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The US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland was heard Wednesday, November 20 as part of the process of removal of Donald Trump.
Did Donald Trump abuse his power to blackmail Kiev for electoral purposes? The question was Wednesday at the heart of Gordon Sondland's public hearing before the Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives. " Was there a counterpart to a visit by the Ukrainian president to the White House? The answer is yes, "said the US ambassador to the European Union.
While he assured himself that he had never heard Donald Trump put his own terms, Gordon Sondland charged Rudolph Giuliani, his personal lawyer. It was he who lobbied for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to agree to launch investigations into the American Democrats and the Burisma gas group, which then had Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, on his board, well placed to face Donald Trump in the race at the White House next year.
" It was Rudolph Giuliani who informed us of these preconditions and we all understood that they reflected the requirements of the President, " said Gordon Sondland. The latter also insisted that he never heard Donald Trump mention the suspension of military aid in this case.
The ambassador to the European Union also denied having belonged to a parallel diplomatic network, as several witnesses have reported, and directly spoke of the role of Mike Pompeo. " We kept the secretary of state informed of what we were doing. The State Department fully supported our involvement in Ukrainian affairs and knew that a commitment (from Ukraine) to launch investigations was one of our goals, "he said.
If Gordon Sondland weakens the defense of Republicans by confirming the existence of blackmail on Ukraine, he tries to protect the president, overwhelming his personal lawyer and involving the Secretary of State, notes our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet . For his part Donald Trump did not know very well Gordon Sondland he described as a man " very good " early October. Donald Trump also repeated twice that there was no counterpart requested from Ukraine, contradicting the testimony of his ambassador.
Rudolph Giuliani tries to defend himself on Twitter and denies any blackmail against Ukraine. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo prefers to keep the distance he has observed since the beginning of the case and tweeted from Brussels about NATO.
During the July 24 conversation @realDonaldTrump agrees to a meeting with Pres. Zelensky without requiring an investigation, any discussion of military aid or any condition whatsoever.
This record shows definitively no quid pro quo, which is the same as no bribery. END OF CASE!