New info on Trump pressuring Ukraine for favors: White House froze Pentagon aid to Ukraine just 90 minutes after Trump had his July 25 phone call with Zelensky. And Trump may have begun asking about the aid on June 19, after seeing a news story on it. nytimes.com/2019/12/21/us/…
The new details come from emails released by the Pentagon to the Center for Public Integrity, which had filed a FOIA request. Michael Duffey, a political appointee at OMB, emailed the Pentagon with order to hold the aid. @SenSchumer says the emails show Duffey should testify.
OMB and the Pentagon had no comment on the emails. An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, argued the timing of Duffey's July 25 email was a coincidence. They said there had been ongoing email exchanges about holding the $250 million in aid.
UPDATE: OMB issued a statement: “It’s reckless to tie the hold of funds to the phone call.” The hold was announced at an interagency meeting on July 18, a week before the Zelensky call. Also, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman of NSC staff was told by State Dept. of OMB hold by July 3.
