This 2016 letter proves that GOP attacks on Biden over Ukraine are nonsense Vox, 10/03/19
CNN uncovered a letter dated February 12, 2016, in which Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mark Kirk (R-IL), along with several Democratic senators, called for Ukraines then-president to press ahead with urgent reforms to the Prosecutor Generals office and judiciary. Four days later, Shokin resigned (although he didnt officially leave until the following month when Ukraines Parliament voted him out).
In other words, both Republicans and Democrats in the US and many European nations wanted Shokin gone for failing to clamp down on graft.
The letter is a major blow to Trumps argument that Biden somehow went rogue and tried to get Shokin fired to protect his son. Biden himself has been incredibly consistent on this point, saying he legitimately pushed for the prosecutors ouster with international backing and that he never spoke to his son about his Ukraine work.
Rather, its the Republicans who have changed their tune. Portman is backing President Donald Trumps assertion that he didnt withhold military aid for Ukraine in order to extract Kyivs help to investigate the Bidens. And Johnson signed a September 2019 letter asking Attorney General Bill Barr to look into possible Biden-Ukraine corruption.