Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Sondland
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1. I don't presume to know the level of background check that a US ambassador is subjected to but here are some thoughts about Richard #Grennel going to @ODNIgov. First, I presume someone like Gordon #Sondland was subjected to a thorough but not high SCI level review. Looking
2. at the characters in the Trump administration, few people have likely passed that level review. Gina Haspel already had a clearance. Likely Esper did too. But they would not be moved to ODNI. Grennel has been at a level in his UN spox work that could have resulted in a SCI.
3. Looking at Grennel's bio, the fact that he was @MittRomney's Foreign Policy spox is not what one might intuitively expect in a @POTUS #Trump appointment. It may be that. In conclusion: Grennel may have been on short list of persons in the administration who had sufficient SCI
Sondland (witness) was recalled.
Vindman (witness) was removed.
Vindman's twin brother (not a witness) was removed.
Earthquake aid to Puerto Rico was vetoed.
An emoluments case was thrown out on a technicality.
1/
Vindman (witness) was removed.
Vindman's twin brother (not a witness) was removed.
Earthquake aid to Puerto Rico was vetoed.
An emoluments case was thrown out on a technicality.
1/
Hunter Biden's financial records were given to GOP members of Congress by the Treasury.
Trump said he intends to continue holding rallies after he wins in 2020.
He falsely accused Pelosi, Schumer and Schiff of committing crimes.
2/
Trump said he intends to continue holding rallies after he wins in 2020.
He falsely accused Pelosi, Schumer and Schiff of committing crimes.
2/
New Yorkers have been excluded from the "Trusted Traveler" programs.
Former GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney was labeled a "Democratic Asset."
Trump retweeted a Ted Cruz rant labeling "the left" as anti-semitic.
All this since his acquittal. 48 hours ago.
3/
Former GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney was labeled a "Democratic Asset."
Trump retweeted a Ted Cruz rant labeling "the left" as anti-semitic.
All this since his acquittal. 48 hours ago.
3/
Quelques remarques, avec du recul, sur l'acquittement en #impeachment de #Trump et ce qu'il nous dit du retour (est-elle jamais vraiment partie?) de la présidence impériale aux #EtatsUnis après la "liquidation" hier soir des témoins Vindman et Sondland. washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…
2) Si on commence par la fin, le renvoi, volontairement humiliant et brutal dans le cas de #Vindman, de deux conseillers/ambassadeurs ayant témoigné contre lui lors de la procédure d'#impeachment nous apprend beaucoup de la vision de #Trump sur son exercice de la présidence US.
3) Pour #Trump, tout est partisan ET personnel dans l'exercice d'1 présidence qu'il pratique, non comme 1 fonction constitutionnelle contrainte, mais en énième déclinaison de son business recentré depuis 1997 sur sa seule personne devenue marque. Tout pouvoir doit procéder de lui
1/ My thread on #GOP defense of #Trump: General defense amounts to 2 arguments: 1. #Trump was genuinely concerned about #corruption in #Ukraine; 2) not enough evidence to #impeach. We have no evidence on the first & evidence to the contrary. Legally, there’s enough evidence.
2/ The strongest args #GOP makes - #Trump not caught on tape saying he was abusing his office for his personal gain. Ukraine history of corruption & publicly denied pressure. But you have to suspend reason & ignore a boatload of evidence to conclude he did nothing impeachable.
3/ #GOP on 7/25 call -#Trump didn’t reference reelection, Ukrainians happy it happened. #Volker didn’t see problem, NSC not complaining. Discounts #LtColVindman. Ignores #Pence aide thought it was “unusual” & #LauraCooper said Ukraine asked abt aid status same day after the call
An armada of spammy pornbots has been hijacking the #/CaveFire hashtag this morning. We found 65, all hypothetically tweeting via the Twitter website. (Twitter seems to be filtering some of the activity so we're not confident this is the entire botnet.)
cc: @ZellaQuixote
cc: @ZellaQuixote
@ZellaQuixote These bots appear to link a variety of different porn sites, although we wouldn't be surprised if this is an obfuscation technique and all the links actually go to the same place (we're not clicking to find out.)
@ZellaQuixote The fire hashtag isn't the only trend these bots are hijacking; their most frequently used hashtags are a mix of porn hashtags, perennial trends like #TuesdayThoughts, and current events like #Sondland, #ImpeachmentHearings, and the aforementioned #/CaveFire.
I know this is not news, but jeez hearing it directly from #DavidHolmes at the #ImpeachmentInquiry is just something else....
#Sondland to #Trump: "you can tell the #Kardashians you tried"
#ImpeachmentHearings
#Sondland to #Trump: "you can tell the #Kardashians you tried"
#ImpeachmentHearings
#FionaHill another woman, another immigrant, another patriotic public servant committed fully to the PRINCIPLES of our great nation.
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
#FionaHill talking about the role of #DevinNunes' senior aide #KashPatel in Trump's 'understanding' of Ukraine.
The full tight circle.
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
The full tight circle.
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
THREAD 🧵 Impeachment Inquiry Week 2
1/ New revelations and a lot of people being thrown under the bus — that’s what happened on the fourth day of public hearings in the #ImpeachmentInquiry.
1/ New revelations and a lot of people being thrown under the bus — that’s what happened on the fourth day of public hearings in the #ImpeachmentInquiry.
2/ The big witness everyone is talking about took center stage today — Ambassador Gordon #Sondland. He’s a Republican, who was appointed by President Trump to his current position. Before being named Ambassador to the EU, he donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.
3/ Recap: The big issue at hand — did President Trump order freezing military aid to Ukraine, unless they investigated the Bidens? AKA was there a quid pro quo/bribery/this-for-that deal...
Ah ce Sénat US bientôt révolté dans l'#impeachment contre #Trump, mené par l'indomptable Romney...Halte au sketch: grâce à l'approbation massive de ses nominations judiciaires par le Sénat, 7 cours d'appel fédérales sur 13 ont 1 majorité de juges républicains (4 en 2017)
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2) Croyez-moi (ou pas) mais CE fait-là pourrait avoir bien plus d'impact que le témoignage de #Sondland sur l'avenir US: #Trump a fait approuver par le Sénat 48 nouveaux juges en cours d'appel fédérale contre 55 pour #Obama... en 2 mandats.
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3) Et donc cette question lancinante: pourquoi voudriez-vous que des républicains du Sénat tuent par 1 destitution après #impeachment leur parti, perdent leurs prébendes et abattent un président #Trump qui, avec eux, reconstruit un pouvoir judiciaire fédéral à leur main?#réalité
Castor: "Good heavens" tells me he'd been present at a #Sondland "wood-shedding" session or or have knowledge of it. Wonder if @VP is torpedoing @POTUS @realDonaldTrump? Don't anyone tell Trump. 😎
@VP @POTUS @realDonaldTrump The lies to save Pence may evidence that the forces of darkness view Trump as too far gone to save and with Pence now in jeopardy they need to make the move to put the hounds off the scent.
@VP @POTUS @realDonaldTrump And just now Pence's team posts a "He's not Donald Trump" photo from the critical swing state.
US Policy Is Driven by Imperative to Stop Coalition between Germany and Russia using Ukraine -
Stratfor Chairman 2015
Listen to this 👇👇
Stratfor Chairman 2015
Listen to this 👇👇
Friedman's key points:
The primordial interest of the United States for centuries (WWI, WWII and the Cold War) has been to stop a coalition between Germany and Russia.
#sondlandtestimony
The primordial interest of the United States for centuries (WWI, WWII and the Cold War) has been to stop a coalition between Germany and Russia.
#sondlandtestimony
OMG, the look on @DevinNunes’ face just before adjourning for the break after the first 45 minute questioning of #Sondland MUST be made into a meme. It was a pure “WE ARE SO F**KED” expression
If you take a shaker, fill it with ice, some vodka and olive juice. Then proceeded to put it on #Sondland ‘s lap while he is testifying, you’d get the perfect dirty martini.
#Sondland is shaking so much and is so fidgety @TomArnold is considering suing him for stealing his act
Just look at the bozos trump hired to run international diplomacy. For shame. #Sondland
#Sondland says it all: We were playing the hand we were dealt. We didn't want to work w Giuliani. But WE FOLLOWED THE PRESIDENT'S ORDERS. At the time we didn't think we were engaging in improper behavior. Giuliani's requests were a quid pro quo for WH visit. #ImpeachmentHearings
@HouseIntel #Sondland: I opposed withholding security aid to Ukraine. I shared my concerns of the potential quid pro quo w/ @SenRonJohnson. NSC BOLTON, Hill, Morrison all knew what we were doing. State Dept POMPEO knew & approved of all our activities, as late as Sept. #ImpeachmentHearings
@HouseIntel @SenRonJohnson #Sondland names many WH & State officials including #Mulvaney, #Pompeo… "A lot senior officials" knew. July 19 email informed everyone. "Everyone was in the loop." He slams White House & the State Dept for refusing to provide notes, call records & documents. #ImpeachmentHearings
Donald Trump's day so far:
- Gordon Sondland sells out Trump and Mike Pence
- #Sondland also throws "Mr. Giuliani" under bus
- Lock her up: Nikki Haley sent classified information over private email
- It's all hitting the fan
- Trump is going to prison
- It's still only 9:50am
- Gordon Sondland sells out Trump and Mike Pence
- #Sondland also throws "Mr. Giuliani" under bus
- Lock her up: Nikki Haley sent classified information over private email
- It's all hitting the fan
- Trump is going to prison
- It's still only 9:50am
Gordon Sondland just totally threw Donald Trump and Mike Pence under the bus palmerreport.com/analysis/bus-g…
Gordon Sondland just took a blowtorch to everyone palmerreport.com/analysis/blowt…
Full #Sondland statement: politico.com/f/?id=0000016e…
“Unfortunately, President Trump was skeptical. He expressed concerns that the Ukrainian government was not serious about reform. He even mentioned that Ukraine tried to take him down in the last election.”
“It is true that the President speaks loudly at times. It is also true that we discussed A$AP Rocky. It is true that the President likes to use colorful language.”
BREAKING: #Sondland changes testimony, admits #QuidProQuo, says he was personally directed to extort Ukraine by @realDonaldTrump
BREAKING: #Sondland will also implicate @VP and @SecPompeo in Ukraine extortion plot. In opening statement he slams Pompeo and the White House for blocking his access to unclassified documents needed to inform his testimony. #SondlandTestimony #ImpeachmentHearings
BREAKING: #Sondland says he and Perry were forced by Trump to work with @RudyGiuliani: “We followed the President’s orders.” He says he would not have done so if he knew how many criminals Guiliani was working with.
Which way will Gordon #Sondland go:
Jail or
Not Jail?
#impeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
c-span.org/video/?466378-…
Jail or
Not Jail?
#impeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
c-span.org/video/?466378-…
#Sondland so far
-I am not of the highest principles
-I don't have a great memory
-No fair I wasn't given cheat sheets
-I am not of the highest principles
-I don't have a great memory
-No fair I wasn't given cheat sheets
So #Sondland has just said:
We were working <against our better judgment> to overcome "the problems".
And who caused those "problems" now?
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
We were working <against our better judgment> to overcome "the problems".
And who caused those "problems" now?
#ImpeachmentInquiry
#ImpeachmentHearings
1 petit #thread récapitulatif sur l'enquête en vue d'#impeachment sur #Trump de la Chambre démocrate qui prend un nouveau tournant aujourd'hui avec les 1ères auditions publiques et télévisées de témoins pour essayer de prendre de la hauteur sur 1 flux impressionnant d'infos… 👇
2) Déjà, de quoi s'agit-il? Rappeler que la Chambre à majorité démocrate a ouvert depuis le 24 septembre 1 enquête en vue d'#impeachment, c'est-à-dire de mise en accusation contre le président D.#Trump à propos de ses actions envers l'#Ukraine au printemps et à l'été 2019...
3)…cette enquête parlementaire en vue d'#impeachment de la Chambre démocrate a été ultérieurement codifiée par cette résolution votée par la Chambre le 31 octobre.L'enquête doit déterminer s'il y a motif(s) de mettre en accusation #Trump selon ces règles. docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/…
OUH LA LA...l'ambassadeur de #Trump auprès de L'UE, son ex-donateur #Sondland vient de MODIFIER son témoignage sur l'#Ukraine au Congrès et reconnaît le donnant-donnant (Quid pro quo). Retournement.
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2) C'est 1 #breaking tout ce que vous voulez...#Sondland, coincé par les témoignages des diplomates et militaires de carrière comme Taylor ou Vindman, reconnaît avoir lié pour #Trump aide militaire à l'#Ukraine aux enquêtes sur #Biden...
3) #Verbatim Le compte-rendu du témoignage de #Sondland est ici et allez à la fin (page 376) pour avoir son correctif qui enfonce la 1ère ligne de défense de #Trump du "no Quid pro quo". #àlire scribd.com/document/43358…
💥 #Sondland Confirms Ukraine Quid Pro Quo in NEW Updated #Impeachment Testimony: He told Ukrainian officials that US military aid was unlikely unless they publicly committed to the investigations President Trump wanted. nyti.ms/32g54V3
#Sondland discussed the linkage w/ Yermak—in Warsaw after Pence-Zelensky meeting, where Z discussed aid suspension: “I said that resumption of the US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anticorruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks”
🔥#Sondland describes the quid pro quo creep to Trump's demands: First, talk to Giuliani. Then it was about corruption. Then corruption wasn't enough. "We need to talk about the 2016 election & the Burisma investigations…It kept getting more insidious." intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
💥First direct witness on Ukraine call >> Top WH Ukraine expert & decorated military officer will tell impeachment investigators he twice reported concerns about Trump’s pressure tactics on Ukraine nytimes.com/2019/10/28/us/… #UkraineGate #Impeachment
LtCol Vindman wasn't just worried about Trump's illegal demand. As a natsec expert AND Soviet immigrant, he understood the implications: Dragging Ukraine into partisan investigations would undoubtedly result in losing bipartisan support—bad for OUR natl security, good for Russia.
Trump propagandists smear hero Vindman b/c the truth is clear as day. His testimony is first-hand direct evidence of Trump's abuse of power, directing a campaign to pressure Ukraine to benefit himself—& Russia—at the expense of our national security goals. int.nyt.com/data/documenth…
What #Sondland OMITS from Opening Statement shows how extra-damning this is likely to get
Omissions:
1. Major media (including two NYT blockbusters) in May reported Giuliani pressure on Ukraine for Burisma-BIDEN probe
(Sondland can't credibly claim not knowing)
<thread>
Omissions:
1. Major media (including two NYT blockbusters) in May reported Giuliani pressure on Ukraine for Burisma-BIDEN probe
(Sondland can't credibly claim not knowing)
<thread>
2. Sondland opening remarks omits:
Content of July 10 meeting: Sondland personally pressed Ukrainians to investigate past cases, understood by US officials at Burisma-Biden (freaked out Bolton and Fiona Hill)
(Advice: believe Fiona Hill's testimony on this)
Content of July 10 meeting: Sondland personally pressed Ukrainians to investigate past cases, understood by US officials at Burisma-Biden (freaked out Bolton and Fiona Hill)
(Advice: believe Fiona Hill's testimony on this)
3. Sondland omits:
July 25: Mulvaney arranged for Sondland to prep Trump behind Bolton's back before call with Zelensky.
Note: prior version of WaPo story "indicated otherwise based on info provided by a person familiar with Sondland’s planned testimony"
Did he plan to lie?
July 25: Mulvaney arranged for Sondland to prep Trump behind Bolton's back before call with Zelensky.
Note: prior version of WaPo story "indicated otherwise based on info provided by a person familiar with Sondland’s planned testimony"
Did he plan to lie?
#Sondland better watch his step.
Hill testified, under oath, that his statements in July 10 meeting were understood to mean pushing Ukraine to investigate Bidens.👇
WaPo reported Sondland plans to say he didn’t realize Biden connection. He may want to revise that before Thurs.
Hill testified, under oath, that his statements in July 10 meeting were understood to mean pushing Ukraine to investigate Bidens.👇
WaPo reported Sondland plans to say he didn’t realize Biden connection. He may want to revise that before Thurs.
Here’s the WSJ article in @lrozen’s tweet describing Fiona Hill’s testimony (great scoop by @rebeccaballhaus @aviswanatha
@nataliewsj):
wsj.com/articles/forme…
@nataliewsj):
wsj.com/articles/forme…
And here’s the Post’s story from Saturday describing what Sondland had planned (at least before Hill’s testimony, that is) to tell Congress (scoop by @byaarncdavis and @John_Hudson):
washingtonpost.com/world/national…
washingtonpost.com/world/national…
🔥#QuidProQuo 🔥Donors to the Trump inaugural committee -that is UNDER INVESTIGATION - got ambassador nominations. Trump knew large donors were more likely to be LOYAL when he asked for dirt on opponents or other favors... #Sondland nbcnews.com/politics/donal…
🤔While we are on the subject of Ambassadorships and loyalty and paybacks ... consider this👇
💥Trump also rewards ambassadorships for silence... hey 👋 @AMBZAMPOLLI
