Public impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump continued today with the testimony of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whose 33 year career in the State Department is acclaimed throughout Washington.
The former ambassador endured a smear campaign from President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and others, eventually resulting in an unceremonious removal from her post. While no one—including Yovanovitch—questioned that the President has the right to remove any ambassador he sees fit, Yovanovitch and others questioned why Trump and his cronies launched a campaign against her.
Trump did this in his infamous July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying of Yovanovitch:
"The former ambassador from the United States,· the woman., was bad news and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news, so I just want to let you know that."
Yovanovitch's removal set the stage for unofficial delegates like Giuliani to pressure Zelensky into opening an investigation into Trump's political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump continued his attacks on Yovanovitch even as she testified, in what many saw as blatant witness intimidation.
Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad. She started off in Somalia, how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukr… https://t.co/N6KQO9jBWS— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1573830100.0
After months of defamation, Yovanovitch was slightly vindicated when, in a highly unusual occurrence, the public audience watching the testimony erupted into spontaneous standing ovation for the former Ambassador, drowning out Republican objections.
Watch below.
Applause from audience as Marie Yovanovitch departs #ImpeachmentHearing. Watch full video here:… https://t.co/4AyyJVB0da— CSPAN (@CSPAN) 1573849897.0
The sudden warmth was heartening to nearly all who watched.
Applause breaks out for Marie Yovanovitch in the hearing room. Democrats give her a standing ovation. I'm not crying, you're crying.— Elizabeth C. McLaughlin (@Elizabeth C. McLaughlin) 1573849363.0
Standing ovation for Amb. Yovanovitch drowning out and effectively answering the limp GOP objections at the end of… https://t.co/JnHddqjsHa— S.E. Cupp (@S.E. Cupp) 1573849528.0
What an ending. Applause for the brilliant Yovanovitch. Republican whining. Schiff shutting them down. A day for justice, perhaps.— Tom Watson (@Tom Watson) 1573849437.0
The spontaneous applause for Ambassador Yovanovitch brought tears to my eyes.— Glenn Kirschner (@Glenn Kirschner) 1573849419.0
There are some moments that are destined to play in future documentaries. Marie Yovanovitch walking out of the hear… https://t.co/JF5TGiTw5I— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1573853367.0
People noted that the moment was somewhat unprecedented.
I’ve never seen this happen at a Congressional hearing. Masha Yovanovitch deserved this tribute and applause. https://t.co/g7Su0WnQgW— Nicholas Burns (@Nicholas Burns) 1573850330.0
Whoops, cheers and a round of applause from members of the public as Yovanovitch’s testimony comes to an end. That… https://t.co/XSdFx91i0H— Ben Riley-Smith (@Ben Riley-Smith) 1573849596.0
Amb. Yovanovitch walked out of the hearing to a STANDING OVATION. This was certainly inspired by Trump's & Republic… https://t.co/xccu2BkUKR— jerry quickley (@jerry quickley) 1573849563.0
I've been at ALOT of congressional hearings. Very rare anyone gets applause. A bit of a cinematic conclusion as Re… https://t.co/YHfwS7XKWM— carl hulse (@carl hulse) 1573849928.0
But the applause wasn't welcome for House Republicans on the impeachment committee.
The GOP was clearly stunned by the eruption of applause for Amb. Yovanovitch at the end of her testimony. I caught… https://t.co/E5K69ck6ik— Red (@Red) 1573849977.0
@AdamParkhomenko @TedraCobb As Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch left the #ImpeachmentHearing to applause and cheers, he… https://t.co/oqIQJFKqMU— Dawn Young-McDaniel ♿️ (@Dawn Young-McDaniel ♿️) 1573853038.0
Flol, the looks on the faces of Republicans at the end of Yovanovitch's testimony. #JimJordan #Stefanik #GymJordan… https://t.co/aZgRpi9NoW— James Dubhthaigh (@James Dubhthaigh) 1573851051.0
As has happened so often throughout Trump's tenure in the Oval Office, a qualified woman with a storied career withstood the attacks from the President and his cronies in an effort to tell the public the truth.