Sondland declared that Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani explicitly sought a “quid pro quo” with Ukraine, leveraging an Oval Office visit for political investigations of Democrats. But he also came to believe the trade involved much more.
Polling has shown that while public opinion has shifted recently toward slightly backing Trump’s impeachment, Democrats strongly support the effort while Republicans vehemently oppose it. Independents have been divided.
“We must get our fired-up Democratic base with us,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. “But let’s also get those independents and moderate Republicans who cannot stomach (Trump) anymore.”
In a blockbuster morning of testimony, Sondland’s opening remarks included several key details: He confirmed that he spoke with Trump on a cellphone from a busy Kyiv restaurant the day after the president prodded Ukraine’s leader to investigate political rival Joe Biden. He implicated others in Trump’s actions.
“Everyone was in the loop,” Sondland testified in opening remarks. “It was no secret.”
The president and his Republican allies abandoned facts in stunts to try to fight facts with hyperbole.
The facts continue to pile up on Trump’s misdeeds, lies and obstructions.
“If he has information that is exculpatory, that means ex, taking away, culpable, blame, then we look forward to seeing it.”
Morrison’s testimony ties Trump more closely to the central charge from Democrats pursuing impeachment.
Sondland told him the president did not “give a shit about Ukraine.”