President Trump weighed-in Wednesday on Ambassador Sondland’s ongoing testimony; reading an excerpt where the diplomat confirms he was told there is “no quid pro quo” with the Ukraine.
“Just a quick comment on what’s going on with Ambassador Sondland, I just noticed one thing, and I would say that means it’s all over,” said Trump.
“’What do you want from Ukraine,’ he asks me… Trump told me, ‘I want nothing, I want nothing, I want No Quid Pro Quo, just tell Zelensky to do the right thing,” said the President before departing the White House.”
President @realDonaldTrump delivers a statement on the sham impeachment process: pic.twitter.com/XBoUNfRV4a
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 20, 2019
Ambassador Sondland spoke with the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry Wednesday; saying President Trump never ordered any “pre-conditions” for the release of American aid to the Ukraine.
“Did the President every tell you personally about any pre-conditions for anything?” asked the Legal Counsel.
“No,” replied Sondland.
“Any pre-conditions for the aid to be released?” pressed the counsel.
“No,” said Sondland.
“Any pre-conditions for a White House meeting?” he asked.
“Personally, No,” replied Sondland.
Watch Ambassador Sondland’s testimony above.
UPDATE: Vice President’s Office Denies Sondland’s Claims, Says Conversations ‘Never’ Happened
Vice President Mike Pence’s office issued a fierce rebuke of Ambassador Sondland’s claims Wednesday; saying any conversation concerning withholding Ukraine aid and Hunter Biden “never” took place.
“The Vice President never had a conversation with Gordon Sondland about investigating the Bidens, Burisma, or the conditional release of financial aid to Ukraine based upon potential investigations,” Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, said in a statement.
"Trump when I asked him the open-ended question… 'what do you want from Ukraine?'" Sondland recalled.
"His answer was 'I want nothing, I want no quid pro quo. Tell Zelensky to do the right thing.'" pic.twitter.com/UtMx7jOSjq
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 20, 2019
“Multiple witnesses have testified under oath that Vice President Pence never raised Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden, Crowdstrike, Burisma, or investigations in any conversation with Ukrainians or President Zelensky before, during, or after the September 1 meeting in Poland,” Short said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Source: The Hill
WATCH: Amb. Sondland Says Trump Never Ordered ‘Pre-Conditions for the Aid to be Released’
Ambassador Sondland spoke with the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry Wednesday; saying President Trump never ordered any “pre-conditions” for the release of American aid to the Ukraine.
“Did the President every tell you personally about any pre-conditions for anything?” asked the Legal Counsel.
“No,” replied Sondland.
“Any pre-conditions for the aid to be released?” pressed the counsel.
“No,” said Sondland.
“Any pre-conditions for a White House meeting?” he asked.
“Personally, No,” replied Sondland.
Watch Ambassador Sondland’s testimony above.