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U.S. official denies knowing Ukraine aid linked to Biden probe

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By COLLEEN LONG and ERIC TUCKER

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The former special envoy to Ukraine testified Tuesday he should have realized — as many of his colleagues did — that President Donald Trump was holding up military aid to Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

He couldn't have realized it because it didn't happen. Read the transcript. Trump asked Zelensky to investigate corruption. He can't help if Quid Pro Joe was involved.

Oh man, the Democrats keep digging their own hole deeper.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Is it possible for taxpayers to sue the Democrats for wasting taxpayer money on this impeachment BS instead of actually getting things done for the people who elected them?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Not a single witness has testified that they witnessed a crime or even heard about someone committing a crime. What a huge waste of time and energy.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

@burningbshput all your eggs into this Ukraine basket

The D’s have a mighty big egg basket that does include the Ukraine debacle, 

plus Russian interference and meddling in US elections and politics; Trump/GOP tax programs that benefit the rich to be paid for later by the working and middle classes; nepotism; the most dishonest White House ever (14,000 lies and counting); violations of the Emoluments Clause; a US debt of $23TRILLION; increases in costs paid by taxpayers for Trump to play golf at his properties and his children to travel the globe to increase their personal wealth; selling off public lands for the benefit of Trump supporters (US and ‘foreign’); elimination of worker, consumer and environmental protections; failures to improve infrastructure; increases in military spending; worsening ties with nations, including historical allies, around the globe; pandering to dictators like Xi, Putin, etal.  

Among other eggs.

Humpty Trumpty’s perched precariously on a wall of eggshells.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

All the Democrats have is "I heard this" or "I think that" or "I feel that."

No actual evidence of any impeachable crime, or any crime committed by Trump.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

*The D’s have a mighty big egg basket *

And all Dem eggs be a crackin' :D

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Read the transcript

Which one? There's a dozen of them linking Trump to abuse of power for personal gain.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Wolfpack:. Not a single witness has testified that they witnessed a crime

This one has been duped into thinking impeachment had to involve a crime like assault or robbery.

It doesn't.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Guilluani to be indicted Google Favorov Giuliani

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The former special envoy to Ukraine testified Tuesday he should have realized — as many of his colleagues did — that President Donald Trump was holding up military aid to Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

In public testimony before the House impeachment inquiry, Kurt Volker said he understands now, thanks to hindsight and the testimony of other witnesses, that Trump was using the aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden's son, Hunter, and his role on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma.

Well, well - another Trump administration official comes forward to change his testimony to confirm a bribe/extortion took place, after multiple people testify before him.

And for the Trumpers, Volker goes from hero to scum in one second...LOL....

Any other Trumpers other than Black want to offer an opinion on Sondland before he testifies tomorrow?

And Trump's attorney, Crazy Rudy, who is under criminal investigation by Trump and Barr's own DOJ, just sees his legal jeopardy get worse and worse...

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/18/politics/rudy-giuliani-naftogaz-ukraine-parnas-fruman/index.html

Another first - A President has an attorney representing him who he is also investigating for committing a crime....Rudy is my attorney - Rudy is a suspect...

Hope there's an ambulance on standby at the White House - Donnie is going to have more panic/heart attacks and will need more trips to Walter Reed...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Trump FBI Files Google Donald Trump FBI Vault

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No article about star witness Vindman? that is surprising, but I watched his testimony and I can understand once again it wasnt what Schiff promised us.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

or no crime at all? Because we certainly arent being told about any......

impeachment had to involve a crime like assault or robbery

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

blacklabel: or no crime at all? Because we certainly arent being told about any......

Yep, no crime at all. It's a law meant for public officials who have taken an oath. That means you or I can't be impeached for high crimes, but the President can. It's meant to be generalized to account for situations like a President subverting the Constitution.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Come on Dems, put all your eggs into this Ukraine basket... please

I’m so darned confused! So now what is this, what are we looking at and what’s the crime? I keep falling asleep on this.

Yep, no crime at all.

According to Morrison and Volker.

It's a law meant for public officials who have taken an oath. That means you or I can't be impeached for high crimes, but the President can.

Yes, but the Senate won’t remove him, so I’m asking you, what’s all this spectacle about? Is it just to boost Schiff’s bully power high for the time being?

It's meant to be generalized to account for situations like a President subverting the Constitution.

How?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Only need for a crime is criminal intent, he did not want the Biden investigated out of the goodness of his heart

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Blacklabel Congress do not have the power to try a case,but they have the power to impeach Trump and refer him for indictment, even he is not impeached

2 ( +3 / -1 )

After all, as Moscow Mitch used to say:

“The president has engaged in a persistent pattern and practice of obstruction of justice. The allegations are grave, the investigation is legitimate, and ascertaining the truth — the whole truth, and nothing but the unqualified, unevasive truth — is absolutely critical,”

6 ( +7 / -1 )

the word "crime" is actually in the phrase high crimes. what is the crime. im watching now and these two guys say over and over no bribery, extortion or quid pro quo. Are they lying?

can't be impeached for high crimes, but the President can.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

@joein Funny how PT never mentions Cambridge Analytica.

Thanks for the reminder. I include Cambridge Analytica under Russia's global far right movement to further undermine 'western' democracies. Russia is the globe's far right (some say neo-nationalsocialist, others corporatist authoritarianism) leader, so when Russia's mentioned the others are also included. The list of far right groups is too long to mention them all.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

bass: Yes, but the Senate won’t remove him, so I’m asking you, what’s all this spectacle about?

For the Dems, it's for the history books. We want to make the corruption of the GOP to be a matter of national record, something that's taught to kids in history books.

The question is better suited for yourself. What's the spectacle about? Demeaning a Purple Heart recipient? Demeaning our patriotic diplomats who have sacrificed so much for us? All for a vote that you know you won't change anyway?

What's the point. Leave these people alone and just ignore the House and immediately vote to acquit in the Senate. No innocent people get hurt, unless you just like to smear hard working Americans.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Next stop: trial for lying under oath to Congress.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Dem: You were in the meeting in Warsaw!!! blah blah.

Ambassador Volker: ummm no I wasnt.

Well, but you heard about it! blah blah

Clown show.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

The House impeachment hearings have exposed the phony "patriotism" of the Republican inquisitors attempting unconvincingly to impugn the patriotism of witnesses testifying to the disadvantage of the despotic dunce. This scurrilous Republican slanderfest only confirms Dr Johnson's famous apothegm: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Key moments from Volker's testimony;

**“As I testified previously, I have known Vice President Biden for 24 years. He is an honorable man and I hold him in the highest regard,” Volker said.*Volker said he told Giuliani that the allegations being made about the Bidens were "not credible," and that Biden would not "have been influenced in any way by financial or personal motives in carrying out his duties as vice president." “At the one in-person meeting I had with Mayor Giuliani on July 19, Mayor Giuliani raised, and I rejected, the conspiracy theory that Vice President Biden would have been influenced in his duties as vice president by money paid to his son,” Volker said in his opening remarks at a House impeachment hearing on Tuesday.*

As everyone except Hannity knows, the Biden story was just a plain pathetic smear...

Volker said Tuesday he recalled that Sondland raised "generic" investigations with the Ukrainians at the formal meeting with then-national security adviser John Bolton, who cut off Sondland and ended the meeting, prompting Sondland to take the Ukrainians to a side room, where he linked the investigations to the White House meeting.

Another corroboration that Sondland brought up the QPQ/bribe with the meeting with Bolton and Vindman. Sondland has some serious xplainin to do tomorrow...

"As you know from the extensive, real-time documentation I have provided, Vice President Biden was not a topic of our discussions," Volker said. "In hindsight, I now understand that others saw the idea of investigating possible corruption involving the Ukrainian company Burisma, as equivalent to investigating former Vice President Biden. I saw them as very different -- the former being appropriate and unremarkable, the latter being unacceptable."

I wasn't in the loop on the QPQ, but then I saw it, and it was wrong and unacceptable.

Volker testified as part of the House impeachment inquiry that since his prior closed-door testimony, he had learned of conversations others had linking a White House meeting and US security aid with the Ukrainian President announcing an investigation into the Bidens.

BINGO! One more who says it was all an extortion shakedown...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

For the Dems, it's for the history books. We want to make the corruption of the GOP to be a matter of national record, something that's taught to kids in history books.

We want to do the exact same thing about the Democrats.

The question is better suited for yourself. What's the spectacle about? Demeaning a Purple Heart recipient?

you guys did the same thing to general Flynn and General Petraeus, so what’s your point.

Demeaning our patriotic diplomats who have sacrificed so much for us? All for a vote that you know you won't change anyway?

The Dems were bashing Volker are in Morrison, again so what’s your point?

What's the point. Leave these people alone and just ignore the House and immediately vote to acquit in the Senate.

if the Democrats can prove that there was a real crime, “a real crime”, let’s hear it. The only thing that they have done is bore people to death.

No innocent people get hurt, unless you just like to smear hard working Americans.

But when it’s hard work and conservatives, you guys are allowed to smear them all day, that’s acceptable, right?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

what quid pro quo? both men testified there was none. over and over again. no quid pro quo, no extortion, no bribery.

I wasn't in the loop on the QPQ, but then I saw it, and it was wrong and unacceptable.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg says of the July 25 conversation: "I heard nothing wrong or improper on the call. I had and have no concerns."

military hero. Higher rank too.

also today killed the “its not actually a transcript” narrative.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Well, this one has made his choice:

about the Democrats

and

The Dems were

and

if the Democrats

and

you guys

4 ( +7 / -3 )

As you have made your choice.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I wasn't in the loop on the QPQ, but then I saw it, and it was wrong and unacceptable.

what quid pro quo? both men testified there was none. over and over again. no quid pro quo, no extortion, no bribery.

Really? Don't think so....

*A former top White House official just outlined a quid pro quo more clearly than any other witness in the public impeachment hearings so far — and it’s devastating to Republicans’ defense of President Donald Trump.*

Under questioning from Democrats, Tim Morrison, the former top National Security Council official for Russia and European affairs, was asked to recall a September 1 conversation between US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland and Ukraine official Andriy Yermak. That discussion has become central to the question of whether US military assistance to Kyiv was conditioned upon Ukraine opening investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden’s family and other Democrats.

According to Morrison, it clearly was.

*“What did Ambassador Sondland tell you that he told Mr. Yermak?” Democratic counsel Daniel Goldman asked Morrison. Morrison replied, *“That the Ukrainians would have to have the prosecutor general make a statement with respect to the investigations as a condition of having the aid lifted.”

*In other words, there was a quid pro quo. To get roughly $400 million in aid to help fend off a Russian invasion, Ukraine needed to assist Trump in his 2020 presidential ambitions by opening a probe into Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company on whose board Hunter Biden — Joe’s son — sat. Not only that, the government in Kyiv would have to announce the opening of the investigation.*

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/11/19/20973157/impeachment-hearings-morrison-quid-pro-quo-ukraine

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Bolton, Mulvaney & Giuliani.

Where are these people?

Why are they afraid to come forward? What are they hiding from?

They work for the American people, so they should step out of the dark and into the light.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Under questioning from Democrats, Tim Morrison, the former top National Security Council official for Russia and European affairs, was asked to recall a September 1 conversation between US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland and Ukraine official Andriy Yermak. That discussion has become central to the question of whether US military assistance to Kyiv was conditioned upon Ukraine opening investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden’s family and other Democrats.

According to Morrison, it clearly was.

He said, there wasn’t, so I tend to believe him.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The only word that matters is “no”. We don’t need “other words” (what the liberal media thinks was meant)

both men said when directly asked if there was quid pro quo, said “no”. That’s clear.

In other words, there was a quid pro quo.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Oh my...

Mark Heminway of 'Real Clear Investigations' on what ties Hunter Biden to the center of the impeachment inquiry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SI76FTz_1w

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

The only word that matters is “no”. We don’t need “other words” (what the liberal media thinks was meant)

both men said when directly asked if there was quid pro quo, said “no”. That’s clear.

Sure, keep ignoring the facts in black and white....

*“What did Ambassador Sondland tell you that he told Mr. Yermak?” Democratic counsel Daniel Goldman asked Morrison. Morrison replied, *“That the Ukrainians would have to have the prosecutor general make a statement with respect to the investigations as a condition of having the aid lifted.”

Morrison's statement is above - So what part of "as a condition of" don't you understand?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

*In other words, there was a quid pro quo.

”In other words?” Money from Hillary’s campaign and the DNC was funneled through a Dem affiliated law firm to a foreign intelligence agent to collect campaign dirt from Russians during the 2016 campaign and all you got is “in other words?”. There is no actual quid pro quo as the money was dispersed and no quo was able provided. At least with Watergate there was a burglary. With Clinton their was perjury. No actual crime took place. Trumps clown act isn’t a high crime or even a misdemeanor.

If no one is above the law Congress should also investigate Dem collusion with Russians. There were also contacts between representatives of the DNC and officials from the former corrupt Ukrainian government.

And what about the Obama administration doing nothing to deter Russia from invading the Crimea. No military aid at all. Now it’s a threat to national security that the lethal aid was delayed a few months? What about the years of Obama doing nothing. I guess that was Barack making good in his promise to be flexible.

Dems are apoplectic with hatred towards Trump and pro-liberty Americans that they cannot control themselves. This whole thing is a sad joke with the result being more polarization and hatred between warring tribes of Americans.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

The fact is that he said “no”.

the phrase “in other words” is used when something is not clear and you are trying to convince someone of the meaning, intent it context of the words actually used.

I don’t need clarification what “no” means.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Mark Heminway of 'Real Clear Investigations' on what ties Hunter Biden to the center of the impeachment inquiry

Keep beating that dead horse Serrano...even your guy Volker said the Biden smear was "not credible"...

*As I testified previously, I have known Vice President Biden for 24 years. He is an honorable man and I hold him in the highest regard,” Volker said.*Volker said he told Giuliani that the allegations being made about the Bidens were "not credible,"*

The rest of us are way past that given Morrison testified Sondland told him the military aid "was a condition of" Ukraine opening an investigation...

Oh my...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The fact is that he said “no”.

the phrase “in other words” is used when something is not clear and you are trying to convince someone of the meaning, intent it context of the words actually used.

I don’t need clarification what “no” means.

Uh-huh, sure - but you better quickly go study up on what "as a condition of" means....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So Morrison’s testimony is that he doesn’t feel Sondland’s words to him indicate quid pro quo.

So let’s ask Sondland if he thinks this is quid pro quo. When he also says “no” will you have some “in other words” explanation for him too? Plus quid pro quo doesn’t matter, it’s” bribery” now.

What did Ambassador Sondland tell you 

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

doesn’t matter. This is why people are asked yes/no questions. To prevent other people from going back after and trying to tell us what someone else “meant”. No means no.

Uh-huh, sure - but you better quickly go study up on what "as a condition of" means....

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

So Morrison’s testimony is that he doesn’t feel Sondland’s words to him indicate quid pro quo.

So let’s ask Sondland if he thinks this is quid pro quo. When he also says “no” will you have some “in other words” explanation for him too? Plus quid pro quo doesn’t matter, it’s” bribery” now.

You're way behind - Sondland has already admitted to a QPQ - he did that when he went in last week and changed his testimony so he wouldn't have to face a perjury charge...if he does what you say he'll have changed his official testimony a third time...can we all say "perjury"...

*U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland made a significant change to his testimony to House impeachment investigators this week: He said he now remembers telling a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukraine would not receive U.S. military assistance until it committed to investigating the 2016 election and former Vice President Joe Biden.*

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/sondland-changes-testimony-acknowledges-delivering-quid-pro-quo-message-ukraine-n1076736

You better believe he's going to be asked about that - and the five meetings he had with Trump and Giuliani, and the phone call in the middle of a restaurant with Donnie asking about "the investigations", and the two meetings with Bolton and Vindman where he again talked about the bribe...

Which makes me wonder if you're going to change your opinion of him as a "hero" tomorrow when he gets wrapped into a pretzel trying to explain all this...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sure, keep ignoring the facts in black and white....

No, I heard Morrison and Volker they said there was nothing.

Morrison's statement is above - So what part of "as a condition of" don't you understand?

The one that says No quid pro quo.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

doesn’t matter. This is why people are asked yes/no questions. To prevent other people from going back after and trying to tell us what someone else “meant”. No means no.

And "as a condition of" means "as a condition of"...

Definition of be conditioned of/on/upon

—used to say that something will happen only if something else also happens...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20conditioned%20on/upon

Oh my...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why? Liberals always make the claim about Trump supporters being nutty. Well, we think the same about the haters.

The hypocrisy is complaining about it and then going and doing it yourself.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What a farce. The Democrats are clueless and inept.

They know that Trump has delivered on the promises that got him elected, that they don't have an electable candidate and thus they're headed for another loss in 2020. So they're clutching at straws to remove him some other way..... and shooting themselves in the foot any making a laughing stock of themselves in the process.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Not only did Morrison clearly say Sondland told him the aide "was conditioned upon" an investigation, you have Jennifer Williams, Pence's hand-picked NSC Aide, who was on the call say it was “improper,” “unusual” and overtly political.

Just like Volker and Morrison, she was a Trump team member - someone hand-picked by Trump or his Cabinet members. Even Taylor and Kent were selected for their positions by Trump and Pompeo.

And his best bud is Sondland, who bought his EU Ambassadorship with a $1 million campaign donation. You know, the same guy that had to change his testimony from no QPQ, to yea, QPQ...or risk perjuring himself.

These are all Trump's own team that are taking him down....and the sooner the better....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The silence of Bolton, Giuliani, Mulvaney, Pompeo, Lev and Igor et al. and, above all, "the man who started it all" (who is frantically trying to tweet his way out of his imminent comeuppance), is deafening. Clear-headed folk know the score; as one Republican of the old school once put it:  "you cannot fool all the people all the time".

5 ( +5 / -0 )

They know that Trump has delivered on the promises that got him elected

Hasn't delivered on healthcare. No wall, but plenty of wasted money - and not by Mexico. Hasn't drained the swamp, instead brought criminals and nepotism into the White House. Abandoned and degraded our military servicemen and women. Assaulted LGBT rights that he promised to protect.

If you call that delivery, I don't want you as my mailman.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Judging by the torrent of denial and fiction on here, the Putin-Swamp axis is really getting scared about this situation. As it should.

It must be difficult facing a choice of lying or idiocy as the only two defence options.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Not only did Morrison clearly say Sondland told him the aide "was conditioned upon" an investigation, you have Jennifer Williams, Pence's hand-picked NSC Aide, who was on the call say it was “improper,” “unusual” and overtly political.

Yes, she did say that and this as well..

Q: "Ms. Williams you've never used the word 'bribery' or 'bribe' to explain the president's conduct, correct?"

A: "No sir."

Q: "Colonel Vindman, you haven't either?"

A: "That is correct."

Just like Volker and Morrison, she was a Trump team member - someone hand-picked by Trump or his Cabinet members. Even Taylor and Kent were selected for their positions by Trump and Pompeo.

That they were. They also said:

JORDAN: Why didn't you go directly to your superior with your concerns?

*VINDMAN***: It was a really busy week. Also the lawyer told me not to talk to anyone else.**

JORDAN: And yet you talked to your brother, to George Kent, and a CIA person you won't name.

And it just gets better:

Rep. Elise Stefanik: "Did either of you ever have any evidence of quid pro quo? Mr. Morrison?"

Tim Morrison: "No, ma'am."

Rep. Elise Stefanik: "Ambassador Volker."

Kurt Volker: "No, I did not."

Well, now the Democrats are reeeeally screwed. Their battleship got shot to s*** and sunk.

These are all Trump's own team that are taking him down....and the sooner the better...

How so? They all just stated in their own words right there was a no quid pro quo and although the call may have been inappropriate and not well thought out, it’s not an impeachable act.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

For all the Trumper legal scholars out there....

quid pro quo

noun [ C usually singular ]   formal

something that is given to a person in return for something they have done.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/quid-pro-quo

be conditioned of/on/upon

phrase

used to say that something will happen only if something else also happens...

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20conditioned%20on/upon

Whatever you want to call it, it's a violation of 52 U.S. Code 30121; Contributions and donations by foreign nationals, which prohibits "solicitation" a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election

It's easier to call it Missiles for Misinformation - and it will be the downfall of Donnie the Dimwit....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Hasn't delivered on healthcare.

The Dems haven’t done anything either

No wall,

Yes, a good portion of it is already up and finished and 175 miles more being built as we speak.

but plenty of wasted money - and not by Mexico.

Democrats waste even more and especially when it comes to entitlements, this is one reason why the Democrats can’t win if you triple that from what Trump is spent it’s all really chunk change

Hasn't drained the swamp,

you are right about that he should’ve done what Reagan did and fired every single Obama holdover, he didn’t do that and for that I fault him.

instead brought criminals and nepotism into the White House. Abandoned and degraded our military servicemen and women. Assaulted LGBT rights that he promised to protect.If you call that delivery, I don't want you as my mailman.

He didn’t bring criminals to the White House, they were already planted, seeded and sprouted, he didn’t abandon any of our military men, he brought them home and all the Hawks and now the Democrats the people you know that were always against war, against the military (until Trump became President) now all of a sudden want the troops to stay and fight more endless wars. And Trump has every right to attack anyone that attacks him as any person has the right, wearing a military uniform does not give you a platinum card right to verbally assault anyone. As for the LGBT community they also don’t have the right to push their social agenda on people that don’t care to hear it or except it, that is there right as well and they can’t force it upon them.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

For all the Trumper legal scholars out there....

quid pro quo

noun [ C usually singular ]   formal

something that is given to a person in return for something they have done.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/quid-pro-quo

be conditioned of/on/upon

phrase

used to say that something will happen only if something else also happens..

Ok, so nothing happened Ukraine got their money. Volker and Morrison have zero proof of any and Williams and Vindman can’t say for certainty the Presidents actions would be considered bribery.

Alright so another empty boring day with no proof and zero results of any wrongdoing by the President. House Democrats are just dumb.....and boring.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

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