Of course...

'Everyone was in the loop': Live highlights from Sondland’s testimony

He's one of the most crucial witnesses.

By NATASHA BERTRAND, NAHAL TOOSI and QUINT FORGEY

Gordon Sondland’s opening statement deals a devastating blow to arguments by President Donald Trump’s allies that the president did not try to trade a White House meeting for political investigations into his rivals.

“I know that members of this Committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a ‘quid pro quo?’” the EU envoy testified. “As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”

Sondland also offered proof for the first time that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was aware of the push for Zelensky to launch investigations in exchange for a call with Trump and a White House meeting, both highly coveted by the newly elected Ukrainian president.

“I Talked to Zelensky just now... He is prepared to receive Potus’ call,” Sondland wrote in a July 19 email to Pompeo and other top officials, including Energy Secretary Rick Perry and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

“Will assure him that he intends to run a fully transparent investigation and will ‘turn over every stone’. He would greatly appreciate a call prior to Sunday so that he can put out some media about a ‘friendly and productive call’ (no details) prior to Ukraine election on Sunday.”

Mulvaney replied, “I asked NSC to set it up for tomorrow,” according to the email exchange Sondland provided to the committee.

The bottom line, Sondland said, was that “everyone was in the loop” on the quid pro quo.

“It was no secret,” he testified. “Everyone was informed via email on July 19, days before the presidential call.”

Check back for updates. We'll post the most important revelations here.

Sondland’s dedication to Ukraine questionable

To hear Gordon Sondland tell it, he’s cared about Ukraine for a long time, and the country was part of his responsibilities.

That argument is a stretch.

Sondland was a wealthy hotel owner just a few years ago. He gave $1 million for Trump’s inauguration, and later was given an ambassadorial post.

But the role he was given is U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Ukraine is not in the European Union.

And Sondland’s role in Ukraine – no matter how much he insists was completely normal – deeply annoyed others tasked with dealing with the country.

That included John Bolton, the former national security adviser, and Tim Morrison, one of his top aides. In his private testimony, Morrison said he and Bolton were “frustrated” that Sondland’s “direct boss” — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — didn't rein him in.

Schiff slams Trump, Pompeo for ‘effort to obstruct’ impeachment inquiry

In his prepared remarks Wednesday, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) savaged the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for their refusal to cooperate with the impeachment probe — referencing damning new testimony by Sondland which further implicates Trump’s top diplomat and other senior administration officials in the Ukraine scandal.

“I think we know now, based on a sample of the documents attached to Ambassador Sondland's statement, that the knowledge of this scheme was far and wide, and included, among others, Secretary of State Pompeo, as well as the vice president,” Schiff said.

House impeachment investigators “can see why” Pompeo and Trump “have made such a concerted and across-the-board effort to obstruct this investigation,” he said, adding that “they do so at their own peril.”