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GAO finds Trump administration broke law by withholding aid from Ukraine
The Hill ^ | January 16, 2020 | OLIVIA BEAVERS AND REBECCA KLAR

Posted on 01/16/2020 7:56:49 AM PST by lowbridge

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the release of security assistance to Ukraine last year violated federal law, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report Thursday.

The independent watchdog said the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) withheld the appropriated funds last summer, not as a programmatic delay but in order to advance the president’s own agenda.

Doing so, the watchdog concluded, violates the Impoundment Control Act, a law that governs Congress's role in the federal budget process.

“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 report says. “OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). ... Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA.” 

The decision by the White House to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. aid to Kyiv as the country fights pro-Russia separatists is at the center of impeachment proceedings in Congress against President Trump.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bs; gao; impeachment; trump; trumpukraine; ukraine
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To: dfwgator

good one :)


61 posted on 01/16/2020 8:38:15 AM PST by samtheman (I hope someone close to Trump is reading FR every day.)
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To: lowbridge

This out of the blue?? F it!! These people are EVILLLLLL and cunning!! The senate has NO EFFIN CHANCE!!! They are trying to tie the senates hands..the house never gave trump an opportunity to make his case soooooo EFFIN senate better not give the evil cheating lying demonKKKrats a chance!!! They will use these new revelation for campaigning purposes! They have failed miserably !!


62 posted on 01/16/2020 8:38:23 AM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: lowbridge

Now we know what Pelosi was waiting for. She waited to release the Articles of Impeachment until this GAO report was ready to be released.


63 posted on 01/16/2020 8:39:24 AM PST by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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WATCH: Joe Biden Brags About Rigging The Ukranian Political System

WATCH: Joe Biden Brags About Rigging The Ukranian Political System

64 posted on 01/16/2020 8:40:14 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: gswilder

“Unfortunately, this is a BIG deal.”

.... No, it’s not. Another lame attempt to manufacture a crime. Don’t be too disappointed.


65 posted on 01/16/2020 8:40:38 AM PST by semaj (We are the People)
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To: lodi90

“The Senate has no oversight of the executive branch and the CIA backed coupists? Interesting theory. I hadn’t heard that one before.”

Not sure why you sent this to me. I never said anything about what you have said in your post.

I said the Senate and in fact the Executive Branch have no control over the House. The 3 branches of gov are entirely independent.


66 posted on 01/16/2020 8:45:20 AM PST by billyboy15
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To: blackdog

Too many kids of politicians would be inconvenienced if the money laundering pipeline was delayed by a few weeks...got some big mortgage payments, yacht payments and cartel suppliers who don’t take kindly to not being paid on time.


67 posted on 01/16/2020 8:46:07 AM PST by Scott from the Left Coast (It's the corruption, stupid)
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To: cuban leaf

Well obviously they have the power to create the ‘illusions’ they’re doing and will continue to do. How voters ‘perceive’ what they’re being fed is still in play regardless of how ignorant or not they are. The idea is to create “doubt”....which goes all the way back to the garden of Eden.


68 posted on 01/16/2020 8:51:29 AM PST by caww
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To: gswilder

No, it is not a big deal. The OMB is an Executive Office— and the dispersal of funds under the direction of the Executive, is not discernible to the Govt. Accounting Office. Simply put— there is NO, zero way, that the GAO can ascribe “intent” of the Executive from the OMB’s financial “report/feedback” to them. That is NOT in the ledger books/software. The funds were withheld— that is all they know. They also know the funds were then re-committed 2 weeks later-— neither events having any “reason” to them.

This is simply demonrat embeds in the GAO timing their own OPINION spin with the .......ooooooooh, “impeachment” which does not describe withhold of funds as being impeachable (because, in fact, they are NOT impeachable).

You probably don’t recall the Boland Amendment of Congress that “became” a mechanism for “impeachment” of Reagan over the funding of the Contras. They could not be, any more than the sale of non-funcitoning weapons to iran to come up with cash for the Contras, was. OK? Executive funds released by Congress to the Executive, are the Executive’s to control and disburse— not the direction of Congress as a “law” that is directed solely to the Executive.

Now observe how the dems are twisting and gaming the words. They are total, corrupt, and desperate lying shite. Walking pestilence of our Constitution. They will pay— one way or another, as will their street thugs the AntiFA fascists.


69 posted on 01/16/2020 8:51:45 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: combat_boots

Bolton is not the Chief Executive, nor is/was he the Commander in Chief. See how that works?

Bolton was FIRED for directing troops in re: Turkish/Kurd border crossing. He directed troop movements without the command of the CIC, the President.

The little prick is an active agent in mil-industrial war continuance, to F with a process that stabilizes the entire region and gets rid of the need for constant trillions spent to prop up Beltway military supply bandits.

You can agree all you want— the President has a timeline to authorize the expenditure— and he was well inside it. Period. Game over. As is this trolling hack beltway “freeper”. FReepers see right through this— ones who have been here more than 15 years, that is.

The dems making this up as they go along— to continue the bridge building to Romney et al so their own Panama Papers don’t expose them. Lying sacks of shite— all of them, especially the Bolton’s of the world. Trump will not play.
Trump will expose McCain’s and Graham’s money from Benghazi first (which is, after all what Graham is worried about). Please don’t forget Gowdy is from SC as federal prosecutor— and he is privately employed now by the President. Bodies, and burial locations. Graham is being primaried, btw.


70 posted on 01/16/2020 9:01:13 AM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: John S Mosby

I don’t disagree that Bolton had no say so to release funds.

Yes, he’s a warmonger.

My point was that the funds were released prior to the 9/30 deadline, and that, in fact OMB was reviewing them prior to that, especially in consideration of the Ukraine-US Treaty to combat corruption.

As military aid, I do not understand how people would expect no review.

I have been here just over 15 years. Being angry with me is moot.


71 posted on 01/16/2020 9:11:07 AM PST by combat_boots (God bless Israel and all who protect and defend her! Merry Christmas! In God We Trust! Hi)
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To: lowbridge

More backstabbing by the entrenched cabal. Abolish these losers.


72 posted on 01/16/2020 9:19:34 AM PST by databoss
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To: PghBaldy

Thank you for that.


73 posted on 01/16/2020 9:47:19 AM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: databoss

When you start taking flak you are over the target. Trump is taking Swamp Flak from all directions which indicates he is right over the target (IMHO)


74 posted on 01/16/2020 9:48:09 AM PST by Cold War Veteran - Submarines
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To: Cold War Veteran - Submarines

Yup. Barr needs to deliver.


75 posted on 01/16/2020 10:37:40 AM PST by databoss
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To: gswilder

They want to go put in a blaze glory, we are going to have some fun.


76 posted on 01/16/2020 1:03:13 PM PST by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: combat_boots

You misunderstand— haven’t time to be angry. The concern: Accuracy of the facts. Posters here are simply-— wrong. OK?

The point is about GAO, not OMB. To the extent that EITHER organization can represent any LEGALLY correct review of the fund’s treatment. The Chief Executive has Article 2 powers that are Constitutionally clear— not to be adjudicated by lower level bureacrats who are democrat lightweight lemmings, following orders of the machine. The posting is worthless, except to the trolls and towel biters. Bye.


77 posted on 01/16/2020 1:11:54 PM PST by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: ctdonath2

It doesn’t matter what the law says. The constitution does not give the legislative branch that power. They can stipulate it be spent by a certain time - but they cannot force it to be spent.


78 posted on 01/22/2020 10:32:30 AM PST by TheTimeOfMan (The Eloi unexpectedly protected the Morlocks from rogue Eloi as they themselves prepared to be eaten)
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To: TheTimeOfMan

That’s something for the Supreme Court to sort out. Until then, the law stipulates that Congressionally legislated spending must be completed by end of fiscal year, unless Congress specifically extends the deadline (which it did in this case) or rescinds the spending (which, if done, rescinding legislation must be completed within 45 days of request to do so, else it must be spent by EoFY).

It’s a sensible concern either way. If our representatives decide $X should be spent on Y, it should be done. If our executive can achieve the purpose for less than $X, all the better. Things get weird when Congress deems it should be spent, and President flat-out refuses to; yes Supreme Court should sort that out.


79 posted on 01/22/2020 10:41:27 AM PST by ctdonath2 (Democrats oppose democracy.)
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To: ctdonath2
The obligation is that it be completed by the end of fiscal year

The law doesnt say it has to be spent. It says if it is to be spent it must be spent by the end of the fiscal year. Otherwise you lose it. No obligation to spend it. Congress only allocates. Congress can rescind it as well if it chooses.

All this hyperbola would go away if people were still given a reasonable education in how govt works. But today we raise a bunch of ignorant gimmedats.

80 posted on 01/22/2020 10:46:48 AM PST by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them.)
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