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Dennis Donovan

Dennis Donovan's Journal
Dennis Donovan's Journal
October 17, 2019

none of this is funny. it's dangerous for the world. it's life and death for allies.

https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/1184625347607830533
John Harwood ✔ @JohnJHarwood

none of this is funny

it’s not entertainment

it’s dangerous for the world

it’s harming our country

it’s life and death for allies


8:21 PM - Oct 16, 2019
October 16, 2019

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.

</snip>

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

October 16, 2019

Trump tweets photo of meeting w/ Dems (The Speaker in extreme badass mode!)

I see everyone around Trump with their head down. She looks great!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1184597281808498688
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump

Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!



6:29 PM - Oct 16, 2019


October 16, 2019

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon re: Trump letter: "He is unhinged."

https://twitter.com/RepMGS/status/1184591565383262208
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon ✔ @RepMGS

He is unhinged.

(image of Trump letter)
6:06 PM - Oct 16, 2019

October 16, 2019

Trump: "I captured ISIS. Mattis said it would take 2 yrs. I captured them in 1 month"

https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1184581442698989568
Geoff Bennett ✔@GeoffRBennett

Trump at today’s WH meeting with congressional leaders said Gen. Mattis was “the world’s most overrated general. You know why? He wasn’t tough enough. I captured ISIS. Mattis said it would take 2 yrs. I captured them in 1 month.” 2 sources confirm to @frankthorp and @AlexNBCNews


5:26 PM - Oct 16, 2019
October 16, 2019

WH confirms this letter is real

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1184571691504148482
Jake Tapper ✔@jaketapper

WH confirms this letter is real

Trish Regan ✔ @trish_regan

EXCLUSIVE: I have obtained a copy of ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩’s letter to #Erdogan. ⁦@POTUS⁩ warns him to not “be a tough guy! Don’t be a fool!” Says he could destroy Turkey’s economy if #Syria is not resolved in a humane way. Details tonight at 8pm #TrishRegan #FoxBusiness

View image on Twitter


4:47 PM - Oct 16, 2019


Holy shit! That *has* to be completely written by Trump!
October 16, 2019

Breaking: WH meeting blows up. Pelosi says Trump had a "meltdown"

https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1184564593399648256
Geoff Bennett ✔ @GeoffRBennett

Breaking: WH meeting blows up. Pelosi says Trump had a “meltdown” during their WH meeting. Schumer says Trump called Pelosi a “third-rate politician.” The meeting was supposed to be focused on Syria/Turkey.

4:19 PM - Oct 16, 2019


https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1184566605897961472
Aaron Rupar ✔ @atrupar

.@LeaderHoyer on meeting that just ended with Trump: "You're gonna hear the president say we walked out -- we were offended, deeply, by his treatment of the Speaker... I have served with 6 presidents... never have I seen a president treat so disrespectfully a coequal branch."

Embedded video

4:27 PM - Oct 16, 2019
October 16, 2019

Romney: "The reality is what's happening in Syria is a result of our decision."

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1184553735147667457
NBC News ✔ @NBCNews

Sen. Romney on US troop withdrawal from northern Syria:

"Turkey let us know what they were going to do. This is not a surprise. Everybody told the administration what would happen ... The reality is what's happening in Syria is a result of our decision."


Embedded video

3:36 PM - Oct 16, 2019

Profile Information

Name: Al
Gender: Male
Hometown: Upstate NY
Home country: USA
Current location: Still Upstate NY
Member since: Wed Oct 15, 2008, 05:29 PM
Number of posts: 25,059

About Dennis Donovan

Dem for 52 years.
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