Ukrainian affair. Gordon Sondland's credibility compromised
(B2) The impeachment procedure in the USA has already made a victim: Gordon Sondland. The US ambassador in Brussels to the European Union has become a key witness in the impeachment proceedings launched by the Democrats against US President Donald Trump
A white lie
The transcript of his testimony (375 pages!) before Congress on October 17, published on Tuesday (November 5), is patent. The most interesting is in the last pages. In a letter from his lawyer dated Monday (November 4), the former businessman-turned-diplomat revises his past testimony before Congress. Basically, he admits having slightly misrepresented the truth, and tries to correct the situation, so as not to be in the act of lying and break his oath to tell the truth.
A sudden memory
The American diplomat now remembers telling Andriy Yermak, a close adviser to the new Ukrainian president (Volodymyr Zelensky) in charge of negotiations with the USA, that “ the resumption of American aid » military would not happen" probably not until Ukraine provides the public anti-corruption statement that we have been discussing for several weeks ».
“I now speaking recall individually with Mr. Yermak, where I said that resumption of US aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement that we had been discussing for many weeks. »
A diversion of the diplomatic function
In other words, he acknowledges having asked the Ukrainians to find indirect charges against one of Donald Trump's rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Hunter Biden, works at a Ukrainian energy company. All at the direct instigation of Donald Trump's personal adviser, lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who normally has no role in the American diplomatic chain.
Security aid to Ukraine vital for the United States
A position that goes completely against the vital interests of the United States, as Goldon Sondland himself recognizes in his letter. " Security assistance to Ukraine is in our vital national interest. And no valid reason should have justified its postponement. »
Credibility damaged at European level
By interfering in Ukrainian affairs — which do not normally come under the duties of an American ambassador to the European Union (Ukraine is not yet part of the European Union) — and by diverting his diplomatic function to to serve the very personal electoral interests of US President Donald Trump, Gordon Sondland seems 'burned' both to his supervisory authorities, but above all to European institutions. His credibility in Europe largely undermined, it is hard to see how he could fulfill his duties in Brussels.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
Download the letter from Gordon Sondland's lawyer
