Gordan Sondland, the United States Ambassador to the European Union, returned to Capitol Hill to testify in the House impeachment inquiry.
What We Know:
- Sondland played a vital role in the Democratic investigation into Donald Trump and Ukraine for his connection and involvement in a “shadow” policy on behalf of the President.
- According to CNN, in his opening sentence, Sondland connected Donald Trump directly to the “quid pro quo” trading Ukrainian investigations into Trump’s political opponents for official actions, including a White House meeting. Sondland alleged that everyone was in the loop in regards to the involvement with Ukraine.
- Sondland said he was working with Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine matters at the “express direction of the President of the United States”.
- Sondland recounted many conversations between himself and Trump about Ukraine opening two investigations: one into Burisma, a company where former Vice President Joe Biden’s son was on the board, and another into conspiracies about Ukraine meddling in the 2016 US election.
- Sondland admitting that there indeed was a “quid pro quo” contradicts with Donald Trump and other witnesses denying there was any. He said Trump withheld a White House invitation from the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, until Zelensky announced the investigations.
- He implicated key White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who also directs the Office of Management and Budget.
- Sondland did refuse to realize that Donald Trump wanted Ukraine to investigate the Bidens in reference to a July 25th call with Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Sondland alluded that the investigations were indeed about politics, which aids the whistleblower complaint that said Trump’s requests for investigations were meant to help his campaign.
We will continue to provide updates throughout the impeachment process.
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