"Private citizens often are part of executing American foreign policy... There have been private citizens all the time. Bill Richardson does this kind of work all the time. Lots of good, patriotic Americans are working to assist the State department, the Department of energy, to get good outcomes for the elements of American power, to get good outcomes for the American people. This is completely appropriate"
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on ABC's "this week" that he never saw the kind of quid pro quo that acting white house chief of staff Mick Mulvaney referred to on Thursday with regard to the decision-making process he was involved in on Ukraine.
"The conversation was always around what were the strategic implications," Pompeo told ABC. "Would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn't flow to the mission that it was intended for."
Full video ABC News