White House Shifted Authority Over Ukraine Aid Amid Legal Concerns

[highplainsdem]

Source: WSJ

WASHINGTON—The White House gave a politically appointed official the authority to keep aid to Ukraine on hold after career budget staff members questioned the legality of delaying the funds, according to people familiar with the matter, a shift that House Democrats are probing in their impeachment inquiry.

-snip-

The president has the authority to delay the release of money in certain instances, according to the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan research agency, including if there has been an unexpected change in circumstances for the program. But without being provided explanation or justification about why the administration was delaying the aid, some career officials at the Office of Management and Budget became worried they didn’t have the legal authority to hold up the funds, according to the people familiar.

While career civil servants put an initial hold on the aid, Michael Duffey, associate director of national security programs in OMB, was given the authority for continuing to keep the aid on hold after the career staff began raising their concerns to political officials at OMB, according to the people familiar with the matter. Mr. Duffey also began overseeing the process for approving and releasing funds, called apportionment, for other foreign aid and defense accounts, according to a public document indicating the change.

-snip-

A political official like Mr. Duffey signing off on apportionments is unusual, according to several former OMB officials. Career staff below the political level at OMB with years, and sometimes decades, of technical knowledge of the funding process have historically overseen the routine process, according to the former officials. Career staff remain involved in preparing the apportionments, while Mr. Duffey now reviews and signs off on them, according to some of the people.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-shifted-authority-over-ukraine-aid-amid-legal-concerns-11570717571

[Kid Berwyn]

1. Looks like a lot of people are in big trouble.

These will be remembered as the Golden Age for American lawyers, along with all the treason.

[DeminPennswoods]

2. It's all coming out and will continue to do so

Because it was so easy to understand the extortion Trump worked on Ukraine, it grabbed Americans' attention. And now the general public is primed to hear all the other stuff. I think that's a big reason the poll numbers are moving against Trump so quickly.

Every new story is another eye-popping example of Trump/admin grifter modus operenandi. It's like, wow, these people are so crooked.

[drray23]

3. It's going to take years to root out every remains

Of the Trump regime from all the federal agencies.

[bluestarone]

4. This whitehouse has ROOTS going to every country that

IS OUR ENEMY!!