Former NSC staffer Morrison says after Sondland talked to Zelensky adviser Yermak, Sondland told him "what he communicated was that... what could help them move the aid was if the prosecutor general would to go the mic and announce that he was opening the Burisma investigation."
2/ MORRISON: "...I mean, it was the first time something like this had been injected as a condition on the release of the assistance."
He told his boss, then-national security adviser John Bolton. "His reaction was: Stay out of it, brief the lawyers."
He told his boss, then-national security adviser John Bolton. "His reaction was: Stay out of it, brief the lawyers."
3/ ...Q: Ambassador Sondland told you in Poland that he had told Yermak that the prosecutor general needed to commit to these investigations to get the military aid, night?
M0RRISON: Yes, sir.
M0RRISON: Yes, sir.
4/ Q: And then it was subsequently on the phone where
he came back to you, Ambassador Sondland that is, and said, no, the prosecutor general is not going to be sufficient, President Zelensky has to commit to that, right?
MORRISON: Yes, sir.
he came back to you, Ambassador Sondland that is, and said, no, the prosecutor general is not going to be sufficient, President Zelensky has to commit to that, right?
MORRISON: Yes, sir.
5/ MORRISON: He related the President told him there
was no quid pro quo, but President Zelensky had to do it and he should want to do lt.
...Ambassador Sondland believed and at least related to me that the President was giving him instruction.
was no quid pro quo, but President Zelensky had to do it and he should want to do lt.
...Ambassador Sondland believed and at least related to me that the President was giving him instruction.
6/ Q: And he understood his responsibilities to be doing what the President asked him to do?
MORRISON: He related to me he was acting—he was discussing these matters with the President.
MORRISON: He related to me he was acting—he was discussing these matters with the President.
