House Republicans are backing up their vow to probe U.S. support for Ukraine in search of potential waste and fraud – with a letter released on the last day of President Biden’s to Europe on the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
A letter by House Oversight and Accountability Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) puts the Pentagon and State Department on notice that investigators want to see documentation of U.S. military and humanitarian assistance to the Eastern European war-torn nation.
‘Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago, Congress has provided more than $113 billion for security, humanitarian, economic, and governance assistance. It is critical that government agencies administering these funds ensure they are used for their intended purposes to prevent and reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse,’ Comer wrote.
The push comes after Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Ukraine would not get a ‘blank check’ from Republicans, after Biden wrapped up a three-day visit to Ukraine and Poland with a dramatic speech that concluded with flag-waving children waving American and Ukrainian flags.
Comer addressed the letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and USAID head Samantha Power.
The letter notes a comment by National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby that, ‘We have not seen any signs that our budgetary assistance has fallen prey to any kind of corruption in Ukraine,’ and then points to alleged examples of financial malfeasance.
The letter then seeks ‘all documents and communications regarding strategies for end-use monitoring of weapons, equipment, direct budgeting assistance, and any other form of economic or security assistance for the Ukrainian people.’
The committee is seeking documents and communications on ‘anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, those on how much money has been disbursed for Ukrainian assistance, economic assistance, funds to multilateral organizations, and information on conditions for assistance and benchmarks.’
It all comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to make impassioned pleas for additional aid, including U.S. fighter jets amid continued Russian bombardments.
Biden announced the latest $500 million military aid package on his trip.
‘Together, we’ve committed nearly 700 tanks and thousands of armored vehicles. 1,000 artillery systems, more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition, more than 50 advanced launch rocket systems, anti-ship and air defense systems, all to defend Ukraine,’ Biden said on his surprise wartime visit to Kyiv. ‘And that doesn’t count the other half a billion dollars we’re announcing with you today and tomorrow that’s going to be coming your way.’
‘Providing security and humanitarian assistance for warfighting and reconstruction purposes comes with an inherent risk of fraud, waste, and abuse,’ Comer wrote, before insisting that the U.S. must develop ‘oversight mechanisms’ to mitigate risks made worse by mandates to spend money ‘quickly,’ wrote Comer.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
