Trump's Russia Director To Leave National Security Council Amid Impeachment Inquiry

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.npr.org/2019/10/30/774815627/trumps-russia-director-to-leave-national-security-council-amid-impeachment-inqui?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

October 30, 2019
5:05 PM ET

FRANCO ORDOÑEZ

Tim Morrison, the top Russia official on President Trump's National Security Council who is scheduled to testify in the impeachment inquiry on Thursday, is expected to leave his White House post imminently, three sources familiar with the plan told NPR.

Morrison, a conservative hawk who served as the senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council, will be replaced by Andrew Peek, a deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, according to the sources.

Morrison and Peek could not immediately be reached for comment by NPR. The National Security Council declined comment.

Morrison started his job in July, chosen by Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton to fill the role when Fiona Hill — another witness in the impeachment inquiry — announced her plans to leave the White House in August.

Morrison is a crucial figure in the House Democratic investigation into whether Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to launch an investigation of a political rival.

Morrison had alerted NSC lawyers about alleged demands being placed on the Ukrainian government to investigate a company where the son of former Vice President Joe Biden sat on the board, according to testimony earlier this month from William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine.

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[Qutzupalotl]

1. was just coming to post this

Link to tweet

[Dennis Donovan]

2. It's very promising news. Maybe bodes well for an appearance by Bolton?

[Qutzupalotl]

3. Yes. I think Bolton wants to testify, and it sounds like Morrison does too.

Resigning so as to not have to abide by White House orders not to go.