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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 21 November 2019

Trump's 'Gordon problem' becomes impeachment bombshell

By LAURIE KELLMAN you want,' meant that he right thing.'" Sondland also
Associated Press would really work with us was asked about an ac-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gor- on a whole host of issues," count in which presiden-
dan Sondland couldn't al- Sondland testified. At an- tial adviser Fiona Hill chal-
ways get President Donald other point, Sondland said, lenged him on his claim to
Trump on the phone. Trump "That's how President Trump be the one running Ukraine
now says he barely knows and I communicate, a lot policy. When she asked
the guy. But for a time, of four-letter words; in this who said so, he replied,
when they did talk, they case three letter." "The president," she testi-
spoke in naughty words It was one of as many as fied in closed session.
and explicitly discussed 20 times Sondland said he Actually, Sondland said,
pressuring Ukraine to an- has spoken with Trump by it wasn't Trump who gave
nounce investigations. telephone. Perhaps a half- him the assignment. Rath-
Was there a quid pro quo? dozen of those were about er, then-national security
"Yes," Sondland, the cen- Ukraine, Sondland testi- adviser John Bolton and
tral figure in the House's fied Wednesday. He and acting White House chief
impeachment inquiry, told Ambassador Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the other witnesses said that of staff Mick Mulvaney
the world in his testimony European Union, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence they did not know at the signed off.
Wednesday. What's more, Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, time that Trump's demand "So, by extension, yes, if the
Sondland said repeatedly, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald to investigate Ukrainian national security adviser
"Everyone was in the loop." Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his gas company Burisma also and the chief of staff ap-
With that, the president's political opponents. Associated Press meant investigating Biden's prove your remit, it really
"Gordon problem" be- son Hunter, who sits on the is coming from the presi-
came a bombshell that Sondland has served as State Department official, board. dent," Sondland said.
sprayed the president, Sec- ambassador since July the president didn't really On one of those times, Sept. Hill is scheduled to testify
retary of State Mike Pom- 2018. care about Ukraine or the 9, Sondland said he picked publicly Thursday.
peo, current and former Trump did recall one thing, millions of dollars in military up the phone and called As Hill navigated Sond-
national security leaders though, about Sondland: aid that were being with- Trump for what turned out land's moves, she at one
and Trump's personal law- The Oregon hotelier sup- held from the U.S. ally on to be a "very short, abrupt point referred to the
yer Rudy Giuliani amid the ported other Republicans the border with Russia. He conversation." shadow Ukraine policy as
House's drive to impeach for president before he do- cared about a discredited "I said, 'What do you want Trump's "Gordon problem,"
the 45th president. nated $1 million to Trump's theory that Ukraine, and from Ukraine?'" Sondland according to a colleague.
Sondland's sworn testimo- inaugural committee and not Russia, meddled in the recalled. "He was not in a "That's what my wife calls
ny in public and private became a "VVIP" for the 2016 presidential election. good mood. And he just me. Maybe they're talking,"
left some questions unan- events. "Mr. Giuliani's requests were said, 'I want nothing. I want Sondland quipped during
swered, but he was crystal "He actually supported oth- a quid pro quo for arrang- nothing. I want no quid pro the hearing. "Should I be
clear about one thing: If er candidates. Not me. He ing a White House visit for quo. Tell Zelenskiy to do the worried?"q
he's going to be blamed for came in late," Trump said, President Zelenskiy," Sond-
what happened in Ukraine, as Sondland's testimony land said. Knowing that
he's not going quietly. stretched across seven resistance was futile, Sond-
"It wasn't a secret," Sond- hours. land, Energy Secretary Rick
land said of the president's Back on Capitol Hill, Sond- Perry and then-special en-
push to get Ukraine to an- land confirmed that the voy to Ukraine Kurt Volker
nounce it was investigating two are not tight. worked with Giuliani to
the 2016 U.S. election and "It really depends on what pressure Ukraine "at the ex-
a gas company linked to you mean by 'know well,'" press direction of the presi-
Joe Biden. "The leadership Sondland said. "We are not dent of the United States."
at the State Department, close friends, no. We have On June 26, Sondland
the National Security Coun- a professional, cordial called Trump from his cell
cil and the White House working relationship." phone from a restaurant in
were all informed about Still true or not, Sondland Kyiv. According to the tes-
the Ukraine efforts." revealed some of the ways timony of other witnesses,
It was a notable case of their relationship worked Sondland held the phone
transactional Washington amid Trump's pressure out for others to hear. Yes,
relationships going bust un- campaign on Ukraine. he reassured Trump, the
der the pressure of scandal. Trump, he noted, was Ukrainian president was
"I don't know him very well. sometimes in a "bad willing to do what the U.S.
I have not spoken to him mood." The president at president asked.
much. This is not a man I times told him to "talk to "Putting it in Trump-speak
know well," Trump told re- Rudy" about Ukraine. Ulti- by saying 'he loves your
porters at the White House. mately, Sondland told a ass, he'll do whatever