Sondland to tell Congress that contents of 'no quid pro quo' text came from Trump

[Rogue Valley]

Sondland to tell Congress that contents of 'no quid pro quo' text came from Trump

Sondland’s impending testimony sounds like that of a man covering his own backside and knowing his apparent defense of Trump could quickly fall apart upon further examination.

Hotel magnate and US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland

10/12/19
President Trump's ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, plans to tell Congress this week that a text he sent denying a quid pro quo between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July phone call was dictated by Trump himself. The Washington Post reported Saturday that a source familiar with the ambassador's planned testimony told the newspaper that Sondland plans to testify that Trump told him in a phone conversation to tell the acting ambassador to Ukraine that he didn’t "want a quid pro quo … didn’t want anything from Ukraine" in exchange for military aid. Regarding whether that is actually true, the person said, Sondland will not take an opinion and instead will tell lawmakers that he worked at the direction of Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani to secure a statement from Ukraine's government confirming a criminal investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden

Democrats have argued that such a quid pro quo did exist and that Trump abused the powers of the presidency by approaching Ukraine's government about launching such an investigation. Sondland is expected to testify before three House committees on Thursday, defying an order from the State Department not to comply with Democrats' impeachment inquiry. "Ambassador Sondland believes strongly that he acted at all times in the best interests of the United States, and he stands ready to answer the Committee’s questions fully and truthfully," his attorney said in a statement this week.

Trump dictated to Sondland his "quid pro quo" cover story. Sondland is the US Ambassador to the European Union. Ukraine is not currently a member of the EU. So why was Sondland mixed up in the Trump/Giuliani Ukraine operation? Because Sondland was a huge donor to the Trump campaign and was rewarded. Considered loyal to Trump, Sondland was there as a very high-ranking US Ambassador when US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovich wouldn't play along with Rudy Giuliani's conspiracy schemes.

Sondland is expected to testify before the House Impeachment Inquiry hearings this Thursday despite an order from Mike Pompeo's (also involved) State Department to not do so. Sondland was the only one of three US officials in text messages (Sondland/Volker/Taylor) who hadn’t suggested there was a quid pro quo. Now we know why. He was instructed by Trump to throw cold water on what was obvious to all ... a working quid pro quo.

Related: Gordon Sondland is about to blow a hole in Trump’s Ukraine defense

 

[Superfly]

Sondland to tell Congress that contents of 'no quid pro quo' text came from Trump

Sondland’s impending testimony sounds like that of a man covering his own backside and knowing his apparent defense of Trump could quickly fall apart upon further examination.

Hotel magnate and US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland



Trump dictated to Sondland his "quid pro quo" cover story. Sondland is the US Ambassador to the European Union. Ukraine is not currently a member of the EU. So why was Sondland mixed up in the Trump/Giuliani Ukraine operation? Because Sondland was a huge donor to the Trump campaign and was rewarded. Considered loyal to Trump, Sondland was there as a very high-ranking US Ambassador when US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovich wouldn't play along with Rudy Giuliani's conspiracy schemes.

Sondland is expected to testify before the House Impeachment Inquiry hearings this Thursday despite an order from Mike Pompeo's (also involved) State Department to not do so. Sondland was the only one of three US officials in text messages (Sondland/Volker/Taylor) who hadn’t suggested there was a quid pro quo. Now we know why. He was instructed by Trump to throw cold water on what was obvious to all ... a working quid pro quo.

Related: Gordon Sondland is about to blow a hole in Trump’s Ukraine defense

He’d better tell the truth. I guarantee you Fiona Hill is going to. :lol:

 

[Slartibartfast]

Sondland to tell Congress that contents of 'no quid pro quo' text came from Trump

Sondland’s impending testimony sounds like that of a man covering his own backside and knowing his apparent defense of Trump could quickly fall apart upon further examination.

Hotel magnate and US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland



Trump dictated to Sondland his "quid pro quo" cover story. Sondland is the US Ambassador to the European Union. Ukraine is not currently a member of the EU. So why was Sondland mixed up in the Trump/Giuliani Ukraine operation? Because Sondland was a huge donor to the Trump campaign and was rewarded. Considered loyal to Trump, Sondland was there as a very high-ranking US Ambassador when US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovich wouldn't play along with Rudy Giuliani's conspiracy schemes.

Sondland is expected to testify before the House Impeachment Inquiry hearings this Thursday despite an order from Mike Pompeo's (also involved) State Department to not do so. Sondland was the only one of three US officials in text messages (Sondland/Volker/Taylor) who hadn’t suggested there was a quid pro quo. Now we know why. He was instructed by Trump to throw cold water on what was obvious to all ... a working quid pro quo.

Related: Gordon Sondland is about to blow a hole in Trump’s Ukraine defense

That's what I've been expecting. Sondland is a rat fleeing the sinking ship and will likely do what he must to keep himself out of any possible future legal trouble.

 

[Barnacle]

Sondland to tell Congress that contents of 'no quid pro quo' text came from Trump
Sondland’s impending testimony sounds like that of a man covering his own backside and knowing his apparent defense of Trump could quickly fall apart upon further examination.
...
Trump dictated to Sondland his "quid pro quo" cover story. Sondland is the US Ambassador to the European Union. Ukraine is not currently a member of the EU. So why was Sondland mixed up in the Trump/Giuliani Ukraine operation? Because Sondland was a huge donor to the Trump campaign and was rewarded. Considered loyal to Trump, Sondland was there as a very high-ranking US Ambassador when US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovich wouldn't play along with Rudy Giuliani's conspiracy schemes.
Sondland is expected to testify before the House Impeachment Inquiry hearings this Thursday despite an order from Mike Pompeo's (also involved) State Department to not do so. Sondland was the only one of three US officials in text messages (Sondland/Volker/Taylor) who hadn’t suggested there was a quid pro quo. Now we know why. He was instructed by Trump to throw cold water on what was obvious to all ... a working quid pro quo.
Related: Gordon Sondland is about to blow a hole in Trump’s Ukraine defense

Kurt Volker's testimony didn't go as Schiff had planned/expected. That's why he didn't talk to the press about it afterwards.

This time round, he puts the cart before the horse, so when he comes out of that hearing he can tell the press Sondland confirmed what they've been saying ... without having to go into details about what exactly Sondland has said.

:lol:

 

[OscarLevant]

Kurt Volker's testimony didn't go as Schiff had planned/expected. That's why he didn't talk to the press about it afterwards.

This time round, he puts the cart before the horse, so when he comes out of that hearing he can tell the press Sondland confirmed what they've been saying ... without having to go into details about what exactly Sondland has said.

:lol:

I don't think you can use Volker as an equal comparison to Sondland. "Volker is on the board of the Hungary Initiatives Foundation, a not very well disguised front aimed at improving the image and influence of the Victor Orban (Hungary) dictatorship in the United States." --

The Sleazy Career of Kurt Volker - The American Prospect

Whereas Sondland was one of those Trumpsters, not a government person, who believed in Trump's rhetoric, and unwitting dupe. He is far more likely to flip than an operator like Volker.

Sondland, who is a rich hotelier, probably consulted with a lawyer, who probably mentioned the number of sorry souls who trusted Trump, and were betrayed by Trump. That lawyer probably mentioned to Sondland that not testifying to a congressional subpoena is, despite what Trump and his sorry crew say, is serious business, and reminded Sondland that people who associate with Trump tend to go to jail......this probably prompted Sondland to testify. That, to me, is the logical thing that is happening, on the other hand, albeit unlikely, if Sondland is saying one thing to Schiff ( et al ) and media, only to flip during testimony, I can see a Trump op in play to make dems and MSM look foolish, but I dunno....


I don't know what Sondland is going to say, and you do have a point about dems/MSM putting the cart before the horse.


We shall see, but if Sondland delivers as is expected, well......


we shall see.

 

[Barnacle]

I don't think you can use Volker as an equal comparison to Sondland. "Volker is on the board of the Hungary Initiatives Foundation, a not very well disguised front aimed at improving the image and influence of the Victor Orban (Hungary) dictatorship in the United States." --
The Sleazy Career of Kurt Volker - The American Prospect
Whereas Sondland was one of those Trumpsters, not a government person, who believed in Trump's rhetoric, and unwitting dupe. He is far more likely to flip than an operator like Volker.
Sondland, who is a rich hotelier, probably consulted with a lawyer, who probably mentioned the number of sorry souls who trusted Trump, and were betrayed by Trump. That lawyer probably mentioned to Sondland that not testifying to a congressional subpoena is, despite what Trump and his sorry crew say, is serious business, and reminded Sondland that people who associate with Trump tend to go to jail......this probably prompted Sondland to testify. That, to me, is the logical thing that is happening, on the other hand, albeit unlikely, if Sondland is saying one thing to Schiff ( et al ) and media, only to flip during testimony, I can see a Trump op in play to make dems and MSM look foolish, but I dunno....

I don't know what Sondland is going to say, and you do have a point about dems/MSM putting the cart before the horse.

We shall see, but if Sondland delivers as is expected, well......
we shall see.

Doesn't matter. Pencil-neck Schiff is not gonna release that transcript either which means we will never know the context in which Sondland makes statements which Schiff will cherry-pick and present to the media.

Enjoy the show, though.

 

[OscarLevant]

Doesn't matter. Pencil-neck Schiff is not gonna release that transcript either which means we will never know the context in which Sondland makes statements which Schiff will cherry-pick and present to the media.

Enjoy the show, though.

If cherry picking bothers you, why didn't you complain about the Trump Urkaine phone call text, which is full of ellipses....


I recall the comparison between Nixon's "transcripts" and the tapes they were derived from. All of the omissions put Nixon in a bad light and beyond ( he had to resign ) , and had nothing to do with "national security".

Given that Trump is Nixon on steroids, we can expect the same, and a lot more of it. But, of course, you have no problem with that fact.

Yes, pass the popcorn, indeed.