Republican Rep. Mike Turner stole the show at Wednesday’s impeachment inquiry hearings.
While questioning Ukraine Ambassador Sondland, he made it crystal clear that Trump did not ask for aid to be tied to anything, indicating once and for all that there was no quid pro quo.
CNS News has a partial transcript:
“So, you really have no testimony that ties President Trump to a scheme to withhold aid from Ukraine in exchange for these investigations?” Turner asked Sondland at one point during his questioning.
Sondland replied: “Other than my own presumption.”
“Which is nothing,” Turner responded.
During the five minutes he had to question Sondland, Turner focused on whether Sondland could name anyone who had told him that Trump had tied aid to Ukraine to these investigations.
“So, no one told you. Not just the president?” Turner said to Sondland during today’s hearing in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
“Giuliani didn’t tell you? Mulvaney didn’t tell you? Nobody?” said Turner. “Pompeo didn’t tell you? Nobody else on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying aid to these investigations? Is that correct?”
“I think I already testified to that,” said Sondland.
“No answer the question: Is it correct?” said Turner. “No one on this planet told you that Donald Trump was tying this aid to the investigation?” Turner persisted. “Because if your answer is ‘yes’ then the chairman’s wrong and the headline on CNN is wrong. No one on this planet told you that President Trump was tying aid to investigations? Yes or no?”
“Yes,” said Sondland.
Watch the video:
Doesn’t that pretty much answer the question?
If you watch one thing from today make it this from @RepMikeTurner!
Question: You have ZERO testimony that @realDonaldTrump tied aid to any quid pro quo scheme
Sondland: "Yes… other than my presumption."
It’s over. This, here, is the real bombshell. pic.twitter.com/e89ele9ulx
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 20, 2019
The MUST WATCH Q&A of Amb Sondland today by @RepMikeTurner that Adam Schiff and many in the media will desperately want you to ignore👇 pic.twitter.com/SB4nRJAnK3
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) November 20, 2019
.@RepMikeTurner: "Is it correct no one on this planet told you that @realdonaldtrump was tying this aid to the investigation? If your answer is yes, then the Chairman is wrong and the headline on @CNN is wrong."
Ambassador Sondland: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/YBjLKln6US
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) November 20, 2019
The Democrats have got nothing.
Rep. Mike Turner proved it.
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