The Trump administration broke the law by withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine last summer "for a policy reason," a top government watchdog said Thursday in a scathing report.
The Government Accountability Office's report came a day after the House of Representatives sent articles of its impeachment of President Donald Trumpto the Senate for conduct related to holding back that aid.
Trump refused to release the funds to Ukraine at the same time he was pressuring that country's new president to announce investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and of Biden's son Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukraine gas company. Joe Biden is the current front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The funds were only released after the block on the aid became publicly known, sparking the congressional probe which led to the Republican president's impeachment by the Democratic-controlled House.
The GAO report said that the Office of Management and Budget cited "a policy reason" for withholding $214 million in funds appropriated by Congress to the Defense Department for security assistance to Ukraine.
But a policy reason "is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act" to withhold funds appropriated by Congress, GAO said.
"The withholding was not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA."
"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 said.
The agency noted that the Constitution "specifically vests Congress with the power of the purse."
And the report said that Trump, like all other presidents, "is not vested with the power to ignore or amend any such duly enacted law."
"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said, "The OMB, the White House, the administration, broke — I'm saying this —- broke the law."
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The Government Accountability Office's report came a day after the House of Representatives sent articles of its impeachment of President Donald Trumpto the Senate for conduct related to holding back that aid.
Trump refused to release the funds to Ukraine at the same time he was pressuring that country's new president to announce investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and of Biden's son Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukraine gas company. Joe Biden is the current front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The funds were only released after the block on the aid became publicly known, sparking the congressional probe which led to the Republican president's impeachment by the Democratic-controlled House.
The GAO report said that the Office of Management and Budget cited "a policy reason" for withholding $214 million in funds appropriated by Congress to the Defense Department for security assistance to Ukraine.
But a policy reason "is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act" to withhold funds appropriated by Congress, GAO said.
"The withholding was not a programmatic delay. Therefore, we conclude that OMB violated the ICA."
"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 said.
The agency noted that the Constitution "specifically vests Congress with the power of the purse."
And the report said that Trump, like all other presidents, "is not vested with the power to ignore or amend any such duly enacted law."
"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said, "The OMB, the White House, the administration, broke — I'm saying this —- broke the law."
Trump administration broke law in withholding Ukraine aid, watchdog says as Senate prepares for impeachment trial
The Trump administration broke the law by witholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine over the summer "for a policy reason," a top government watchdog said Thursday.
