Democrats charged the President was not only obstructing a Congressional investigation with the decision, but the State Department was withholding other texts by Sondland which were relevant to the investigation of the Ukraine matter.
"The failure to produce this witness, the failure to produce these documents, we consider yet additional of strong evidence of obstruction," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify, but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2019
....to see. Importantly, Ambassador Sondland’s tweet, which few report, stated, “I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions. The President has been crystal clear: no quid pro quo’s of any kind.” That says it ALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2019
"The American people have the right to know if the president is acting in their interest," Rep. Adam Schiff says after Ambassador Sondland canceled his scheduled testimony before House impeachment investigators pic.twitter.com/yNzRm8dZRU
— Bloomberg TicToc (@tictoc) October 8, 2019
“We are looking into whether the President solicited foreign help in a U.S. Presidential election, again,” said Schiff.
Schiff took no questions from reporters gathered outside a secure intelligence meeting room in the bowels of the Capitol; he was quickly followed at the microphones by a group of GOP lawmakers, who joined the President in denouncing the investigation.
“If we sound like we are pissed as we stand here, it's because we are,” said Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY).
Republicans outside Intel Committee say Democrats don't care what the crime is, what the facts are, they just want to impeach POTUS
— Dorey Scheimer (@DoreyScheimer) October 8, 2019
Republicans said the no-show by Sondland wasn't an effort to avoid questions which could be detrimental to President Trump's story on Ukraine, but more of a protest about the impeachment investigation.
“It's based on the unfair and partisan process that Mr. Schiff has been running,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
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