Trump missed call on Ukraine aid to play golf on day whistleblower complaint was filed: report
5 years ago

Trump missed call on Ukraine aid to play golf on day whistleblower complaint was filed: report

Salon  

President Donald Trump missed a conference call with top officials about his order to freeze military aid to Ukraine to play golf with professional player John Daly on the same day that the whistleblower complaint which triggered his impeachment was filed. Trump aide Robert Blair warned acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to “expect Congress to become unhinged” if the administration blocked aid appropriated by lawmakers. As Trump resisted pleas from his own Cabinet officials, lawyers at the Office of Management and Budget reportedly hatched a previously unreported argument that Trump's role as commander in chief of the armed forces “would simply allow him to override Congress on the issue.” While White House lawyers attempted to come up with a legal justification for the move, Trump continued to communicate with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who was leading a search for damaging information on former Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine. “He got caught.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said The Times report shows the need for the Senate to call witnesses like Mulvaney at Trump’s impeachment trial.

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History of this topic

Not Guilty: US Senate acquits Donald Trump of impeachment charges
4 years, 11 months ago

Not Guilty: US Senate acquits Donald Trump of impeachment charges

India Today  

US President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal Wednesday in the US Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House. What started as Trump's request for Ukraine to "do us a favor" spun into a far-reaching, 28,000-page …

US watchdog says White House violated law in freezing Ukraine aid, faithful execution doesn't permit president to substitute own policy priorities
4 years, 11 months ago

US watchdog says White House violated law in freezing Ukraine aid, faithful execution doesn't permit president to substitute own policy priorities

Firstpost  

The White House violated federal law in withholding Ukraine aid, an action at the centre of US president Donald Trump’s impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday Washington: The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the centre of US president Donald Trump’s impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday. The independent agency, …

Trump Broke The Law In Freezing Ukraine Funds, Watchdog Report Concludes
4 years, 11 months ago

Trump Broke The Law In Freezing Ukraine Funds, Watchdog Report Concludes

NPR  

Trump Broke The Law In Freezing Ukraine Funds, Watchdog Report Concludes Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Wilson/Getty Images Mark Wilson/Getty Images Updated at 6:20 p.m. ET A federal watchdog concluded that President Trump broke the law when he froze assistance funds for Ukraine last year, according to a report unveiled on Thursday. Sponsor Message The Office of Management and …

Read The Report To Congress About How Trump Broke Budget Law On Ukraine
4 years, 11 months ago

Read The Report To Congress About How Trump Broke Budget Law On Ukraine

NPR  

Read The Report To Congress About How Trump Broke Budget Law On Ukraine Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP An important federal watchdog released a report on Thursday concluding President Trump's actions in the Ukraine affair broken a budget law. House Democrats impeached Trump in part because they said he abused his power in freezing military aid …

Behind the Ukraine aid freeze: Eighty-four days of conflict and confusion in the Donald Trump administration
5 years ago

Behind the Ukraine aid freeze: Eighty-four days of conflict and confusion in the Donald Trump administration

Firstpost  

Those carrying out Donald Trump’s orders on the Ukraine aid were for the most part operating in different lanes from those seeking the investigations, including Rudy Giuliani and a number of senior diplomats, including Gordon D Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, and Kurt D Volker, the State Department’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia Washington: Deep into a …

Democrats demand witnesses as emails show White House froze Ukraine aid shortly after Trump call
5 years ago

Democrats demand witnesses as emails show White House froze Ukraine aid shortly after Trump call

Salon  

Democrats renewed their calls for the Senate to call new witnesses at President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial after emails obtained by the Center for Public Integrity showed that the White House directed a freeze on military aid to Ukraine about 90 minutes after Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Emails obtained by the government watchdog group …

White House ordered Pentagon to freeze Ukraine aid 90 minutes after Trump's call to Zelensky, documents reveal
5 years ago

White House ordered Pentagon to freeze Ukraine aid 90 minutes after Trump's call to Zelensky, documents reveal

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump’s administration ordered the Pentagon to freeze $391m of …

Despite Republican claims, Ukraine still has not received all of the aid blocked by Trump: report
5 years ago

Despite Republican claims, Ukraine still has not received all of the aid blocked by Trump: report

Salon  

Ukraine has reportedly still not received a portion of the military aid blocked by the Trump administration and continues to seek a White House meeting with the president, despite claims otherwise. And Ukraine is still seeking a White House meeting for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters Friday. Republicans have also claimed that Ukraine …

Trump knew of whistleblower before releasing Ukraine aid
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump knew of whistleblower before releasing Ukraine aid

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was briefed on the whistleblower complaint about his dealings with Ukraine before the White House released nearly $400 million in military aid to Kyiv, officials say, shedding new light on events that triggered the impeachment inquiry. The revelation comes just days before the House Judiciary Committee takes over the impeachment probe, scheduling a hearing for …

Mark Sandy transcript: Budget official testimony undermines impeachment defense on freezing Ukraine aid
5 years, 1 month ago

Mark Sandy transcript: Budget official testimony undermines impeachment defense on freezing Ukraine aid

CNN  

CNN — A career budget official undercut one of the White House’s arguments for freezing $400 million in security aid to Ukraine, according to a newly released transcript. Prior to that, Sandy testified, the White House rationale for the hold “was an open question over the course of late July and pretty much all of August, as I recall.” Sandy’s …

Official: Ukraine asked about aid on day of Trump call
5 years, 1 month ago

Official: Ukraine asked about aid on day of Trump call

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a blow to GOP defenses of President Donald Trump, a Defense Department official said Wednesday the Ukrainian government asked “what was going on” with U.S. military aid as early as July 25 — the very day that Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate Democrats. Cooper said her staff received an email on July 25 from a Ukrainian …

Two New Testimonies Put Sondland At Center Of Trump Ukraine Block
5 years, 1 month ago

Two New Testimonies Put Sondland At Center Of Trump Ukraine Block

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Transcripts released Saturday in the impeachment inquiry show Ambassador Gordon Sondland playing a central role in President Donald Trump’s effort to push Ukraine to conduct political investigations as a condition for receiving needed military aid. While some, including Trump himself, have begun to question Sondland’s knowledge of events, Morrison said the ambassador “related to me …

Trump releases rough transcript of April call with Ukraine’s president
5 years, 1 month ago

Trump releases rough transcript of April call with Ukraine’s president

LA Times  

President Trump on Friday released the summary transcript of his April congratulatory call with Ukraine’s president-elect, the latest salvo in the White House effort to blunt Democratic allegations that Trump abused his power by pressuring a foreign leader to get involved in U.S. politics. While the first readout of the call said Trump had expressed his commitment to help Ukraine …

Timeline: The curious release of military aid to Ukraine
5 years, 1 month ago

Timeline: The curious release of military aid to Ukraine

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Military aid promised by the U.S. to Ukraine — and the strange circumstances under which it was held up and eventually released — is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. A look at key dates involving the nearly $400 million in military assistance that had been approved for release in the early months …

Donald Trump impeachment hearing hears Ukraine aid was necessary not to appear 'weak' in face of Russia
5 years, 1 month ago

Donald Trump impeachment hearing hears Ukraine aid was necessary not to appear 'weak' in face of Russia

ABC  

A senior United States national security official told an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump that the military aid withheld from Ukraine was necessary for the country to appear strong while negotiating a peace deal with Russia. Key points: Defence official Laura Cooper told the impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump that the aid to Ukraine was necessary She …

Ukraine-Trump: Quick timeline of events that led to impeachment hearings
5 years, 1 month ago

Ukraine-Trump: Quick timeline of events that led to impeachment hearings

CNN  

CNN — The impeachment inquiry centers on claims that President Donald Trump used US tax dollars as bait to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open investigations that could damage former Vice President Joe Biden heading into the 2020 election. July 10 – White House meeting between US and Ukrainian officials This meeting has emerged as a key moment because …

Trump: White House will release transcript of another call with Ukraine
5 years, 2 months ago

Trump: White House will release transcript of another call with Ukraine

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump said he will release the transcript of another phone call with the President of Ukraine “probably” on Tuesday – this communication having taken place in April before the July conversation at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. A letter from the GOP House Republicans on Saturday submitted a list of witnesses they’d like to …

US diplomat: Trump linked Ukraine aid to demand for probe
5 years, 2 months ago

US diplomat: Trump linked Ukraine aid to demand for probe

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — A top U.S. diplomat testified Tuesday that President Donald Trump was holding back military aid for Ukraine unless the country agreed to investigate Democrats and a company linked to Joe Biden’s family, providing lawmakers with a detailed new account of the quid pro quo central to the impeachment probe. In a lengthy opening statement to House investigators obtained …

White House: Ukraine aid held up partly over election probe
5 years, 2 months ago

White House: Ukraine aid held up partly over election probe

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine was linked to his demand that Kyiv investigate the Democratic National Committee and the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, a shifting new explanation about events at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. The admission from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Thursday …

White House acknowledges Donald Trump's decision to hold up aid to Ukraine linked to 2016 election probe
5 years, 2 months ago

White House acknowledges Donald Trump's decision to hold up aid to Ukraine linked to 2016 election probe

Firstpost  

The White House acknowledged Thursday that President Donald Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine was linked to his demand that Kyiv investigate the Democratic National Committee and the 2016 US presidential campaign Washington: The White House acknowledged Thursday that President Donald Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine was linked to his demand that Kyiv …

White House: Ukraine aid held up in part over election probe
5 years, 2 months ago

White House: Ukraine aid held up in part over election probe

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House acknowledged Thursday that President Donald Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine was linked to his demand that Kyiv investigate the Democratic National Committee and the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, a shifting new explanation about events at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. The admission from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney undercut …

Trump-Ukraine scandal: A timeline
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump-Ukraine scandal: A timeline

The Hindu  

Here is a chronology of events in the Ukraine scandal, which has prompted the opening of an impeachment inquiry by the Democratic-led US House of Representatives into President Donald Trump July 25 Mr. Trump holds a 30-minute telephone conversation with Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former professional comedian who was elected in May 2019. September 26 The House Intelligence …

Trump claim on stalled aid for Ukraine draws new scrutiny
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump claim on stalled aid for Ukraine draws new scrutiny

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has said he withheld nearly $400 million in military aid from Ukraine because of corruption in the country, but recently released Pentagon documents undercut that explanation and add fuel to the whistleblower complaint that has launched an impeachment inquiry in Congress. Rood wrote that his certification, legally required before the aid could be released, was …

News Analysis: Ukraine saga reveals how Trump has been aided and shielded by loyalists
5 years, 3 months ago

News Analysis: Ukraine saga reveals how Trump has been aided and shielded by loyalists

LA Times  

Soon after President Trump took office nearly three years ago, he demanded to know who would serve as his Roy Cohn, the infamous bare-knuckled lawyer who had once defended him, mob bosses and gossipy celebrities in New York. Although the whistleblower said other White House officials were “deeply disturbed” by Trump’s actions, none have come forward. In July, Trump delayed …

White House releases incomplete ‘transcript’ of Trump’s Ukraine phone call about Joe Biden
5 years, 3 months ago

White House releases incomplete ‘transcript’ of Trump’s Ukraine phone call about Joe Biden

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The White House has released a memo of Donald Trump’s …

Trump-Ukraine memo: What it says, what we know and don’t know
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump-Ukraine memo: What it says, what we know and don’t know

Al Jazeera  

A look at what the call summary between US President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart says – and what it doesn’t. President Donald Trump repeatedly prodded Ukraine’s new leader to work with lawyer Rudy Giuliani and the US attorney general to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden, according to a memo summarising a July 25 call that was released on …

Trump ordered aid frozen; more Democrats want impeachment
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump ordered aid frozen; more Democrats want impeachment

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ordered his staff to freeze nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine a few days before a phone call in which he pressured the Eastern European nation’s leader to investigate the family of political rival Joe Biden, a revelation that comes as more Democrats move toward impeachment proceedings. “If you don’t talk about corruption, why …

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