This is probably the single most damning thing that's happened in this whole deal yet. It really puts context round the whole situation from someone very familiar with Ukraine, it's struggles with corruption, and it's war with Russia. Just a few highlights you should really read the whole thing.
Full Testimony Link
Full Testimony Link
...on September 7, I had a conversation with Mr. Morrison in which he described a phone conversation earlier that day between Ambassador Sondland and President Trump. Mr. Morrison said that he had a "sinking feeling" after learning about this conversation from Ambassador Sondland. According to Mr. Morrison, President Trump told Ambassador Sondland that he was not asking for a "quid pro quo." But President Trump did insist that President Zelensky go to a microphone and say that he is opening investigations of Biden and 2016 election interference...
The following day, on September 8, Ambassador sondland and I spoke on the phone. He said he had talked to President Trump as I had suggested a week earlier, but that President Trump was adamant that President Zelensky, himself, had to "clear things up and do it in public." President Trump said it was not a "quid pro quo." Ambassador Sondland said that he had talked to President Zelensky and Mr. Yermak and told them that, although this was not a quid-pro-quo, if President Zelensky did not "clear things up" in public, we would be at a "stalemate." I understood "stalemate" to mean that Ukraine would not receive the much-needed military assistance.
The following day, on September 8, Ambassador sondland and I spoke on the phone. He said he had talked to President Trump as I had suggested a week earlier, but that President Trump was adamant that President Zelensky, himself, had to "clear things up and do it in public." President Trump said it was not a "quid pro quo." Ambassador Sondland said that he had talked to President Zelensky and Mr. Yermak and told them that, although this was not a quid-pro-quo, if President Zelensky did not "clear things up" in public, we would be at a "stalemate." I understood "stalemate" to mean that Ukraine would not receive the much-needed military assistance.
...Before these text messages, during our call on September 8, Ambassador Sondland tried to explain to me that President Trump is a businessman. When businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, he said, the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check.
What I think is most interesting is that Trump seems less interested in investigations occurring as he does a public announcement about them. That's interesting because the announcement itself is damaging to Biden, so even if the investigation turns up nothing, Trump has already got the payout. Insisting it be public - versus a private commitment to investigate - is more evidence Trump's intent being purely political (versus actually just trying to fight corruption) in my opinion.