Via Yahoo News:
The State Department waited until 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday to tell U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland not to show up for his scheduled deposition with three House committees later that morning, the ambassador’s lawyer told Yahoo News. Robert Luskin, Sondland’s attorney, said he got the extraordinary middle-of-the-night directive in a phone call from a State Department official he declined to identify. The official offered no explanation of the grounds on which the State Department was blocking Sondland’s appearance at the last minute.
Michael Isikoff reported that Luskin confirmed that Sondland has already turned over to the State Department WhatsApp messages, text messages and other documents in his possession relevant to the House investigation.
Also, which State Department official made the call to Sondland at 12:30 a.m.? Curious people wants to know.
Middle of the night call to Sondland's lawyer blocking his testimony came after the U.S. ambassador turned over WhatsAP messages and other Ukraine-related docs to State Department. https://t.co/fsTL3sWOTQ
— Michael Isikoff (@Isikoff) October 8, 2019
NEW: Early this morning, Trump admin advised Gordon Sondland, top diplomat enmeshed in Ukraine scandal, NOT to testify at his scheduled House deposition today. Move will likely fuel Dems calls to also impeach on obstruction. w/@npfandos https://t.co/KuMn6EQYKN
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) October 8, 2019
Lawyer for Gordon Sondland, EU ambassador involved in Ukraine affair, says he was blocked from testifying early this morning by the State Department. He is “profoundly disappointed” after traveling from Brussels, lawyer says, and still wants to testify. pic.twitter.com/LOaOlwm7Jb
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) October 8, 2019
Here's What Could Happen Next After White House Blocked Ambassador Sondland's Testimony on Trump-Ukraine Matter https://t.co/QT7PmzYjsI
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) October 8, 2019