Second Week of Congressional Hearings Increases Pressure on Trump

US President Donald Trump faces the threat of further testimony that could hurt him in the second week of public hearings of the investigation prior to a possible impeachment process in the House of Representatives.

The tweet published yesterday by Trump, which indicated that he could attend to testify, had no impact on the calendar that the House Intelligence Committee has planned for this week, with nine witnesses convened.

The most important is that of Gordon Sondland, the American ambassador to the European Union. He reportedly transmitted to the Ukrainian government Trump's request that Kiev seek compromising information to use against former Vice President Joe Biden, one of the Democratic presidential favorites of the White House race in 2020.

Hearings also include diplomats who have been sabbathed behind closed doors in the House.

In their statement, these officials stated that Trump and Sondland repeatedly pressured Kiev to open an investigation against Biden. To increase the pressure, the White House reportedly withheld nearly $ 400 million in defense aid and conditioned a visit to Ukraine's President Volodimir Zelenski's White House to obtain this information.

In a letter sent to her co-religionists on Monday, Mayor Democrat Nancy Pelosi said Trump had behaved in response to "extortion and bribery."

"The facts are indisputable," he said.

- Trump may testify in writing -

Heading to become the third US president to be impeached, Trump said yesterday morning on Twitter that he "seriously" considers testifying to defend himself against the charges.

The US president has said that while he has done “nothing wrong” and does not want to give credence to the process he once again called “witch hunt”, he is already considering witnessing.

"She said she could do it in writing," he added, referring to Pelosi's statements over the weekend.

Analysts were skeptical and said the likelihood that Trump actually attended was low. During the day there was no movement in this direction - neither from the White House nor from Congress.

This week there are nine witnesses summoned.

Today, they have given testimony Jennifer Williams, aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and Alexander Vindman, Ukraine Specialist on the National Security Council.

Both heard Trump's controversial phone call to Zelenski on July 25, in which the Republican allegedly pressured his Ukrainian colleague to launch an investigation against Biden.

In an open session for the first time, the two said they were surprised and worried about Trump's requests.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman reported being so alarmed by what he heard that he reported the "inadequate" discussion to the National Security Council attorneys "for a sense of duty."

Jennifer Williams said she rated Trump's reference to Biden in his phone call with President Zelensky as "unusual" when it came to domestic policy.

In the afternoon, testimonials are scheduled from former Ukraine Special Envoy Kurt Volker, who resigned in September, and security adviser Timothy Morrison.

This week, Democrats can complete the investigation phase and begin preparing the evidence collected to send it to the House Judiciary Commission. This is the committee in charge of writing the charges in the impeachment process.

A poll published yesterday shows that 51% of Americans believe that Trump should be subjected to a congressional suit and dismissed. This represents an advance from the 48% who supported this option before public hearings