White House broke law by withholding aid to Ukraine, report finds
As Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begins, a new report finds the White House broke the law when it withheld military aid to Ukraine.
Donald Trump’s impeachment trial has begun as a new report found the White House broke the law when it withheld military aid to Ukraine, an issue which has been central to the president’s impeachment.
A report by the nonpartisan congressional watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the Trump administration improperly froze $US214 million in aid for policy reasons.
“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 GAO said. “OMB (Office of Management and Budget) withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act.”
Democrats, in their articles of impeachment, accuse the president of withholding almost $US400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the Ukraine government to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.
Mr Trump has denied any so-called quid pro quo between the withholding of aid and pressure on Ukraine over Mr Biden.
The GAO report came amid ceremonial scenes in the Senate where the Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in as the trial judge followed by the swearing in of the 100 Senators to deliver ‘impartial justice’ in the impeachment proceedings.
Earlier the seven Democrat impeachment managers once again marched the two articles of impeachment to the Senate where they were formally received by the chamber. Democrat house intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff then read the two articles aloud to the Senate.
It is only the third presidential impeachment trial in the Senate after Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868.
The White House rebutted the GAO findings as “overreach,” saying that it believes it acted within the law at all times in withholding military aid to Ukraine.
“We disagree with GAO’s opinion,” OMB spokeswoman Rachel Semmel said. “OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the President’s priorities and with the law.”
There are no criminal penalties associated with the violations alleged by the GAO.
The White House withheld military aid to Ukraine in July last year and restored it again in September at a time when it was seeking to pressure Ukraine to investigate Mr Biden and his son Hunter.
Democrats used the GAO report to bolster their argument for new witnesses and documents to be presented during the Senate trial.
“The OMB, the White House, the administration broke — I’m saying this — broke the law,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “This reinforces, again, the need for documents and eyewitnesses in the Senate.”
Republicans played down the report’s importance, with Senator Rand Paul saying: “The president has the right to move money around, and all the presidents have worked within this realm. But none of that really rises to anything even remotely close to something to impeach somebody over.”
The White House said the Democrats should be on trial because they were guilty of the crimes which the president stands accused of.
“Obstruction of Congress: The Speaker holding the articles for 4 wks before sending them to the Senate,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham tweeted.
“Abuse of Power: The House refusing to give the President due process. Anyone notice the Democrats always accuse POTUS of actions they, themselves are guilty of doing?!”
Obstruction of Congress: The Speaker holding the articles for 4 wks before sending them to the Senate.
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 16, 2020
Abuse of Power: The House refusing to give the President due process.
Anyone notice the Democrats always accuse POTUS of actions they, themselves are guilty of doing?!
The Senate will try Mr Trump on charges that he abused his power in seeking to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival and that he obstructed Congress by blocking witnesses and documents during the House impeachment inquiry.
Mr Trump has called the impeachment a partisan witch hunt and hoax.
The trial proper is expected to begin next Wednesday (AEDT)
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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