Posted on 01/16/2020 9:47:26 AM PST by RideForever
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a legal opinion on Thursday saying that President Trump's administration broke the law by withholding defense aid to Ukraine — the issue at the heart of the president's impeachment trial. That money, $214 million which had been allocated to the Department of Defense for security assistance, was appropriated by Congress and therefore the administration did not have the right to hold it back just because it disagreed with its allocation, the opinion from the nonpartisan government watchdog said. "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 opinion said. "[The Office of Management and Budget] OMB withheld funds for a policy reason ... not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that the OMB violated the ICA [Impoundment Control Act]." The OMB made clear Thursday, however, that it disagreed with the GAO report. “We disagree with GAO's opinion," OMB spokesperson 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
But no aid was withheld.
Now, where is the concern over the billions that have gone missing in Ukraine? Does GAO have a position on that?
Even if he did, I don’t think that is impeachable. I mean Bill Clinton failed to disclose income. Barack Obama killed an American citizen with a drone without due process, and so forth...
What’s missing? The part about Congress passing a bill that exonerated Trump’s act by extending the time limit allegedly ‘violated’. Not found in any other Freeper comments.
Don’t let facts get in the way of the never trumpers we have on here.
Remember the 100 times the GAO rendered this same opinion when Obama rewrote the Obamacare law?
No? Neither do I.
These people are grasping at straws . . .they are so JEALOUS of our President and his family.
It’s his job to monitor corruption with Ukraine. That directive has been the law since the 1990s.
All our domestic enemies now feel compelled to do their part against America.
This will send mittens, collins and murkowski screaming to the other side.
What is their opinion on the billions missing from the State Department?
This was done by an Obongo operative at the GAO and no one is mentioning that
Does GAO have a position on that?
No, cause it is ok when Democrats do it
Whoever at the GAO who wrote this schlock is wrong. The Chief Executive has the authority to make executive decisions - even those affecting “official policy”.
GAO is nothing but a political hack.
The law in question: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/chapter-17B/subchapter-II
President may delay spending, giving Congress up to 45 days to rescind the legislation.
If delayed further, the Comptroller General may notify Congress, with 25 days notice, he will sue (civil) to compel the spending.
President must complete the spending by end of fiscal year, unless otherwise extended by Congress.
No law was “broken”.
House Democrats jumped on the “45 days”, Schiff raising the issue to Trump at day 47, and Trump releasing the spending on day 48. The prescribed civil suit process was not initiated.
No law was “broken”.
The Dims and UniParty RINOs are scrapping the slime off the bottom of the barrel now.
Interpretation of the law belongs to the Judiciary, NOT the Legislative, which is where the GAO resides.
Somebody at the GOA must have opened an old Email from Pelosi saying this was a crime. The big losers here are Delecto Murkowski Collins, Alexander and Lee. They will have to put their tails up their ass and vote against impeachment even though they really want to.
Faux News continues to do the PMSNBC line
I remember leftists being so proud that GAO was “non-partisan” during their god the Fraud’s illegal reign.
And FOAD to the Hussein Heads here who still excrete that the Fraud was eligible.
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