The White House released a five page summary transcript of President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday morning that has been the focus of an alleged whistleblower leak. The transcript contains several ellipses that has set off Watergate-style conspiracy theories by reporters.
Presidents Trump and Zelensky pose with their wives in New York City, September 24, 2019 via Zelensky Twitter account.
Jeff Zeleny with the New York Times lays out the ellipses:
“Ellipses points are used only three times in the “transcript:” Twice when Trump asks to investigate Crowdstrike and once when he talks about Biden.
1. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike …
2. I guess you have one of your wealthy people… The server, they say Ukraine has it.
3. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it … It sounds horrible to me.
You can bet these ellipses points become part of impeachment inquiry.”
Ellipses points are used only three times in the "transcript:" Twice when Trump asks to investigate Crowdstrike and once when he talks about Biden.
1. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike …
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) September 25, 2019
2. I guess you have one of your wealthy people… The server, they say Ukraine has it.
3. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it … It sounds horrible to me.
You can bet these ellipses points become part of impeachment inquiry.
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) September 25, 2019
The Washington Post’s Matt Viser, “What was said in between the ellipses — and is it a modern-day version of the 18-minute gap on the Nixon tapes?”
What was said in between the ellipses — and is it a modern-day version of the 18-minute gap on the Nixon tapes? pic.twitter.com/ZpSemEpd2o
— Matt Viser (@mviser) September 25, 2019
Politico’s Zack Stanton, “Is this ellipsis the new “18 1⁄2-minute gap”?
Is this ellipsis the new "18 1⁄2-minute gap"? https://t.co/kiv3Fbhkas
— Zack Stanton (@zackstanton) September 25, 2019
NBC’s Shannon Pettypiece:
“The ellipsis at key points in this description of the call have the potential to become the Sharpie on the hurricane map. (And a reminder, this is not a verbatim transcript)”
https://twitter.com/spettypi/status/1176869561163034624
Sinclair’s James Rosen:
“In the critical sections of the July 25 transcript between @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and #Zelensky, involving both
@CrowdStrike and @JoeBiden, ellipses appear — for the first time, in the case of CrowdStrike. Who put them there? Were portions of the discussion missed or stricken?”
In the critical sections of the July 25 transcript between @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and #Zelensky, involving both @CrowdStrike and @JoeBiden, ellipses appear — for the first time, in the case of CrowdStrike. Who put them there? Were portions of the discussion missed or stricken?
— James Rosen (@JamesRosenTV) September 25, 2019
Ellipsegate?
