Sondland: Yes, There Was A ‘Quid Pro Quo’ From Giuliani For White House Meeting

On Wednesday, Ambassador Gordon Sondland — a pivotal witness in the impeachment inquiry because of his close contact with President Trump on Ukraine — testified in front of congressional committee members. In his opening statement, Sondland stated in unequivocal terms that “yes” there was a “quid pro quo” presented by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine involving a White House meeting and call. He also repeated that he “came to believe” the release of U.S. military aide to Ukraine was connected to the investigations, indicating that he was not told so by the president. Sondland later made clear that he “never heard from President Trump that the aid was conditioned on the investigations.”

“I know that members of this committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a ‘quid pro quo?'” Sondland said Wednesday. “With regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.” That “quid pro quo,” he explained, came from Giuliani. “I’ve never heard from President Trump that the aid (to Ukraine) was conditioned on the investigations,” he told committee members.