Washington, D.C. (Jan.16, 2020)—Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement after the independent Government Accountability Office issued a legal opinion concluding that the Trump Administration violated federal law by withholding hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russian aggression:
“Today’s report is extremely troubling because it documents in great detail President Trump’s belief that he is above the law and his utter contempt for Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
“President Trump violated federal law when he withheld hundreds of millions of dollars that Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis to help Ukraine combat Russian aggression. President Trump and his top aides refused to cooperate with this independent investigation, just as they obstructed the impeachment investigation conducted by the House of Representatives.
“Today’s report—issued by independent attorneys—erases any lingering question about whether the Senate must subpoena documents and witnesses in order to conduct a fair trial.”