Rick Perry and Gordon Sondland, two of the intellectual heavyweights in the TrumPutin regime, have both testified that, while they were part of the team of three amigos working for and with Rudy G to subvert American democracy, neither really knew what the apoplectic attorney was up to.

Rick Perry, he of the good-hair and eyeglasses-for-intellectual-heft, says that there was nothing "untoward" about the their efforts. The only problem with that explanation is: one, Perry has no idea that "untoward" is a word; and two, he is incapable of recognizing an untoward activity. His entire career has been built on untoward activities, from gutting the Texas higher education system, to installing creationists as textbook approvers, to allowing oil companies to do anything they want, anywhere they want to do it in Texas, and, last but not least, to being a cheerleader for Texas A&M.

Sondland says he worked with Rudy but has no idea what Rudy was up to. Not a sparkling defense for an ambassador, but Sondland is a hotel guy who bought his ambassadorship. He hates getting stuck in policy. 

Hearing of his minions' explanations and their spotty recollection, TrumPutin was quick to laud their "beautiful memories" and cooperation. 

Rudy's interference and his own incoherence are proof that minions could not have done anything untoward -- because Rudy and TrumPutin beat them to it. 

Falling back on his most useful defenses, TrumPutin claims stupidity, executive privilege, immunity, evangelicals, and, if all that fails, there is always the 5th Amendment.