Deputy
Secretary of State John Sullivan did not demur when facing what appeared to be significant line of questioning during his
Senate confirmation hearing for the role of U.S. ambassador to
Russia on Wednesday.During the hearing, Sullivan admitted to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) that he was aware there was a "campaign against" former U.S. Ambassador to
Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch and he believed President Trump's personal lawyer
Rudy Giuliani was one of the people behind it.
Sullivan also told lawmakers he was aware of an information packet about Yovanovitch, who was ousted in April, that was sent to the State Department, saying he didn't think it provided a "basis for us taking action against our ambassador." Still, he said he didn't, at the time, speak up in support of Yovanovitch, and instead passed the packet along to the State Department inspector general as a precaution. Sullivan told Menendez he was not aware if Giuliani was behind the packet, but his overall candidness wasn't a great look for the former
New York City mayor, either way. Read more at The Hill.