Sondland Phoned Trump with Updates on Ukraine Biden Investigation

Ambassador Bill Taylor has told the first public impeachment hearing that EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland told a member of Taylor’s staff that President Donald Trump’s interest in Ukraine was about an investigation of Biden. Taylor is the most senior U.S. diplomat in Ukraine.

According to Taylor, a member of his staff overheard Sondland talking to Trump on the phone about investigations and asked Sondland what Trump’s interest in Ukraine was.

“Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s testimony provides new information on Trump’s personal involvement in the push to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. This testimony strongly suggests that Trump was communicating directly with Sondland about the investigations and withholding vital military aid in order to pressure the Ukrainian government to start those investigations.

This, from William Taylor’s prepared remarks, is new: pic.twitter.com/ZM4P2vknV6

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) November 13, 2019

This is so far the only claim of direct communication between Trump and one of the people pushing Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. The staffer in question is likely to be deposed for testimony with at least one report suggesting they have been identified.

Watch the portion of Taylor’s testimony above.