Laura Cooper, top Pentagon expert on Ukraine, told Congress that, during the summer, Trump had two possible legal options for withholding aid.
Trump chose neither option, and instead chose to keep on illegally withholding funds.
Thread
nbcnews.com/politics/trump…
Trump chose neither option, and instead chose to keep on illegally withholding funds.
Thread
nbcnews.com/politics/trump…
After Trump put the aid on hold on July 18, Cooper met with other Pentagon officials to determine the legality of the hold.
She told National Security personnel that if Trump wanted to block the aid to Ukraine, he had two possible options: a rescission or a reprogramming action.
She told National Security personnel that if Trump wanted to block the aid to Ukraine, he had two possible options: a rescission or a reprogramming action.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, the president can seek to rescind or cancel appropriated funds.
To do so, the key is that he must send a special message to Congress explaining the decision and the rationale.
To do so, the key is that he must send a special message to Congress explaining the decision and the rationale.
For a reprogramming action, the Pentagon diverts appropriated funds for another purpose. This too requires a special message to Congress.
Upon being advised of the options, Trump did nothing.
Upon being advised of the options, Trump did nothing.
He knew that even if he had a legitimate reason for withholding aid (his concern with corruption in Ukraine, not Biden), he had to go through the proper channels and inform Congress.
He deliberately chose not to do so. Why not? Simple.
He deliberately chose not to do so. Why not? Simple.
He didn't want Congress to know, because withholding aid was part of an illicit extortion scheme to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden.
Telling them would mean his scheme would have been blown up.
Telling them would mean his scheme would have been blown up.
What this all means is that the withholding of aid, at least from the point when he knew he had to inform Congress but chose not to, was done with corrupt intent.
Trump sometimes tries to defend corrupt action by claiming ignorance-that he didn't know he was breaking the law.
Trump sometimes tries to defend corrupt action by claiming ignorance-that he didn't know he was breaking the law.
It's a defense based on incompetence.
Here, he cannot claim he was ignorant of the law. He knew the legal options and he deliberately ignored them.
Here, he cannot claim he was ignorant of the law. He knew the legal options and he deliberately ignored them.
Everything about the withholding of aid was corrupt from that point forward, without even considering that it was part of an extortion scheme.
Add all that together and you get a clear "high crime and misdemeanor."
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Add all that together and you get a clear "high crime and misdemeanor."
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