MUST WATCH: Rep. Mike Turner OBLITERATES Sondland’s testimony about a quid pro quo

[stevil]

and Giuliani is the one who told him that the investigations were necessary for a White House meeting an the release of aid.

But...

Turner: "Answer the question. Is it correct? No one on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying this aid to the investigations—because if your answer is yes, then the chairman is wrong and the headline on CNN is wrong. No one on this planet told you that president Trump was tying aid to investigation. Yes or no?"

Sondland: "Yes"

The above can be interpreted in many ways:
1. Rudy did say that aid was contingent on a public announcement of the investigation but didn't say that this contingency is coming from Trump
2. Rudy didn't say that aid was contingent on a public announcement of the investigation
3. Rudy isn't on the planet.

I think the best bet is option 1 and that Sondland presumed that Rudy's message was directed by Trump, which would be a pretty reasonable assumption given that Trump tells people to talk to Rudy and that Rudy is working for Trump and has no personal gain from this other than to please his boss.

But of course presumptions should be investigated further. Rudy should be made to testify. Either he claims it was all him, he claims it was directed by Trump, or there is someone else directing Giuliani (Putin or a Russian intelligence operative perhaps). But we won't know unless Rudy is interrogated.

 

[GodLovesCats]

You mean Rudy Guiliani has not been subpoenaed yet? I don't think there is anything else Democrats can do to make him testify. He is the most likely person to plead the Fifth instead of take the oath.

 

[timothyu]

They know they won't meet the same fate as Saddam. It's a game to them.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

But of course presumptions should be investigated further. Rudy should be made to testify. Either he claims it was all him, he claims it was directed by Trump, or there is someone else directing Giuliani (Putin or a Russian intelligence operative perhaps). But we won't know unless Rudy is interrogated.

Oh, he definitely needs to testify. I just think he's going to have a tough time taking the fall for Trump given his previous statements.

 

[stevil]

Oh, he definitely needs to testify. I just think he's going to have a tough time taking the fall for Trump given his previous statements.

Being Trump's lawyer maybe he can't be interrogated due to client attorney privilege?

 

[S.ilvio]

Poor Adam. He looks more and more desperate every day.

End it now. The Democrats have been humiliated enough...

 

[GodLovesCats]

Trump, it seems, is smart enough to ensure he has a fall guy to do the dirty work, a "wise guy." Except that Trump slipped up in that phone call and with his subsequent television admission on the lawn.

His attempt to do so landed him a foolish guy. In his opening statement Sondland explained people didn't want to work for Guiliani.

This is the first time I was made aware of a televised admission at the White House.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Yep. it is still "much ado about nothing"

What makes you think that when there is a lot of evidence against Trump?

 

[stevil]

His attempt to do so landed him a foolish guy. In his opening statement Sondland explained people didn't want to work for Guiliani.

The benefit of having Giuliani is that he is Trump's personal lawyer, which means conversations between Trump and Giuliani fall under client privilege. It's the same reason why Cohen was his fixer.
This gig is demonstrated in Breaking Bad, where the dirty lawyer gets the guy to pay him 50c before telling him stuff, so that he can't be compelled to testify against his client.


This is the first time I was made aware of a televised admission at the White House.[/QUOTE]

It's all about the Bidens.

 

[grasping the after wind]

​

Yes, I thought this was very interesting.
So it seems Sondland has been going around telling people that Trump will not give aid or white house meeting until the public announcement of investigation into Burisma.

We all assumed Sondland had been directed by Trump and/or Giuliani as that is his job, to do the president and administration's bidding.

I'd like to know why Sondland "pressumed" this is the case. What was it that led him to presume this??

Of course this doesn't take away the fact that Trump on his phone call with Ukranian president straight after mention of the Javelins said "I need you to do a favour though and then he went on to talk about Burisma and the Bidens. And also the irregularity of Trump telling people to talk to Giuliani and Barr.

If this were a fair trial you would need testimony from:
Trump
Giuliani
Barr
Perry
Pompeo
Mulvaney
Pence

It makes no sense to block all these testimonies and then use as a defence "but no-one who testified has first hand knowledge"

This is not a trial. It is merely an inquiry. If the House votes for impeachment then there will be a trial . It makes no sense to disturb the balance of power between the Executive and Legislative Branches of the US government to provide your political opponents any further opportunities to spin testimony for political advantage.

 

[grasping the after wind]

What makes you think that when there is a lot of evidence against Trump?

Haven't seen any evidence to date. Speculation , presumptions and accusations are not evidence.

 

[timothyu]

It's bad enough Christians follow the governance of man and ignore the Kingdom of God. But to foolishly play this game of division and fall into the plans of a foreign power, is plain ridiculous. Pick up your bibles and see all the examples where division destroyed the house of Israel. In case you didn't get the memo, no one made you any less vulnerable to destroying yourselves. It is hilarious that Russia which is notoriously atheist, can use God's warnings and principles against a nation that self proclaims God is on their side. If that were true these partisan folks would see how they are being played. But nope, they prefer to play the games of children and defend division in the sacred name of cable news. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Poor Adam. He looks more and more desperate every day.

End it now. The Democrats have been humiliated enough...

The Democrats have not been humiliated about anything.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Haven't seen any evidence to date. Speculation , presumptions and accusations are not evidence.

So you have not seen a transcript summary of the July 25 phone call yet?

 

[SimplyMe]

You mean Rudy Guiliani has not been subpoenaed yet? I don't think there is anything else Democrats can do to make him testify. He is the most likely person to plead the Fifth instead of take the oath.

Giuliani has been subpoenaed but refuses to testify.

 

[SimplyMe]

Being Trump's lawyer maybe he can't be interrogated due to client attorney privilege?

He can be. Attorney - Client privilege generally only covers communications between the client and attorney. As such, Giuliani's actions in Ukraine are likely not covered by privilege. I also suspect that, should Giuliani be required to testify, he may try to invoke the Fifth Amendment for many questions -- given that he is currently under Federal investigation for his work with Parnas and Fruman.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Attorney - Client privilege generally only covers communications between the client and attorney.

It also doesn't cover discussions about future illegal acts (i.e. a request to extort the Ukrainian President).

 

[S.ilvio]

The Democrats have not been humiliated about anything.

Aww come on. All this song and dance. But at the end of the show they haven't laid a glove on Donald...

 

[timothyu]

Aww come on. All this song and dance. But at the end of the show they haven't laid a glove on Donald...

It not about Donald. It's about dividing a country and the enemy is winning (that enemy being neither right or left) . Problem is you can hit the mockers and dividers in the face with that and they still won't have a clue what is going on. They can't see past their team mentality as they battle for the trophy that never comes..

 

[GodLovesCats]

It is 100% about Donald Trump. He is the one dividing the country. Anybody can see that.