NEW: Sondland will describe quid pro quo - say WH meeting with Zelenksy conditioned on political probes and “everybody was in the loop” (Mulvaney, Pompeo) to satisfy Trump. Will say he told Pence of “concerns” aid was “tied to the issue of investigations” cnn.com/2019/11/20/pol…
Emails show Sondland talking with Pompeo, Mulvaney about Trump’s demands. Sondland also says he “came to believe that the resumption of security aid would not occur until there was a public statement from Ukraine committing to the investigations of the 2016 elections and Burisma”
Schiff warns Trump that in an article of impeachment against Nixon was obstruction of Congress, bashing State and the WH for not turning documents over to the committee: “They do so at their own peril.”
Nunes starting off today much the way he has the last three days of hearings, bashing the Russia investigation and impeachment “circus” launched by “partisan extremists”
“Ambassador Sondland, you are here today to be smeared,” Nunes says before launching into criticism over handling of whistleblower
Sondland throws State under the bus, saying the department withheld key documents that could refresh his testimony, calling that “less than fair.” “My memory, admittedly, has not been perfect.”
“We did not want to work with Mr. Giuliani,” but they did because Trump ordered they do so. “So we followed the president’s orders.” He says he wouldn’t have worked with Rudy if he “would have known all of Mr. Giuliani’s role.”
“These emails show that the leadership, State, NSC and the WH were all informed” about the Ukraine efforts from May 23-Sept. 11. He said Giuliani was “expressing the desires” of Trump for Ukraine to make a public announcement of investigations as aid and meeting were withheld.
“In response to our persistent efforts to change his views, President Trump directed us to ‘talk to Rudy,’” Sondland said, reiterating what he said in deposition. “We weren’t happy with the president’s directive to talk with Rudy.”’
Rudy later told them that Trump wanted a public statement “committing” Ukraine to look into 2016 election interference and Bursima, saying they were “two topics of importance to the President.”
Sondland continues to differ from how Vindman and Hill (and now Volker) remember the July 10 meeting. The three said that Sondland floating probes was wrong and Bolton cut meeting short. Sondland: “We all discussed the importance of the two action items I identified earlier.”
Sondland throwing more under the bus: Reads email to Tim Morrison of NSC that mentioned “investigations.” Says he looped in Brechbuhl, a top State official. “Even as late as Sept. 24, Secretary Pompeo was directing Kurt Volker to speak with Rudy Giuliani.”
Sondland said he doesn’t remember “precise details” and has “no recollection” Biden was mentioned on July 26 call at a restaurant that witness said Trump and Sondland talked Biden probe. Says he has no reason to doubt it bc Rudy had been talking probes. Claims no classified info
Here’s the email Sondland read saying “everyone was in the loop,” saying Zelensky would commit to running a “fully transparent investigation” 
After negotiating statement on probes with Volker and Zelensky, Sondland says he sent a message to Pompeo. “Gordon, I’ll pass to S,” meaning Secretary Pompeo
After talking to Pence about his concerns that aid was tied to investigations, Sondland tells Ukraine official Yermak that “resumption of US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine took some kind of action on the public statement we had been discussing for many weeks.”
Schiff: “There’s a lot of new material” in Sondland’s public testimony. He asks Sondland what he previously testified to: That the ask for probes became more “insidious.” Sondland says “more and more conditions” had been placed on the Zelensky-Trump meeting
Pompeo was aware of quid pro quo, Sondland says
Sondland says he doesn’t recall mentioning the name “Biden” during July 26 call with Trump at Kiev restaurant - this is important for Sondland bc he has previously testified that he didn’t realize for some time that Burisma = Bidens
After Sondland confirms Trump told him that military aid would be withheld until a public announcement of probes was made by Ukraine, Sondland then says he “can’t recall” what Trump conveyed. They will get more into what Morrison and Taylor said of Trump-Sondland calls later
“That was my belief,” Sondland said when asked by Schiff that Trump would NOT turn over military aid until Ukraine announced probes
“It was an open line,” Sondland says of his call with Trump at Kiev restaurant. “He was aware it was an open line as well.” He doesn’t dispute how witness characterized call. Sondland confirms he told Trump that Zelensky “loves your ass.” Say “Sounds like something I would say.”
About David Holmes testifying that Sondland said Trump only cared about the “big stuff“ (Biden probe.) Sondland said: “I don’t think I would have said that.” Said he *thinks* it was talk of Burisma/2016 probes
Sondland said “the only thing” that he heard was that Trump/Rudy wanted to have a public announcement - not necessarily to actually conduct probe. “They would have to announce they were going” to investigate. They seemed to just cared about the announcement
Sondland says Trump “likely” conditioned Ukraine meeting on the announcement of investigations. Can’t remember Trump call about it but doesn’t dispute he asked
Given all the factors, Sondland said, he came to believe aid was tied to quid pro quo. When he raised concerns to Pence about aid tied to investigations, Pence simply “nodded”
Sondland breaks from Taylor, who testified that he was told by Sondland that - based on talking with Trump - aid delay was tied to probes. Sondland says Trump “never told me DIRECTLY the aid was conditioned” on probes. BUT it was “abundantly clear to everyone” there was a link
Nunes seeking to portray Giuliani as a sympathetic figure trying to get to bottom of Ukraine and 2016 to defend Trump against Russia allegations; several witnesses have characterized Rudy efforts as running counter to the national interests
“Hunter Biden could get to the bottom of all this,” Nunes said
Sondland says Trump never “personally” told him to set preconditions for meeting or aid. But he came to learn this was the case - in large part because Trump directed them to talk to Rudy, who was pushing probes. Trump creating a Rudy buffer will be what GOP cites to defend him
Sondland still maintains he didn’t initially realize Burisma = Bidens during talk of investigations
Sondland says he was not in an “irregular channel” because he was in frequent contact with Mulvaney, Pompeo, Perry and other top officials whose job it was to implement Ukraine policy
Sondland says he doesn’t remember things because he has lots of meetings with many important people and they “tend to sort of blend together.” He says he’s not a notetaker. “You’re a trifecta of unreliability,” GOP counsel Castor says. Sondland says he “filled in a lot of blanks”
“I wasn’t paying attention to what Rudy Giuliani was saying on TV,” Sondland says when asked by Schiff how he could not tie Burisma to the Bidens.
“A lot of people were aware of it,” Sondland says when asked about “quid pro quo” for meeting, including Mulvaney. “I didn’t know (aid) was conclusively tied” to investigations; he says he was “presuming.” But notes what Mulvaney said publicly - “he was in a position of knowing”
Sondland, asked why he texted that there would have to be a “deliverable” in exchange for Ukraine meeting, says: “I don’t recall” how he came to learn that. Says it could have been from a conversation with Trump. Blames State for not letting him see records to refresh memory
Dems will point to this. Sondland just said he has NO reason to dispute what Taylor and Morrison said: That Sondland relayed to them Trump needed the investigations to be announced before aid was released. “I don’t know if I got it from President Trump or Giulani,” he added
What GOP will point to: Then Sondland reiterates that Trump “never” told him “directly” that aid was tied to investigations
Nunes leaning heavily into Mark Sandy’s closed testimony, the senior OMB official whose deposition was Saturday and whose testimony GOP says will back up WH argument about aid delay. His transcript hasn’t been released yet.
Castor trying to point out discrepancy in Sondland testimony when Sondland previously said there was a generic discussion of investigations. Now, Sondland says Pompeo was in the loop then (July 19) and that they were close to negotiating a statement about Burisma/2016 probes
Sondland says Ukrainians believed at the time of Sept. 1 meeting that they had to announce probes to get military aid
Sondland says what they were doing was in the “center lane” of what the Trump admin was doing - not an irregular channel - and Pompeo supported it
Jim Jordan said it wasn’t “2+2,” it was “0 for 3” because aid was released, no announcement of probes and there was a meeting at UN
“It was absolutely a requirement,” Sondland says of Zelensky meeting tied to probe announcement
GOP Rep. Mike Turner asks Sondland if “anyone on the planet” had told him that Trump tied Ukraine aid to the announcement of investigations. He said no one did and that he was relying on “my own presumption,” prompting Turner to say: “Which is nothing.”
Pushing back, Schiff says Republicans are arguing that unless Trump directly says he wants to bribe a foreign leader, there’s no evidence. Schiff said they have “plenty of evidence.” And the reason why the aid was released and there was no statement of probes: “They got caught.”
Sondland reveals he and his family have been threatened as his name has been in the news, saying there have been “countless emails” and his “properties are being boycotted.”
”The president of the United States gets five Pinocchio’s on a daily basis,” Speier said
Swalwell asks if someone walked through the doors with a raincoat, umbrella and was dripping wet, would it be safe to presume it’s raining or would he have to walk outside to confirm. “I understand your hypothetical,” Sondland said
Fair to say that Sondland’s testimony has not shifted views on this committee - and likely hasn’t in the House as a whole. “This is crazy what we’re going through because the facts are so darn clear,” Jordan said
Tense exchange between Maloney and Sondland: “Let’s be clear what it took to get it out of you,” pressing Sondland on his lack of recollection. Sondland says “I resent” that
