White House violated the law by
freezing Ukraine aid, GAO says
Politico,
by
Andrew Desiderio
Original Article
Posted By: Hermoine,
1/16/2020 10:16:42 AM
The White House budget office violated the law when it froze U.S. military aid to Ukraine, the Government Accountability Office concluded in a new report.
“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 wrote in an eight-page report.
Several witnesses who testified before House impeachment investigators said President Donald Trump ordered the hold on the critical military assistance.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
DCGIRL 1/16/2020 10:22:41 AM (No. 290056)
This is crazy. Either someone in GAO is on drugs or this is fake news.
38 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
earlybird 1/16/2020 10:22:47 AM (No. 290057)
The unelected bureaucrats at GAO outrank the duly-elected President of the United States?
56 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Laotzu 1/16/2020 10:24:34 AM (No. 290059)
Called it in my earlier comment to another article. This is why the Pelosi delay and this is why articles got referred yesterday. They weren't waiting for evidence to appear. They were creating it.
57 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
planetgeo 1/16/2020 10:24:36 AM (No. 290060)
Well, well, well...Looks like all the Deep State co-conspirators have coordinated their watches for maximum effect for the shampeachment show.
Take names, measurements. Start advertising for volunteers for the firing squads once this farce is over and it's time to take out the trash.
30 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
Crusty_Rusty 1/16/2020 10:25:04 AM (No. 290063)
What B.S.!
So now any Jerk-Ward civil servant can generate an accusation to provide the Dems with Impeachment Amo?
I think not. Try again.....
We are headed for disaster if this continues!
29 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
snowoutlaw 1/16/2020 10:26:24 AM (No. 290064)
So Obama broke the law?
59 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
john56 1/16/2020 10:31:47 AM (No. 290074)
Did I miss the national election for GAO Bureaucrats? I thought the President was the only nationally elected official we have? Silly me.
39 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
mathman 1/16/2020 10:42:36 AM (No. 290089)
So the Constitution has been superseded by the GAO. I did not know that.
I was under the impression that the Chief Executive sets policy. What did I miss?
I guess President Obama should have been impeached long ago for withholding aid from Ukraine.
Where were Queen Scat and the Seven Dwarves then?
48 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
LuigiD 1/16/2020 10:43:30 AM (No. 290091)
Michael Atkinson, formerly of the DOJ, formerly of the ICIG NSA, now Director of the GAO signed the letter, drafted by E Ciamarella
39 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
previouslyon24 1/16/2020 10:45:59 AM (No. 290095)
No link to the so-called GAO report in this headline-sized article; plus to comment you have to use Facebook. But of course this is Politico so what do you expect. The Swamp is embedded in every agency and department of Washington DC, and just like the FBI, CIA and Justice Dept, there are currently-active employees fighting against the Trump Administration every day they arrive at work, and every month they cash their taxpayer-sourced salary checks. We're paying thousands of people who actively subvert the election results we voted for.
29 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Jethro bo 1/16/2020 10:47:08 AM (No. 290098)
What law was broken? I thought the funds were given to the Ukraine. Does the law say the funds must be given at a certain time? Is there discretion in the law. What if the funds were approved and the Ukraine began using its military to round up and execute certain groups (like in Bosnia). Would it be OK to give Ukraine funds so it could contiune funding genocide? One would think even our uber stupid Congress would allow for discretion.
31 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Pearson365 1/16/2020 10:51:07 AM (No. 290108)
”Froze” ? The funds were were delayed 5 weeks after 7/25/19 phone call because the President also has a legal obligation to ensure that taxpayer money isn’t stolen by a notoriously corrupt government. I believe that ensuring that our aid isn’t siphoned off to government officials, including the sons of former US government officials, outweighs a brief delay in transferring aid dollars. But why should fiscal responsibility come before the GAO’s requirement that we just toss it away because Congress authorized the military aid dollars?
48 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
BigTimeTrumper 1/16/2020 10:53:47 AM (No. 290114)
Is it illegal to with-hold the aid if the country your with-holding it from doesn't know your with-holding it or why? ....Ukraine officials didn't seem to care...Only Democrats who were afraid the Democrats agents wouldn't get their kick-backs...Hunter OBiden... were concerned about the Aid being with-held!...They are revealing themselves this term... Lock them up next term!
22 people like this.
They needed a real "crime" so they created one. Everything has been made up so far, why not bring Dan Ranter in to broadcast this--like he did when they tried to take down Bush 42?
So tired of this whole shenanigans. Just have the trial and get this over with. They know they're going to lose this one, so this tripe is the set up for the next impeachment fiasco. Wow! PDT will have double democrat trouble going into the election (*snark*). Nutty Nan will have branded him twice by the time he gets out of office in 2024.
MAGA!!! KAG!!! TRUMP 2020 AND BEYOND!!!
28 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Venturer 1/16/2020 11:06:24 AM (No. 290127)
Now we know.
The GAO is part of the Deep State along with other agencies of our Government,
25 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 1/16/2020 11:10:21 AM (No. 290129)
This is a coordinated setup to pressure McConnell to re-open the case for more so-called witnesses.
21 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
His_Highness 1/16/2020 11:12:02 AM (No. 290132)
That the GAO says something does not make it so.
21 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 1/16/2020 11:14:15 AM (No. 290134)
I am more likely to post something about the Royals than to drag a Politico article over the threshold.
17 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
cobieone 1/16/2020 11:15:14 AM (No. 290135)
#15, if you think this trial is the end of this fraud, think again. They will not stop until Trump is out of office in Jan 2025. It is beyond time to go on offense and start bringing these criminals to justice! Where are you DOJ??? This has to stop!
22 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 1/16/2020 11:29:36 AM (No. 290155)
It is both, #1, and I can't decide which is worse. It was the Obama/Biden cabal that froze the assets in the first place so the kids of senators and representatives could get their pockets full before the ax fell. Guess what, Chicken Butt. The ax has fallen.
I was not prepared for the denouement of Pierre Delecto, either. Pelosi's kid, for sure. Hunter Biden, naturally.
13 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
Rama41 1/16/2020 11:37:04 AM (No. 290162)
With Parnas and now the GAO, we're entering the Christine Blasey Ford chapter of impeachment, in spades. Expect something new each day from a Democrat treasure trove collected over the past three years.
16 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
Laotzu 1/16/2020 11:42:39 AM (No. 290163)
Mea culpa 2nd post. Drudge has a link to the report. It's a GAO General Counsel report. GAO is a Congressional Agency, not an executive (presidential) agency. The "report" is subtitled "decision." The General Counsel concludes the Presidents actions were illegal.
Judges are the arbiters of illegality. Not agency counsels. This is, in fact, a GC opinion, Not a "decision."
The entire thing was crafted to support an impeachment. Just read the last 2 paragraphs:
OMB and State have failed, as of yet, to provide the information we need to fulfill our
duties under the ICA regarding potential impoundments of FMF funds. We will
continue to pursue this matter and will provide our decision to the Congress after we
have received the necessary information.
WE CONSIDER A RELUCTANCE TO PROVIDE A FULSOME RESPONSE TO HAVE CONSTITUTIONAl SIGNIFICANCE. GAO’s role under the ICA—to provide information and legal analysis to
Congress as it performs oversight of executive activity—is essential to ensuring
respect for and allegiance to Congress’ constitutional power of the purse. All federal
officials and employees take an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution and its
core tenets, including the congressional power of the purse. We trust that State and
OMB will provide the information needed.
12 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Wendybird 1/16/2020 11:46:17 AM (No. 290165)
I must be stupid. Why did we “Owe” the Ukrainians money, or any asset, in the first place, and why is it breaking any law to change our mind about giving it, weather or not we did or didn’t. Isn’t that part of negotiations and dealings between nations since the beginning of what we call civilization. If it hadn’t been this farce of an excuse for “impeachment”, there are an infinity of others the democrats could have come up with.
Politics absolutely stinks. After all, it’s Our money being used to affect policy presumably in our interest.
20 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
ronniethek 1/16/2020 11:58:05 AM (No. 290171)
Eff the GAO.
10 people like this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
GoodDeal 1/16/2020 12:43:24 PM (No. 290210)
The GAO is infested by anti-Trump deep state Obozo holdovers.
13 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
jeffkinnh 1/16/2020 12:45:23 PM (No. 290214)
As I understand it, there was a deadline for the payment of aid but the money was released BY THE DEADLINE. Trump simply held up the release for further review but still met the timeline.
My credit card is due by the last day of the month. I "could" pay it on the first of the month but decide to wait until the due date while I check out a questionable charge. I pay before the end of the month. I am NOT delinquent and suffer NO penalties. I did nothing wrong.
Since the GAO is continually making BAD estimates of costs and savings, it's not surprising they got this wrong as well.
17 people like this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 1/16/2020 12:49:11 PM (No. 290217)
More of the Obama deep-state in need of removal. Remember that the GAO LIED before Congress during the Obamacare debate prior to the vote. They later admitted they knew it was NOT going to be "budget neutral" when they lied under oath.
12 people like this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
davew 1/16/2020 12:58:33 PM (No. 290231)
The only possible "violation" is that the OMB didn't send the required notice within 45 days of the delay. This has never been enforced before so the requirement has effectively been taken out of the law. The President has nothing to do with this other than to ask for a thorough review of all foreign aid spending to ensure that it isn't being wasted. If anyone thinks this amounts to a "high crime" they are delusional.
9 people like this.
Reply 29 - Posted by:
wakeupcall 1/16/2020 1:20:15 PM (No. 290254)
Attention GAO.
Where is the investigation on what happened to $5.7 Billion dollars that disappeared from the State Department coffers while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State under Pres Obama?
Where is the investigation on what happened to $3 Billion dollars that VP Biden while was Secretary of State under pres Obama gave to the corrupt Ukraine government $1 Billion dollars a year for three years and disappeared. That corrupt Ukraine government was finally kicked out in a coup and an honest government took over. The honest Ukraine government now in power leadership says their was no holding back any USAID funds by President Trump.
14 people like this.
Reply 30 - Posted by:
msjena 1/16/2020 1:20:32 PM (No. 290255)
If true, it's just a civil violation, not a crime--similar to Obama's violations of campaign finance laws.
6 people like this.
Reply 31 - Posted by:
kono 1/16/2020 1:37:58 PM (No. 290278)
Get ready for a series of "new evidence" to start popping up as the Senate trial proceeds, each progressively more ridiculous than before, very much like the way they tried to subvert the Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation hearings.
Re #1 - I'm inclined to expect the latter is the case (i.e. fake news).
3 people like this.
Reply 32 - Posted by:
wakeupcall 1/16/2020 1:41:26 PM (No. 290284)
#31 Missing Secretary of State name is John Kerry with VP Biden as US proconsul for Ukraine.
5 people like this.
Reply 33 - Posted by:
MDConservative 1/16/2020 1:47:36 PM (No. 290288)
I don't think so. Let's see how this game gets played. Another Article of Impeachment?
0 people like this.
Reply 34 - Posted by:
Highvoltage 1/16/2020 2:47:07 PM (No. 290331)
Several time the GAO said Obama broke the law.
0 people like this.
Reply 35 - Posted by:
dwa 1/16/2020 3:13:01 PM (No. 290349)
I believe the Supreme Court has ruled on a few occasions that the President may select which laws he enforces and which funds he spends. He cannot spend funds for other than what the Congress has identified them for, but he does not have to spend them. The GAO appears to be just another part of the swamp.
4 people like this.
Reply 36 - Posted by:
Right Time 1/16/2020 3:13:58 PM (No. 290350)
What does the GAO have to say about Obama's release of $1.5B to Iran that was not appropriated or approved by Congress?
5 people like this.
Reply 37 - Posted by:
Right Time 1/16/2020 3:20:24 PM (No. 290355)
Where is the law that specifies a specific time by which the Executive must release appropriations?
this doesn't say how long the funding was delayed. How long was the delay?
Ukraine reports that they never even knew there was a delay--that's how insignificant it was.
Someone in the GAO needs to get his butt fired
2 people like this.
Reply 38 - Posted by:
earlybird 1/16/2020 3:23:49 PM (No. 290361)
There is the matter of this.
Impoundment is an act by a President of the United States of not spending money that has been appropriated by the U.S. Congress. Thomas Jefferson was the first president to exercise the power of impoundment in 1801. The power was available to all presidents up to and including Richard Nixon, and was regarded as a power inherent to the office. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was passed in response to perceived abuse of the power under President Nixon. Title X of the Act removed that power, and Train v. City of New York (whose facts predate the 1974 Act, but which was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court after its passage), closed potential loopholes in the 1974 Act. The president's ability to indefinitely reject congressionally approved spending was thus removed.[1]
The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 provides that the president may propose rescission of specific funds, but that rescission must be approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate within 45 days. In effect, the requirement removed the impoundment power, since Congress is not required to vote on the rescission and, in fact, has ignored the vast majority of presidential requests.[2]
Forty-three states in the U.S. give their governors authority not to spend money allocated by the state legislature. The states which deny their governor the authority are Indiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont.[3] The Mayor of Washington, D.C. also has the impoundment power.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impoundment_of_appropriated_funds
The funds go to Ukraine within the specified time line. The President apparently released them. A normal person would not find a crime here.
5 people like this.
Reply 39 - Posted by:
judy 1/16/2020 4:01:30 PM (No. 290385)
Who's running the GAO...Comey?
3 people like this.
Reply 40 - Posted by:
bighambone 1/16/2020 4:39:23 PM (No. 290417)
The GAO is run by an Obama nominee, what more do you need to know! What they are essentially claiming is that the President has no discretion what-so-ever when he carries out US foreign policy. If you were to look into this matter in depth you will find that the money was released to Ukraine before the end of the facial year. This is all political and therefore is a lot about nothing.
4 people like this.
Reply 41 - Posted by:
NYbob 1/16/2020 4:47:15 PM (No. 290428)
Apparently vast areas of our Federal government are out and out traitors who intend to run this coup all the way into the next election which they are determined to steal. They've done it before and this is more hard core than ever. So what is left? We have one man the media attacks 24/7, along with the uniparty, who is fighting for the country as most of us knew it. We have powerful agencies with all kinds of life and death powers and zero accountability who hate us. Many powerful foreign enemies who are heavily involved in the coup and a frothing bunch of crazed haters on the left who believe all of the neocommunist brainwashing. They literally want to kill us, so let's go. Let's tear it all down and create massive misery because an infection was allowed to go unchecked for decades. Mitt and friends can run and hide while it all burns, but seems like an ultimate sorting out must occur. All we have to decide is will we submit to evil individually or put it all on the line to try and eradicate the evil. When I see this kind of Orwellian behavior I have my doubts about a bright future.
3 people like this.
Reply 42 - Posted by:
swarfer 1/16/2020 4:52:12 PM (No. 290431)
Only the Supreme Court can determine if the president exceeded his authority, not a government agency. The GAO exceed its authority making this statement.
Also the foreign aid package has no schedule for implementation, therefore the president is well within his authority to release the funds in order to implement foreign policy goals, which is this case is assuring the rampant corruption in Ukraine does not undermine democratic processes.
2 people like this.
Reply 43 - Posted by:
pixelero 1/16/2020 5:10:55 PM (No. 290442)
The Comptroller was nominated by President Obama in September of 2010.
2 people like this.
Reply 44 - Posted by:
slab 1/16/2020 6:30:33 PM (No. 290476)
All this excitement just because Creepy Joe and his creepster kid missed a couple graft payments.
Oh I forgot...likely half of Congress, too.
3 people like this.
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That's the whole article. I guess this is the new, new tactic. GAO says Prez broke the law -- put him handcuffs and let's haul him out of the White House. What a joke! It is beyond absurd at this point.