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BumRushDaShow

(127,317 posts)
Tue Oct 8, 2019, 08:15 AM Oct 2019

Witness in Trump-Ukraine Matter Ordered Not to Speak in Impeachment Inquiry [View all]

Last edited Tue Oct 8, 2019, 11:57 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration directed a top American diplomat involved in its pressure campaign on Ukraine not to appear Tuesday morning for a scheduled deposition with House Democrats conducting an impeachment inquiry, according to two people briefed on the matter.

The decision to block Gordon D. Sondland, the United States ambassador to the European Union, from speaking with investigators is certain to provoke an immediate conflict with potentially profound consequences for the White House and President Trump. House Democrats have repeatedly warned that if the administration tries to interfere with their investigation, it will be construed as obstruction, a charge they see as potentially worthy of impeachment.

But in making the decision on Tuesday, hours before he was scheduled to sit for a deposition in the basement of the Capitol, the Trump administration appears to be making the calculation that it is better off risking the House's ire than letting Mr. Sondland show up and set a precedent for cooperation with an inquiry they have strenuously argued is illegitimate.

Mr. Sondland has become enmeshed in the burgeoning scandal into how the president sought to push the Ukrainians to investigate his political rivals. Although Ukraine is not in the union, Mr. Trump instructed Mr. Sondland -- a wealthy hotelier and campaign contributor -- to take a lead in relations between the Trump administration and the country. Democrats consider him a key witness to what transpired between the two countries.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/us/politics/sondland-trump-ukraine-impeach.html



Of course.

EDIT TO ADD - I am not sure if he was actually subpoenaed. I.e., I think he originally "volunteered" (along with Volker). And if that is the case, then they will probably have to officially subpoena him. I guess we will find out later this morning with any press Schiff press conference.

EDIT #2: The House panels will be issuing subpoenas to Sondland - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142378322
62 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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fuck this shit.... dhill926 Oct 2019 #1
I may be wrong BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #5
But he had quit Laura PourMeADrink Oct 2019 #38
Yes the argument has been that since Volker quit BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #43
Hey, the Trumpanzees have no problem breaking the law, Hal Zerozerozeronine Oct 2019 #10
We must face the facts that our democratic freedoms are in serious jeopardy. olegramps Oct 2019 #17
Inherent Contempt? Mike 03 Oct 2019 #2
F'n A!!!!!!!!!!! MyOwnPeace Oct 2019 #35
Joyce White Vance: This is obstruction of Congress and warrants impeachment. highplainsdem Oct 2019 #3
Of course it does, along with other things, but if he is being blocked from giving still_one Oct 2019 #12
But he agreed ScratchCat Oct 2019 #4
Have been searching through articles and he supposedly "volunteered" BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #8
Is anyone surprised? gab13by13 Oct 2019 #6
Interesting Twitter thread: demmiblue Oct 2019 #7
"His attorney said he has no choice but to comply. " Not true! sdfernando Oct 2019 #46
relations between trump & country subana Oct 2019 #9
Yup, this is a major, and needs to be taken to the courts immediately because it is still_one Oct 2019 #11
I edited the OP to note that I don't think they actually sent him a subpoena BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #13
Thanks. Appreciate the update. The WP is reporting this as the State Department is still_one Oct 2019 #15
Schiff just started speaking now BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #18
All they got is delay, obfuscate, propagandize, deny, lie, litigate, evade, delay, obfuscate, propag Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #14
And we have nothing but... Hotler Oct 2019 #32
Nonsense. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2019 #62
official subpeonas NEED to be issued, its pure BS to accept "volunteer" committments beachbumbob Oct 2019 #16
I would disagree BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #21
Lewandowski was supposedly willing but got Laura PourMeADrink Oct 2019 #40
Since Lewandowski was a "known" problem and was a former Campaign Manager BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #47
But If I'm RobinA Oct 2019 #55
In this case, Sondland is an appointee BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #58
He could still quit and show up anyway, right? docgee Oct 2019 #19
He was part of the "brains" behind the Ukraine operation BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #23
Unless he was subpoenaed the Repugnants will argue its not obstruction so our people in the House cstanleytech Oct 2019 #20
How is such an order even legal or constitutional? We USED to have 'separation of powers' bobbieinok Oct 2019 #22
It's that same "Executive Privilege" thing that Nixon invoked 45 years ago. BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #24
Don't forget unless he subpoenaed as well it might not legally be obstruction cstanleytech Oct 2019 #25
Yup. That's why I edited the OP comment section to mention that BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #27
Trump says he would love to let Gordon testify but those democrats don't want the facts to come out Botany Oct 2019 #26
Before I snapped off the TV after Schiff came on with his presser statement BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #28
He had me at "wealthy hotelier" jayschool2013 Oct 2019 #30
TWSJ.: has also confirmed Sondland called Trump before sending his infamous text back to Bill Taylor mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2019 #29
I think that was mentioned last night on one of the MSNBC shows BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #33
Here is a portion of Schiff's statement this morning to the media BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #31
State Department Directs Gordon Sondland Not to Appear for House Testimony mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2019 #39
Yes! That part about messages on a "personal device" was intriguing. BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #45
This is just going into the obstruction of Congress article of impeachment DeminPennswoods Oct 2019 #34
Unabashed obstruction. When and how will this complete disregard for the law come to fruition? Firestorm49 Oct 2019 #36
Disheartened to the hilt hearing Steve Cohen D-TN judiciary Laura PourMeADrink Oct 2019 #44
Emmet Flood's fingerprints all over this. He saved Bush's presidency by simply ignoring Pepsidog Oct 2019 #37
Flood left and was replaced by the loathsome Cipollone but Barr is the true veteran BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #41
I knew he left but thought he was still a special counsel to the Dotard. Anyway, as an attorney, Pepsidog Oct 2019 #42
Barr belongs in jail. BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #48
Who in the world writes vanilla ice cream articles like this? pangaia Oct 2019 #49
The NYT had beat WaPo to the "breaking news" punch BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #50
I can't read WaPO.. $$ OR ther NYT, for that mattter pangaia Oct 2019 #51
Here ya go BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #53
YIKES !! Thanks, ya Bum... pangaia Oct 2019 #54
... BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #57
Is William Taylor scheduled to testify? deurbano Oct 2019 #52
I think they are trying to schedule both Taylor and former Amb. Yovanovitch BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #56
Ambassador Yovanovitch was rescheduled from Oct. 2 to Oct. 11. Wikipedia says she's currently deurbano Oct 2019 #59
I remember seeing an article either last week or over the weekend BumRushDaShow Oct 2019 #60
The more Trump fights this Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 2019 #61
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