Democratic debates: Democrats prepare for fifth debate after key impeachment witness says Trump directed Ukraine 'quid pro quo' in bombshell testimony
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Your support makes all the difference.Gordon Sondland has implicated a number of White House officials who were “in the loop” with Donald Trump's direction to withhold aid to Ukraine in an exchange for a meeting and a public statement announcing an investigation into the president’s political opponents.
The testimony came as Democrats were preparing to hold their fifth debate of 2020 in Atlanta, where they will undoubtedly be asked about the freshly sprung impeachment inquiry that has dominated headlines.
Mr Sondland, a US ambassador to the EU, affirmed that there was a so-called quid pro quo, dropping a bombshell testimony into another pivotal hearing in the House impeachment inquiry into the president’s alleged abuses of power in his dealings with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to his testimony, Mr Sondland worked under the president’s order to work with Rudy Giuliani “not because we liked it but because it was the only constructive path” to building a relationship with a vulnerable Ukraine. In emails and other conversations with US officials — including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Energy Secretary Rick Perry — Mr Sondland established a clear link from the president, through Giuliani, and efforts to engage Ukraine with investigations into the 2016 election and Burisma.
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Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House that he barely knows Mr Sondland, who he previously called a "great American", and that he seems like a “nice guy".
The president read from a stack of papers in his hand, which included, in capital letters, his recollection of a conversation with Mr Sondland in which Trump said "I WANT NOTHING. I WANT NOTHING. I WANT NO QUID PRO QUO."
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said that "the US aid to Ukraine flowed, no investigation was launched, and President Trump has met and spoken with President Zelensky. Democrats keep chasing ghosts."
Mr Pence and Mr Perry also released statements during the hearing denying Mr Giuliani’s influence in their dealings with Ukraine. They’ve refused to testify in the impeachment probe.
Mr Trump also lashed out at his Democratic opponents conducting the House impeachment inquiry, mocked key witnesses giving testimony for their sartorial choices and denied that the onset of a heart attack was what prompted his sudden trip to hospital on Saturday.
"These people are sick. They’re sick. And the press really in this country is dangerous. We don’t have freedom of the press in this country. We have the opposite. We have a very corrupt media," the president ranted from the Cabinet Room of the White House on Tuesday.
The inquiry heard from four witnesses on Tuesday who detailed the administration’s coercion of Ukraine.
Warren responds, saying she's "tired of freeloading billionaires."
Buttigieg: "As president Obama commented recently we are now in a different reality than we were in even 12 years ago."
Claims there is an American majority now that didn't exist just years ago, but says he believes Democrats can galvanize that majority.
Says that he thinks more moderate approach to healthcare, as he has approached, is less divisive.
Warren: "Here is my plan, let's bring in as many people in and get as much help to the American people as fast as we can."
Sanders agrees with Obama saying that they "don't have to" tear down the current healthcare system, but says "we need to do what" Americans "want".
Gabbard says "our democratic party, unfortunately, is not the party that is of, by, and for the people."
She takes a stab at Hillary Clinton, and says that the likes of the former secretary of State and other money interests are who control the Democratic Party.
She also calls for an end to "regime change" wars, that she blames on Trump and Bush — notably, she left Obama's name out, there.
Harris is asked to respond, she says it is "unfortunate" that somebody is on the stage who spent "four years" criticizing Obama on Fox News.
Gabbard calls it "ridiculous".
Harris notes that Gabbard took a meeting with Donald Trump before he took office, and attacks her for not calling Bashar al Assad a war criminal.
Gabbard says Harris is continuing to "traffic in lies, and innuendo" over the attacks.
"She will, as president, continue the status quo. Continue the Bush-Clinton foreign policy of regime trade wars," Gabbard says, before noting that it is "personal" to her because she is a veteran.
Harris: "I believe that what our nation needs right now is a nominee who can speak to all people."
She then talks about her history, instead of attacking Gabbard by name further.
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