White House hold on Ukraine aid violated federal law, congressional watchdog says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

The White House violated federal law in its hold on security aid to Ukraine last year, according to a decision by a congressional watchdog released on Thursday and reviewed by The Washington Post. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan agency that reports to Congress, found the Trump administration violated a law that governs how the White House disburses money approved by Congress.

The GAO decision comes as the Senate prepares for the impeachment trial of President Trump, a process set to begin Thursday. "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 decision states. "OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act." Last month, the Democratic-controlled House impeached Trump on charges of abusing the power of his office in a pressure campaign against Ukraine.

Trump has attacked the impeachment charges as politically motivated. White House budget officials have defended their power to stop the money from being given to the Defense Department, arguing both congressional lawmakers and executive branch officials routinely demand delays on funding already signed into law.

The report brings new scrutiny to a chain of events at the White House's Office of Management and Budget last year. When top White House officials gave directives to the Pentagon to withhold aid for Ukraine, some OMB officials objected, warning the halt could be improper. At least two officials resigned, in part over concerns about the Ukraine money.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-hold-on-ukraine-aid-violated-federal-law-congressional-watchdog-says/2020/01/16/060ea7aa-37a3-11ea-9c01-d674772db96b_story.html

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EDIT: COPY OF GAO REPORT (pdf) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/legal-opinion-from-gao-on-white-house-hold-on-ukraine-aid/c84e9a1c-8edc-4531-8d34-c00e855d5d7a/

Of course they did. Anyone who has taken any "Appropriations Law" courses (these are given as part of Contract/Project Management track courses) would know this.

Original article and headline -

Trump administration violated the law by withholding Ukraine security aid, Government Accountability Office finds

By Washington Post Staff
Jan. 16, 2020 at 9:56 a.m. EST

In a new report, the nonpartisan congressional watchdog agency formally challenges the way the White House blocked the Ukraine money last year. The White House's actions related to the Ukraine funds are at the heart of an impeachment process that is slated to begin in the Senate Thursday.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2020/01/16/trump-administration-violated-the-law-by-withholding-ukraine-security-aid-government-accountability-office-finds/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Hot off the presses. It's still "By Washington Post Staff." NT

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Updated and good Friday Eve morning!

(now ByJeff Stein, Ellen Nakashima and Erica Werner)

[Gothmog]

3. This is big deal

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

5. This is why some of those poor civil servants stuck in the approval chain when this happened

decided to go on and resign/leave rather than eventually be caught in a big legal mess (way worse than the illegalities of Carson's bogus furniture buys or many now-departed Department heads' bogus travel/security plans).

[Stuart G]

6. You are totally correct, If the GAO says Trump broke the law, that's PROOF he "broke a law"

The GEO knows the game, because it is an expert in the game.

[ChiTownDenny]

14. +1

Now it's criminal!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. When I asked Sen. Martha McSally if she would consider new evidence as part of the Senate trial....

Last edited Thu Jan 16, 2020, 11:48 AM - Edit history (1)

Kevin M. Kruse Retweeted

They are all Trump clones now.

Link to tweet

Sen. Martha McSally, a Republican facing a difficult election race, lashed out when I asked if she would consider new evidence as part of the Senate trial. “You’re a liberal hack - I’m not talking to you. You’re a liberal hack.” She then walked into a hearing room.

Link to tweet

Worth noting that the question McSally wouldn't answer is "should the Senate consider new evidence as part of the impeachment trial?"

Link to tweet

Wow. Here's @SenMcSallyAZ angrily calling @mkraju "a liberal hack" while refusing to answer questions

Link to tweet

[Mickju]

15. Does she think that will help her get re-elected?

How stupid! But then...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. RW sites still say there was no withholding at all, let alone breaking law. . . . nt

[Chakaconcarne]

8. So the GAO is now part of the deep state.....

[duforsure]

9. He also aided and abetted Russia and putin in their aggression towards Ukraine,

And by ignoring its dispersal , and using it as a weapon against Ukraine , exposed why it is against the law, and considered illegal to be abused and used by trump for his own political benefit. Also if trump was illegally using our intel or using a foreign intel to comit crimes that should be completely investigated, and the House should start it knowing Barr is compromised . If the Republicans refuse to convict , it will show they conspired for trump to ignore his criminal activities. Were they bribed by Putin? And In exchange for help with their re-elections?

[Dennis Donovan]

10. Every.Single.Trump.Defense.Talking.Point.Crushed in just the last 36 hrs

Timing is everything!

[New Leaf]

12. Hallelujah!

I’m so proud and happy today with the hard work SOME of our leaders and journalists have engaged in to bring us to the amazing place we are today! Just need to believe things will finally happen to rid us of this poison afflicting our country and the world.

[calimary]

11. Yep.

[infullview]

13. Stock repug answers

Yes, but this does not rise to the level of impeachment.
The democrats that run the GAO are trying to railroad this president!
It's not unusual for the president to withhold aid to make sure there's not corruption.
He has article 2; he has the right to do whatever he wants as president.

besides all this, the republican senate will never hold him accountable because they are all on the take from dark Russian money as well.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. So much for the party of law and order