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Aide: Perry Pushed Trump for Ukraine Call, for Energy Issues

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Energy Secretary Rick Perry encouraged President Donald
   Trump to speak to Ukraine's president -- but on energy and economic
   issues, Perry's spokeswoman said Sunday, addressing Perry's role in a
   telephone call that's at the center of a congressional impeachment
   probe for Trump.

   "Secretary Perry absolutely supported and encouraged the president to
   speak to the new president of Ukraine to discuss matters related to
   their energy security and economic development," Perry's Energy
   Department spokeswoman, Shaylyn Hynes, said in an email.

   Hynes' remark comes as Perry becomes the latest administration official
   drawn into inquiries in a House impeachment probe of Trump. Trump
   pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the July 25 call to
   investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter --
   sparking a whistleblower complaint and now the impeachment inquiry.

   Trump on Friday evening told House Republicans that it was Perry who
   had teed up the July call with Ukraine, according to a person familiar
   with Trump's new comments who was granted anonymity to discuss the
   private conference call.

   But Trump did not suggest that Perry had anything to do with the
   pressure on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, or a U.S. holdup in
   military aid to the country, the person said. Trump's remarks on the
   late Friday call was first reported by Axios.

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