Inpeachment Inquiry: Sondland Changes Testimony

stevil said:

The obvious answer is so that the USA voting public can see that Biden is under investigation.

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And at the same time as a large ad campaign is launched against Biden. What a coincidence that a "legitimate" investigation into "corruption" happens at just the same time.

e.g. Trump 2020 Showers Early Primary States in Biden-Ukraine Conspiracy Ads

The Simpsons should do an episode about this and title it Quid Pro D'oh.

KCfromNC said:

And at the same time as a large ad campaign is launched against Biden. What a coincidence that a "legitimate" investigation into "corruption" happens at just the same time.

e.g. Trump 2020 Showers Early Primary States in Biden-Ukraine Conspiracy Ads

On Friday morning, the president explained that his various attempts to coerce foreign governments into launching baseless investigations into Joe Biden had “NOTHING to do with politics or a political campaign against the Bidens” (ostensibly, they were actually about ethics in Ukrainian cronyism).

Also on Friday, Donald Trump’s reelection campaign revealed that it will air $1 million worth of Ukraine-themed, anti-Biden ads in early primary states.​

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But....but... Biden was not a Trump rival. Just think how much as money would be spent if he were.

cow451 said:

But....but... Biden was not a Trump rival. Just think how much as money would be spent if he were.

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Yeah, we all know that Donald is well-known for being generous with his money. This is obviously a donation to inform the American people about something that matters to everyone, done strictly as a selfless bit of public service.

Because that's all Donald, as the leader of the executive branch, could do to bring someone who is breaking laws to justice.

essentialsaltes said:

President Trump on Nov. 8 said he "hardly knows" U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.

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It's of course a replication of his typical pattern. He demands loyalty from all, but gives it to none. Once those who'd been faithfully loyal to him realize persisting in doing so will be ruinous to them, such as being advised by attorneys that if they commit perjury it is they who will face those harsh consequences, not Trump, they are of no use to him. He then seeks to diminish their importance to his life.

Of course the claim that Trump "hardly knows" Sondland reflects terribly on him. But Trump will cut his nose off to spite his face and wear a prosthetic. Trump is the one who selected Sondland for an ambassadorship that is of significance, after Sondland had donated generously to his campaign.
Stating that he hardly knows him makes him look even more motivated out of reckless avarice, not less. It's unfortunately not that uncommon for ambassadorships that are of ease, in allied countries where there's long harmonious relationships, to be given as favors. But for ambassadorships of significance, like to the EU, it's foolish; those typically go to experienced professionals, not to dilettantes like Sondland. His predecessor is fluent in five languages spoken in the EU, has a BA in Government from Harvard, a MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University, a JD from Columbia Law School, and a Masters in Finance from London Business School. After he completed his expansive education he had a lengthy diplomatic career before President Obama appointed him. I'm actually aspiring for such an ambassadorship one day and am modeling my own education accordingly. I mean, I'm not taking Russian just for kicks.

Stanfordella said:

Of course the claim that Trump "hardly knows" Sondland reflects terribly on him. But Trump will cut his nose off to spite his face and wear a prosthetic.

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Lol, exactly right about that.

Stanfordella said:

But for ambassadorships of significance, like to the EU, it's foolish; those typically go to experienced professionals, not to dilettantes like Sondland. His predecessor is fluent in five languages spoken in the EU, has a BA in Government from Harvard, a MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University, a JD from Columbia Law School, and a Masters in Finance from London Business School. After he completed his expansive education he had a lengthy diplomatic career before President Obama appointed him. I'm actually aspiring for such an ambassadorship one day and am modeling my own education accordingly. I mean, I'm not taking Russian just for kicks.

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Oh I can definitely see you as an ambassador some day! Not on account of you buying it like Sondland bought his from Trump. On account of you earning it. Is that your major? Government? You're taking Russian? What other languages do you speak?

KCfromNC said:

Or in Donald's case, it can be both. By which I mean incapable of testifying to the facts, of course.

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Donald is perfectly capable - he just does not want to.

ChristianForCats said:

Donald is perfectly capable - he just does not want to.

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Oh I don't think Donald is perfectly capable of testifying to the facts. His lawyers know he'll perjure himself, he just can't help it.

Stanfordella said:

. I'm actually aspiring for such an ambassadorship one day and am modeling my own education accordingly. I mean, I'm not taking Russian just for kicks.

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And if the diplocmacy thing doesn’t work out, I’m sure there’ll be a spot for a fluent Russian-speaker in the Trump Organization.

Go Braves said:

Oh I don't think Donald is perfectly capable of testifying to the facts. His lawyers know he'll perjure himself, he just can't help it.

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His underlings certainly couldn't -- although it looks like Sondland had a last-minute change of heart.

iluvatar5150 said:

And if the diplocmacy thing doesn’t work out, I’m sure there’ll be a spot for a fluent Russian-speaker in the Trump Organization.

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Or other languages spoken in countries with no extradition treaties with the US.

essentialsaltes said:

"I now recall speaking individually with Mr. (Andriy) Yermak, where I said resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks," Sondland said.

People's memories getting sudden boosts!

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Brain waves. Volker's understanding improves.

“In hindsight, I now understand that others saw the idea of investigating possible corruption involving the Ukrainian company, “Burisma,” as equivalent to investigating former Vice President Biden. I saw them as very different. The former being appropriate and unremarkable, the latter being unacceptable,” Volker said in his opening statement. “In retrospect, I should have seen that connection differently, and had I done so, I would have raised my own objections.”

essentialsaltes said:

Brain waves. Volker's understanding improves.

“In hindsight, I now understand that others saw the idea of investigating possible corruption involving the Ukrainian company, “Burisma,” as equivalent to investigating former Vice President Biden. I saw them as very different. The former being appropriate and unremarkable, the latter being unacceptable,” Volker said in his opening statement. “In retrospect, I should have seen that connection differently, and had I done so, I would have raised my own objections.”

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lolol