# The Trump Impeachment Inquiry **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 24, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771 "2019-09-24T20:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 107
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2121 "2019-10-08T13:05:16Z")
Here’s a link to a [Tweet with Sondland’s lawyer’s statement](https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1181548489030942725). “Ambassador Sondland is profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify today.” Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2122 "2019-10-08T13:05:57Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Anyone know the ostensible reason for the WH refusing to allow Sondland to testify? They are trying to stop the process in its tracks. They don’t want _anybody_ to testify. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2123 "2019-10-08T13:07:23Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Anyone know the ostensible reason for the WH refusing to allow Sondland to testify? The reason given is that they have their feelings hurt that he was subpoena-ded. “Ambassador Sondland had previously agreed to appear voluntarily today, without the need for a subpoena, in order to answer the Committee’s questions on an expedited basis,” Robert Luskin, Sondland’s attorney, said in a statement." > **[State Department blocks ambassador from testifying in Trump impeachment inquiry](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-administration-orders-ambassador-center-ukraine-scandal-not-appear-congress-n1063636)** > > An attorney for Gordon Sondland said the ambassador "hopes" the State Department's qualms that "precludes his testimony will be resolved promptly." The actual reason, of course is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2124 "2019-10-08T13:31:20Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Anyone know the ostensible reason for the WH refusing to allow Sondland to testify? Because fuck you, that’s why. That’s the only reason he has for anything anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2125 "2019-10-08T14:24:28Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Anyone know the ostensible reason for the WH refusing to allow Sondland to testify? His testimony would damage Trump politically, as he knows about illegal things that Trump did. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2126 "2019-10-08T14:25:02Z")
Didn’t house Dems start this out by stating that a refusal to cooperate with the inquiry would be treated as obstructing the inquiry? I suppose that’s why the lawyer is claiming that his client can’t wait to do it, but golly, there’s this directive to not do it from the State dept. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2127 "2019-10-08T14:36:10Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Anyone know the ostensible reason for the WH refusing to allow Sondland to testify? The same reason Obama blocked Hillary from testifying about Benghazi. Oh, wait… ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2128 "2019-10-08T14:49:13Z")
Geez, I get 6 replies on the “real” reason the WH is not allowing Sondoand to testify. Of course I know what the real reason is. I’m wondering if an **ostensible** reason has been given by the WH. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2129 "2019-10-08T14:52:57Z")
I gave you the \*\*ostensible **reason**. \*\*Hurt feelings, that’s the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2130 "2019-10-08T14:53:27Z")
Time for Schiff to get some hair on his pussy and go to court to force every single witness to testify. Sure, it will take some time to go through the courts. But damn it, don’t be like Mueller and say “we could have possibly gotten more incriminating info but they wouldn’t talk to us so what ya gonna do?” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2131 "2019-10-08T14:56:29Z")
[They aren’t bothering with excuses.](https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/gordon-sondland-hotelier-portland-seattle-trump-ambassador-ukraine/283-7a229daf-48eb-4dd6-a215-5a44e82d668b) No need to. The real reasons are, as you note, obvious to anyone. > [@](#): > > Sondland attorney Robert Luskin says that as the sitting U.S. ambassador to the European Union and an employee of the State Department, Sondland is required to follow the department’s direction. No reason for the direction was cited, he said. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2132 "2019-10-08T14:57:33Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > Geez, I get 6 replies on the “real” reason the WH is not allowing Sondoand to testify. Of course I know what the real reason is. I’m wondering if an **ostensible** reason has been given by the WH. Straight from the horse’s mouth: \*\* I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify, but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public to see. Importantly, Ambassador Sondland’s tweet, which few report, stated, “I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions. The President has been crystal clear: no quid pro quo’s of any kind.” That says it ALL!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2133 "2019-10-08T15:11:16Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Straight from the horse’s mouth: > > \*\* > I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify, but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public to see. Importantly, Ambassador Sondland’s tweet, which few report, stated, “I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions. The President has been crystal clear: no quid pro quo’s of any kind.” That says it ALL!\*\* Especially when it was made by Sondland as damage control in response to the airing of ‘the call’ _after_ the whistleblower blew. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2134 "2019-10-08T15:16:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [They aren’t bothering with excuses.](https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/gordon-sondland-hotelier-portland-seattle-trump-ambassador-ukraine/283-7a229daf-48eb-4dd6-a215-5a44e82d668b) No need to. The real reasons are, as you note, obvious to anyone. I understand why Sondland won’t testify, but the WH is gonna eventually have to cough up some legal reason for blocking a subpoena. They’re probably just buying time, but I’m curious if some sort of legal reason has been cited. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2135 "2019-10-08T15:17:19Z")
“Executive privilege” is remarkably flexible. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2136 "2019-10-08T15:45:52Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > I understand why Sondland won’t testify, but the WH is gonna eventually have to cough up some legal reason for blocking a subpoena. They’re probably just buying time, but I’m curious if some sort of legal reason has been cited. Why? What can Congress do if they don’t? What _will_ Congress do if they don’t? Admonish them? Shake a finger at them? Throw more paperwork at them? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2137 "2019-10-08T15:49:03Z")
Interestingly, Trump tweeting this morning that he didn’t want Sondland to testify because Trump didn’t “trust” the committee doesn’t help any future executive privilege arguments the WH may wish to bring forth. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2138 "2019-10-08T15:52:53Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Interestingly, Trump tweeting this morning that he didn’t want Sondland to testify because Trump didn’t “trust” the committee doesn’t help any future executive privilege arguments the WH may wish to bring forth. It would be shocking to learn that one of his brilliant tweets didn’t end up helping him. His unmatched wisdom has yet to let him down. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2139 "2019-10-08T15:55:39Z")
That’s just what you’d expect from an “extremely stable genius”. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2140 "2019-10-08T15:59:38Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why? What can Congress do if they don’t? What _will_ Congress do if they don’t? > Admonish them? > Shake a finger at them? > Throw more paperwork at them? I have no idea what the process is, but I say get this in front of the SCOTUS asap. It’s the only authority that can effectively say, “Look, you bozos, it doesn’t matter what you think of the motives behind these subpeonas – they’re legally binding and you have to comply with them. If you don’t like it, don’t lose the House majority. Elections have consequences.” If they defy the SCOTUS then, yes, the Constitution is basically toilet paper. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=108)