Sen. Ron Johnson Ronald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP-led panel to hear from former official who said Burisma was not a factor in US policy The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks MORE (R-Wis.) confirmed on Monday that he tried to prevent the White House from ousting Gordon Sondland Gordon SondlandGOP chairman vows to protect whistleblowers following Vindman retirement over 'bullying' Top Democrat slams Trump's new EU envoy: Not 'a political donor's part-time job' Trump names new EU envoy, filling post left vacant by impeachment witness Sondland MORE, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, saying he wanted the now-former diplomat to be able "leave with dignity."

Johnson, speaking with reporters in the Capitol, confirmed that he had conversations with White House officials aimed at preventing President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE from removing Sondland on Friday because he was already expected to leave his post.

Johnson characterized the outreach as "a couple phone calls." He declined to say who he spoke with but noted that he did not speak directly to Trump.

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"I think Gordon was trying to do the right thing. ... His heart was in the right place, and, by the way, I have no problem with people in the administration trying to figure out how they can change the president's opinion," Johnson said.

"He was going to leave anyway. It would have been nice if he could have just left on his terms," Johnson continued.

The New York Times reported that a group of Republican senators, including Johnson, warned that ousting Sondland would look bad because he was already on his way out.

According to the Times, GOP Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (Maine), Thom Tillis Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisAirline job cuts loom in battleground states Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal MORE (N.C.) and Martha McSally Martha Elizabeth McSallyThe Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Biden leads Trump by 4 points in new Arizona poll Airline job cuts loom in battleground states MORE (Ariz.) also reached out to the White House.

Johnson added on Monday that he had hoped Sondland would be able to "leave with dignity."

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"I had heard that there was something happening, and, again, I was just calling to hopefully prevent that from happening," Johnson said.

Sondland said on Friday that he had been "advised ... the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union."

Sondland was the second impeachment witness dismissed Friday.

Sondland's statement came just hours after Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman Alexander VindmanImpeachment witness Alexander Vindman calls Trump Putin's 'useful idiot' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian MORE was removed from his post with the National Security Council and escorted from the White House grounds.

Sondland provided damaging testimony against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry, saying during a public hearing that "everyone was in the loop" about the effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate the president's political rivals.

“Was there a quid pro quo?” Sondland said in his opening statement at a November hearing. “With regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”