Army officer testimony gives Democrats fresh ammunition on Trump, Ukraine
WASHINGTON – A decorated Army officer assigned to the National Security Council told a House panel Tuesday that he was so alarmed by White House efforts to press Ukraine to investigate President Donald Trump’s political foes that he repeatedly complained to a superior, giving Democrats fresh ammunition in the fast-moving impeachment inquiry.
Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the National Security Council, is the first serving White House official to testify in the impeachment probe, and one of the first to provide direct, firsthand confirmation of numerous details in the anonymous whistleblower’s complaint that first fueled the inquiry.
The testimony, which took place behind closed doors, came as Democrats introduced a resolution that could be approved Thursday to formalize procedures for their probe. It would be the first formal House vote on the impeachment inquiry
and he sped off, “going pretty fast up the road.”
Perez said he guesses he was going about 80 to 85 miles per hour when he crashed the Honda he was driving and he exited the vehicle. He said once he fled from the car, he asked the officer “why are you doing this to me, why did you pull me over” as he was running from the officer. He said he was then taken into custody.
Perez said he had never seen or spoken to the victim. When Marquez asked him if he had any illwill towards Randhawa, Perez said, “of course no,” also answering “no” to whether he knew any of Randhawa’s family or was paid to hurt Randhawa.
Marquez asked about an incident in March 2017 called the “mailbox incident.” Perez said he was driving from his address in Gridley to his mailbox, which he said is “not even a block away” from his home, when he was pulled over, tackled by a police officer and arrested.
Under cross-examination, Perez said he knew he should not have possessed a firearm, as it violated the conditions of his parole – he had been out of prison since October 4, 2016. Perez admitted there was
FELONY ARRESTS
Brandon A. Sears, 20, of the 1700 block of Hammonton-smartsville Road, Marysville, was arrested by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 2:45 a.m. Oct. 29 on Linda Avenue on suspicion of concealing a dirk or dagger. He was booked into Yuba County Jail.
Mickey C. Chittenden, 65, of the 1600 block of A Street, Marysville, was arrested by the Marysville Police Department at 7:29 p.m.
a shotgun in the Honda when he drove away from Johnson’s property but said the gun was unloaded.
Heimlich asked Perez if he got into the car with the murder weapon, to which Perez said, “no are you crazy,” and then asked Heimlich, “why are you still accusing me.”
Heimlich also asked whether Perez killed Randhawa because he was jealous of the time Randhawa was spending with his fiance, which visibly upset Perez on the stand.
The prosecution ended questioning by asking Perez to confirm he had been convicted of “assault likely to produce great bodily harm” in 2009, which Perez affirmed.
Closing arguments
During closing arguments, the prosecution reviewed the five charges and two enhancements Perez faces.
“The defendant decided to shoot him not just once but multiple times,” Heimlich said.
Heimlich used a powerpoint to display photos of the shotgun shell casings found near the scene and a photo of the hat Randhawa was wearing with a bullet hole through the skull.
Heimlich said the proof of intent was in the third shot, which, he said, Perez aimed at Randhawa’s head. He said the time it took Perez to fire the first shot, reload his shotgun
Oct. 28 in the 700 block of Fourth Street on suspicion of threatening to commit a crime. He was booked into Yuba County Jail.
Nicholas B. Martindale, 19, of the 4200 block of Larson Street, Olivehurst, was arrested by the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the 700 block of Yuba Street on suspicion of vandalism. He was booked into Yuba County Jail.
Jonathan T. Wilson, 26, of Stockton was arrested by the Yuba City Police Department at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in the 1200 block of Colusa Avenue on suspicion of receiving known stolen property.
and fire the second and then final shot to the head was enough time to prove the murder was “premeditated” or planned.
The defense argued Perez was a “Gridley kid” who knew his way around the back roads, had previously had trouble with the law and possessed a firearm despite knowing it violated his parole.
Marquez argued that if Perez had killed Randhawa, Perez would have tossed the shotgun right away after committing the crime, rather than drive the Honda with the weapon inside.
The defense also argued that Perez would not have left his truck at the house, and would have fled the scene using a more direct route rather than taking a backroad to escape.
The defense said there was no evidence to a motive for Perez to kill Randhawa, a person who Perez testified he did not know nor had ever met.
“He doesn’t know him,” Marquez said. “Had no reasonable motive to do it.”
Marquez closed his argument saying that facts can’t be substituted for emotions.
The prosecution responded by noting that the defense was asking the jury to imagine and “make a leap in logic.”
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He was booked into Sutter County Jail.
Ace A. Ivy, 54, of the 6700 block of Second Street, Yuba City, was arrested by the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 28 on Second Street on suspicion of obstructing or resisting an executive officer. He was booked into Sutter County Jail.
DUI ARRESTS
Yuriel Martinez, 22, of Stockton was arrested by the Yuba City Police Department at 12:22 a.m. Oct. 28 on Queens Avenue. He was booked into Sutter County Jail.