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Published November 18, 2019

Last Update 21 hrs ago

Rep. Lee Zeldin: Upcoming impeachment hearings should be postponed due to new development

By Yael Halon | Fox News

New developments in the impeachment probe were revealed during two closed-door depositions that took place over the weekend, revealed Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who called for a delay in the upcoming impeachment hearings until those transcripts are publicly available.

"A lot of people didn't realize that once the cameras ended... on Friday, we then went back to this SCIF in the Capitol basement where there was a closed-door deposition," Zeldin said on Fox Nation's "Maria Bartiromo's Insiders."

David Holmes, assistant to Ambassador Bill Taylor in Ukraine, and Office of Management and Budget official Mark Sandy, testified before Congress over the weekend, in separate closed-door depositions following last week's highly contentious public hearings.

According to Zeldin, Sandy "went right to the heart of why there was a hold on aid to Ukraine" during his Saturday deposition, and called for a release of the transcripts containing Sandy's statement in time for week two of public hearings.

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 6: Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., speaks during the press conference calling on President Trump to declassify the Carter Page FISA applications on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

"A great answer given, a very informative answer by Mark Sandy," Zeldin said, "and I think it would change some of the answers given by some of these other witnesses this week."

While many of the transcripts from last week's hearings, both public and private, remain unavailable at this time, much of Zeldin's questioning for the upcoming hearings revolves around the new information, and he explained that deposition rules prevent him from referencing the substance of those interviews in public until the transcripts are released.

"I believe that we should not go forward with the next open public hearing until the rest of these transcripts are out, because I have questions to ask of these witnesses...based off of what we heard."

— Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y.

"You still have those several transcripts, including both David Holmes and Mark Sandy, that haven't been released to the public. I believe that we should not go forward with the next open public hearing until the rest of these transcripts are out because I would have questions to ask of these witnesses come Tuesday morning based off of what we heard," Zeldin said.

Asked whether he found it likely the transcripts would be made public, Zeldin said it was up to House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif. to expedite the public release of the transcripts.

"I don't know if there's that same sense of urgency from Chairman Schiff and his team to get those transcripts done by Tuesday morning," Zeldin said.

"If they could get them released by Tuesday morning, that's fantastic. But, if they can't...then we'll move the open hearings back a day or two or three, because it's going to change some of the answers that some of these witnesses will be giving," he said.

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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Jennifer Williams, Fiona Hill, David Hale, Laura Cooper, Gordon Sondland, Tim Morrison, and Kurt Volker are scheduled to appear before the committee later this week.

For Rep. Zeldin's full interview, join Fox Nationand watch the latest episode of "Maria Bartiromo's Insiders" today.

Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News.

-Justin Thyme- Two cents worth of opinion.   It appears the hold up, however brief it was, to send the requested military aid to the Ukraine was NOT held up by the request of President Donald Trump. But rather by military officials and advisors who were concerned about which advanced armaments and how much of them was being requested by the Ukraine. And that time was for them to express their concerns with the president. There has been deep concern with sending certain arms to the Ukraine. Ever since the Obama administration. And it also was openly objected to, just last year by the same military officials. Now the question comes down to is this. Are we now to reveal publically what we sent and how much to the Ukraine? To the whole world including but not limited to RUSSIA! I am guessing the DemocRats don't care!