Its a bloody clown show!!!
My God, the Trump administration's unofficial foreign policy back channel is a real keystone cops affair..
From David Holmes' opening statement at his deposition this afternoon.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-holmes-statement-impeachment-inquiry-full-opening-statement/
During the lunch, Ambassador Sondland said that he was going to call President Trump to give him an update. Ambassador Sondland placed a call on his mobile phone, and I heard him announce himself several times, along the lines of "Gordon Sondland holding for the President." It appeared that he was being transferred through several layers of switchboards and assistants. I then noticed Ambassador Sondland's demeanor change, and understood that he had been connected to President Trump. While Ambassador Sondland's phone was not on speakerphone, I could hear the President's voice through the earpiece of the phone. The President's voice was very loud and recognizable, and Ambassador Sondland held the phone away from his ear for a period of time, presumably because of the loud volume.
I heard Ambassador Sondland greet the President and explain that he was calling from Kyiv. I heard President Trump then clarify that Ambassador Sondland was in Ukraine. Ambassador Sondland replied, yes, he was in Ukraine, and went on to state that President Zelenskyy "loves your ass." I then heard President Trump ask, "So, he's gonna do the investigation?" Ambassador Sondland replied that "he's gonna do it," adding that President Zelenskyy will do "anything you ask him to." Even though I did not take notes of these statements, I have a clear recollection that these statements were made. I believe that my colleagues who were sitting at the table also knew that Ambassador Sondland was speaking with the President.
1. Sondland calls POTUS from a restaurant (a public place) in a foreign country
2. He used a cellphone, so Vladimir Putin will now have a transcript of everything that was said in that call - the Russians call this "Kompromat".
3. Sondland held the phone away from his ear, so that Trump's loud voice and everything he said could be heard by witnesses (of which there are three; Holmes and two of his embassy staffers.
4. Talking about the contents of a call to the President, with embassy staff.
These idiots are just utterly clueless when it comes to security of communications. FFS, there is a bloody good reason why every embassy has a Signals Office; a secure communications room!!
Vladimir Putin must be pissing himself laughing at this Laurel and Hardy act