GAO: Trump Admin Broke Law re: Withholding Ukraine $$

[redheadbaker]

Not that this will have any effect on anything ...

www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/us/politics/gao-trump-ukraine.html

The Trump administration violated the law in withholding security assistance aid to Ukraine, a nonpartisan federal watchdog agency said on Thursday, weighing in on a decision by President Trump that is at the heart of the impeachment case against him.

The Government Accountability Office said the White House’s Office of Management and Budget violated the Impoundment Control Act when it withheld nearly $400 million for “a policy reason,” even though the funds had been allocated by Congress. The decision was directed by the president himself, and during the House impeachment inquiry, administration officials testified that they had raised concerns about its legality to no avail.

[carmenere]

This came up briefly in one of the House hearings and I was really surprised we didn’t hear much more about it after that. It seems like violating a federal statute would be obvious grounds for an article fo impeachment. Can anyone tell me why the House Dems didn’t pursue that further?

[Pom]

MSNBC is reporting that this non-partisan report, can be included as evidence as to law breaking to accompany the articles of impeachment. This kind of paper trail and documents are powerful and important.

[Jalapeñomel]

Cue the complaints that the organization IS partisan and out to get the GOP.

[livinitup]

I can’t think of a crime less sexy than violating the “Impoundment Control Act”. So, no one cares.

Our democracy is so doomed.

[cous0226]

Does anyone know why Ukraine never went through with announcing the investigation? I remember Sondland saying that they were ready to do it and decided not too at the last minute but of course he could have been lying. I am so curious about this piece because Pence was out there threatening too so they must have felt pressure.

[anodyne]

Jan 16, 2020 20:14:57 GMT -5 cous0226 said:

Does anyone know why Ukraine never went through with announcing the investigation? I remember Sondland saying that they were ready to do it and decided not too at the last minute but of course he could have been lying. I am so curious about this piece because Pence was out there threatening too so they must have felt pressure.

They planned to announce on Sept 13th, but on the 11th Congress found out about the aid being held. The administration knew they were busted and released the aid.

[cous0226]

Jan 16, 2020 20:40:12 GMT -5 anodyne said:

Jan 16, 2020 20:14:57 GMT -5 cous0226 said:

Does anyone know why Ukraine never went through with announcing the investigation? I remember Sondland saying that they were ready to do it and decided not too at the last minute but of course he could have been lying. I am so curious about this piece because Pence was out there threatening too so they must have felt pressure.

They planned to announce on Sept 13th, but on the 11th Congress found out about the aid being held. The administration knew they were busted and released the aid.

Wow!!!

[tessalb]

Zelensky was going to go on Fareed Zakaria to announce the investigation.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/11/07/politics/volodymyr-zelensky-fareed-zakaria-ukraine-aid/index.html

[MrsAxilla]

Jan 16, 2020 20:14:57 GMT -5 cous0226 said:

Does anyone know why Ukraine never went through with announcing the investigation? I remember Sondland saying that they were ready to do it and decided not too at the last minute but of course he could have been lying. I am so curious about this piece because Pence was out there threatening too so they must have felt pressure.

Lev Parnas said on Rachel tonight that Ukraine would make commitments when put on the spot, but then back away a few days later.  That squares with CNN being in negotiations for the interview for months.  Lev threatened that Pence wouldn’t attend the inauguration and then followed through, so when trump uped the ante to withholding all aid and support they knew it wasn’t an idle threat.

[curbsideprophet]

I feel like we should be thankful Ukraine/Zelensky delayed as long as they did. I wonder how this would have turned out if he had just come out and announced investigations into Biden right away.