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House GOP launches probe into Zelensky's Pennsylvania trip

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
26 Sep 2024 08:26

Rep. James Comer requests documents related to the US administration’s "misuse of government resources" to allow Zelensky to "interfere in the 2024 presidential election."

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President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Congress as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up a Ukrainian national flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, December 21. (AFP/Getty Images)

The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into allegations that the Biden-Harris administration used taxpayer-funded resources to fly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a key battleground state, Pennsylvania, ahead of the upcoming presidential election, Fox News Digital reported.

Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent letters to the White House, Pentagon, and Justice Department on Wednesday, requesting documents related to the administration’s alleged "misuse of government resources" to allow Zelensky to "interfere in the 2024 presidential election."

Comer referenced the 2019 impeachment of President Donald Trump, writing, "In 2019, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives impeached President Donald J. Trump for abuse of power under the theory that he attempted to use a foreign leader — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — to benefit his 2020 presidential campaign, despite a lack of any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of President Trump."

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Comer pointed out that the Biden-Harris administration "recently flew the same foreign leader — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — on an American-taxpayer-funded flight to Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the upcoming 2024 presidential election," which has been described as "the ‘trickiest battleground for Vice President Kamala Harris to win.’"

He stated that the Committee aims "to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power." He explained that the committee is investigating the circumstances behind the administration’s decision to transport Zelensky on a Department of the Air Force aircraft to Pennsylvania.

According to Comer, Zelensky’s itinerary in Pennsylvania included a meeting with Governor Josh Shapiro. He also referenced a recent interview where Zelensky criticized Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, calling the latter "too radical".

Comer noted that Zelensky expressed doubt about Trump and his administration's ability to end the war, even though "this being one of President Trump’s main campaign platforms [and peace in the region under the entirety of the former Trump administration]."

He added, "This rhetoric coming from a foreign leader released in anticipation of a US-taxpayer funded visit about the current Administration’s political opponent is highly concerning." He further stated that 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."

In his letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Comer emphasized that the DOJ places a strong emphasis on preventing foreign interference in US elections, particularly from adversarial nations.

He stressed that the House Oversight Committee "believes no foreign actor — whether or not deemed ‘malign’ by DOJ — should be permitted to interfere in American elections." It is worth noting that his letters were sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and White House Counsel Edward Siskel.