Latest Breaking News
Showing Original Post only (View all)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