Once considered a key GOP ally, Gordon Sondland was the focus of the Republicans’ ire during Wednesday’s impeachment hearing.
The U.S. Ambassador to the European Union made the calculated decision to abandon President Trump, admitting that the White House made not just one, but two quid pro quo demands of Ukraine. This admission directly contradicted Sondland’s past statements that the president had not committed a quid pro quo. Now, Sondland insists that “everyone knew” about Trump’s demands, but they were powerless to stop him.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Sondland’s sudden reversal was the Republicans’ response to it. At the beginning of Sondland’s testimony, Devin Nunes actually apologized to Sondland for the smearing he would undoubtedly endure at the Democrats’ hands. But by the end of the hearing, it was the GOP that was questioning Sondland’s credibility.
Trump, too, sought to distance himself from Sondland as the hearing dragged on. He told reporters that he didn’t even know Sondland that well, claiming the ambassador has no right to speak for his intentions.
It seems Republicans were prepared for Sondland to jump ship. They shifted gears almost immediately, focusing on Sondland’s unwanted presumptions and the phone call between Trump and Sondland in which Trump tells the ambassador that he wanted “nothing” from Ukraine. There was no direct evidence that Trump demanded a quid pro quo, Republicans said — and Sondland admitted as much.
But Sondland maintained the president did not need to explicitly state what the diplomats already understood: That Ukraine’s much-needed White House visit and military aid would be held up until Ukrainian officials publicly committed to an investigation into Burisma and 2016 election meddling.
It’s unlikely Sondland’s testimony will move the needle on impeachment, but it did do damage to the Republicans’ defense — that much was apparent.
