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Former Independent Counsel Ken Starr, seen here in 2018, told Fox News Wednesday that Republican senators, after seeing Ambassador Gordon Sondland's testimony, may want "to make a trip down to the White House--that historical example set during the Nixon presidency." (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Ken Starr, former special counselor in the federal probe that preceded Bill Clinton's impeachment inquiry, said that U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland's testimony before members of Congress on Wednesday may prove a "game-changer" and--echoing what happened in 1974 to Richard Nixon--could cause Republican senators to head to the White House to urge President Donald Trump's resignation.
Starr, now a Fox News contributor, made the remarks in an interview with the network's "America's Newsroom" in which he discussed his takeaways from Sondland's opening statement, which had already been publicized.
"It looks as if there may be a bombshell or two in this and that's what we're looking for," said Starr. "We're looking to whether there is something that is a game-changer so we need to listen to [Sondland's public testimony] very, very carefully."
"Is he going to say those words, magic or otherwise 'This was the deal'... however you describe it--a quid pro quo," Starr said.
"The real issue is the senators are watching," Starr continued. "Are senators going to now say, in light of what we hear today--it's going to be a long day even with the ambassador alone--in light of what we have heard, 'We need to make a trip down to the White House'--that historical example set during the Nixon presidency."
"From what I've been able to glean, I don't think that's going to happen," Starr aded. "But obviously what happens today could, has the potential, to be a game-changer."
The Daily Beast captured the exchange:
Shortly after Starr made his comments, Sondland confirmed in his spoken testimony to the House that there was, in fact, a quid pro quo and that "Everyone was in the loop" about an effort to make Ukrainian aid conditional upon Ukraine committing to investigations of Trump rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
"The articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up" by Democrats, Starr suggested to Fox News following Sondland's public testimony.
"This has been one of those bombshell days," he said.
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Ken Starr, former special counselor in the federal probe that preceded Bill Clinton's impeachment inquiry, said that U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland's testimony before members of Congress on Wednesday may prove a "game-changer" and--echoing what happened in 1974 to Richard Nixon--could cause Republican senators to head to the White House to urge President Donald Trump's resignation.
Starr, now a Fox News contributor, made the remarks in an interview with the network's "America's Newsroom" in which he discussed his takeaways from Sondland's opening statement, which had already been publicized.
"It looks as if there may be a bombshell or two in this and that's what we're looking for," said Starr. "We're looking to whether there is something that is a game-changer so we need to listen to [Sondland's public testimony] very, very carefully."
"Is he going to say those words, magic or otherwise 'This was the deal'... however you describe it--a quid pro quo," Starr said.
"The real issue is the senators are watching," Starr continued. "Are senators going to now say, in light of what we hear today--it's going to be a long day even with the ambassador alone--in light of what we have heard, 'We need to make a trip down to the White House'--that historical example set during the Nixon presidency."
"From what I've been able to glean, I don't think that's going to happen," Starr aded. "But obviously what happens today could, has the potential, to be a game-changer."
The Daily Beast captured the exchange:
Shortly after Starr made his comments, Sondland confirmed in his spoken testimony to the House that there was, in fact, a quid pro quo and that "Everyone was in the loop" about an effort to make Ukrainian aid conditional upon Ukraine committing to investigations of Trump rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
"The articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up" by Democrats, Starr suggested to Fox News following Sondland's public testimony.
"This has been one of those bombshell days," he said.
Ken Starr, former special counselor in the federal probe that preceded Bill Clinton's impeachment inquiry, said that U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland's testimony before members of Congress on Wednesday may prove a "game-changer" and--echoing what happened in 1974 to Richard Nixon--could cause Republican senators to head to the White House to urge President Donald Trump's resignation.
Starr, now a Fox News contributor, made the remarks in an interview with the network's "America's Newsroom" in which he discussed his takeaways from Sondland's opening statement, which had already been publicized.
"It looks as if there may be a bombshell or two in this and that's what we're looking for," said Starr. "We're looking to whether there is something that is a game-changer so we need to listen to [Sondland's public testimony] very, very carefully."
"Is he going to say those words, magic or otherwise 'This was the deal'... however you describe it--a quid pro quo," Starr said.
"The real issue is the senators are watching," Starr continued. "Are senators going to now say, in light of what we hear today--it's going to be a long day even with the ambassador alone--in light of what we have heard, 'We need to make a trip down to the White House'--that historical example set during the Nixon presidency."
"From what I've been able to glean, I don't think that's going to happen," Starr aded. "But obviously what happens today could, has the potential, to be a game-changer."
The Daily Beast captured the exchange:
Shortly after Starr made his comments, Sondland confirmed in his spoken testimony to the House that there was, in fact, a quid pro quo and that "Everyone was in the loop" about an effort to make Ukrainian aid conditional upon Ukraine committing to investigations of Trump rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
"The articles of impeachment are being drawn up if they haven't already been drawn up" by Democrats, Starr suggested to Fox News following Sondland's public testimony.
"This has been one of those bombshell days," he said.