come and gone from Capitol Hill, leaving U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi with the conclusion that "there is ample evidence of wrongdoing" on the part of President Donald Trump.

The Schaumburg lawmaker and his fellow Democrat Mike Quigley comprised the Illinois delegation on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence conducting an impeachment investigation into whether Trump exerted pressure on Ukraine for political favors.

Republicans on the committee mocked the proceedings and Trump has called the inquiry a "hoax," but there was bipartisan agreement that it was a heavy workload, Krishnamoorthi said, adding "everyone was exhausted."

Witnesses included U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, ousted Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and National Security Council adviser Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.

"I think at times it did get tense because of the way some of the witnesses were treated," Krishnamoorthi said.

He came to the defense of Vindman, who immigrated as a child from Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union, after insinuations about his loyalty to the U.S.

"From one immigrant American to another immigrant American, I want to say that you and your family represent the very best of America," Krishnamoorthi told Vindman Tuesday.

Speaking by phone Friday in Schaumburg as he cared for his 3-year-old daughter, Krishnamoorthi said, "I got emotional as I asked the question. Suddenly I saw my own parents and my family in his story."

The congressman's family brought him from India to the U.S. when he was an infant.

Of all the witnesses, former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch impressed him greatly.

"I was struck by her steely professionalism, she's the consummate diplomat," Krishnamoorthi said.

Trump is accused of trying to coerce Ukraine to investigate his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, by withholding access to financial aid and a White House meeting. He denies any quid pro quo.

Trump dismissed Yovanovitch. Krishnamoorthi said he "did it out of spite."

Krishnamoorthi also faulted the White House for using Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to circumvent the State Department in Ukraine.

"Maintaining a proper process for formulating our foreign policy is vital to maintaining our national security," Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi inadvertently grabbed attention on Twitter when C-SPAN captured a brief that when asked to talk about how the situation affected her family, Yovanovich politely declined. "She was the only witness that got a standing ovation. People know she was wrongly terminated and he did it out of spite. He did it for the wrong resaons and to further what appears to be a series of illegal acts and schemes to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals." "There is ample evidence of wrongdoing. I will withhold judgment until I see the report and what the Judiciary Committee draws up." "I think the whole thing is somewhat sad ... the whole impeachment saga, but the president backed us into a corner where 70 percent of Americans found his behavior wrong." they treat vindman reprehensible "I think at times it did get tense because of the way some of the witnesses were treated. They way they treated Vindman was reprehensible. "I think he was criticized in part because he's an immigrant. I was appalled questioned about wearing his uniform His testimony really got under their skin "I got emotional as I asked the question. Suddenly I saw my own parents and my family in his story. "Here he is, testifying at great risk to his career." "It was incredibly busy, I was trying to get ready for the questioning in the next round and my head was totally into my notes. The way I transitioned may have been a little awkward." Nine witnesses in three days. Food wasn't an issue, "I didn't get much sleep." "Everyone was exhausted." Former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovich "I was struck by her steely professionalism, she's the consummate diplomat," said Krishnamoorthi noting that when asked to talk about how the situation affected her family, Yovanovich politely declined. "She was the only witness that got a standing ovation. People know she was wrongly terminated and he did it out of spite. He did it for the wrong resaons and to further what appears to be a series of illegal acts and schemes to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals." "There is ample evidence of wrongdoing. I will withhold judgment until I see the report and what the Judiciary Committee draws up." "I think the whole thing is somewhat sad ... the whole impeachment saga, but the president backed us into a corner where 70 percent of Americans found his behavior wrong." "Maintaining a proper process for formulating our foreign policy is vital to maintaining our national security. I can't think of a worse person to commandeer our foreign policy than Rudy Giuliani. No one disputes that President Trump delegated his foreign policy in the Ukraine to Rudy Giuliani," he said adding that the former New York mayor's priorities are "not necessarily in the best interests of the United States" but in the interests of Giuliani and his associates. Krishnamoorthi wants the Intelligence Committee to expedite its report, which would then go to the Judiciary Committee that has authority to issue articles of impeachment. He believes wrongoing and shadow diplomacy is occurring currently. "Let's complete this investigation quickly and hold accountable whoever needs to be accountable." Krishnamoorthi said he pleased with testimony he elicited from Sondland pointing out the president's enigmatic "I want nothing," reply when asked about his Ukraine strategy. "It's like someone who is pulled over for a traffic stop and says, 'I didn't rob the bank.' "That very day Congress launched its investigation. incredibly busy trying to get ready for the questioning in next round my head was totally into my notes and what say and she came over and didn't say anyting imporoper how much longer than resume said something and went back into pre way I transitioned little awkward everyone was exhasuted what I didni't recognize going into the hearing I didn't realize if you do nine witness in three days lot of prpeoration at least fo rme need to knwo what everyone said before structure in way makes sense since others go before me have to do on the not much sleep need make deposition into food not an issue sleep part a strange ... Hill ? some of the witness made a strong impression bill taylor and maria yvonovitch struck by her steely professionalism she gave riveting testimony because in part becasue reserved not emote way others might - gave her the chance how your family consummate diplomate trained go thorugh tough situaitons most challening but handle with a great deal of poise striking - only witness got standing ovation .. people know she was wronged terminated when so much to offer and he did it out of spite did it out of wrong reasons and to furtehr what appears to be a seris of illegal acts schemne pressure ukrain inevet his political rivals wihthold judgement until I see the reort and what the judiciary committee draw up and with out ample evidence of wrongdoing how exprsesed I want to see how thats actually drawn up if it for the most part the feedback in terms of messagse to office has been positive and baiscally people were really struck by the testimony there's not yet got a full report question for weekend binder what correposncen not heard large volume of negative messages I think this whole thing is somewhat sad whole impeachement sage but president back us into corner wehre 70 percent of american foudn his behavior wrong and majority feel should do inauqiry as to next steps need to work on taht ... have to finsih number of other themes - most important message I took away is that our foriegh policy matters maintining a proper process for formulating our foreign policy is vital to maintain our national seucrity wihtout a doubt our forign policy is not being conducted optimally the ukraine situation exempliifes that partiucalr problme show venality some actors broubht to the table can't think of worse person to be commandeerin gour p forigent policy thatn rudy giuliana by all accoutns no one disptue trump delgate fpo in urkarnei to rudy and when rudy run it's not nec in the bests interst of united staets and best intersts of rudy and asociates as well as othe rclietns and thei rpersonal objectives Raja we heard a lot abou ta lot of very seriosu wrongdoing any chance people smile or laugh embrace had a chance to question him i'm convned he critiized in part because he's an immigrant in part because of his heritiage I was appalled that he could wera his unifrom when we all at numerous hearings whne not option a duty he not testiyf in traffic court incident involve personal vehicle he testify because of sub poenta issue to him because of and the president tweet at him whichis illegal go to show ttwo things his testimony really got under thei rskin they don't seem to have anything prvent from try to intimidate I think he I didn't realize I get emotional as I ask the question suddenly saw my own paretns and my family in his story here someone fled SU when 3 father brought him and his grandfather father come over with 3 children and grandma can't sepak english come here and educate themsevles and 3 sons go into the military and here he is testify at great risk to his career and do so at great risk at really appaling attacks wow so proud to be able to question Sondland I forget maybe what I really concerned about you and the others called the 3 amigos but friends on the other try to cast you as one amigo trump on oct. 8 and one month later prez I hardly knew the gentleman that summarized for people I thought that sig very day congress launch its investigation prez trump under all kinds of pressure now peole are making serious allegation including qpq and we launc make all thes ense he get on the phone and regardless what do you I want nothing sounds like somebody who pulled aside for a traffic stop and says I didn't rob the bank I think what surprsie me the most I think the witnesses were allowed to tell their stories without too much interruption or antics and in a way that I think is a credit to Schiff and way hearings were structured good idea 45 minutes intiial quesitoning lay out bare bones of testimony and republiacns cross examine and each member chance develop further lines of inquiries opp bring out few points I felt important such as timeline in three of witnesses I brought up the timeline and was new information and at other times exlain in more depth what go on so better I advocate for expeditiously wrongoindg doing right now in the white house a few I ask can you rule it out this type of shadow foreignt policy is happening and they point blank saissd now that caues me a lot of concern esp with rudy let's complete invseti quicky and hold accoutnble whoeve r needs to be accountable completing our invquiry and write a reoprt and send to judiciary whether draw up satricles or do something else ">exchange with Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York. Stefanik approached Krishnamoorthi, who was scanning notes during a break. When she left, he appeared to roll his eyes.

The moment went viral, but Krishnamoorthi said it was taken out of context.

"I was trying to get ready for the questioning in the next round and my head was totally into my notes. The way I transitioned may have been a little awkward," he explained.

The next step in the process is for the Intelligence Committee to write a report and submit that to the Judiciary Committee, which has authority to issue articles of impeachment, he said.

Krishnamoorthi said he would "withhold judgment" until he saw the report and "what the Judiciary Committee draws up."