WATCH: Trump didn’t personally mention preconditions for Ukraine, Sondland testifies

Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, testified before a House Intelligence Committee that President Donald Trump did not tell him about any preconditions to release U.S. aid to Ukraine or for a White House meeting between Trump and the president of Ukraine. “I don’t recall anything like that,” Sondland said in response to questions from the Republican counsel Stephen Castor. But Sondland added that Trump did tell him to talk to his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who demanded that Ukraine make a public statement about investigating the 2016 election and Burisma. Sondland had earlier testified that there was a “quid pro quo” in which U.S. aid and a White House meeting were contingent on Ukraine agreeing to investigate. Sondland also said he understood the “prerequisites” to be a reflection of “Trump’s desires and requirements.”

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