Flickr / The White House
As can be expected, the airwaves and web are all abuzz about the release of the “transcript” of Trump’s conversation with Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Yet, it is important to keep in mind: the “transcript” is not a transcript.
It says so right on the document:
The five-page document distributed by the White House includes a cautionary note indicating that it was “not a verbatim transcript” but instead was based on “notes and recollections of Situation Room Duty officers” and national security staff. But senior officials said voice recognition software was used in preparing the “memorandum of telephone conversation,” which included long, direct quotations.
The so-called #UkraineTranscript isn't a transcript at all. It's a memo that contains only what Trump's staff decided to take notes on… and yet it STILL shows he is guilty of exactly the crimes of which he's been accused.
Imagine what was said that his staff didn't write down!
— Dave Wagner (@Dbwagner104) September 25, 2019
Why did a 28 minute call result in a five minute transcript? pic.twitter.com/Z5BYN708TF
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) September 25, 2019
Even though it isn’t complete, it does contain many points of interest. There is the part where Trump asks Zelensky to work with the Attorney General and investigate former VP Joe Biden’s son:
The President told a foreign govt to do him a favor & work with his personal lawyer & the AG to investigate a political opponent. Read the "transcript." For the safety & integrity of our democracy, Congress must begin impeachment proceedings without delay. https://t.co/e1Pw10TlyX
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 25, 2019
There was also the name-dropping of a Trump hotel:
It won't get as much play as the topline blatant extortion in this transcript, but the part where the President of Ukraine brags to Trump about how he stayed at Trump Tower in order to butter him up is a reminder of the near constant corruption happening every damn day.
— Stephen Miles (@SPMiles42) September 25, 2019
There is one person who doesn’t seem to be worried about the content of the “transcript.” In fact, he seems to think that it actually makes him look good:
Will the Democrats apologize after seeing what was said on the call with the Ukrainian President? They should, a perfect call - got them by surprise!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2019
MORE: The Zelensky Memo Suggests There Might Be Tapes - SLATE
The document, which is not a transcript, was compiled with the help of voice recognition software.
