Coons: Stone Conviction Ups 'Pressure' on Amb. Sondland

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., on Monday said the recent conviction of Roger Stone, the longtime Republican political operative and confidant of President Donald Trump, will increase the "pressure on Amb. Gordon Sondland," who testifies this week.

"I think the development last week of Roger Stone being [convicted] for lying to the FBI and to Congress will put even more pressure on Amb.  Gordon Sondland," Coons told CNN's "New Day."

Stone was convicted last Friday of lying to federal investigators, Congress, and obstructing the investigation into Russian election interference in the 2016 election.

"I'll remind you: This isn't a never-Trumper. This isn't a part of the alleged deep state," he said. "This is someone who was a big Trump supporter, a major donor with a direct line to the White House."

Sondland is scheduled to testify before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday, but Coons said it is "entirely possible," Sondland with either not turn up or will plead the Fifth Amendment.

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