The Washington Post has just published a damning report showing that President Donald Trump’s extortion of Ukraine was not limited to withholding $400 million in congressionally-approved military aid. Trump’s trade representative delayed granting trade privileges to Ukraine, in addition to Trump withholding the military aid.
White House trade representative Robert Lighthizer (photo) “in late August withdrew a recommendation to restore some of Ukraine’s 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,” the Washington Post states.
Trump made clear to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that his release of the $400 million of military aid was continent on Zelensky not only investigating former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, but personally and very publicly announcing that investigation. Despite there being no evidence of wrongdoing, doing so would have harmed Biden.
“The August exchange between Bolton and Lighthizer over the trade matter represents the first indication that the administration’s suspension of assistance to Ukraine extended beyond the congressionally authorized military aid and security assistance to other government programs.
Image: USDA Photo by Tomasina Brown via Flickr