Former Pompeo aide testifies as Trump impeachment probe roars on

The Democrats' impeachment inquiry sprinted forward on Wednesday as a former State Department official arrived at the Capitol for what's expected to be another round of marathon testimony into the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine.

Michael McKinley, a former top adviser to Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoHillicon Valley: Facebook civil rights audit finds 'serious setbacks' | Facebook takes down Roger Stone-affiliated accounts, pages | State and local officials beg Congress for more elections funds The Hill's 12:30 Report- Presented by Facebook - Trump threatens schools' funding over reopening Pompeo: State Department 'will work with Congress' on pledged funding to WHO MORE, is slated to discuss issues surrounding Pompeo's role in the administration's pressure campaign to get Ukrainian leaders to investigate one of Trump's leading political opponents, former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden says he will rejoin WHO on his first day in office Tammy Duckworth is the epitome of the American Dream Mexico's president uses US visit to tout ties with Trump MORE.

That campaign, which resulted in the removal of Marie Yovanovitch from her post as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in May, is at the center of the Democrats' hard-charging investigation into whether Trump sought to enlist foreign leaders to boost his reelection chances next year.

The inquiry has been fueled by allegations, lodged by a government whistleblower, that Trump had also threatened to withhold almost $400 million in U.S. aide to Ukraine if President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to comply with the administration's request.

Pompeo was reportedly on the July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky, when Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart for "a favor" — a reference to opening the Bien investigation.

McKinley, a career diplomat who resigned last week, had been serving as U.S. ambassador to Brazil in 2018 when Pompeo brought him back to Washington to serve as an informal liaison between the agency brass and the department's career diplomats. His resignation was reportedly in protest of Pompeo's failure, as perceived by a growing number of State Department employees, to protect diplomats from the administration's Ukraine operations amid allegations that they were politically motivated.

With his testimony, McKinley becomes the fifth witness to appear before Congress since Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSupreme Court expands religious rights with trio of rulings Congress must act now to fix a Social Security COVID-19 glitch and expand, not cut, benefits Democrats see victory in Trump culture war MORE (D-Calif.) announced the launch of a formal impeachment inquiry just over three weeks ago. The closed-door deposition is being led by Rep. Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffDemocrats hit Trump for handling of Russian bounty allegations after White House briefing Voters must strongly reject the president's abuses by voting him out this November Democrats face tough questions with Bolton MORE (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, while two other panels — Oversight and Reform and Foreign Affairs — are also participating.

McKinley's appearance follows that of Kurt VolkerKurt VolkerGOP senators request details on Hunter Biden's travel for probe Yovanovitch retires from State Department: reports Live coverage: Senators enter second day of questions in impeachment trial MORE, former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine; Yovanovitch; Fiona Hill, who was formerly Trump's top Russia expert at the National Security Council; and George Kent, a deputy secretary of State, who testified for roughly 10 hours on Tuesday.

Democrats have emerged from each of the lengthy depositions with claims that the witness corroborated the whistleblower's charges, lending fuel to the Democrats' impeachment inquiry and fanning sentiments that the drafting of impeachment articles are all but inevitable.

Republicans, meanwhile, have defended Trump by focusing on the process, accusing Democrats of conducting a "clown show" — not an impeachment investigation — since the testimony is all being conducted privately and Pelosi has refused to stage a floor vote to launch the impeachment inquiry formally.

Olivia Beavers contributed.