Amid impeachment probe, Gordon Sondland is overseeing a renovation of his residence that has cost $1
Source: WaPo
Amid impeachment probe, Gordon Sondland is overseeing a renovation of his residence that has cost $1 million in taxpayer money
By Michael Birnbaum, Shane Harris and John Hudson
Oct. 16, 2019 at 7:10 p.m. EDT
BRUSSELS — Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union and a central figure in the House impeachment inquiry of President Trump, is overseeing a nearly $1 million renovation of his government-provided residence, paid for with taxpayer money, that current and former officials have criticized as extravagant and unnecessary.
The work on the ambassador’s home on the outskirts of Brussels includes more than $400,000 in kitchen renovations, nearly $30,000 for a new sound system and $95,000 for an outdoor “living pod” with a pergola and electric heating, LED lighting strips and a remote-control system, government procurement records show.
The State Department also has allocated more than $100,000 for an “alternate” residence for Sondland for September and October, while work is performed.
Sondland, a hotel developer and major Trump fundraiser who had no diplomacy background before he was confirmed by the Senate in June 2018, was pivotal to the administration’s efforts to pressure the government of Ukraine to investigate Trump’s political rivals, according to text messages and testimony from current and former officials.
He is scheduled to be deposed by impeachment investigators on Thursday and plans to say that a text message he sent Sept. 9 to the senior U.S. diplomat in Kyiv denying any quid pro quo with Ukraine, which was desperate for U.S. military aid and diplomatic support, was relayed to him directly by Trump, according to a person familiar with his testimony.
The renovations at the E.U. ambassador’s residence, which include $33,000 for handmade furniture from Italy, appeared driven by Sondland’s lavish tastes rather than practical needs, people familiar with the matter said. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity citing the situation’s sensitivity and a desire to be candid with their insights.
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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/amid-impeachment-probe-gordon-sondland-is-overseeing-a-renovation-of-his-residence-that-has-cost-1-million-in-taxpayer-money/2019/10/16/d0eece92-ef86-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html

Maxheader
(4,401 posts)and forgo a pay check until the expenses are covered..
not fooled
(6,193 posts)by the time the renovations are finished?
Oh, and this guy's just another unqualified red don stooge playing with taxpayer's money to indulge his grandiose ambitions.
Thomas Hurt
(13,931 posts)DENVERPOPS
(11,581 posts)Didn't nixon's VP Spiro Agnew get thrown out of office for corruption on a million dollar in improvements to his home?
sandensea
(22,850 posts)It is the Trump swamp way.
mpcamb
(3,045 posts)Cancel ALL renovations NOW and the follow the money trail.
sandensea
(22,850 posts)And while he may not be overweight, he's definitely a big, fat crook.
The swamp does that to people.
LiberalFighter
(53,544 posts)flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)bought himself an EU ambassadorship AND got $1M in "renovations" to his home in Brussels. $400K kitchen my ass.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Presumably the US Government owns the house, and will continue to do so after he leaves/quits/is fired/goes to jail.
Just sayin'
dalton99a
(87,716 posts)dalton99a
(87,716 posts)https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/10/ambassador-gordon-sondland-renovations-brussels-residence
Flaleftist
(3,473 posts)
B Stieg
(2,410 posts)It's not like tRump and his minions care if there's anything left...
DeminPennswoods
(16,678 posts)so futher US EU ambassadors will benefit.
Sancho
(9,124 posts)is there is no end to these crooks...
calimary
(85,672 posts)Adding insult to injury.
Marthe48
(20,358 posts)as governor of Ohio, refused to live in the state provided home, and instead had updates to his private residence and stayed there. aside from the updates, it also costs more to pay security, which is provided by The Ohio Highway Patrol.
kasich might try to come across as reasonable, but he is g.o.p. and has all of the me first, me most mentality that rules that political entity.