Has he also talked to me in the past about corruption related to the DNC server? Of course, not a question about it. But that’s why we withheld the money, Mulvaney said, referring to a conspiracy theory that a hacked Democratic National Committee computer server was taken to Ukraine in 2016 to hide evidence that Kiev, not Moscow, interfered in the last U.S. presidential Election.

Mulvaney also said the funds were withheld because European countries have been very, very stingy when it comes to lethal aid for Ukraine. But he characterized the decision to use congressional-approved aid as common practice, citing other cases where the trump administration withheld aid to foreign countries, and urged critics to overcome the decision.

I have news for everyone: get over it. There will be political influence in foreign policy, Mulvaney said. Elections have consequences and they should, and your foreign policy is going to change Theres no problem with that.

Mulvanis ‘ press conference came after U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland met behind closed doors with House impeachment investigators, telling them that President trump had turned over the job of managing U.S. policy toward Ukraine to trump’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, a decision that made Sondland uncomfortable, but one he still exercised.

I would not recommend that Mr. Giuliani or any private citizen be involved in these foreign policy issues, Sondland said, according to his prepared remarks obtained by The Washington Post.

Mulvaney shot down those concerns by defending the right of presidents to put foreign policy in the hands of their personal counsel.

You might not like the fact that Giuliani was involved, that’s great, that’s fine, Mulvaney said, referring to Sondlands ‘ remarks. Its not illegal, its not impeached, the President gets to set foreign policy and he gets to choose who to do it, as long as he doesn’t break any law.

Subversive diplomat Gordon Sondland, a key figure in the trump impeachment furore, has long been a coveted Ambassador

Sondland, a major trump donor at the center of an impeachment investigation because of his oversized role in U.S.-Ukrainian politics, criticized the presidents ‘ temporary withholding of aid and the recall of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Mari Evanovich. Sondland called her an excellent diplomat and said he regretted her departure, which followed Giuliani’s campaign to paint her as disloyal to the President.

Sondland is expected to face an onslaught of questions from Democrats who have accused the President of abusing power to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 re-election campaign. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and said his decision to withhold military aid was out of frustration that European governments are not doing more to help the country.

In his speech, Sondland said he was opposed in principle to any qui-Pro quo that would trade U.S. support for a friendly nation to investigate trump’s political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. But he said he became aware more recently that trump’s efforts to investigate the obscure Ukrainian energy company Burisma were related to its ties to Biden, whose son hunter worked for the energy company. Joe Biden is the leading Democratic presidential candidate.

I didn’t realize much later that Mr. Julian’s agenda might also include efforts to encourage Ukrainians to investigate Vice President Biden or his son or to involve Ukrainians, directly or indirectly, in the 2020 presidential re-election campaign, he said. While Mr. Giuliani did mention the name Burisma in August 2019, I understood that Burisma was one of many examples of Ukrainian companies run by oligarchs and lacking the types of corporate governance structures found in Western companies.

Sondlands apparent failure to connect the dots between Burisma and Bidens occurred as Giuliani made several television appearances during the spring and summer criticizing hunter Bidens ‘ involvement on Board, and numerous newspaper and magazine articles questioned whether his role in Burisma could prove to be a drag on his fathers presidential campaign.

Gordon Sondland, trump envoy and key figure in impeachment probe, faces criticism over $ 1 million taxpayer-funded home renovation

In his testimony, Sondland, a hotel tycoon who came to work with no diplomatic experience, portrays himself as a well-meaning but in some cases out of the loop emissary for a President who has tried to do everything he can to support the Ukrainian government as he fends off Attacks by the Sian separatists.

My goal has always been to advance U.S. interests in ensuring strong relations with Ukraine, ” he said in his speech. Withholding foreign aid to pressure a foreign government into taking such steps would be wrong. I did not participate and will never participate in such endeavors.

Parts of his testimony appear to contradict testimony from other officials this week, including Fiona hill, the former national security Council senior Director for Russia and Europe. Hill told House investigators that she was concerned about Sondlandso’s conversations about the investigations at the July meeting, which she eventually referred to a national security Council lawyer.

Sondland, in his opening remarks, said he was never aware of objections from her or her boss, national security adviser John Bolton. I should consider her testimony, if the media reports are accurate, as a product of hindsight and in the context of the well-known tensions between the NSC on the one hand and the state Department on the other, he said.

Sondland argues that his handling of investigations in Ukraine has always been consistent with long-standing U.S. policy to seek transparency and fight corruption in the country.