Sunday shows — Spotlight shifts to Sondland ahead of impeachment inquiry testimony

Multiple guests on the Sunday morning political talk shows weighed in on the expected testimony of U.S. Ambassador the European Union Gordon SondlandGordon SondlandTop Zelensky aide refutes Sondland testimony Mulvaney: 'Politics can and should influence foreign policy' Controversy on phone records intensifies amid impeachment MORE, who is expected to appear on Capitol Hill this week as part of the Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President TrumpDonald John TrumpSanders urges impeachment trial 'quickly' in the Senate US sending 20,000 troops to Europe for largest exercises since Cold War Barr criticizes FBI, says it's possible agents acted in 'bad faith' in Trump probe MORE.

Republican guests also defended the president, who last week attacked a witness on Twitter as she testified publicly in the probe.

Read The Hill's complete coverage below.

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House Intel Democrat: Sondland's testimony will show 'solicitation of a bribe' By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Rep. Sean MaloneySean Patrick MaloneyAudience cheers Maloney for getting Sondland to say he assumes Trump 'would benefit' from investigation into Bidens Applause breaks out after Vindman says he's not worried about testifying because 'this is America' Live coverage: House holds third day of public impeachment hearings MORE (D-N.Y.) said Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland’s testimony will show President Trump participated in the “solicitation of a bribe.” Read the full story here

'I don't think it blows a hole in the case' if Sondland testifies there was no quid pro quo, Himes says BY ZACK BUDRYK   Rep. Jim HimesJames (Jim) Andres HimesPelosi faces tough choices on impeachment managers This week: Impeachment inquiry moves to Judiciary Committee Juan Williams: Trump has nothing left but smears MORE (D-Conn.), a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that Democrats’ case against President Trump would not necessarily collapse if Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testifies this week that there was no quid pro quo in the release of military aid to Ukraine. Read the full story here

Murphy: Sondland has to decide if his loyalty is to America or Trump By REBECCA KLAR   Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphyWhy the Democrats' impeachment drive is in trouble — and what Nancy Pelosi needs to do about it The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by AdvaMed - A crucial week on impeachment Senate braces for brawl on Trump impeachment rules MORE (D-Conn.) said Sunday that Gordon Sondland has to decide if his loyalty is to the country or to President Trump as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union prepares to testify publicly on Wednesday as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry. Read the full story here

GOP rep on impeachment: 'I think the evidence is crumbling' By JUSTINE COLEMAN   Rep. Chris StewartChristopher (Chris) Douglas StewartGOP lawmaker offering bill protecting LGBTQ rights with religious exemptions House GOP wants Senate Republicans to do more on impeachment How House Republicans have stayed unified on impeachment MORE (R-Utah), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday that he thinks the evidence for impeaching President Trump “is crumbling” after the first week of public hearings.  Read the full story here

Scalise: Trump wouldn't have sold Ukraine missiles if he only cared about Biden investigations BY ZACK BUDRYK    House Minority Whip Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseLighthizer starts GOP charm offensive on Trump trade deal Pelosi announces support for new Trump NAFTA deal Controversy on phone records intensifies amid impeachment MORE (R-La.) on Sunday pushed back against claims by witnesses in the House’s impeachment inquiry that President Trump's only concern in Ukraine was securing an investigation into former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenThe media have fallen out of love with Bernie, but have voters? Top Zelensky aide refutes Sondland testimony The great AI debate: What candidates are (finally) saying about artificial intelligence MORE’s son, citing as evidence the fact that the White House sold the country Javelin missiles. Read the full story here

Pelosi: 'I find it a waste of my time' to 'just be talking about what Republicans say' BY ZACK BUDRYK   Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSanders urges impeachment trial 'quickly' in the Senate Tech legal shield included in USMCA despite late Pelosi push GOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be 'huge mistake' MORE (D-Calif.) said Sunday she found it a “waste of time” to continually respond to Republicans' remarks on impeachment. Read the full story here

House Intelligence Republican: Trump Yovanovitch tweet 'not witness intimidation' BY REBECCA KLAR   Rep. Mike TurnerMichael Ray TurnerMeadows says Republican colleagues 'wrong' for suggesting Trump's phone call was inappropriate Republicans preview impeachment defense strategy Maloney says Hill endured 'epic mansplaining' from GOP lawmaker MORE (R-Ohio), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that President Trump's tweet about former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie YovanovitchMarie YovanovitchThe State Department: Nonpartisan service on behalf of America Nunes: 'Sickening' that Schiff obtained his phone records Inventing the 'Deep State' and draining the real one MORE while she testified in the impeachment inquiry last week was not witness intimidation.  Read the full story here

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Jordan pushes back on questions about whether he is 'comfortable' with requesting Biden investigation By ZACK BUDRYK   Rep. Jim JordanJames (Jim) Daniel JordanTop Republican requests House hearing with DOJ inspector general Trump, first lady take part in National Christmas Tree lighting The Hill's Morning Report - Dem impeachment report highlights phone records MORE (R-Ohio) on Sunday pushed back on questions about whether it was appropriate for President Trump to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, pointing to the fact that the requested probe “didn’t happen.” Read the full story here

Johnson: I'm writing a letter to 'lay out what I know' about Ukraine aid BY REBECCA KLAR    Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSenate braces for brawl on Trump impeachment rules Trump, GOP shift focus from alleged surveillance abuse to Durham Russia probe Here are the Senate Republicans who could vote to convict Trump MORE (R-Wis.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he will lay out in a letter his telling of events related to the foreign aid to Ukraine that was held up and is now a central part of the impeachment inquiry. Read the full story here

Murphy: Ukrainians always going to 'try and put a good spin on this' By REBECCA KLAR    Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Sunday Ukrainian officials are going to "try and put a good spin" on interactions with President Trump as the country is still reliant on the U.S. for its safety.  Read the full story here

Patrick says he won't stop super PAC funding for his 2020 campaign BY REBECCA KLAR    Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval PatrickDeval PatrickSanders urges impeachment trial 'quickly' in the Senate Booker campaign rakes in million after Harris exits 2020 race Krystal Ball: New Biden ad is everything that's wrong with Democrats MORE (D) said he's willing to accept Super PAC money for his presidential bid as a way to catch up to his primary opponents after his late entry in the race.  Read the full story here