I only caught a part of Sondland's testimony (Dem's counsel was asking him questions with regards to Ambassador Taylor's testimony), he seems to be hedging his bets a bit (something akin to throwing everyone under the bus, but not necessarily Trump/Pence since I will need them to pardon me).
I'm wondering if he thinks that if he throws enough bodies under the bus that no one will notice that Trump and Pence aren't there and he can still angle for no prison time and/or a pardon.
Well, upon reading CNN, it appears I may be wrong on the Trump/Pence part. Seems he threw everyone under the bus.....I wonder if this was the "big surprise" that folks thought might happen this week.
He did he kept on saying on the president order. ? Time for him to have another visit to Walter Reed, for his physical.
So I wonder how the Republicans are going to redirect this. Trump praised him last month and he is a generous republican donor.
Also, when this goes to the Senate how in hell are they going to try smooth this over for T. Are they just not going to call the same people the House has been interviewing.
I heard that organizers are planning a march the day prior to the House vote on impeachment. I believe the thought would be that if the public shows up en masse, that the GOP members of the senate (and dems in red states) will have to think long and hard about their impeachment vote when it shows the popular support for removal of this president.
"I followed the directions of the President," said Sondland.
Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret. Everyone was informed via email on July 19, days before the Presidential call. As I communicated to the team, I told President Zelensky in advance that assurances to 'run a fully transparent investigation' and 'turn over every stone' were necessary in his call with President Trump."
That statement disrupts -- actually, destroys -- the defenses of both the White House and congressional Republicans who have insisted that the Ukrainians had no clue that there were any preconditions to getting what they wanted most -- a meeting between Zelensky and Trump and then, later, the release of the nearly $400 million in military aid from the US to Ukraine.
Mr. Giuliani conveyed to Secretary Perry, Ambassador Volker, and others that President Trump wanted a public statement from President Zelensky committing to investigations of Burisma and the 2016 election. Mr. Giuliani expressed those requests directly to the Ukrainians. Mr. Giuliani also expressed those requests directly to us. We all understood that these pre-requisites for the White House call and White House meeting reflected President Trump's desires and requirements.
Thr Killer:
"'I Talked to Zelensky just now... He is prepared to receive Potus' call. Will assure him that he intends to run a fully transparent investigation and will 'turn over every stone'. He would greatly appreciate a call prior to Sunday so that he can put out some media about a 'friendly and productive call' (no details) prior to Ukraine election on Sunday." Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney responded: 'I asked NSC to set it up for tomorrow.'"
In just those two chunks, Sondland makes clear that the President's personal lawyer, his energy secretary, his secretary of state and his acting chief of staff were all made aware of the need for the Ukrainians to announce an investigation into the Bidens in order to get the White House meeting they wanted.
Sondland's testimony, put simply, changes the game. It is now impossible for Republicans to claim that there was no quid pro quo. Or to suggest that the likes of Sondland were acting solely of their own accord, with no coordination from the higher-ups back in Washington. Or to suggest that this was all just normal stuff that happens every day in the world of international diplomacy.
Once again, recommending watching the hearings through a filter. The one I'm enjoying is through Crooked Media on Youtube. Comments from the guys plus public comments that are freakin' hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzdXeFGJOEk
Pro tip: Whenever Nunes, aka Moo-nez speaks, type in MOOO plus some clown emojis
Trump thinks Sondland testimony exonerated him.
Trump read from the packet of notes while addressing reporters before stepping onto Air Force One to travel to Austin, Texas. He reenacted a talk he had with U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who testified in his House impeachment hearings on Wednesday, and said it signaled that the inquiry should be "all over."
What do you want from Ukraine, he asks me, screaming, What do you want from Ukraine? I keep hearing all of these ideas and theories. This is ambassador Sondland speaking to me," Trump said. "And now here is my response that he just gave. Ready? You have the cameras rolling? I want nothing. That's what I want from Ukraine. That's what I said, I want nothing. I said it twice
Trump said he did not know Sondland well and suggested that the "fake news" media has not covered his remarks about Ukraine properly (Sorry his own words on camera for the world to see)
"I want nothing. I want nothing. I want no quid pro quo. Tell Zelensky, President Zelensky, to do the right thing," Trump said, again referencing his talk with Sondland. "So here's my answer, I want nothing, I want nothing, I want no quid pro quo ... Then he says, this is the final word from the president of the United States. I want nothing." ?? yeah ok
Worse is watching it! The man has totally lost it. Raving...Mad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VspIIHuXqdw
As IF Sondland would be yelling at Trump on the phone, using simple, broad, undefined language like I keep hearing all these ideas and theories. That is exactly how Trump would speak (and when you saw the word salad of the WH transcript, it is exactly as he spoke...they say crowd strike, the server, some rich guy in your country....I don't know...
Sondland screwed up the Dems plan today. He dropped so many implicatred names that they almost have to get testimony from those ignoring subpoenas, which will drag this thru the courts. Theyre in a tough position of either letting a lot of guilty people walk here, or dragging it out too long. Can anyone see what route they end up taking?