This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
Published on November 20, 2019, Gordon Sondland, the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, is set to face intense questioning in the upcoming impeachment hearing. His testimony is crucial as he is the only witness who dealt directly with President Trump on Ukraine.
According to a former national security official, Mr. Sondland boasted about being able to ring the president directly, claiming he was harder to reach than Mr. Trump. However, his every exchange with the president is now under scrutiny.
Mr. Sondland's actions have been questioned by his colleagues, with some describing him as an aggressive operator who elbowed them out of the way and turned his personal cellphone into a national security risk. His push for a so-called deliverable for the president, an announcement of investigations, has also been criticized as ethically wrong and counter to American national security interests.
As the impeachment inquiry continues, Mr. Sondland's testimony is expected to shed light on his role in Ukraine dealings and his interactions with President Trump.
