In a striking revelation from Jonathan Karl’s latest book, “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,” Yale-educated Second Lady Usha Vance reportedly played a pivotal role during a significant diplomatic event in the Trump-Vance administration earlier this year. The narrative, chronicled by Karl, who is also the Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, details how Usha, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, was consulted on a high-stakes minerals deal involving Ukraine in February.

According to excerpts reviewed by Politico, during discussions about the minerals deal between Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump, concerns were raised regarding the adequacy of its legal vetting. Karl notes that JD Vance suggested, “I can have Usha take a look at it.” The Daily Mail has sought comments from both the White House and Usha Vance’s team. Karl further describes the momentous scene, highlighting, “And with that, the vice president summoned the Second Lady of the United States—who, like Steve Bannon, held no official position on the National Security Council—to the West Wing to assess a bilateral agreement slated for signing the following day.”

The Vances, who met while studying law at Yale University, have impressive legal backgrounds. Usha Vance has worked as an associate attorney in private practice and served as a law clerk for both the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Ultimately, the minerals deal fell through after a contentious meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office.

Vance publicly dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not being respectful enough to President Donald Trump during a dramatic Oval Office meeting at the White House back in February. At the time, the vice president launched into attack mode after he felt Trump was being disrespected by the Ukrainian president.

‘Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ Vance said after Zelensky repeatedly interrupted and disputed statements made by Trump. A source familiar with the meeting at the White House told the Daily Mail at the time that Zelensky’s demeanor was surprising to American officials in the room.

‘No one expected the meeting to play out as it did, because nobody expected [him] to act that way,’ the source said. Vance noted that Biden stood up for four years and ‘talked tough’ while ‘thumping his chest’ but Putin invaded Ukraine anyway. ‘The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy,’ he said back in February.