Published 12:31 IST, November 21st 2019
US ambassador to European Union says there was quid pro quo on Ukraine
The US ambassador to EU Gordon Sondland told lawmakers during the televised impeachment hearing against President Donald Trump that there was a quid pro quo.
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United States Ambassor to European Union Gordon Sondland told lawmakers during televised impeachment hearing against President Donald Trump that re was a quid pro quo between investigation in Ukraine and meeting of President Volodymyr Zelensky with US leer. On vember 20, as Sondland was asked about holding military assistance for Ukrainian government until an official anuncement was me by President Zelensky about investigation, ambassor believes re was some exchange of favour.
“I kw that members of this committee frequently framed se complicated issues in form of a simple question. Was re a quid pro quo? As I testified previously, with regard to requested White House call and White House meeting, answer is yes", Sondland told members of House Select Committee on Intelligence.
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Fourth day of impeachment hearings
impeachment probe against Donald Trump, initiated by House Democrats conducted fourth day of televised impeachment hearings on vember 20. Democrats have alleged US leer that re was a 'betrayal to constitution' by asking a foreign government to launch an enquiry against former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter in exchange of military assistance. centre of entire probe is call between President Trump and President Zelensky on July 25 which according to Democrats is prime testimony and a significant example of quid pro quo. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham stressed that re was quid pro quo between two governments.
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'I want thing'
After furr questions, Sondland also testified that he was tired with all assumptions that were going around Trump ministration. refore, one day US ambassor to EU confronted President Trump and asked what does he want from Ukraine, to which US leer replied, 'I want thing'. Sondland mits hearing all 'se things' in White House and Grisham took this statement to assert that re was favour which was exchanged between governments. US aide to Ukraine was given without any condition and investigation was launched, Grisham also said that President Trump h met with President Zelensky and all allegations by Democrats are false because y 'keep chasing ghosts'. President Trump h also retweeted statement me by Sondland saying 'witchhunt must end w'.
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Reversal from previous testimony
After his earlier testimony on lines of what Donald Trump wanted, he said military assistance was being withheld until Zelensky agreed to release statement about fighting corruption. Furrmore, he h assured that proposed arrangement was truth because it was Sondland who h carried mess to Ukrainian official during sidelines of a conference in Warsaw along with Vice President Mike Pence. After recent hearing, chair issued a statement saying that it shows 'progression of efforts' by US President. testimonies me public were of US ambassors, Sondland and former United States Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker. However, n Sondland said that he me 'Biden Burisma connection'.
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12:09 IST, November 21st 2019