This is adam schiff reacting to the news that corey soundly and sondland is barred from testifying in the house impeachment inquiry. Good morning. We were informed about an hour and a half ago by the attorney for investors on lind that the state department would refuse to allow him to testify today. This was after a conversation after conversations well into yesterday afternoon and evening whichhe legal advisor, there was no indication the abbasid or would be a noshow ambassador would be a noshow. Not only is people are people being deprived of his testimony, but we are also aware the ambassador has Text Messages or emails on a personal device, which have been provided to the state department, although we have requested those from the ambassador. The state department is withholding those messages as well. Those messages are also deeply relevant to this investigation, and the impeachment inquiry. I want to just explain, for the public, the significance of this witness and significance of the decision by the secretary of state and president or president or both to withhold the key witness testimony today. We know from the Text Messages that ambassador sondland was in discussion with ukrainian counterparts, with fellow diplomatic personnel, and the president , as well as at least one u. S. Senator, about the course of events we are investigating. We know from those Text Messages diplomatic personnel raised the concern with him that military assistance was being withheld to secure help from ukraine in the president s reelection campaign. Hadnow in best or sondland one discussion with a fellow diplomat on that very subject on why military subjects were being withheld. Investor ambassador sondland was key in obtaining a commitment from ukraine to investigate a bogus Conspiracy Theory about the 2016 election as well as joe biden and his son. And, we know the ambassador is relevant has relevant evidence on whether the meeting with the president that the ukrainians desperately sought with president with President Trump on these investigations that the president believed would help his reelection campaign. Its hard to overstate the significance of not just ambassador sondlands testimony on the documents, but testimony of others as well. The failure to produce this witness, the failure to produce yete documents, we consider additional strong evidence of obstruction of the constitutional functions of congress, a coequal branch of government. There are four issues we are looking at, at least for issues we are looking at, all to the heart of our National Security. By preventing us from hearing from this witness and obtaining the documents, the president and secretary of state are taking actions that prevent us from getting the facts needed to protect the nations security. We are looking into whether the president solicited foreign help in a u. S. President ial election ofin, looking into the issue whether a meeting that ukraine desperately sought with the president and the white house was being conditioned on the willingness to investigate this bogus Conspiracy Theory about 2016 and investigate the bidens. We are looking at whether ukraine was given reason to assistancet military it desperately needed to fight off the russians was being withheld until it made commitments to do these political investigations for the president. And, we are looking into the question of whether there has been an effort by the president , secretary of state, and others to cover up this misconduct. Anassador sondland is important witness on each of the subjects, but he is not the only important witness. And, we will consider this act today, and we have had members fly into here the investors testimony and the withholding of the ambassadors documents, as well as efforts that may be made to discourage or be effective and discouraging other state Department Witnesses from coming forward and testifying as they have agreed to, to be further acts of obstruction of justice on a coequal branch of government. This is one of the few impeachment inquiries in the history of our country. It goes to the core whether the president abused his office to seek political help in his reelection campaign, and did so to the detriment of our nations security. Did so by effectively coercing a country that has been invaded by rival to investigate a and condition the relationship between this country and that country on whether they were willing to play ball. The gravity of the issues we are investigating, that this impeachment inquiry is looking into. It is hard to imagine a set of facts more damaging to our National Security and standing in the world, but also more of a fundamental breach of the president s oath of office. The American People have the right to know if the president is acting in their interest, in the nations interest, with an eye toward our National Security, and not in his narrow, personal, political interest. The American People have a need to know, and through this inquiry, we are determined to find the answers, thank you. Announcer both democrats and republicans at the capital responded a short time ago. You can find their remarks in their entirety at cspan. Org and t on iran cspan later in the schedule. They were responding to what happened this morning as the state Department Directed the u. S. Abbasid or to the eu, gordon sondland, not to a beer not to appear minutes before his testimony. He had previously agreed to appear voluntarily without the need for a subpoena. Also like today on cspan, the willommissioner of brief reporters at 11 00 a. M. Eastern time. While the conversation on then, the conversation on religious liberty. Then later, we hear from a man wild from his job as a Child Welfare coordinator, and a case. Iff in an lgbtq we will hear his remarks at the National Press club today on cspan. Announcer sunday night, on q nguyen talks about the vagabonds. They wanted to go out and have fun. They wanted to say you could take a car and do these things, too, but they wouldnt like their own campfires, eat cold beans out of cans, werent just going to put a blanket on the ground. They had all of these different amenities, a refrigerated car, powered by edison batteries, so they could have fresh dairy. They had chefs that would prepare gourmet meals. In the morning, they would dress in freshly ironed clothes, but they were so famous and america was so grateful to them that it didnt matter. Are out inas we cars, traveling and seeing these things. You can do it, too. Announcer sunday night at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspans q and a. Announcer next, former cia director and retired general David Petraeus talks about military strategy in the middle east, china, and russia, and President Trumps decision to withdraw forces from syria. This was hosted by the John Hopkins School of advanced studies. Clamoring] good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My the dean here and it is pleasure to welcome you to the 2019 lecture on International Affairs with general David Petraeus. For introduce the general, i wanted to share a little more about the lecture series in size. The series is named after who was established in 1990 by his wife dorothy is a tribute to his life and the interest in International Affairs. In alumni was an alumni and dedicated supporter of the universitys efforts to improve our understanding of the world. We are particularly glad today we have with us charles and his be and his wife heather to with us for this event. I want to express my gratitude to you and your family for making it possible. Is one of those people that literally does not need a whole lot of introduction. He will still get one, but it wont be very long. And has beenly, since 2013, affiliated with kkr. He is the chairman of the kkr global institute, which supports kkrsnv