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.
KEVIN McCARTHY: GOP Lawmakers ‘Destroyed’ Impeachment Inquiry Witness Claims ‘In 90 Seconds’
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threw more cold-water on the Democrats’ latest push to remove President Trump from office Wednesday; saying GOP lawmakers destroyed a key impeachment witness in just “90 seconds.”
“In 90 seconds, we had John Ratcliffe destroy [acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill] Taylor’s whole argument,” McCarthy said.
“We can’t really talk about it,” he added. “Adam Schiff won’t let us talk about what happened.”
McCarthy’s comments come hours after Speaker Nancy Pelosi published a “fact sheet” detailing her party’s impeachment inquiry.
“President Trump has betrayed his oath of office, betrayed our national security and betrayed the integrity of our elections for his own personal political gain,” states the document.