President Joe Biden used his first meeting with a foreign leader since ending the war in Afghanistan to send the message that the United States — unburdened of its “forever war”— is determined to become a more reliable ally to its friends.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose hopes for a White House meeting played a central part in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, will finally get his chance for an Oval Office sit down late next month.

The Trump administration’s ambassador to the European Union and a pivotal witness in 2019 impeachment proceedings has sued former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an effort to recoup $1.8 million in legal fees.

President Joe Biden is facing a fresh challenge to his oft-repeated commitment to diversity in his administration: assembling a diplomatic corps that gives a nod to key political allies and donors while staying true to a campaign pledge to appoint ambassadors who look like America.

"The member of my staff could hear President Trump on the phone, asking Ambassador Sondland about 'the investigations.' When asked about the call later that day during a press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan, President Trump said he knew, "nothing about that." A close ally of Trump's, Jordan laid out a case that Taylor's testimony relies on several levels of hearsay. At a post-hearing press conference, Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik summed up the GOP argument against impeachment. But what about Senate Republicans, who hold the majority and could help determine whether an impeached President Trump is convicted or acquitted?

The top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine is testifying Wednesday in the first public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry. two other envoys invoked President Donald Trump's history as a businessman in trying to explain the U.S. relationship with Ukraine. He says Kurt Volker used the same language several days later while they were together at the Yalta European Strategy Conference in Ukraine. Watch hearing on Channel 4 and News4Jax.com when it resumes after lunch break. RELATED STORIES:2 diplomats to testify in first public impeachment hearingHow to watch Wednesday's impeachment hearingRick Mullaney weighs in on the upcoming public impeachment hearingsCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

Within the State Department, in conversations with nearly a dozen staff, the word that repeatedly came to people's lips as they described their colleagues wasn't "swamp." Next week, an old army friend of Pompeo's, State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl, is slated to testify -- though he has ignored a previous request to appear voluntarily. 'Fixated'In April -- one year into his tenure as secretary of state -- Pompeo unveiled a "professional ethos" for the State Department. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they still deal with the State Department. "It's a source of power for him," Anderson said, "but this has come at the expense of his reputation inside the State Department."

Photo by Alex Wong/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON - A progressive senator from Wisconsin has called for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's salary to be withheld until EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland is allowed to testify in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, according to a report by The Hill. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) sent a letter to Pompeo on Tuesday saying the law allows Congress to withhold compensation if a federal official prevents another government employee from communicating with "any Member, committee, or subcommittee of the Congress." The State Department blocked Sondland from testifying in his scheduled House deposition on Tuesday. In his letter, Pocan referred to a piece of legislature signed by Trump himself earlier this year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(CNN) - President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani on Sunday said he spoke last week with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about Giuliani's meeting with a Ukrainian official, adding that Pompeo didn't direct him to have those meeting. Pompeo was aware that his department was assisting Giuliani in speaking with an aide to the Ukrainian president, explains a source familiar with the conversations. When asked last week about Giuliani's efforts, Pompeo said the State Department's actions were "appropriate." "From what I've seen so far, each of the actions that were undertaken by State Department officials was entirely appropriate," he said. CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment about Pompeo's speaking to Giuliani.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The chairmen of three House committees subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Friday over his failure to produce documents related to Ukraine. "Pursuant to the House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry, we are hereby transmitting a subpoena that compels you to produce the documents set forth in the accompanying schedule by October 4, 2019," the chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees wrote in a letter to Pompeo. The chairman of the three committees wrote to Pompeo on September 9 with a request for six categories of documents "related to reported efforts by President Trump and his associates to improperly pressure the Ukrainian government to assist the President's bid for reelection." The State Department had until Thursday to reply. Pompeo has not publicly addressed the State Department's role in Rudy Giuliani's dealings with Ukraine and the State Department has not responded to numerous requests for comment about the situation.