As Marie Yovanovitch testified during second public House impeachment hearing, President Trump took to Twitter and attacked her career as an American diplomat — a move that rocked the political sphere, as many couldn’t believe a president would dare to intimidate a witness in real time as she testifies. 

“Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad,” Trump tweeted at the very moment Yavonovitch was answering questions from Chairman Adam Schiff. “She started off in Somalia, how did that go? Then fast forward to Ukraine, where the new Ukrainian President spoke unfavorably about her in my second phone call with him. It is a U.S. President’s absolute right to appoint ambassadors.”

As Trump tweeted, Schiff took a moment to read the tweets to Yovanovitch, telling her that the House takes witness intimidation “very, very seriously.”

Rep. Adam Schiff: "… now the president in real time is attacking you. What effect do you think that has on other witnesses?"

Marie Yovanovitch: "It's very intimidating."

"Some of us here take witness intimidation very seriously," Schiff adds. https://t.co/5l2kdnisNV pic.twitter.com/yhmRZZHbqL

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 15, 2019

There was no shortage of political observers and journalists who shared Schiff’s sentiment:

Chris Wallace agrees: "This wasn't just testimony about the past. This played out in real time, with the president attacking her… It does raise the possibility of witness intimidation and witness tampering as a new charge here."

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 15, 2019

Witness intimidation: an article of impeachment in itself.

— Brent Staples (@BrentNYT) November 15, 2019

Her dignity in responding to Trump speaks volumes. I wonder if this is riveting enough for the "theater critic" school of journalism. Schiff uses the opportunity t make clear Trump is engaged in witness intimidation. This is a moment. A real moment.

— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) November 15, 2019

How about an article of impeachment for witness intimidation?

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) November 15, 2019

This is witness intimidation.
From the President of the United States of America.
In real time.
For the world to see.

Let that sink in. https://t.co/cTQ4jPnmYs

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 15, 2019

Witness intimidation in real time, and an easily debunked lie. Here's what Ukraine's president actually told Trump about Marie Yovanovitch, according to the White House call record: "you were the first one who told me that she was a bad ambassador." https://t.co/r1FvGN6Q1x https://t.co/DaP4xADTn6

— Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) November 15, 2019

Kind of on the nose for the president to send a tweet intimidating a witness DURING the section of the inquiry dedicated to witness intimidation.

— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) November 15, 2019

I have to admit that I did not have "witness intimidation in real time" on my Donald Trump Batshittery Bingo card

— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) November 15, 2019

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. Unhinged from billionaires and corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to deepen our investigative reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.