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Photo: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland will testify next Wednesday before the House committees investigating President Trump and Ukraine, despite being blocked by the State Department from appearing at a closed-door deposition this week, 4 congressional sources tell Axios.

Driving the news: Sondland's lawyer confirmed Friday that the ambassador does plan to testify — "notwithstanding the State Department's current direction not to testify."

Why it matters: One source familiar with the rescheduling tells Axios that after the State Department pulled the plug on Sondland's testimony, Republicans close to Trump encouraged the president to let the ambassador come before the committees. Trump's allies believe Sondland's testimony will be helpful to their side.

  • "Republicans are looking for any silver lining they can get," the source said. "Sondland could be a silver lining. ... He donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural. He's a Trump guy. Whereas [former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie] Yovanovitch is a career person."

The backdrop: Text messages turned over by former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker revealed that Sondland, who was named in the whistleblower complaint that set off the impeachment inquiry, was an intermediary in Trump and Rudy Giuliani's alleged efforts to push Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden.

One particularly explosive exchange that Democrats have keyed in on was a text sent to Sondland by the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor.

  • "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," Taylor texted.
  • Sondland texted back: "Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intentions. The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind." The New York Times reported that Sondland's response came after he spoke to the president.

After the State Department blocked Sondland's testimony, Trump tweeted that he didn't want the ambassador "testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s [sic] rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public."

  • Sondland was subpoenaed hours later by the committees.
  • Later that day, the White House sent a letter informing House Democratic leaders that the Trump administration will not participate in their impeachment inquiry, condemning it as "constitutionally illegitimate."

The big picture: On Thursday, the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees sent out the following schedule, obtained first by Axios, to committee members and staffers outlining the officials who are expected to testify over the next week, per the congressional sources.

  • Friday: Former U.S. Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
  • Monday: Trump's former Russia adviser Fiona Hill.
  • Tuesday: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent.
  • Wednesday: U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.
  • Thursday: Counselor of the State Department Ulrich Brechbuhl.

Yes, but: These sources acknowledge that they can't say with 100% certainty that the Trump administration will allow these officials to testify.

  • "We're never sure until the morning of," one of the sources said.
  • But they all said that as of now, the committees are preparing as if each of these individuals are appearing.

Go deeper ... Trump-Ukraine scandal: The key players, dates and documents

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Sondland's attorney that the ambassador does plan to testify before the House committees.

Go deeper

Reports: Texas bar association investigating state AG Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Conservative Political Action Conference held in Orlando, Florida, in February. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is under investigation for possible professional misconduct by the state's bar association for his attempts to have President Biden's election win overturned, AP first reported Wednesday.

Why it matters: Paxton one of the most high-profile lawyers to face potential professional repercussions for using their role to try and overthrow the election results for former President Trump, AP notes.

Updated 2 hours ago - World

Aung San Suu Kyi formally charged with corruption by Myanmar military

An anti-coup protester holds up a placard featuring the detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar, in March. Photo: Hkun Lat/Getty Images

Myanmar's deposed elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained officials have been formally charged by the military junta, state media reported Thursday morning local time.

Details: "The Anti-Corruption Commission has inspected corruption cases against ex-state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She was found guilty of committing corruption using her rank," the military said in a statement, per Bloomberg, which notes she could face up to 15 years in prison for the offense.

Biden's European optimism collides with reality

President Biden departs for the United Kingdom. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

As President Biden departed Washington, he told reporters he was going to use his first foreign trip to make "clear to Putin and to China that Europe and the United States are tight and the G7 is gonna move."

Why it matters: The problem is his statements regarding the allies' shared objectives are not supported by the statements and actions of the allies themselves.