President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House. Picture:
AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Washington – A former adviser to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who abruptly resigned last week spoke on Wednesday to an impeachment inquiry into allegations President Donald Trump pursued political interests in his dealings with Ukraine.

Former Pompeo adviser Michael McKinley was the latest senior administration official to give closed-door testimony to the Democratic-led inquiry, sitting for five hours of questions from investigators.

Republicans stepped up their attacks on the inquiry process, which could end in Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives before the end of the year.

Lawmakers are examining whether Trump improperly pressured Ukraine to launch an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden, a top political rival and leading candidate for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination.

A veteran diplomat who had served as ambassador to Brazil and Afghanistan, McKinley told investigators some career diplomats had their careers derailed for political reasons while he served as adviser to Pompeo from May 2018 until last Friday.