In her opening statement obtained by the Associated Press, Ms. Yovanovitch says she was recalled "abruptly" in May and informed that the president had lost confidence in her. She added that a manager had told her that there was a "concerted campaign" against her and that Mr. Trump had been pressuring officials for almost a year to be fired.
"Although I understand that I am in the service of the President, I was nevertheless incredulous that the US government chose to dismiss an ambassador based, as far as I know, on unfounded and false assertions of people with clearly questionable motives. Ms. Yovanovitch wrote in the statement.
The former ambassador was heard in Congress on Friday as part of the Democrats' impeachment investigation. She accepted the invitation of the elected officials to testify despite Mr. Trump's claim that no member of his administration would cooperate with the investigation.
The president said earlier this week that he would prevent all those in charge of his administration from testifying, saying the investigation that could ultimately lead to his dismissal was unfair and "illegitimate". It is not known whether Ms. Yovanovitch, now working at Georgetown University, testified with or without the consent of the White House.
Democrats examine Trump's interactions with the Ukrainian president. In particular, they focus on Trump's pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate his political rival Joe Biden and his family.
Ms. Yovanovitch was recalled from Kiev when Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani – who has no official role in the administration – tried to urge the Ukrainian authorities to investigate unfounded allegations of corruption. against Joe Biden and his son.
Marie Yovanovitch was removed from office after insisting that Giuliani's requests for investigation be forwarded to the Ukrainian authorities through official channels, according to a former diplomat who spoke with her.
On Thursday, ten Democrat senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking for an explanation on Ms. Yovanovitch's removal before the end of her three-year term.
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