News
Sondland and Volker Totally Destroy the ‘Trump Just Interested in Fixing Corruption’ Lie in Just-Released Depositions

The House Intelligence Committee has just released more transcripts from depositions made by Trump administration officials, this time U.S. Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon Sondland and Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker. Volker resigned so he could deliver his deposition without White House interference.
In Volker’s deposition, he totally debunks the administration’s and the president’s claim that their goal was merely to root out corruption, as President Trump has claimed repeatedly, including on Twitter:
This isn’t about a Campaign, this is about Corruption on a massive scale! https://t.co/DOCvfM8eqi
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 4, 2019
But as The Daily Beast’s Sam Stein reports, Volker put that lie to rest in his deposition, saying bluntly “I believe that Giuliani was interested in Biden,” then answering yes when asked if he understood the whole corruption theory had been debunked:
Volker basically debunked the entire Trump-was-just-interested-in-corruption talking point being pushed right now pic.twitter.com/yUmbG55aHO
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 5, 2019
Meanwhile, as The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Ballhaus notes, Ambassador Sondland’s memory had been “refreshed” and he had admitted “resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement.”
BIG: Sondland made a Nov. 4 addendum to his testimony saying his memory had been “refreshed” and that he now remembers telling a Zelensky aide that “resumption of U.S. aid would likely not occur until Ukraine provided the public anti-corruption statement.”https://t.co/hmjfEXWLJF pic.twitter.com/bMYru7USQX
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) November 5, 2019
More from CNN’s Shimon Prokupecz:
Volker testified that he personally told Giuliani that the source of many of those theories was “not credible.”
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) November 5, 2019
This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |