Sondland says he pressured Ukraine at ‘express direction’ of Trump

WASHINGTON DC — As the fourth day of the public impeachment hearings kicked off, House intelligence committee chair Adam Schiff and Republican ranking member Devin Nunes once again butted heads during their opening statements.

Schiff delivered a stern warning to the Trump administration on obstruction of the investigation.

While Nunes argued that it is unfair to the American people that Democratic leaders continue to hide the whistleblower’s identity.

The central figure during Wednesday’s hearing was Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European union, who testified that it was no secret that a quid pro quo came at the “express direction of the president.”

He said he acted upon the orders of President Donald Trump in negotiating with Ukraine to announce the investigations trump wanted on the 2016 elections and energy firm Burisma – with ties to his Democratic presidential rival – Joe Biden and Biden’s son.

Sondland added that Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, pushed for the quid pro quo.

During the hearing, some Republicans attacked Sondland on the fact that he never heard orders from Trump about withholding any aid and accused him of only making presumptions about a quid pro quo.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are saying Sondland’s testimony is so far the most significant evidence to date and it goes right to the heart of the issue of bribery as well as other potential high crimes and misdemeanors.

The hearing continues later in the afternoon of Wednesday with another public testimony from the deputy assistance secretary of defense, Laura Cooper.