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Trump wanted to advance two conspiracy theories that would help shape the 2020 election, one targeting Joe Biden and another shifting the blame for 2016 election interference from Russia (helping Trump) to Ukraine (helping Clinton). Trump asked the new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to open investigations into the theories on a phone call July 25. The funds were frozen later that day.

After a whistleblower complaint, Trump released the funds. Zelenskyy subsequently canceled an interview where he was reportedly to announce an investigation into the Bidens.

Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Senate Republicans subsequently voted to acquit Trump.

References

• Read Trump’s phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky (cnn.com)
• Ukraine’s Zelensky Bowed to Trump’s Demands, Until Luck Spared Him (nytimes.com)
• Trump impeachment: The short, medium and long story (bbc.com)