I’m sure it won’t make any difference to those Trump supporters who have been saying that the President’s impeachment is somehow invalid because an actual law wasn’t broken in the administration’s dealings with Ukraine, but I feel compelled to share the following news item from today’s New York Times:
Hours before the Senate embarked on President Trump’s impeachment trial, a nonpartisan federal watchdog agency unexpectedly weighed in on an issue at the heart of the case: the president’s decision to withhold military assistance to Ukraine.
The agency, the Government Accountability Office, said the White House’s Office of Management and Budget violated the law when it withheld nearly $400 million this past summer for “a policy reason,” even though the funds had been allocated by Congress.
The decision to freeze the aid 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.
“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 accountability office wrote in an opinion released Thursday. “The withholding was not a programmatic delay”…
Yes, it would appear as though the administration, in addition to obstructing justice, violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. I’d encourage you to read it all, but here’s how the report from the Government Accountability Office begins.
9 Comments
Like you said, it still won’t matter. To quote Reince Priebus earlier today: “Sometimes the best defense is the ‘so-what’ defense which is, if everything the Democrats said is true it’s still not impeachable. If everything Lev Parnas said is true, it’s still not impeachable.”
Trump has helped destroy the reputations and careers of many of his defenders, associates, and various Republican suck-ups. They all need to keep sacrificing themselves for this clown. He is their master.
Anyone who says show me the crime is a simpleton not capable of fulfilling their Civic duty. The Constitution is the ultimate law. It says foreign influence is not allowed. “Russia if you’re listening” should have been the last we ever heard of this treasonous POS.
The ones who are accusing the crimes are always they ones who did it! It’s the GAO that withheld the payment! That agency is run by demons.
Hyborian Warlord is quiet today.
Remember when he asked, “What law did he brea?”, back on April 18? I thought that he’d be all over this.
Biden bragged in your face about withholding aid unless they fired the prosecutor which is how all this shit got started. Trump delivered the aid as required even though it’s insane. Why should a country that is involved in corruption with US politicians be awarded money?
“John Brown
Posted January 17, 2020 at 5:43 am | Permalink
Anyone who says show me the crime is a simpleton not capable of fulfilling their Civic duty. The Constitution is the ultimate law. It says foreign influence is not allowed. “Russia if you’re listening” should have been the last we ever heard of this treasonous POS.”
Excellent work. You increase the shitlevels as well as any just about anyone. You must have shit for brains to be able to do such a good job of it.
Fascinating behind the scenes look at closed door dem strategy meeting
https://twitter.com/conmomma/status/1216772376974614528
Great article but I doubt that it will prove something to the people who were saying that no crime has been committed by Trump and you’re right on money saying that it won’t make difference for people who support him and say that the impeachment is invalid. I mean for most of the people who have the same opinion as you do – all this should’ve started a long time ago. Impeachment and the following removal of Trump from the office, and I’m pretty impressed that he’s still in and we’re not rioting that.
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[…] we know all know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, withheld military aid from an ally at war with Russia in violation of the Impoundment Control Act in order to coerce a new Ukrainian administration into announcing a fake corruption investigation […]