Political Quotes

“Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself, Senator Ernst, and Senator Crapo. The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question from Senator Lankford and the other Senators is for the counsel for the President: House managers have described any delay in military aid and State Department funds to Ukraine in 2019 as a cause to believe there was a secret scheme or quid pro quo by the President. In 2019, 86% of the DOD funds were obligated to Ukraine in September, but in 2018, 67% of the funds were obligated in September and in 2017, 73% of the funds were obligated in September. In the State Department, the funds were obligated September 30 in 2019, but they were obligated September 28 in 2018. Each year, the vast majority of the funds were obligated in the final month or days of the fiscal year. Was there a national security risk to Ukraine or the United States from the funds going out at the end of September in the 2 previous years? Did it weaken our relationship with Ukraine because the vast majority of our aid was released in September each of the last 3 years? Mr. Counsel PHILBIN. Mr. Chief Justice and Senators, thank you for that question. And the short, straightforward answer is there was no jeopardy to the national security interest of the United States from the timing of the release of this money. As the question indicated, the vast bulk of the funds in each of the prior 2 fiscal years were also obligated in September.…”