Sondland Testimony: 'Everyone Was in the Loop' on Ukraine Quid Pro Quo
Sondland had originally testified in closed session that he had no knowledge of a quid pro quo involving military aid. After two other diplomats — William Taylor and Tim Morrison — submitted testimony contradicting Sondland's account, Sondland submitted a supplemental declaration amending his prior testimony to acknowledge he had told a Ukrainian official that the release of military assistance would likely not occur until Ukraine announced investigations. In his public testimony, Sondland went further, naming Pompeo, Mulvaney, and Bolton as aware of the arrangement and stating the quid pro quo was explicit.
Overview
Gordon Sondland paid $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural committee. In exchange, he received an ambassadorship to the European Union. He then testified before Congress that the president he had paid to appoint him had directed an illegal quid pro quo scheme and that the most senior officials in the U.S. government had known about it.
He was fired two days after Trump was acquitted.
The Amended Testimony
Sondland's original closed-door testimony was carefully unhelpful. He said he hadn't known about any quid pro quo. He said he didn't recall key conversations. He provided a version of events that did not implicate anyone.
Then two other witnesses testified to things he had said that contradicted his account. Faced with being caught in false testimony, Sondland amended his declaration to acknowledge what he had previously denied.
The Public Testimony
The public hearing was a different performance. Sondland arrived with a prepared opening statement that made his acknowledgment explicit and spread the liability upward: Pompeo, Mulvaney, Bolton, and Perry were all in the loop. This was not Sondland going rogue. This was official U.S. foreign policy, coordinated by the senior-most officials in the executive branch.
The Firing
Trump's spokesman said the firing had nothing to do with Sondland's testimony. This may be technically true. It is also true that Sondland was fired exactly two days after the president who fired him had been acquitted of charges that Sondland's testimony had supported.
Timeline
Sequence of events
October 17, 2019
Sondland initial closed-door testimony
Sondland testifies in closed session and provides testimony that he was unaware of any quid pro quo linking military aid to investigations. Other witnesses will subsequently contradict this account.
November 4, 2019
Sondland amends testimony after contradictions
After Taylor's and Morrison's testimony contradicts his account, Sondland submits an amended declaration acknowledging he had told a Ukrainian official that military assistance was probably conditioned on Ukraine announcing investigations.
November 20, 2019
Sondland testifies publicly — 'everyone was in the loop'
Sondland testifies publicly before the House Intelligence Committee, stating there was an explicit quid pro quo, that it involved military aid and a White House meeting, and that Pompeo, Mulvaney, Bolton, and Perry were all in the loop.
February 7, 2020
Sondland fired two days after Senate acquittal
Two days after Trump is acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial, Sondland is told his services are no longer required. Gordon Sondland had donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee to obtain the ambassador appointment.
Sources
- ↑ Sondland Testimony: 'There Was a Quid Pro Quo' on Ukraine — The New York Times
- ↑ Sondland says Trump directed Ukraine quid pro quo — The Washington Post
- ↑ Sondland: Everyone in the loop on Ukraine quid pro quo — The Associated Press
Verification