Shortly after President Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 25th, Trump's Political Appointees were already Tasked with Carrying out a Freeze on Security Funding for Ukraine, Newly Released Government Documents show.
"Based on guidance I have received and in light of the Administration's plan to review assistance to Ukraine, including the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, please hold off on any additional DoD obligations of these funds, pending direction from that process," Mike Duffey, the White House Official in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) responsible for Overseeing National Security Money, wrote to Select OMB and Pentagon Officials on July 25th. "Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction," Duffey said.
While a Formal Notification would be sent later that day, this was the First Clear Sign that the Aid was being Held, a short time after the Phone Call, in which Trump pressed Zelensky for an Announcement of Investigations that could Boost Trump Politically.
A Judge Ordered the OMB and the Pentagon to Hand the Documents over to the Center for Public Integrity Friday in response to a FOIA Request. The Center for Public Integrity then Published the Documents late Friday night.
While much of the Release was Redacted, the Documents shed some light on the Conversations between Two Government Organizations who were carrying out the President's Orders even amid Concerns by some that they could Run Afoul of the Law.
One of the Earliest Signs of President Trump's concerns about the Funds stems from a June 19th Article in the Washington Examiner discussing the Congressionally Approved Military Aid for Ukraine totaling $250 Million.
The President apparently took Note of the Article and Duffey asked the Pentagon's Chief Financial Officer about the Plan to Support Ukraine the same day the Article was Published. "The President has asked about this funding release, and I have been tasked to follow-up with someone over there to get more detail."
Trump would go on to Freeze the Funds and, as the Freeze Dragged on, Officials began Raising Concerns about the Possibility of getting the Money to Ukraine in time -- even if the Hold was Lifted.
Top Ukraine Officials were told in Early August about the Delay of $391 Million in Security Assistance.
On September 5th, Department of Defense (DOD) Comptroller Elaine McCusker mentioned the "increasing risk of execution," a nod to Concerns at the Pentagon that the Continuing Hold could Prevent All the Money from being Spent.
Finally, on the Evening of September 11th, Duffey Alerted McCusker that he is Releasing the Money for Ukraine. "Copy. What happened?" McCusker asks.
The First Line of Duffey's Response is Redacted. He goes on to say he hopes to Sign the Apportionment to Release the Money that Evening and Signs Off, "Glad to have this behind us."
Also on Friday night, the Government Transparency Group American Oversight received Five Pages of Heavily Redacted Emails about the Ukraine Aid, including some sent by DOD Secretary Mark Esper.
Though these FOIA Releases have been Heavily Redacted, they begin to shade in more Detail about Officials' Exchanges Regarding the Ukraine Aid Pause, which House Democrats pursued as they Investigated and Impeached the President but could Not Access because of the White House's Refusal to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas.
More than $35 Million of the roughly $400 Million in Aid to Ukraine that President Trump Delayed, Sparking the Impeachment Inquiry, has Still Not been Released to the Ukraine, according to a Pentagon Spending Document. Instead, the Defense Funding for Ukraine remains in U.S. Accounts.
After nearly Three Months of Unexplained Delay, the Trump Administration Quietly released on Dec. 2nd, 2019, over $100 Million in Military Assistance to Lebanon. Although the Money had already Received Congressional Approval and Backing from the Pentagon, it had been held up in the OMB since September 2019.
Since 2006, the U.S. has provided over $1.7 Billion to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). These Funds have Equipped the LAF with American Aircraft, Artillery, Small Arms, and Ammunition, and provided Training and Advisory Support to Lebanese Troops. U.S. Policy in Lebanon seeks to Counter the Influence of Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah, primarily by Strengthening the LAF and other Lebanese State Institutions. This Strategy has Attracted both Supporters, who argue that the LAF serves as a Critical Bulwark against Hezbollah, and Detractors, who contend that U.S. Aid risks either Falling into the Hands of Hezbollah or Supporting a Government with Close Ties to the Group.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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