Trump acolyte Gordon Sondland reverses testimony in impeachment inquiry
One of the men at the centre of the Trump impeachment inquiry has backflipped on his testimony in a way that strengthens the case against the president.
Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the EU, has acknowledged that $500 million in military aid to Ukraine was directly linked to the former Soviet nation making a public promise to investigate corruption – the so-called quid pro quo that is the focus of impeachment.
President Donald Trump is currently accused of pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart to launch an investigation into his chief political rival Joe Biden, and his son Hunter.
Donald Trump and Gordon Sondland. AP
In a statement issued to House impeachment investigators overnight, Mr Sondland said his memory was refreshed by two other key witnesses.
"I now recall speaking individually with (Ukrainian go-between) Mr Yermak, where I said resumption of US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks," Mr Sondland said.
The revelation strengthens the impeachment case against Mr Trump.
Gordon Sondland was appointed ambassador to the EU after donating US$1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration committee. AP
The revised testimony is also significant because Mr Sondland is the first witness to assist the impeachment inquiry who is considered a Trump acolyte.
While others who had testified have been career diplomats and government officials, Mr Sondland was a major donor to Mr Trump's 2016 election campaign.
Mr Sondland had functioned as an intermediary between the White House and Ukraine, even though Ukraine is not in the European Union.
Trump's impeachment charges
While Congress is yet to draw up articles of impeachment, they will be tied largely to his actions with Ukraine.
In a conversation in July, Mr Trump directly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
Donald Trump is facing an impeachment inquiry. AP
It is a crime to solicit foreign help for electoral purposes.
Mr Trump asked for the "favour" immediately after speaking about how much the US does for Ukraine.
At the time, the White House was holding up $500 million in military aid for the country.
Democrats in Congress argue that such a quid pro quo would be bribery, a specific crime listed in the constitution as an "impeachable offence".
Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to the conversation as "perfect".
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