Breaking news out of D.C. where Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland has been barred from giving a deposition in the House later today:
Breaking News: The Trump administration blocked a top diplomat, Gordon Sondland, from sitting for a deposition today with impeachment investigators in the Househttps://t.co/anBkbYfz0e
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 8, 2019
He was set to answer questions from three different committees related to the impeachment inquiry:
Reminder: Today, members of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees are scheduled to depose Gordon Sondland, Trump's Ambassador to the European Union.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 8, 2019
Sondland’s attorney says “he has no choice but to comply”:
Breaking — Ambassador Gordon Sondland has been told by the State Department to not appear this morning before the House regarding his role in the Ukraine scandal. His attorney said he has no choice but to comply with State Dept directive.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 8, 2019
Statement here:
From Sondland’s lawyer: “Ambassador Sondland is profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify today. Ambassador Sondland traveled to Washington from Brussels in order to prepare for his testimony and to be available to answer the Committee’s questions.”
— Anne Rumsey Gearan (@agearan) October 8, 2019
”Arrangements had already been made with Joint Committee staff re: the logistics of his testimony. Amb Sondland believes strongly that he acted at all times in the best interests of the United States, and he stands ready to answer the Committee’s questions fully and truthfully.”
— Anne Rumsey Gearan (@agearan) October 8, 2019
Recommended
Byron York reports that House Republicans “thought he was going to testify until and hour ago” and “were looking forward to Sondland testimony”:
Republicans were looking forward to Sondland testimony. Also had the high ground with demands for transparency. Thought he was going to testify until an hour ago.https://t.co/GZ8feBCtAC
— Byron York (@ByronYork) October 8, 2019
***