Day 4. One of the most important testimonies according to top democrats was that of U.S – European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland. Here’s what happened earlier today:
“I know that members of this Committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: ‘Was there a quid pro quo?’” Sondland said. “As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”
Sondland also uncovered evidence that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was pushing for formal investigations by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in exchange for a meeting with President Trump.
Sondland continued by saying “everyone was in the loop” —regarding the quid pro quo— but also testified saying, “When I asked him the open ended question, as I testified previously, what do you want from Ukraine? His answer was ‘Nothing, I want no quid pro quo, tell Zelensky to do the right thing.'”
“It is true that the President likes to use colorful language. While I cannot remember the precise details. . . Again, the White House has not allowed me to see any readouts of that call,” Sondland said. “The July 26 call did not strike me as significant at the time.”
Sondland also confirmed that President Trump knew he was talking on an open line and that Sondland was listening. Sondland said he never heard from President Trump “that aid was conditioned on an announcement of investigations,” although he personally believes it was.
It is now known that Sondland and Mike Pence never spoke about Burisma, Biden or his son, and the alleged conversation between them never happened. Sondland also said he believes the President’s lawyer did most of the heavy-lifting in carrying out actions regarding the demand for Biden investigations.
Chairman Schiff said he is moving forward with the impeachment regardless of the information uncovered in the hearings, declaring that bribery and witness intimidation will be the most likely charges made against President Trump.
The hearings resume Thursday with testimony from Presidential Advisors Fiona Hill and David Holmes.
Updates by Nick Clervi – Author and economic, political analyst for Bearing News.
