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Improbable US Ambassador in Spotlight of House Impeachment Hearings

Masood Farivar

   WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump picked Gordon Sondland as his
   ambassador to the European Union in March 2018, the nomination was seen
   as improbable. The self-made millionaire hotel magnate and longtime
   Republican donor had disavowed Trump's candidacy during the 2016
   campaign because of his anti-immigrant rhetoric.

   But after Trump won the election, Sondland gave $1 million to the
   president-elect's inaugural committee, according to the Center for
   Responsive Politics. That paved the way for his coveted ambassadorship
   in Brussels, where he oversaw U.S. relations with the 28-member bloc
   and attended meetings on Ukraine.

   Because Ukraine is not a member of the EU, Sondland's deep involvement
   in U.S. policy toward Ukraine has raised eyebrows. Sondland, however,
   has defended his role, saying he viewed his work on Ukraine as "central
   to advancing U.S.-EU foreign policy."

   Now, Sondland finds himself in a pressure-packed and pivotal role as
   the star witness of this week's congressional impeachment hearings
   beginning Wednesday morning. His testimony could solidify or undermine
   House Democrats' case against Trump.

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