The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into the Biden Administration’s use of taxpayer funds to fly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a key 2024 swing state in the midst of an election.
The trip aboard at U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft to Pennsylvania to visit a munitions plant and meet local officials, followed several public comments by the Ukrainian leader criticizing GOP nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance for their comments on the war his country is fighting against Russia after it invaded more than two years ago.
In three letters, to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and the White House Counsel’s Office, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says he wants to understand the circumstances behind Zelensky’s trip and determine whether the administration used the leader to benefit the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The Committee seeks to understand the circumstances that led—and any facts that could justify—the Biden-Harris Administration to transport President Zelensky on a Department of the Air Force aircraft to Pennsylvania to introduce government officials to President Zelensky about the Russia-Ukraine war,” Comer wrote.
You can read the letters below:
In an interview with the New Yorker published Sunday ahead of the trip, Zelensky was critical of Trump’s position on the Ukraine war, saying that he probably “doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.”
Of Vance, Zelensky said, “He is too radical.”
“This rhetoric coming from a foreign leader released in anticipation of a U.S.-taxpayer-funded visit about the current Administration’s political opponent is highly concerning,” Comer wrote.
“The Committee is investigating any coordination or communication among the Biden-Harris Administration, Pennsylvania’s Office of the Governor, and President Zelensky for use or solicitation of use of government property to politically benefit Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign,” he continued.
The committee is requesting documents and communications about Zelensky’s visit from the Justice Department, Defense Department, and the White House so that it can determine if there was any “potential interference in a federal election.”
Other Republicans have dismissed concerns about the political nature of Zelensky’s visit.
“President Zelensky is trying to do everything he can to secure the support for a sustained successful effort against Putin. My guess is, if we were in similar circumstances, we’d do the same thing,” North Carolina GOP Senator Thom Tillis said.
“He’s making a reference to JD’s comments about supporting the Ukraine effort… And in that case I agree. JD has a position I don’t share, unfortunately. The majority of Congress doesn’t either,” he continued.
Steven joined Just the News in August 2023 after previously working as a Research Analyst for the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a two-time graduate of Florida State University with a Masters in Political Science and a B.S. in International Affairs.
Reprinted with permission from Just the News – By Steven Richards
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
The US needs to cut all ties to this corrupt clown. He’s sucking this country dry
Why is this guy treated better than the American people? The taxpayers money could do so much to improve infrastructure here at home.
You had to know the House was going to announce an investigation into this as soon as the story broke yesterday. The problem is the House doesn’t have a means to enforce any witnesses of note to show up and testify for a hearing given the DOJ and the Attorney General aren’t enforcing subpoenas for Republicans. That’s what happens when you have a corrupt AG and Justice Department. So, the House investigation may make for a nice headline, but ultimately it will go nowhere before the election.
Zelinski must stay out of America’s election process. I thought he had a brain, but I guess I was wrong. By endorsing and supporting another vegetable (Kamala) to be President of the United States proves my point.
Well, YOU THINK! You can bet that he has over 5 million dollars or more in an over seas accounts plus more!
Zelensky is making the current regime look like a bunch of fools (which they are). We need to stop giving money to him NOW! His trip being funded by our tax dollars when our regime only wanted him to endorse Kacklin’ Kamala is outrageous. But then everything out of these DC Communists is outrageous. Praying they get kicked out of office, federally and locally in November.
Frankly, I can’t help but hope that somehow all flights will restrict boarding to a rigid certification standard for boarding flights immediately and until the election without proof of all forms of legitimate right to vote in this country. Nothing without absolute proof of citizenship dated well before Biden presidency. Nothing printed up between now and then. Cut off anything after the Biden election onward to date and absolute no government planes to be used shuffling non eligible to meet the strict standards above. I believe with the way things are going via Biden/Harris reign they will try to sell us further down the drain by counting on flooding this country with open boarders to fill to nothing lower than counting on non-citizen voters as a master plan. Frankly what they will likely try to pull off should be an affront to any citizen with a history of paying taxes to live here some for years and years.
Until there is an accounting of where the money we give to Ukraine is made, the bank account needs to be closed. Also, once Trump gets in office maybe we can get an accounting if the weapons to push Russia back is working. I know Biden handcuffed Ukraine on how far they could go which was wrong.
Zelensky must have been told that Kamala will win so he had to brown nose her to get more funds. The billions we have given to Zelensky is added to our DEBT of now over $35,TRILLION, no thanks to the reckless spending of this admin of Biden & Kamala. Many generations will have to pay for that DEBT which exceeded the total of all Govt. debts since 1st Pres. George Washington took office in 1789. Biden & Kamala buried us in DEBT AND A POSSIBLE WORLD WAR 111….REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU VOTE.
We have given Ukraine hundreds of BILLIONS in dollars which exceeds any European country’s support, why? Is it because the Bidens still have an open Court case in Ukraine as reported, dealing with Hunter’s business dealings there? Is Biden under duress from them?
Where are the media screaming collusion ,never shutting up?
Getting an endorsement by Zelinsky carries almost as much weight as one by P. Diddy… You can’t fly a Trump flag in military housing but these jackwagons can fly a “Ukrainians for Kamala” endorsement on a military plane? Top off the visit and take him to French Laundry for lunch and a NYC drug-fueled sex party while throwing a small business owner in jail… just for old times sake! Gee. Could have sworn Trump got “impeached” for less…
Get the answer GOP’s!
Why? There will be NO recourse over it, there never is! 🙁
And Dictator Beijing biden gives Zelensky another $9 Billion after his Election Interference in Pennsylvania trip on taxpayer expense. Yet, Americans continue to suffer and putting Americans last as usual. Where’s the $9 Billion for Americans which is OUR money?
Is Zelensky doing this so Biden/Harris will give him more $$$? I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. What all Americans would like to know, is exactly what happened to all the money already sent Zelensky already – some accountability should be mandatory. But no, Biden admin dispurses $$Billions of other’s money like it grows on trees.
These democrats will do ANYTHING to stay in power. Their open border was done for one reason, to get thousands of illegals to vote!
The Democrats love to waste money, this is a perfect example. Who gives a hoot about this man’s opinion? No doubt his whole ‘World Tour has been financed by American Taxpayers. I for one am fed up with his shenanigans. It’s way past time to put a stop to wasteful spending!
This is fine. They will investigate until the cows come home but they never do anything. The just use it to be their soapbox to politic from. For goodness sakes GOP get off of your butt and do something!
Dems have absolutely No ethicist, will use ANY tactic, but this election will turn on garbage disposal in the swamp! Yea we’re SICK of the stink!
HOW DARE those evil Republicans questioning the awesome Democrats giving carte blanche treatment and travel for Zelensky during his campaign event for the glorious Democrat Party and it’s “black” Presidential candidate, Kamala “knees” Harris. After all Zelensky presides over the most awesome militarized groups of Nazis the world has ever seen post 1945. I sure don’t see the Republicans using taxpayer money to allow this awesome gentle leader to provide free air time for his favorite US political party.
And election interference, melection interference, such laws only apply to Republicans.