Trump Donor Gordon Sondland Claims He Was 'Disappointed' By President's Ukraine Dealings

[avebury]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gordon-sondland-trump-ukraine-testimony_n_5da86d9ae4b0b24e75de3580

Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, criticized President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, saying he was “disappointed” in the president’s efforts to have Rudy Giuliani interfere in foreign affairs. Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, was being paid by one of the recently indicted Ukrainian-American businessmen who were helping him dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden, whom Trump sees as his chief political rival.

Sondland, a self-described “lifelong Republican” who donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee and was nominated as EU ambassador in 2018, told House impeachment investigators in an opening statement on Thursday that Trump indicated he was “skeptical” that Ukraine was serious about reform.

...

Sondland also addressed a text message he sent suggesting that he and a colleague “stop the back and forth by text” after a colleague suggested Trump wanted a quid pro quo with Ukraine. He claimed in his testimony that this was not an attempt to prevent the creation of a paper trail.

Sondland said he simply prefers “to talk rather than to text” because it’s the way to “most effectively get things done.”

“Any implication that I was trying to avoid making a record of our conversation is completely false. In my view, diplomacy is best handled through back-and-forth conversation,” he said.

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I take it that Sondland isn't interested on falling on a sword to save Dump.

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Considering Soundland bought his title of diplomat, it means nothing. bee ess excuse.

[Pachamama]

2. If Sondland was honest & not trying to protect trump, he would have said that last text was dictated

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. wow. concern. disappointment. violins, please!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Sondland was in this thing way over his head.

[Garrett78]

5. Is there anyone of reasonable intelligence who thinks Trump is trustworthy?

On the radio this morning, someone was reporting that Sondland will say he took Trump at his word regarding there being no quid pro quo with Ukraine. 

Now, I'm going to assume Sondland isn't an idiot, which means I also have to assume that he knew Trump was lying. Because Trump always lies.

This would mean anyone claiming that they thought Trump was being truthful is lying.

[rusty fender]

6. Sure he was disappointed

That’s why he blurted out that the ambassador, that woman, had to go. He was all in on the scheme

[Zambero]

7. Did Queen of Disappointment Susan Collins write Sonland's statement?

Not really outraged, just bummed out a bit that Rudy G. was heading up unauthorized and insecure shadow diplomacy with corrupt intent.