OnPolitics impeachment inquiry update: Quid pro quo

We've almost made it through the week, OnPolitics readers. We'll keep our impeachment inquiry updates quick today:

Remember the 'quid pro quo' debate?

President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff acknowledged Thursday that financial aid to Ukraine at the center of a House impeachment inquiry was withheld because concerns about corruption in the country. Mick Mulvaney's assertion was the first time a White House official has conceded Trump set up a quid pro quo scenario in which money approved by Congress for Ukraine was used as leverage.

Mulvaney said there is nothing wrong with threatening to withhold foreign aid to pressure a country to change a policy – in this case, he said, to fight corruption. He noted that the White House also threatened to withhold money to Central America over immigration policies.
The remarks appear to undercut Trump's repeated assertion that he did not withhold the money in exchange for Ukraine's help in looking into political foes.

Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, told the House impeachment panel investigating Trump that he was disappointed that he had to consult with the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Ukraine policy.

“Sondland’s opening statement throws Giuliani and the president under the bus, basically saying he was directed by the president to talk to Giuliani to get anything done in Ukraine," said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., a member of the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committee.
"I do not recall that Mr. Giuliani discussed former Vice President Biden or his son Hunter Biden with me," Sondland said, adding "nor do I recall taking part in any effort to encourage an investigation of the Bidens."

Two defendants in the campaign finance conspiracy case that has ensnared associates of Giuliani, are scheduled for arraignment today.
The political world is mourning the loss of Rep. Elijah Cummings. Here's how the Democratic leader's unexpected death could affect the impeachment inquiry.

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