Sunday shows — Spotlight shifts to Sondland ahead of impeachment inquiry testimony
by The Hill staff
Multiple guests on the Sunday morning political talk shows weighed in on the expected testimony of U.S. Ambassador the European Union Gordon Sondland, who is expected to appear on Capitol Hill this week as part of the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
Republican guests also defended the president, who last week attacked a witness on Twitter as she testified publicly in the probe.
Rep. Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.) said Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland’s testimony will show President Trump participated in the “solicitation of a bribe.”
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that Democrats’ case against President Trump would not necessarily collapse if Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testifies this week that there was no quid pro quo in the release of military aid to Ukraine.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Sunday that Gordon Sondland has to decide if his loyalty is to the country or to President Trump as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union prepares to testify publicly on Wednesday as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry.
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday that he thinks the evidence for impeaching President Trump “is crumbling” after the first week of public hearings.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Sunday pushed back against claims by witnesses in the House’s impeachment inquiry that President Trump’s only concern in Ukraine was securing an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, citing as evidence the fact that the White House sold the country Javelin missiles.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that President Trump’s tweet about former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch while she testified in the impeachment inquiry last week was not witness intimidation.
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Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Sunday pushed back on questions about whether it was appropriate for President Trump to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, pointing to the fact that the requested probe “didn’t happen.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he will lay out in a letter his telling of events related to the foreign aid to Ukraine that was held up and is now a central part of the impeachment inquiry.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Sunday Ukrainian officials are going to “try and put a good spin” on interactions with President Trump as the country is still reliant on the U.S. for its safety.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said he’s willing to accept Super PAC money for his presidential bid as a way to catch up to his primary opponents after his late entry in the race.
