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https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-05/impeachment-transcripts-released
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Ambassador Sondland changes story, says he told Ukrainians that U.S. aid was linked to launching inquiry
NOV. 5, 2019 3:45 PM
WASHINGTON — Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a key defender of President Trump in the impeachment inquiry, revised his statement to House investigators, saying he now remembers telling a Ukrainian official that nearly $400 million in American aid would probably not be released unless the country publicly committed to conducting investigations that Trump wanted, according to documents released Tuesday by the House impeachment committees.
The original 10-hour Oct. 17 deposition by Sondland, a Trump donor, came under intense scrutiny in recent weeks as other impeachment witnesses offered testimony that seemed to conflict with what Sondland said under oath. Some lawmakers said it appeared Sondland committed perjury.
In a three-page declaration sent to House investigators on Monday, Sondland revised his earlier deposition, saying the other witnesses had “refreshed my recollection.”
Now Sondland’s version mirrors that of other witnesses who have described a quid pro quo linking release of the aid to Ukraine launching investigations that could help Trump in his 2020 reelection campaign.
.....
Sondland acknowledged in the supplemental testimony that “it was my understanding” that a White House meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as the release of the military aid was contingent on Ukraine’s agreeing to investigate unfounded allegations about that country interfering in the 2016 U.S. election and opening an inquiry into Burisma, a gas company that employed the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump’s potential 2020 rivals.
Sondland also changed his testimony to include a Sept. 1 conversation with Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, in which Sondland told the Ukrainian that “the resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks.” The anti-corruption statement specifically was to include a commitment to investigate the Bidens and Ukraine’s purported role in 2016.
Initially he told the House committees that before Sept. 9, he “could not recall” being aware that the aid’s release was contingent on an investigation by Ukraine.....
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But Sondland is an impartial witness.....
.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-11-05/impeachment-transcripts-released
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambassador Sondland changes story, says he told Ukrainians that U.S. aid was linked to launching inquiry
NOV. 5, 2019 3:45 PM
WASHINGTON — Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a key defender of President Trump in the impeachment inquiry, revised his statement to House investigators, saying he now remembers telling a Ukrainian official that nearly $400 million in American aid would probably not be released unless the country publicly committed to conducting investigations that Trump wanted, according to documents released Tuesday by the House impeachment committees.
The original 10-hour Oct. 17 deposition by Sondland, a Trump donor, came under intense scrutiny in recent weeks as other impeachment witnesses offered testimony that seemed to conflict with what Sondland said under oath. Some lawmakers said it appeared Sondland committed perjury.
In a three-page declaration sent to House investigators on Monday, Sondland revised his earlier deposition, saying the other witnesses had “refreshed my recollection.”
Now Sondland’s version mirrors that of other witnesses who have described a quid pro quo linking release of the aid to Ukraine launching investigations that could help Trump in his 2020 reelection campaign.
.....
Sondland acknowledged in the supplemental testimony that “it was my understanding” that a White House meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as the release of the military aid was contingent on Ukraine’s agreeing to investigate unfounded allegations about that country interfering in the 2016 U.S. election and opening an inquiry into Burisma, a gas company that employed the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, one of Trump’s potential 2020 rivals.
Sondland also changed his testimony to include a Sept. 1 conversation with Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, in which Sondland told the Ukrainian that “the resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks.” The anti-corruption statement specifically was to include a commitment to investigate the Bidens and Ukraine’s purported role in 2016.
Initially he told the House committees that before Sept. 9, he “could not recall” being aware that the aid’s release was contingent on an investigation by Ukraine.....
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But Sondland is an impartial witness.....
.
