Trumps impeachment inquiry: Pressure builds as probe hears new claims

A top US diplomat told impeachment hearings that President Trump directly asked about a Ukrainian investigation into his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

The acting US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor in previously unheard testimony said a member of his staff was told that Trump was preoccupied with pushing for a probe into Joe Biden.

He was speaking at the first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry. Meanwhile, Trump told reporters he did not recall making such comments. Trump is accused of withholding US military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the country's new president to publicly announce a corruption inquiry into Joe Biden, among the favorites to take him on in the 2020 presidential race.

Trump denies any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a "witch hunt".

Points Trump allegedly asked about?

New claims amid public hearing on Trump's impeachment inquiry

In a detailed opening statement, Taylor said a member of his staff had overheard a telephone call in which the president inquired about "the investigations" into Biden.

The call was with Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, who reportedly told the president over the phone from a restaurant in Kyiv that "the Ukrainians were ready to move forward".

After the call, the staff member "asked ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about Ukraine", Taylor said.

Taylor said: "Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden."

Meanwhile, observers and former officials have drawn attention to the security implications of making the call from a restaurant, potentially exposing the conversation to eavesdropping by Russian intelligence.

When asked about Sondland earlier this month, the president had said: "I hardly know the gentleman."

Responding to reporters after hearing Trump said: "I know nothing about that, the first time I've heard it."

He said he recalled Sondland's testimony, in which the diplomat said he spoke to the president "for a brief moment" and Trump had "said no quid pro quo under any circumstances".

He did not recall the phone call Taylor described, "not even a little bit", and "in any event, it's more second-hand information", he said.

Wednesday's public hearings were the first time the public heard from witnesses directly and a chance for Democrats and Republicans to win over voters.