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| Trump's EU envoy Gordon Sondland accused of sexual misconduct – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sondland, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry, is alleged to have retaliated against three women after they rejected his advances | Sondland, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry, is alleged to have retaliated against three women after they rejected his advances |
| Here’s what’s happened today: | Here’s what’s happened today: |
| Trump signed legislation backing Hong Kong protestors despite opposition from the Chinese government. | Trump signed legislation backing Hong Kong protestors despite opposition from the Chinese government. |
| The US Navy has dropped the reviews of three other officers after Trump intervened in the disciplining of Navy Seal Edward Gallagher. | The US Navy has dropped the reviews of three other officers after Trump intervened in the disciplining of Navy Seal Edward Gallagher. |
| Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU and a key witness in the impeachment inquiry has been accused of sexual misconduct. Three women have said he retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. | Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU and a key witness in the impeachment inquiry has been accused of sexual misconduct. Three women have said he retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. |
| Trump was briefed about the whistleblower complaint about his dealings with Ukraine before the White House released military aid to Kyiv. | Trump was briefed about the whistleblower complaint about his dealings with Ukraine before the White House released military aid to Kyiv. |
| Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani reportedly pursued business from Ukrainian, even as he pushed officials there to investigate Trump’s political rivals. | Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani reportedly pursued business from Ukrainian, even as he pushed officials there to investigate Trump’s political rivals. |
| Don McGhan won’t have to testify to the House — for now. A judge issued a temporary stay as she considers whether to grant the justice department a longer stay as it challenges her ruling that he must comply with the House’s subpoena. | Don McGhan won’t have to testify to the House — for now. A judge issued a temporary stay as she considers whether to grant the justice department a longer stay as it challenges her ruling that he must comply with the House’s subpoena. |
| Report finds that the government separated families knowing that it didn’t have the technology to track them | Report finds that the government separated families knowing that it didn’t have the technology to track them |
| The government separated thousands of families as part of a Trump administration policy, even though it lacked the technology to document and track their whereabouts, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security watchdog. | The government separated thousands of families as part of a Trump administration policy, even though it lacked the technology to document and track their whereabouts, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security watchdog. |
| Border officers took children from parents being criminally prosecuted for entering the country as part of a policy to deter illegal immigration. A U.S. judge eventually ended the practice and ordered officials to reunite families. The report by the DHS Inspector General’s office says that officials knew that they wouldn’t be able to track the whereabouts of parents and children, and continued with the practice regardless. | Border officers took children from parents being criminally prosecuted for entering the country as part of a policy to deter illegal immigration. A U.S. judge eventually ended the practice and ordered officials to reunite families. The report by the DHS Inspector General’s office says that officials knew that they wouldn’t be able to track the whereabouts of parents and children, and continued with the practice regardless. |
| Reunification has been chaotic and coordinated via email instead of through a shared system that various government agencies could all access, the report found. | Reunification has been chaotic and coordinated via email instead of through a shared system that various government agencies could all access, the report found. |
| The president signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was almost unanimously approved by both legislative houses, despite objections from the Chinese government. | The president signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was almost unanimously approved by both legislative houses, despite objections from the Chinese government. |
| The law requires the State Department to certify that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy, and threatens sanctions for human rights violations. | The law requires the State Department to certify that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy, and threatens sanctions for human rights violations. |
| Trump also signed another law that prohibits the export of teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and stun guns to Hong Kong. | Trump also signed another law that prohibits the export of teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and stun guns to Hong Kong. |
| “I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump said in a statement. “They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.” | “I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump said in a statement. “They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.” |
| The US Navy has thrown out plans to review three officers under scrutiny following Donald Trump’s decision to intervene in a related case. | The US Navy has thrown out plans to review three officers under scrutiny following Donald Trump’s decision to intervene in a related case. |
| Trump issued a direct order to halt disciplinary measures against a Navy Seal accused of war crimes in Iraq. On Sunday, defense secretary Mark Esper fired the navy secretary Richard Spencer after Spencer resisted pressure to intervene in the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher. | Trump issued a direct order to halt disciplinary measures against a Navy Seal accused of war crimes in Iraq. On Sunday, defense secretary Mark Esper fired the navy secretary Richard Spencer after Spencer resisted pressure to intervene in the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher. |
| Now the reviews of three other Navy Seals — Lieutenant Jacob Portier, Lieutenant Commander Robert Breisch and Lieutenant Thomas MacNeil — who were being scrutinized as Gallagher’s supervisors, have been dropped. | Now the reviews of three other Navy Seals — Lieutenant Jacob Portier, Lieutenant Commander Robert Breisch and Lieutenant Thomas MacNeil — who were being scrutinized as Gallagher’s supervisors, have been dropped. |
| Gallagher was found to have posed for a “trophy” photo with the corpse but acquitted of more than a dozen other charges, including ones related to the staping of an Isis militant. | Gallagher was found to have posed for a “trophy” photo with the corpse but acquitted of more than a dozen other charges, including ones related to the staping of an Isis militant. |
| Ousted Navy secretary Spencer has now published a scathing op-ed in the Washington Post, writing that Trump’s involving himself in the Gallagher case “ was a shocking and unprecedented intervention in a low-level review”. | Ousted Navy secretary Spencer has now published a scathing op-ed in the Washington Post, writing that Trump’s involving himself in the Gallagher case “ was a shocking and unprecedented intervention in a low-level review”. |
| “It was also a reminder that the president has very little understanding of what it means to be in the military, to fight ethically or to be governed by a uniform set of rules and practices,” he wrote. | “It was also a reminder that the president has very little understanding of what it means to be in the military, to fight ethically or to be governed by a uniform set of rules and practices,” he wrote. |
| Immigration officers have arrested an additional 90 students at fake university created by Homeland Security | Immigration officers have arrested an additional 90 students at fake university created by Homeland Security |
| As part of a sting operation, federal agents enticed foreign-born students, mostly from India, to a Detroit school that marketed graduate programs in technology and computer science. The students paid about $12,000 in tuition and fees per year to attend the university, which was created in 2015. | As part of a sting operation, federal agents enticed foreign-born students, mostly from India, to a Detroit school that marketed graduate programs in technology and computer science. The students paid about $12,000 in tuition and fees per year to attend the university, which was created in 2015. |
| Agents have since arrested about 250 students, many of whom have been deported. | Agents have since arrested about 250 students, many of whom have been deported. |
| The Detroit Free Press reports: | The Detroit Free Press reports: |
| Here’s who’ll be moderating the next Democratic primary debate | Here’s who’ll be moderating the next Democratic primary debate |
| The next Democratic presidential primary debate, which will take place at Loyola Marymount University on December 19, will be co-moderated by PBS Newshour’s Judy Woodruff, Amna Nawaz, and Yamiche Alcindor and Politico’s Tim Alberta. | The next Democratic presidential primary debate, which will take place at Loyola Marymount University on December 19, will be co-moderated by PBS Newshour’s Judy Woodruff, Amna Nawaz, and Yamiche Alcindor and Politico’s Tim Alberta. |
| Earlier this month, NBC reported that some at the DNC were fretting over having Alberta moderate the debate due to this previous work for the National Review, a conservative magazine, and the fact that he’s spent much of his recent career writing about the Republican party. | Earlier this month, NBC reported that some at the DNC were fretting over having Alberta moderate the debate due to this previous work for the National Review, a conservative magazine, and the fact that he’s spent much of his recent career writing about the Republican party. |
| So far, six candidates appear to have qualified for the debate: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Candidates have until December 12 to meet the criteria to qualify. | So far, six candidates appear to have qualified for the debate: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Candidates have until December 12 to meet the criteria to qualify. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has become a key witness in the impeachment inquiry, has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women. The accusers said the wealthy hotel owner professionally retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. | Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has become a key witness in the impeachment inquiry, has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women. The accusers said the wealthy hotel owner professionally retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. |
| The highly anticipated report from the justice department inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation is expected to debunk Trump’s repeated claim that the FBI attempted to spy on his 2016 campaign. | The highly anticipated report from the justice department inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation is expected to debunk Trump’s repeated claim that the FBI attempted to spy on his 2016 campaign. |
| Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was reportedly pursuing business opportunities with Ukrainian officials as he pressured the country to investigate Joe Biden and the 2016 campaign, raising questions about whether he was simultaneously trying to advance the interests of both Trump and leaders in Kyiv. | Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was reportedly pursuing business opportunities with Ukrainian officials as he pressured the country to investigate Joe Biden and the 2016 campaign, raising questions about whether he was simultaneously trying to advance the interests of both Trump and leaders in Kyiv. |
| Giuliani called Trump this week to reassure him that he was joking when he told multiple media outlets he had “insurance” in case the president turned against him. | Giuliani called Trump this week to reassure him that he was joking when he told multiple media outlets he had “insurance” in case the president turned against him. |
| A federal judge has granted a temporary stay in the case of Don McGahn and will now consider whether to approve the justice department’s request for a longer stay as it appeals her ruling that the former White House counsel must testify to Congress about his time working in the Trump administration. | A federal judge has granted a temporary stay in the case of Don McGahn and will now consider whether to approve the justice department’s request for a longer stay as it appeals her ruling that the former White House counsel must testify to Congress about his time working in the Trump administration. |
| The blog will be off for Thanksgiving tomorrow and Friday, so I will be back on Monday. And Maanvi will have much more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. | The blog will be off for Thanksgiving tomorrow and Friday, so I will be back on Monday. And Maanvi will have much more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. |
| A third woman, Natalie Sept, said Gordon Sondland offered to help her with her career in 2010 but he cut off communication after she rejected a forcible kiss from the hotel owner. | A third woman, Natalie Sept, said Gordon Sondland offered to help her with her career in 2010 but he cut off communication after she rejected a forcible kiss from the hotel owner. |
| Sept told ProPublica that Sondland dangled a job with the Oregon governor’s film board and arranged a dinner to discuss the opportunity. After the dinner, during which the job only came up briefly, Sondland invited her to have a drink at a nearby bar. | Sept told ProPublica that Sondland dangled a job with the Oregon governor’s film board and arranged a dinner to discuss the opportunity. After the dinner, during which the job only came up briefly, Sondland invited her to have a drink at a nearby bar. |
| “When I come back [from the bathroom], he is sitting on the booth side of this big table,” she recalls. “He says, ‘Come sit next to me.’ And I thought, ‘Oh my god, this isn’t good.’ So I said, ‘Oh, I forgot, I have to go home.’” | “When I come back [from the bathroom], he is sitting on the booth side of this big table,” she recalls. “He says, ‘Come sit next to me.’ And I thought, ‘Oh my god, this isn’t good.’ So I said, ‘Oh, I forgot, I have to go home.’” |
| Sondland insisted on walking Sept back to her car and then leaned in for a hug. “So I give him a quick hug and he holds onto my shoulders and looks at me and pushes himself into me and tries to kiss me,” Sept said. She managed to speed off in her car, but the job opportunity did not come up again. | Sondland insisted on walking Sept back to her car and then leaned in for a hug. “So I give him a quick hug and he holds onto my shoulders and looks at me and pushes himself into me and tries to kiss me,” Sept said. She managed to speed off in her car, but the job opportunity did not come up again. |
| Jana Solis claimed Gordon Sondland exposed himself to her and forcibly kissed her when she was inspecting some of his properties and possessions in 2008. | Jana Solis claimed Gordon Sondland exposed himself to her and forcibly kissed her when she was inspecting some of his properties and possessions in 2008. |
| Sondland had asked Solis to evaluate his personal art collection, even though she didn’t have expertise in art valuations. At one point, Sondland asked her to meet him in the pool house. | Sondland had asked Solis to evaluate his personal art collection, even though she didn’t have expertise in art valuations. At one point, Sondland asked her to meet him in the pool house. |
| “I get out to the pool house, and he is now naked from the waist down,” Solis told ProPublica. “He said something about, ‘I thought we could chat.’ And I said something, trying to keep his ego intact — not that he needed that, not that it wouldn’t have been anyway — I said something like, ‘I can’t have that conversation.’” | “I get out to the pool house, and he is now naked from the waist down,” Solis told ProPublica. “He said something about, ‘I thought we could chat.’ And I said something, trying to keep his ego intact — not that he needed that, not that it wouldn’t have been anyway — I said something like, ‘I can’t have that conversation.’” |
| The situation did not escalate beyond that, but Solis encountered Sondland a few months later as she was inspecting some of his other properties and holding training sessions with hotel staff. On the last day of the trainings, Sondland invited her to the penthouse, which served as his private living quarters. Solis remembers Sondland asking her to have a drink on the couch with him, which she agreed to. | The situation did not escalate beyond that, but Solis encountered Sondland a few months later as she was inspecting some of his other properties and holding training sessions with hotel staff. On the last day of the trainings, Sondland invited her to the penthouse, which served as his private living quarters. Solis remembers Sondland asking her to have a drink on the couch with him, which she agreed to. |
| “The next thing I know, he’s all over me,” Solis said. “He’s on top of me. He’s kissing me, shoving his tongue down my throat. And I’m trying to wiggle out from under him, and the next thing you know, I’m sort of rising up to get away from him, and I fall over the back of the couch.” | “The next thing I know, he’s all over me,” Solis said. “He’s on top of me. He’s kissing me, shoving his tongue down my throat. And I’m trying to wiggle out from under him, and the next thing you know, I’m sort of rising up to get away from him, and I fall over the back of the couch.” |
| Solis said Sondland later called her at work to yell about her job performance, which she blamed on her rejection of his advances. (Sondland denied the allegations detailed in the ProPublica report, inclduing Solis’.) | Solis said Sondland later called her at work to yell about her job performance, which she blamed on her rejection of his advances. (Sondland denied the allegations detailed in the ProPublica report, inclduing Solis’.) |
| The three women accusing Gordon Sondland of sexual misconduct all shared their names and allegations on the record with ProPublica. | The three women accusing Gordon Sondland of sexual misconduct all shared their names and allegations on the record with ProPublica. |
| One of Sondland’s accusers is Nicole Vogel, the owner of Portland Monthly, which co-published the report about the allegations against the ambassador. (An editor’s note specifies that Vogel was not involved in editorial decisions about the piece.) | One of Sondland’s accusers is Nicole Vogel, the owner of Portland Monthly, which co-published the report about the allegations against the ambassador. (An editor’s note specifies that Vogel was not involved in editorial decisions about the piece.) |
| Vogel said Sondland tried to forcibly kiss her when she was raising money to start the magazine in 2003. Sondland, who owns five hotels in Portland with his company Provenance Hotel Group, had already said he would invest in the magazine when he invited Vogel to see one of the rooms at his nearby property. | Vogel said Sondland tried to forcibly kiss her when she was raising money to start the magazine in 2003. Sondland, who owns five hotels in Portland with his company Provenance Hotel Group, had already said he would invest in the magazine when he invited Vogel to see one of the rooms at his nearby property. |
| Accordig to Vogel, she lavished praise on the rather mundane room and was turning to leave when Sondland asked for a hug. “And as I pulled back, he grabs my face and goes to kiss me,” Vogel said. “I said, ‘Ooh Gordon, you’re a married man, and you’d just break my heart.’” | Accordig to Vogel, she lavished praise on the rather mundane room and was turning to leave when Sondland asked for a hug. “And as I pulled back, he grabs my face and goes to kiss me,” Vogel said. “I said, ‘Ooh Gordon, you’re a married man, and you’d just break my heart.’” |
| Vogel then hurried to leave the hotel. A few weeks later, after another uncomfortable encounter in which Sondland put his hand on her thigh, he told Vogel he would not be investing in the magazine after all. | Vogel then hurried to leave the hotel. A few weeks later, after another uncomfortable encounter in which Sondland put his hand on her thigh, he told Vogel he would not be investing in the magazine after all. |
| Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has become a key witness in the impeachment inquiry, has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women who say he retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. | Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has become a key witness in the impeachment inquiry, has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women who say he retaliated against them after they rejected his advances. |
| ProPublica reports: | ProPublica reports: |
| Sondland, who testified last week that he considered Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and the 2016 election as Trump held up the country’s military aid to be a definite case of quid pro quo, denied the allegations in a statement. | Sondland, who testified last week that he considered Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and the 2016 election as Trump held up the country’s military aid to be a definite case of quid pro quo, denied the allegations in a statement. |
| “These untrue claims of unwanted touching and kissing are concocted and, I believe, coordinated for political purposes,” Sondland said. “They have no basis in fact, and I categorically deny them.” | “These untrue claims of unwanted touching and kissing are concocted and, I believe, coordinated for political purposes,” Sondland said. “They have no basis in fact, and I categorically deny them.” |
| Sondland’s lawyer even suggested the women may be retaliating against the ambassador after failed business opportunties. “Notably, what each of these three women share in common is that they pursued Ambassador Sondland for financial and personal gain — an investment, a job, and insurance brokerage work — and he declined their proposals,” said lawyer Jim McDermott. | Sondland’s lawyer even suggested the women may be retaliating against the ambassador after failed business opportunties. “Notably, what each of these three women share in common is that they pursued Ambassador Sondland for financial and personal gain — an investment, a job, and insurance brokerage work — and he declined their proposals,” said lawyer Jim McDermott. |
| McDermott added that the timing of the article’s publication could be viewed as “veiled witness tampering,” but the authors of the piece noted they began reporting on the story last month. | McDermott added that the timing of the article’s publication could be viewed as “veiled witness tampering,” but the authors of the piece noted they began reporting on the story last month. |
| However, the report from justice department inspector general Michael Horowitz is not expected to completely let FBI leaders off the hook for their handling of the Russia investigation. | However, the report from justice department inspector general Michael Horowitz is not expected to completely let FBI leaders off the hook for their handling of the Russia investigation. |
| The New York Times reports: | The New York Times reports: |
| The highly anticipated report from the justice department’s inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation is expected to debunk Trump’s repeated claim that the FBI attempted to spy on his 2016 campaign. | The highly anticipated report from the justice department’s inspector general on the origins of the Russia investigation is expected to debunk Trump’s repeated claim that the FBI attempted to spy on his 2016 campaign. |
| The New York Times reports: | The New York Times reports: |
| Previous reports have also indicated that Horowitz did not find any evidence of FBI senior leadership acting out of anti-Trump bias in their handling of the investigation, although the inspector general harshly criticized some decisions made early on by lower-level officials. | Previous reports have also indicated that Horowitz did not find any evidence of FBI senior leadership acting out of anti-Trump bias in their handling of the investigation, although the inspector general harshly criticized some decisions made early on by lower-level officials. |
| Put all together, it’s looking like Horowitz’s report may not turn out to be the bombshell Trump was hoping for. However, if history is any indication, the president will likely cherry-pick the worst anecdotes from the report and simply repeat the claims debunked by Horowitz’s other findings. | Put all together, it’s looking like Horowitz’s report may not turn out to be the bombshell Trump was hoping for. However, if history is any indication, the president will likely cherry-pick the worst anecdotes from the report and simply repeat the claims debunked by Horowitz’s other findings. |
| Charles Kupperman, who served as John Bolton’s deputy at the national security council, has filed a motion to add the House sergeant-at-arms to his lawsuit seeking a judge’s ruling on whether to comply with his congressional subpoena in the impeachment inquiry. | Charles Kupperman, who served as John Bolton’s deputy at the national security council, has filed a motion to add the House sergeant-at-arms to his lawsuit seeking a judge’s ruling on whether to comply with his congressional subpoena in the impeachment inquiry. |
| Kupperman argues in his lawsuit that he is in “imminent and substantial risk” of being held in inherent contempt by the House and that, because the sergeant-at-arms would enforce such an order, he should be added to the lawsuit. | Kupperman argues in his lawsuit that he is in “imminent and substantial risk” of being held in inherent contempt by the House and that, because the sergeant-at-arms would enforce such an order, he should be added to the lawsuit. |
| However, there have been no signs as of yet that House Democrats are preparing to hold anyone in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas in the impeachment inquiry. | However, there have been no signs as of yet that House Democrats are preparing to hold anyone in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas in the impeachment inquiry. |
| Kupperman also noted in a separate brief that he did not believe the ruling in Don McGahn’s case applied to him because the former White House counsel had been suibpoenaed by the House, while Kupperman’s subpoena was withdrawn. | Kupperman also noted in a separate brief that he did not believe the ruling in Don McGahn’s case applied to him because the former White House counsel had been suibpoenaed by the House, while Kupperman’s subpoena was withdrawn. |