Yesterday I talked about how Trump’s defenders had done a reasonably good job on day 3 of the impeachment hearings. Day 4 was not so kind, in fact, it has horrible. Sondland, one of the key figures in this whole inquiry and the ambassador to the EU, testified that he had a clear understanding from the President that a quid pro quo was on the line if the Ukrainian President was hoping to get a meeting in Washington. This is the very notion Trump and his defenders have been crying about, that it was just all second-hand, hearsay, rumors, no facts. Well, Ambassador Sondland put an end to that, by stating in his opening statement that everyone was in on the loop about what Trump wanted out of Ukraine. Putting his personal benefits ahead of the Nation’s.
In turn, Trump’s defenders were left scratching for some sort of relief by questioning Sondland’s assertion that Trump had directed him and his team to pressure Ukraine into beginning an investigation into Burisma. The lead counsel for the Republicans asked Sondland how he could know what the President really wanted? Had the President ever asked for the investigation into Burisma and the Bindens specifically? Sondland testified that in the outset of the discussions about meeting the new President of Ukraine, that Trump himself had said, “speak with Rudy, speak with Rudy” and that as such, not only Sondland, but also Ambassador Volker and Secretary Perry, had understood that Rudy was Trump’s voice as far as Ukraine was concerned.
Republican lead counsel, Castor, further questioned Sondland’s assertion as the aid continued to be held and the diplomats dealing with Ukraine continued to run out of time and excuses as to why the aid had not been distributed. On the day the whistle-blower filed his/her complaint, Ambassador Sondland had a call with Trump, where Sondland asked him what he wanted from Ukraine so that aid could be released. It was then Trump said “I want nothing from Ukraine, there is no quid pro quo… just do the right thing…“. Of course, it does not take a genius to realize that on this day, Trump would have been alerted of the whistle-blower complaint and advised to stay clear of any innuendo implying any type of exchange. Earlier, on the same day Sondland talked to Trump, the whistle-blower complaint had been filed. Trump being Trump, rather than stay clear of any such innuendo, made the call even more suspicious by spouting there was no quid pro quo in the call.
Just like his description of the call being “perfect” and his response to Sondland “…there is no quid pro quo…” Trump is expecting the American people to be so brainwashed by his last 3 years in office, and expects that we’ll believe; 1) His phone call was perfect, 2) anybody not expecting or wanting a quid pro quo would even mention that word in the first place, and 3) that after having discarded with anyone who is no longer useful to him, that people will continue to support him.
Today, Dr. Hill will testify. We shall see how day treats Trump and his defenders.
