前驻欧盟大使戈登·桑德兰指控前国务卿迈克·蓬佩奥违背偿还总统任期内法律费用的承诺唐纳德·特朗普的根据周一在联邦法院提起的诉讼，这是第一次弹劾调查。
在2019年众议院弹劾调查期间，特朗普在2018年选择酒店巨头兼政治大捐助者桑德兰作为他的布鲁塞尔特使，成为关键证人，他提出爆炸性证词据称，特朗普和他的私人律师鲁迪·朱利安尼试图强迫乌克兰领导人宣布对当时的总统候选人乔·拜登的家人进行调查。
桑德兰在2019年11月告诉众议院情报委员会，特朗普寻求与乌克兰进行交换，由朱利安尼执行。
这一发现是在桑德兰之后修改了他以前的证词之后，他说其他证人“刷新了我关于暂停美国援助的谈话的记忆”
卡洛琳·布雷曼/CQ-通过盖蒂影像公司点名，文件
在这张2019年11月20日的档案照片中，美国驻欧盟大使戈登·桑德兰，阿里夫
桑德兰现在正以180万美元起诉蓬佩奥和美国政府，桑德兰说，这个数字反映了在他被拒绝接触政府律师后，为弹劾审判雇用自己的私人律师的费用。
该诉讼声称，“蓬佩奥向桑德兰大使保证，国务院将偿还他的所有法律费用。”
“蓬佩奥向桑德兰大使保证，国务院将补偿他所有的法律费用;整个2019年秋天，蓬佩奥和他的员工继续重申他的承诺。
然而，据该诉讼称，“在蓬佩奥了解到桑德兰大使在2019年弹劾调查期间在国会面前的证词——这些话完全坦率和真实(但特朗普政府对此感到不安)——蓬佩奥违背了他的承诺”。
“由于蓬佩奥的合同承诺显然是为了政治上的便利而被放弃，桑德兰大使求助于本法院来偿还他的律师费和诉讼费，并使他恢复原状，”该诉讼称。
蓬佩奥的一名律师没有立即回应美国广播公司新闻的置评请求。
桑德兰在2019年11月的确凿证词是弹劾调查的关键时刻，也是众议院民主党寻求驱逐特朗普的关键证据。
共和党控制的参议院宣判特朗普无罪后不久，桑德兰被解雇了2020年2月。
桑德兰在当时的一份声明中说:“我今天被告知，总统打算立即召回我担任美国驻欧盟大使。”。“我感谢特朗普总统给我机会任职，感谢蓬佩奥国务卿的一贯支持，并感谢美国驻欧盟使团出色而敬业的专业人员。”
Key Trump impeachment witness sues for reimbursement of legal fees
Former Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland is accusing former Secretary of StateMike Pompeoof reneging on a promise to reimburse legal fees he incurred during PresidentDonald Trump'sfirst impeachment probe, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court.
A hotel magnate and political megadonor whom Trump tapped in 2018 to be his envoy to Brussels, Sondland emerged as a key witness during the 2019 impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives, offeringexplosive testimonythat allegedly implicated Trump and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, in seeking to coerce Ukrainian leaders to announce an investigation into the family of then-presidential contender Joe Biden.
Sondland told the House Intelligence Committee in November 2019 that Trump sought a quid pro quo with Ukraine, carried out by Giuliani.
The revelation came after Sondlandrevised his previous testimonyafter he said other witnesses "refreshed my recollection about conversations involving the suspension of U.S. aid."
Sondland is now suing both Pompeo and the United States government for $1.8 million, a figure that Sondland said reflects the cost of hiring his own private attorneys for the impeachment trial after he was denied access to government counsel.
The lawsuit claims that "Pompeo assured Ambassador Sondland that the State Department would reimburse him for all of his legal costs."
"Pompeo assured Ambassador Sondland that the State Department would reimburse him for all of his legal costs; and through the fall of 2019, Pompeo and his staff continued to reaffirm his promise," the lawsuit says.
However, "after Pompeo learned what Ambassador Sondland's testimony was before Congress during the 2019 Impeachment Inquiry -- words that were entirely candid and truthful (but uncomfortable to the Trump Administration) -- Pompeo reneged on his promise," according to the suit.
"With the contractual commitment of Pompeo having been abandoned apparently for political convenience, Ambassador Sondland turns to this Court to reimburse his attorneys' fees and costs and make him whole," the lawsuit says.
A lawyer for Pompeo did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Sondland's damning testimony in November 2019 was a pivotal moment in the impeachment inquiry and served as crucial evidence for House Democrats seeking to oust Trump.
Shortly after the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump,Sondland was firedin February of 2020.
"I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union," Sondland said in a statement at the time. "I am grateful to President Trump for having given me the opportunity to serve, to Secretary Pompeo for his consistent support, and to the exceptional and dedicated professionals at the U.S. Mission to the European Union."
