defense department and david hale from the state department. they ll testify how unusual it was how they handled this military aid, how it was held up, how she wasn t informed about some of those key decisions. and david hale will provide information about the ousted ambassador marie yovanovitch. despite this pressure campaign from giuliani s smear campaign to get her out from the post. in just under an hour, gordon sondland will deliver that key testimony providing information. we ll see about what he says about those conversations with the president and how involved the president was in holding the ukraine aid over that country until it announced those investigations. look, this is going to be a very interesting day because, by all indications, manu, gordon sondland is not going to shoulder the blame for this ukraine campaign. so how does he distribute the responsibility? we ll see soon.
and when he comes, we ll show you that and it s important to see how he looks. how what countenance he brings to this occasion. he is a businessman. he was a big-time donor to the president. he was known as somebody who had a good relationship with him. that got thrown into question when the president seemed to create distance as sondland became more controversial. but right now he is squarely in the spotlight of a foreign policy train wreck. he has to make choices, wolf. how is he going to explain his role. how much of this was about him. how much of this was he directed to do. who knew what and when. let s start with cnn s kaitlan collins outside the white house with more on reaction. it s really tough going into a situation when you re not sure if you can control it. and they re not sure what it is that gordon sondland is going to say. that s what we ve been hearing from multiple white house sources today. and sam bondy is the former florida attorney general who the white house
metamucil s gelling action also helps to lower cholesterol and slows sugar absorption to promote healthy blood sugar levels. so, start feeling lighter and more energetic by taking metamucil every day. welcome back to this very, very special day. we re just moments away from what could be the most consequential testimony in the impeachment inquiry so far. so far mostly straight arrows, respected members of the diplomatic corps, current and former members of the national security apparatus. career foreign service workers who have put country over all else. but now there s a wild card. ambassador gordon sondland, the u.s. ambassador to the european union. and we re anxiously awaiting what he has to say. we re anxiously awaiting his arrival. we re situated here. we see a little bit of the security setup taking shape.
intelligence committee, transformed it into the impeachment committee, abandoned its core oversight functions and turned it into a beachhead for ousting an elected president from office. you have to keep that history in mind as you consider the democrats latest catalog of supposed trump outrages. granted, a friendly call with the ukrainian president wouldn t seem too rise to the same level as being a russian agent, but the democrats were running out of time. if they waited any longer, their impeachment circus would intervene with their own candidates 2020 campaigns. so you have to give them points for creativity in selling this absurdity as an impeachable offense. it explain yes the democrats have gathered zero republican support in the house of representatives for their impeachment crusade. in fact, the vote we held was a
reprisal or attempt to retaliate against any u.s. government official for testifying before congress, including you or any of your colleagues. if you would please rise and raise your right hand. i will begin by swearing you in. do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god? let the record show the witness has answered in the affirmative. thank you and please be seated. the microphone is sensitive so please speak directly into it. without objection, your written statement will be made part of the record and with that, ambassador sondland, you are now recognized for your opening statement. thank you, mr. chairman and thank you ranking member nunes. i appreciate the opportunity to speak again to the members of this committee. first, let me offer my thanks to the men and women of the u.s. department of state who have