President Trump recalled U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who was an impeachment witness, on Friday evening.
Sondland, a Trump donor who became a top envoy, made the announcement that he has been recalled “effective immediately.”
“I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union,” Sondland said in a statement, according to ABC News. “I am proud of our accomplishments. Our work here has been the highlight of my career.”
During his testimony, Sondland initially said there was no quid pro quo agreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about allowing preapproved aid to transfer to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. However, he later clarified the record, saying he “presumed that the aid suspension had become linked to the proposed anti-corruption statement.”
It was the second significant move of the evening by the Trump administration days after Trump was acquitted of two Ukraine-related articles of impeachment.
Hours earlier, the White House ousted Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, another government official who testified in the House’s impeachment investigation, from the National Security Council along with his identical twin brother Yevgeny.
Vindman played a prominent role in the investigation into the president over Trump’s July 25 phone call with Zelensky.
