The hotel executive President Donald Trump appointed as an ambassador after he donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration will testify Wednesday that Trump gave him “express direction” to work with Rudy Giuliani to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son.
“Everyone was in the loop,” Gordon Sondland plans to say, according to a copy of his opening statement obtained by The New York Times. “It was no secret.”
“We followed the president’s orders,” Sondland’s statement says.
Sondland’s statement says he believed there was a “quid pro quo” ― that Ukrainians had to respond to Trump’s requests to get a White House call or meeting.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.