Impeachment Hearing: Sondland Says He Pursued Ukraine Probes at ‘Express Direction’ of Trump

WASHINGTON— Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, said Wednesday at a public hearing that “at the express direction” of President Trump he urged Ukraine to announce investigations that would benefit the president politically.

Mr. Sondland testified there was a “quid pro quo” between a White House meeting for the new Ukrainian president and the investigations Mr. Trump sought, and explained in detail why he believed nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine had been linked to those probes. Democrats said his account backed up the central issue in the impeachment inquiry. Republicans questioned his memory and truthfulness and said he was overstating the evidence for his conclusion.