Cameron Miranda
There is no clear law on the matter of whether or not Trump broke the law with his Ukraine call. However, it is argued that Trump was seeking something of value from Ukraine, namely opposition research on Biden, and that he used military aid as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president. This could be interpreted as a violation of the Impoundment Control Act, as Trump withheld $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Law broken | Impoundment Control Act |
| Action | Withholding $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress |
| Impeachable | A presidential action does not need to break a law to be impeachable |
| Seeking something of value from Ukraine | Opposition research on Biden |
| Bargaining chip | Using military aid as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's Ukraine call
It is unclear whether Trump broke the law with his Ukraine call, as there is no clear law on the matter. However, it is argued that Trump was seeking something of value from Ukraine, namely opposition research on Biden. This is made worse by the fact that Trump used military aid in his negotiation, leveraging taxpayer money as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president. Trump withheld $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress, violating the Impoundment Control Act. This law was passed in 1974 to prevent a rogue president from withholding lawfully appropriated funds.
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Trump's withholding of military aid
On the day House managers transmitted two articles of impeachment to the Senate, the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan public auditor, reported that President Trump violated the Impoundment Control Act by withholding $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress. The Impoundment Control Act was passed in 1974 to prevent a rogue president from withholding lawfully appropriated funds.
Trump's supporters might argue that he did not break any laws with his Ukraine call. They could claim that he was simply exercising his executive power and acting in the best interests of the United States. However, the Government Accountability Office concluded that "faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law."
The withholding of military aid to Ukraine is a serious matter that threatens the national security of both countries. It is important to note that the American government had voted to give the money to Ukraine, and Trump's decision to withhold it was a unilateral one. This action not only strengthens the argument of the abuse of power but also adds another layer of misconduct to Trump's presidency.
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Abuse of power
It is important to note that a presidential action does not need to break a law to be impeachable. However, in the case of Donald Trump, it is argued that he did break the law. On the day House managers transmitted two articles of impeachment to the Senate, the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan public auditor, reported that President Trump violated the Impoundment Control Act by unilaterally withholding $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress. This was a serious violation as the law was passed to prevent a rogue president from withholding lawfully appropriated funds.
Supporters of impeachment also argue that Trump was seeking something of value from Ukraine, namely opposition research on Biden. This is made worse by the fact that Trump used military aid in his negotiation, leveraging taxpayer money as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president. Since the American government had voted to give the money to Ukraine, Trump withholding it to solicit information that would benefit himself strengthens the argument of abuse of power.
Trump's actions in relation to Ukraine clearly demonstrate an abuse of power. By withholding military aid that had been voted on by Congress, he was substituting his own policy priorities for those that had been enacted into law. This is a direct violation of the principle of faithful execution of the law, which requires the president to implement laws as they are written, not as he might prefer them to be.
Trump's use of military aid as a bargaining chip further underscores his abuse of power. By leveraging taxpayer money to pressure Ukraine's president, he was acting in his own self-interest rather than in the best interests of the country. This is a clear example of misconduct and an abuse of the power entrusted to him as president.
In conclusion, while it is challenging to prove that Trump broke the law with his Ukraine call, his actions undoubtedly constitute an abuse of power. His willingness to withhold congressionally approved aid and use it as leverage for personal gain demonstrates a disregard for the law and the principles of faithful execution. This abuse of power, coupled with his attempts to pressure a foreign leader, ultimately led to his impeachment.
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Impoundment Control Act violation
The Impoundment Control Act was passed in 1974 to prevent a rogue president from withholding lawfully appropriated funds. In 2020, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that President Trump had violated this act by withholding $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress. The GAO concluded that "faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law".
Trump's actions in relation to Ukraine are central to the question of whether he broke the law. Those who support his impeachment say that he was seeking something of value from Ukraine, namely opposition research on Biden. This was made worse by the fact that he used military aid in his negotiation, leveraging taxpayer money as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president.
To be impeachable, a presidential action does not need to break a law. However, in this case, it is argued that Trump's actions did break the law. The Impoundment Control Act violation is a serious matter, as it involves the unlawful withholding of funds appropriated by Congress. This violation is not a minor technicality, and it contributed to the case for Trump's impeachment.
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Trump's impeachment not requiring a law to be broken
It is important to note that a presidential action does not need to break a law to be impeachable. However, in the case of Donald Trump's impeachment, it is argued that he did break the law.
Trump was accused of violating the Impoundment Control Act by withholding $214 million of legislatively appropriated Defense Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan public auditor, reported this violation on the day House managers transmitted two articles of impeachment to the Senate. The office concluded that:
> “Faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law.”
Trump's actions in relation to Ukraine are also seen as a form of misconduct and abuse of power. By withholding military aid, which had been voted on by the American government, to solicit information that would benefit himself, Trump is seen as having used taxpayer money as a bargaining chip to pressure Ukraine's president.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to argue that Trump broke the law, as there is no clear law on the matter. However, his actions might have been impeachable.
Yes. Trump violated the Impoundment Control Act by withholding $214 million of Defence Department aid for Ukraine without obtaining authorization from Congress.
Yes. Trump withheld military aid to pressure Ukraine's president, leveraging taxpayer money as a bargaining chip.
Yes. Trump was seeking opposition research on Biden.
It is not clear if Trump broke any other laws, but his actions may have been impeachable.
