Congressional candidate Hyde worked with Parnas to track U.S. ambassador
WASHINGTON — New impeachment evidence released by House Democrats on Tuesday included texts sent between Connecticut congressional candidate Robert Hyde and Sovietborn businessman Lev Parnas in 2019.
It appears Hyde worked with Parnas to monitor the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch’s movements in Ukraine, as a campaign unfolded to remove her from her post. The texts suggest that Hyde worked with a Ukrainian team to track Yovanovitch, possibly with the goal of interfering with her work in some fashion.
“If you want her out, they need to make contact with security forces,” Hyde wrote to Parnas on March 26, 2019.
“They are willing to help if we/you would like a price,” Hyde wrote in one chilling message. “Guess you can do anything in the Ukraine with money... what I was told.”
Hearst Connecticut Media first reported Hyde’s relationship with Parnas, his associate Igor Fruman and the president’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in November. Parnas recently turned over thousands of new documents to House impeachment investigators regarding his work for President Donald Trump in Ukraine.
Hyde is a generous Republican donor who has been photographed with President Trump on multiple occasions since 2016. He has also been photographed with Vice President Mike Pence, House Minority
Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other GOP members.
He is currently running for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th District, where Democrat Jahana Hayes is the incumbent.
Hyde did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Early in the text exchange, Hyde and Parnas shared many links to news articles about growing calls for Yovanovitch’s removal in March 2019. Hyde wrote to Parnas, “Wow. Can’t believe Trumo [sic] hasn’t fired this bitch. I’ll get right in [sic] that.”
Hyde and Parnas exchanged numerous messages about Yovanovitch’s precise whereabouts.
“She under heavy protection outside Kiev,” Hyde wrote to Parnas.
Two days later, he wrote to Parnas: “They are moving her tomorrow.”
Hyde followed up, “The guys over there asked me what I would like to do and what is in it for them.”
Then he provided more details about Yovanovitch’s movements, noting her computer was off and she was outside the embassy.
“They will let me know when she is on the move,” Hyde wrote.
Parnas responded, “Perfect.”
Hyde has repeatedly refused to answer questions about his connection to Parnas, Giuliani and other Republican figures. But in November 2019, Hyde texted three photos of himself to this reporter.
One was a picture of Hyde leaning in for a photo with Giuliani, Fruman and Parnas, now indicted on charges that they used foreign money to buy political influence. All of the men are smoking cigars.
Another photo featured Hyde taking a selfie with Parnas, who wore a Trump yarmulke and crossed his arms over his chest, making peace signs with his fingers. Hyde smoked a cigar and wore a Trump T-shirt. In a third image, a tuxedoed Hyde smiles in a group shot with Fruman.