The President is now obstructing Congress by intervening to prevent Amb. Sondland from testifying.
To understand why the House will fight to get Sondland's testimony, it's important to consider what we already know about his role in the Ukraine affair— 1/
To understand why the House will fight to get Sondland's testimony, it's important to consider what we already know about his role in the Ukraine affair— 1/
Sondland, Trump's Ambassador to the European Union, was read in on Rudy Giuliani's attempts to get dirt on the Bidens this spring.
One outstanding question is what he told State Department officials, including Secretary of State Pompeo, about those efforts, and when. 2/
One outstanding question is what he told State Department officials, including Secretary of State Pompeo, about those efforts, and when. 2/
Giuliani has no position in the US government, yet the whistleblower complaint stated that US officials expressed alarm that he was effectively running diplomacy between the President and Ukraine. The whistleblower said Sondland met with Ukrainian leaders during this period. 3/
To understand confusing messages from Giuliani, Washington, and US diplomats, Ukraine's leaders sought a call between Presidents Zelensky and Trump.
Sondland told Ukrainian press he spoke to both Trump and Zelensky before and after the July 25 call: 4/ ukrinform.net/rubric-polytic…
Sondland told Ukrainian press he spoke to both Trump and Zelensky before and after the July 25 call: 4/ ukrinform.net/rubric-polytic…
That was the infamous call during which Trump mentioned foreign aid to Ukraine and then asked for Ukraine's help in attacking his political opponent.
After the call concluded, aides began planning a face to face meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which Ukraine badly wanted. 5/
After the call concluded, aides began planning a face to face meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which Ukraine badly wanted. 5/
But Trump wanted to attach conditions to that visit (commonly known as a "quid pro quo").
Rudy Giuliani pressed for Zelensky to issue a statement announcing a Ukrainian investigation of "corruption," by which he clearly meant the Bidens. 6/ talkingpointsmemo.com/news/whistlebl…
Rudy Giuliani pressed for Zelensky to issue a statement announcing a Ukrainian investigation of "corruption," by which he clearly meant the Bidens. 6/ talkingpointsmemo.com/news/whistlebl…
Sondland then helped write that statement announcing a Ukrainian investigation of the Bidens, with Giuliani acting as boss to give final approval. Giuliani and Trump's goal was clearly to seek election assistance from a foreign power. 7/
Believing Zelensky would issue the statement, Sondland and others continued working to set up the meeting between Zelensky and Trump.
In a key exchange, Sondland texted that Trump had agreed to the meeting because "potus really wants the deliverable." 8/
In a key exchange, Sondland texted that Trump had agreed to the meeting because "potus really wants the deliverable." 8/
But Ukraine didn't release the statement. Soon after, leaders in Ukraine and the U.S. learned that Trump had suspended foreign aid to Ukraine.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor texted Sondland "it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.” 9/
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor texted Sondland "it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.” 9/
Sondland *called Trump* and conveyed that message to him, then texted Sondland back hours later with a deeply suspicious response to ask Taylor to "stop the back and forth by text," an indication that he did not want a record of their conversation. 10/
Republican Senator Ron Johnson told the Wall Street Journal that "Sondland... described to him a quid pro quo involving a commitment by Kyiv to probe matters related to U.S. elections and the status of nearly $400 million in U.S. aid to Ukraine" 11/
wsj.com/articles/trump…
wsj.com/articles/trump…
Sondland surrendered his personal device containing conversations carried on through WhatsApp (an encrypted system which may have been used to sidestep federal record-keeping laws) to the State Department... which is now withholding it from Congress. 12/
Sondland is a central figure in this investigation; his testimony is key. His future in public service and his reputation depend on his forthrightness in telling investigators what he knows. And Trump's attempts to obstruct Congress will not stop us from finding the truth. 13/13
