Congresswoman Elise Stefanik once again played a pivotal role Wednesday defending President Trump against bombshell witness testimony from one of his political appointees Ambassador Gordon Sondland. Sondland detailed how the President made it clear U.S. support for Ukraine would be withheld until that country investigated one of his political rivals.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland’s testimony Wednesday was often blunt, implicating the President and his senior advisors. "Was there a quid pro quo?" Sondland told a House panel. "The answer is Yes."

Sondland acknowledged that the President told him in a direct conversation that Trump didn’t want a quid pro quo arrangement with Ukraine involving aid in exchange for political favors.

But the Ambassador then detailed how the President and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani took a series of actions in Ukraine and at home in Washington DC that contradicted the President’s claim.

"Mr. Giuliani requests were a quid pro quo for arranging a White House visit for President Zelensky," Sondland testified. "Mr. Giuliani demanded that Ukraine make a public statement announcing the investigations of the 2016 election DNC server, and Burisma."

Stefanik focuses on Trump's statement

"Ambassador Sondland testified that the President said to him directly that there is no quid pro quo," Stefanik said. She then quoted Trump saying, "I want nothing, I want nothing."

Speaking in a press conference after the hearing, Stefanik again worked to shift attention away from testimony about Trump. She suggested again that Hunter Biden should be called to testify, not because of any allegations of wrongdoing but because of what Stefanik describes as the "potential appearance" of a conflict of interest.

"Hunter Biden is on our list as well as the whistle-blower for closed-door depositions," Stefanik said, describing these hearings as a "partisan process."

Dem challenger Cobb weighs in

Speaking in Plattsburgh, Cobb said Stefanik isn’t making a good-faith effort to find the facts of Trump’s behavior.

"Congress has a constitutional duty to find the truth no matter where it will lead," Cobb said. "I hope our elected officials will do their constitutional duty without playing political games, without being partisan. Unfortunately Elise Stefanik has not done that so far."

Stefanik said before the first open hearings that she’s convinced President Trump did nothing wrong and wants the impeachment probe halted.

Speaking yesterday, Cobb said she wants to hear all the testimony before weighing in on whether President Trump’s actions amount to the high crimes and misdemeanors that warrant impeachment and removal from office.