Thursday, January 16, 2020

GAO: White House's Hold On Military Aid To Ukraine Broke The Law



Daily Mail: White House's hold on military aid to Ukraine broke the law because Donald Trump cannot override Congress, nonpartisan watchdog rules hours before Senate is sworn in for his trial

* The nonpartisan General Accountability Office announced its findings in a report
* It was revealed shortly before Senators are to be sworn in for President Trump's impeachment
* White House Office of Management and Budget 'violated the' Impoundment Control Act
* It held back millions Congress earmarked for security aid
* Giuliani associate Lev Parnas says the funds were held back as pressure to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens
* 'Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law'

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office has concluded that the White House Office of Management and Budget violated a budgeting law by withholding millions of aid the Congress had directed to Ukraine.

The government watchdog released its scathing conclusions Thursday morning, just minutes before 100 U.S. senators were to be sworn in for the commencement of an impeachment trial of president Trump that hinges on his and his associates conduct toward Ukraine.

The administration held back, but ultimately released, $391 million in aid that had been designated for Ukraine, which is countering Russia after its neighbor seized Crimea. The funds were enacted in appropriations legislation.

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WNU Editor: The problem with this GAO report is that Ukraine got their aid. The GAO report is here .... READ: GAO report finding Trump administration broke the law on Ukraine aid (The Hill)

More News On The GAO Report That The White House's Hold On Military Aid To Ukraine Broke The Law

Watchdog: White House violated law in freezing Ukraine aid -- AP
U.S. watchdog says Trump administration violated law by withholding Ukraine aid -- Reuters
White House violated the law by freezing Ukraine aid, GAO says -- Politico
GAO finds Trump administration broke law by withholding Ukraine aid -- The Hill
Impeachment trial opens as watchdog says Trump broke law on Ukraine -- The Guardian
New allegations, watchdog report complicate GOP position on impeachment trial -- The Hill