Here’s a link to a Tweet with Sondland’s lawyer’s statement.
“Ambassador Sondland is profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify today.”
Indeed.
They are trying to stop the process in its tracks. They don’t want anybody 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."
The actual reason, of course is obvious.
Because fuck you, that’s why. That’s the only reason he has for anything anymore.
His testimony would damage Trump politically, as he knows about illegal things that Trump did.
That is all.
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.
The same reason Obama blocked Hillary from testifying about Benghazi. Oh, wait…
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.
I gave you the **ostensible reason. **Hurt feelings, that’s the ticket.
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?”
They aren’t bothering with excuses. No need to. The real reasons are, as you note, obvious to anyone.
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.
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.
“Executive privilege” is remarkably flexible.
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?
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.
That’s just what you’d expect from an “extremely stable genius”.
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.