CONGRESS/ETHICS/FOREIGN AID/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UKRAINE: “Congress’ nonpartisan watchdog said Thursday [11-7-19] it is reviewing the Trump administration’s decision this summer to hold up hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine to determine whether officials violated appropriations law by not notifying Congress of the hold. POLITICO first reported in August about the freeze placed on $250 million in funds meant to help Ukraine deter Russian aggression, despite the money already having been appropriated by Congress. The hold, which numerous administration officials have suggested in testimony was conditioned on Ukraine agreeing to launch investigations into Trump’s political rivals, is at the heart of the ongoing impeachment probe in the House…A spokesman for the Government Accountability Office confirmed that the agency is reviewing whether the administration violated appropriations law by failing to notify Congress of the development after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) requested the review during a Senate Budget Committee hearing last week.”
–Caitlin Oprysko, “GAO reviewing Trump administration freeze on Ukraine military aid,” Politico, November 7, 2019 4:35 pm