White House delayed Ukraine trade decision in August
Source: Washington Post
The White Houses trade representative in late August withdrew a recommendation to restore some of Ukraines trade privileges after John Bolton, then-national security adviser, warned him that President Trump probably would oppose any action that benefited the government in Kyiv, according to people briefed on the matter.
The warning to Robert E. Lighthizer came as Trump was withholding $391 million in military aid and security assistance from Ukraine. House Democrats have launched an impeachment inquiry into allegations that the president did so to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the business activities of former vice president Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden. As part of the inquiry, lawmakers are closely scrutinizing the White Houses actions between July and September.
The August exchange between Bolton and Lighthizer over the trade matter represents the first indication that the administrations suspension of assistance to Ukraine extended beyond the congressionally authorized military aid and security assistance to other government programs. It is not clear whether Trump directed Bolton to intervene over Ukraines trade privileges or was even aware of the discussion. It was pulled back shortly before it was going to POTUS desk, one administration official said, referring to the Ukraine paperwork and using an acronym for the U.S. president. Bolton intervened with Lighthizer to block it.
In response to questions from The Washington Post, another administration official said the presidential proclamation about the trade status of Ukraine and two other nations had been held up for several weeks in the office of the White House staff secretary as part of a routine country review process.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-delayed-ukraine-trade-decision-in-august-a-signal-that-us-suspension-of-cooperation-extended-beyond-security-funds/2019/10/24/a42b8992-f67d-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html
Full headline: White House delayed Ukraine trade decision in August, a signal that U.S. suspension of cooperation extended beyond security funds
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,137 posts)if he is subpoenaed and does show up.
(one of those "revenge is a dish served cold" kind of things)