The Atlantic

The Whistle-Blower’s Explosive Allegations

The newly released report details a sustained, months-long effort to pressure Ukraine—and the White House’s attempt to conceal it.
Source: Mark Wilson / Getty

President Donald Trump and many of his aides engaged in a months-long effort to strong-arm the Ukrainian government into discrediting his political rivals, then worked extensively to cover up the evidence of their wrongdoing, according to a whistle-blower complaint released Thursday.

The document shows that a huge range of officials throughout the executive branch were aware of Trump’s pressure on Ukraine. Their reported efforts to keep the president’s behavior under wraps confirm that many of them also realized it was improper. The report also states that despite Trump’s insistence that he was not demanding a quid pro quo, Ukrainian officials understood him to be

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