Maloney hammers Sondland on changing testimony — and extracts key concession

In a tense exchange at Wednesday’s impeachment hearing of President Trump, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., grilled Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, over his changing testimony on what he understood about Trump’s motivation in seeking an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

“Who would benefit from an investigation of the Bidens?” Maloney asked after an extended back-and-forth with Sondland on that point.“There we have it!” Maloney interrupted. “See? Didn’t hurt a bit, did it? Didn’t hurt a bit. But let me ask you something —”“Excuse me, I’ve been very forthright and I really resent what you’re trying to do —”

“Fair enough. You’ve been very forthright. This is your third try to do so, sir,” Maloney said, referencing Sondland’s original deposition last month, which he subsequently amended after transcripts were released of additional testimony that contradicted it on some points. “Didn’t work so well the first time, did it? We had a little declaration come in after, do you remember that? And now we’re here a third time and we’ve got a doozy of a statement from you this morning.

Maloney then hammered home the Democrats’ argument that Trump had engaged in bribery by conditioning the release of military aid on the investigation of Biden. Story continues“A position that jeopardizes their security, and they’re being asked to do an investigation to help their security, essentially, that would benefit the president politically. In other words, you might say they’re being asked to give him a personal benefit in exchange for an official act. Is that a fair summary?”“It’s not a hypothetical, sir.” Maloney said. “This is real life.”

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