Amb. Sondland Admits He Has No Evidence Trump Tied Ukraine Military Aid to Investigations Other Than His 'Own Presumption'

Matt Margolis | 3:16 PM on November 20, 2019

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Democrats were working on another nothingburger Wednesday with Ambassador Gordon Sondland’s testimony. Not only did Sondland admit again that the only direct evidence he has on Trump is Trump’s own statement saying he wanted nothing from Ukraine — “no quid pro quo” — but he also had to admit he has zero evidence Trump even tried to connect the military aid to the investigations of 2016 election interference and Burisma.

This exchange between Ohio Rep. Mike Turner and Sondland just destroyed the Democrats’ case.

Watch @RepMikeTurner grill Sondland #impeachmenthearings pic.twitter.com/DrMeUicdIu

— MRCTV.org (@mrctv) November 20, 2019

“Is that your testimony today, Ambassador Sondland, that you have evidence that Donald Trump tied the investigations to the aid? Because I don’t think you’re saying that.” Rep. Turner asked.

“I said repeatedly […] I was presuming,” Sondland noted.

After some more grilling, Congressman Turner asked again, “Is it correct, nobody else on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying this aid to the investigations? Because if your answer is yes, then the chairman’s wrong and the headline on CNN is wrong. No one this planet told you that President Trump was tying aid to investigations, yes or no?”

“Yes,” Sondland replied.

“So, you’ve really have no testimony today that ties President Trump to a scheme to withhold aid from Ukraine in exchange for these investigations?” Turner asked.

“Other than my own presumption,” Sondland said.

“Which is nothing,” Turner responded.

Turner’s line of questioning was compelling and damaging to the narrative being pushed by the media, particularly CNN. Turner mentioned during his questioning that CNN literally changed their chyron which said, falsely, “Sondland ties Trump, Pence, Pompeo to Ukraine pressure campaign.”

CNN is forced to change their chyron in REAL TIME as Amb. Sondland directly rebuts it in his testimony.

Rep. Turner: "…the president did not tie aid to investigations?"

Amb Sondland: "That is correct" pic.twitter.com/oXYPlMZViX

— Tommy Pigott (@TCPigott) November 20, 2019