Last month, President Trump called his hand-picked ambassador to the European Union, a really good man, and a great American.
By Wednesday, the president had changed his tune, saying Gordon Sondland is not a man I know well.
But well enough to garner a $1 million campaign donation. Surely, a gift that size comes on a first-name basis.
But, to Mr. Trumps disappointment, it did not guarantee him Sondlands fealty.
On Wednesday, Ambassador Sondland dropped the bombshells that he had first-hand knowledge that President Trumps inner circle Mike Pompeo, Mick Mulvaney and Mike Pence were in the know of the presidents directive to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless it initiated an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter Biden.
Well, not exactly investigate, Sondland said. Rather, just announce it. Thats damage enough.
I never heard … anyone say that the investigations had to start or had to be completed. The only thing I heard . was that they had to be announced in some form, Sondland testified Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee.
The effect of the mock investigation would be to undermine the candidacy of Joe Biden, the current frontrunner among Democrats for the presidential nomination.
And while thats bad, the more damaging consequence of President Trumps actions is that he thinks so little of Ukraine a longtime ally currently under Russian attack that he would put his political interests ahead of the safety of Ukrainians much to the delight of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At Wednesday nights debate, Democratic candidates were asked what their first words would be to Putin, should they become president.
The most heartening response was by Andrew Yang. First Id say, Im sorry I beat your guy.
That Mr. Trump is a fan of our biggest adversary should give every American pause.
But hes not acting alone, Sondland said.
Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret, Sondland testified, naming Secretary of State Pompeo, Vice President Pence, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and acting Chief of State Mick Mulvaney.
And no one did anything to stop it.
They knew what they were doing and why, Sondland said.
They also knew that it would be Mr. Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani who would be giving the orders via the president.
We did not want to work with Mr. Giuliani. Simply put, we played the hand we were dealt, Sondland testified. We all understood that if we refused to work with Mr. Giuliani, we would lose an important opportunity to cement relations between the United States and Ukraine. So we followed the presidents orders.
Sondland said the bribery directive pricked his conscience but when he spoke up, he was met with silence.
By Wednesday afternoon, those senior officials had put a wide gulf between themselves from Sondland.
The public deserves to know what those very officials know. They should testify. They should take an oath and be compelled to tell the truth.
Instead, they continue to obstruct the investigation, showing their allegiance is to the president, and not the United States.
