Q. And you mentioned that the President was skeptical, had a deeprooted view of the Ukraine. Is that correct?
A. That is correct.
Q. And that, whether fair or unfair, he believed there were officials in Ukraine that were out to get him in the run-up to his election?
A. That is correct.
Q. So, to the extent there are allegations lodged, credible or uncredible, if the president was made aware of those allegations, whether it was via The Hill or, you know, via Mr. Giuliani or via cable news, if the President was made aware of these allegations, isn't it fair to say that he may, in fact, have believed they were credible?
A. Yes, I believe so.[1]
Ambassador Sondland similarly testified:
Q. Did [President Trump] mention anything about Ukraine's involvement in the 2016 election?
A. I think he said: They tried to take me down. He kept saying that over and over.
Q. In connection with the 2016 election?
A. Probably, yeah.
Q. That was what your understanding was?
A. That was my understanding, yeah.[2]
4. U.S. foreign policy officials were split on President Zelensky, a political novice with untested views on anti-corruption and a close relationship with a controversial oligarch.
Evidence obtained during the Democrats' impeachment inquiry shows that the U.S. foreign policy apparatus was divided on the question of whether President Trump should meet with President Zelensky. President Zelensky was a first-time candidate and a newcomer to the Ukrainian political scene. Although President Zelensky ran on an anti-corruption and reform platform, the Democrats' witnesses explained that the State Department was unsure how he
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