Page:Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States — Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives.pdf/448

 July 10 White House Meetings: Ambassador Sondland Explicitly Communicated the "Prerequisite of Investigations" to Ukrainians

On July 10, during two separate meetings at the White House, Ambassador Sondland informed senior Ukrainian officials that there was a "prerequisite of investigations" before an Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky would be scheduled.$490$

The first meeting took place in Ambassador Bolton's office. NSC officials, including Ambassador Bolton's staff responsible for Ukraine—Dr. Hill and Lt. Col. Vindman—attended, as did the Three Amigos: Secretary Perry, Ambassador Sondland, and Ambassador Volker. The Ukrainian delegation included Mr. Yermak, a senior aide to President Zelensky, and Oleksandr "Sasha" Danyliuk, the incoming Ukrainian National Security Advisor.$491$ The purpose of the meeting was twofold. The Ukrainians were seeking advice and assistance from Ambassador Bolton about how to "revamp" the Ukrainian National Security Council, and they were also "very anxious to set up a meeting, a first meeting between President Zelensky and our President."$492$

Near the end of the meeting, the Ukrainian officials raised the scheduling of the Oval Office meeting for President Zelensky. According to Dr. Hill, Ambassador Sondland, who is "a fairly big guy, kind of leaned over" and then "blurted out: Well, we have an agreement with the [White House] Chief of Staff for a meeting if these investigations in the energy sector start." Dr. Hill described that others in the room looked up from their notes, thinking the comment was "somewhat odd." Ambassador Bolton "immediately stiffened" and ended the meeting. Dr. Hill recounted that Ambassador Bolton was polite but was "very abrupt. I mean, he looked at the clock as if he had, you know, suddenly another meeting and his time was up, but it was obvious he ended the meeting," she added.$493$

Lt. Col. Vindman similarly testified that the meeting in Ambassador Bolton's office "proceeded well" until Ukrainian officials raised the meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky. The Ukrainians stated that they considered the Oval Office meeting to be "critically important in order to solidify the support for their most important international partner." When Ambassador Sondland mentioned Ukraine "delivering specific investigations in order to secure the meeting with the President," Ambassador Bolton cut the meeting short.$494$

Although Ambassador Volker did not recall any mention of "investigations" during the July 10 meeting at his deposition,$495$ he later testified at his public hearing, "As I remember, the meeting [in Ambassador Bolton's office] was essentially over when Ambassador Sondland made a general comment about investigations. I think all of us thought it was inappropriate" and "not what we should be talking about."$496$

After Ambassador Bolton ended the meeting in his office, Ambassador Sondland "went out into the office in front of Ambassador Bolton" and made "unusual" arrangements for the Ukrainians, Ambassador Volker, Secretary Perry, and others to go to a second meeting in the Ward Room of the White House, located near the secure spaces of the White House Situation Room. As Dr. Hill described it, the purpose of the Ward Room meeting was "to talk to the