'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,' the EU ambassador said he told a top Ukrainian official as U.S. was being withheld.
Sondland's allegation of a quid pro quo was made in the form of an additional written declaration he provided to lawmakers on Monday after reviewing his and other officials' testimonies from last month. The confirmation made him the latest in a series of witnesses to corroborate that Trump sought to have a foreign entity investigate a potential political opponent, Joe Biden, in exchange for nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid meant to resist Russian aggression.
Sondland said he informed the Ukrainian aide of this after a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and Zelenskiy, in which the Ukrainian president questioned why the congressionally-appropriated aid was being withheld. Sondland added that while he believed the withholding of aid was"ill-advised," he"did not know when, why or by whom the aid was suspended."The former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine said claims by Giuliani and Trump that they simply wanted assurances from the foreign country in an"anti-corruption" statement were, in his view, not truthful.
"Again, I'm not a lawyer. I don't know the law exactly. It doesn't sound good," Sondland said, adding that he believed such an act would be"improper."Sondland told lawmakers that he spoke with Pompeo directly about Giuliani's involvement in trying to influence U.S. foreign policy on Ukraine.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Top Ukraine expert shows up for work despite Trump's repeated attacksDespite attacks from the President, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman has been seen in his office next door to the White House every day since he testified
Read more »
Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King' Crowns Top Christian Albums, Top Gospel Albums ChartsMoves on the billboardcharts: KanyeWest makes his first appearance on the faith-based billboardcharts
Read more »
No Job, No Sponsor—But a Top-10 Finish for Connor McMillanThe 23-year-old had a breakthrough in New York with a 12-minute PR. 💪 tcsnycmarathon
Read more »
Top MLB free agents: Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon headline class
Read more »
Warren's 'Medicare for All' would cost some of our employees their jobs, top health exec saysSome employees would need to 'find jobs elsewhere' if 'there were no option for selling commercial insurance,' Kaiser Permanente CEO Bernard Tyson says.
Read more »