Laughing Men In Suits

Are you really arguing against the meaning of a term that was used in the congressional record?

Ambassador Taylor testified that he heard it from Tim Morrison, who he claims heard it from Gordon Sondland, who he claims heard it from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zeldin used the term "fourthhand" because Taylor is 3 steps away from someone who could give testimony that would be admissible in court.

1st hand: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
2nd hand: Gordon Sondland
3rd hand: Tim Morrison
4th hand: Ambassador Taylor

It's a progression. If you didn't hear it yourself, you don't have 1st hand knowledge - you have N+1, where N is the level of the person you heard it from.

Also known as "the grapevine"

The term was used to describe his distance from actual knowledge of the conversation, and it's the term used in congressional record. It's more descriptive because it gives the distance.