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U.S. Defense Department IG Declines to Open Probe Into Ukraine Aid


The U.S. Defense Department Inspector General's (IG) Office is Declining to Open an Investigation into why Military Assistance to Ukraine was Delayed by the Trump Administration.

The Decision was made out of concern that such a Probe could Duplicate or Interfere with the Impeachment Inquiry taking place in the House, according to a Letter sent to Senators Wednesday.

A Spokesperson for the Defense Department IG Confirmed that they had sent a Letter to Several Top Democratic Senators regarding the Decision but noted that "as circumstances evolve our decision could change." Democrats who had Requested the Review expressed their Disappointment.

"We are disappointed that the Defense Department Office of the Inspector General has declined to investigate the Defense Department's delay of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding appropriated by Congress," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), said in a statement.

He and several other Top Democrats had Written to the Acting Inspector General in September asking him to Investigate the Delay, citing concerns that it "would appear to have hindered the Department's statutory obligation to provide security assistance to Ukraine at a critical moment, and raises serious questions about whether DoD officials were involved in any scheme to target a political opponent. As a result, it is imperative that your office pursue a thorough review of DoD's potential role in these allegations, and provide your findings to the congressional defense committees in a timely manner," Durbin wrote in the Letter to Acting Inspector General Glenn Fine.

News that the Trump Administration had Placed a Hold on Aid to Ukraine surfaced in late August, and the Circumstances surrounding that Decision have come under Scrutiny as part of the House Democratic Impeachment Inquiry into President Trump.

House Democrats Conducting the Impeachment Probe have argued the President attempted to use the Aid as Leverage while Pressing Ukraine to Investigate Domestic Political Rivals, Evidence, they say, of a Bribery.

A Congressional Watchdog Group announced earlier this month that it is Conducting a Review to determine whether the Trump Administration Violated Appropriations Law by Halting the Funds.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) initiated the Review after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), asked the U.S. Comptroller whether the Administration had Violated the Law by holding the Funds until "the very last moment" and Failing to Notify Congress of the Decision, according to the Office's Spokesman Charles Young.

The President has Claimed that he was the one to Release the Funds, and that there was No Bribery (quid pro quo), for his Call to Investigate Joe Biden and his Son, and Hillary Clinton's Server.

It wasn’t Donald Trump who Released the Promised Military Aid to Ukraine, but the State Department, after Lawyers determined that the White House Freeze on the Funds was Illegal.

Trump has Claimed he Released the Aid on September 11th. But Five Sources said that $141 Million of the Funding Money was actually Authorized to be Released Several Days Earlier after Lawyers determined that the White House Office of Management and Budget and, therefore, the President, had No Legal Standing to Block the Funds. The Decision was Outlined in a Classified Memo to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Officials Supporting Ukraine Feared that if the Money was Not Disbursed by September 30th, the End of the Fiscal year, it would likely No Longer be Available.

Trump also pointed to the Fact that he Released the Aid before a Probe was Begun. But Trump was No Longer in Control of Disbursement when the Money was Released, as part of the Total of some $400 Million.

Its been Reported that Ukraine President Zelensky had already Scheduled an Interview on CNN in September to Announce the Launch of the Investigation, even though he was Opposed to it, in order to Obtain the much needed Funding. When the Money was Released, Zelensky quickly Dropped the CNN Appearance and did Not begin a Probe.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


     
 
 


This post first appeared on The Independent View, please read the originial post: here

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