on september 1st, at a pre-briefing with vice president pence before he met with president zelensky, ambassador sondland raised the issue of th hold on security assistance. he risaid, i mentioned to vice president pence before the meetings with the ukrainians that i had concerns that the delay in aid had become tied to the issue of investigations. vice president pence simply nodded in response, expressing neither surprise nor dismay at the linkage between the two. and following vice president pence sd meeting with presiden zelensky, ambassador sondland went over to mr. yermak again and pulled him aside to explain about the public announcement on the burisma-biden and 2016 election interfence investigation. mr.in sondland explained to ambassador taylor t that he had