Why Is Bill Taylor, The US Ambassador To Ukraine, Resigning?

Acting ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor, who was a star witness during the House impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, will step down from the position, it was announced this week.

Taylor was assigned to the post in June following Trump’s abrupt dismissal of then-ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Republicans in the Senate declined to extend Taylor’s role beyond early January.

Both Taylor and Yovanovitch gave testimony to the House during its impeachment inquiry. Both testimonies proved to be important to the drafting of the pair of articles of impeachment filed last week. During his testimony, Taylor said that one of his staff members overheard the telephone conversation between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump allegedly asked Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for the release of military aid.

Taylor also testified that he lodged a complaint about the proposal to withhold the military aid, characterizing the idea as “crazy.”

Trump’s personal lawyer and former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, previously accused Taylor of deliberately denying visas for Ukrainians with “direct evidence” that would verify claims that Hunter Biden and Democrats were involved in a “criminal conspiracy” in the Eastern European nation.

It is unclear whether Taylor’s participation in the impeachment inquiry played a role in Senate Republicans’ decision to allow his temporary assignment as ambassador to Ukraine to expire, but it was likely an important factor.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to make his first visit to Kiev next month. Some have speculated that Taylor’s removal as ambassador is deliberately timed to avoid him being seen with Pompeo.

A replacement to the post has yet to be announced, causing concern for some. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) fears this may lead to a vacant position that is crucial to both U.S. and Ukrainian interests at a time when the latter continues to face military aggression from Russia.

The announcement of Taylor’s removal as ambassador to Ukraine comes as the House of Representatives prepares to vote – and likely pass – two articles of impeachment against Trump on Wednesday.