President Trump conducted two staff meetings with aides critical to his fight against impeachment on the eve of the second day of public hearings in the House.
Trump met in the Oval Office with Attorney General Bill Barr and White House counsel Pat Cipollone on Thursday afternoon. Barr, seated across the Resolute Desk from Trump, took frequent sips from a drink, allowing photographers outside to spot him.
After the three stood, a second meeting convened around the desk, featuring White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Legislative Affairs director Eric Ueland, press secretary Stephanie Grisham, and deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley.
During the second meeting, Trump and Cipollone stepped away into the president’s private study adjacent to the Oval Office.
Journalists were able to watch the meetings unfold as they stood on the White House South Lawn, anticipating Trump’s scheduled departure for a campaign rally at 4:10 p.m. EST. The meetings caused him to leave nearly 45 minutes late.
Trump, who often speaks to reporters on departure, did not stop to take questions or explain the meetings.
The huddles occurred before the public testimony Friday by former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before the House Intelligence Committee. An initial day of public hearings on Wednesday featured acting ambassador Bill Taylor and senior State Department official George Kent.
Democrats contend that Trump improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian energy firm. Democrats are seeking to prove a quid pro quo linking foreign aid to such investigations.
