As the Trump administration's delay of aid to Ukraine raises Democrats' impeachment flags, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he was given no explanation for the delay when he asked about it this summer, The Hill reported Tuesday.
"I was not given an explanation," McConnell told reporters Tuesday, per The Hill. "I was very actively involved in advocating [for] the aid. I talked to the secretary of Defense, the secretary of State once.
"The good news was it finally happened. I have no idea what precipitated the delay."
Democrats claim President Donald Trump ordered acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to withhold $391 million in aid to Ukraine as leverage to draw their investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The president said Tuesday he ordered the halt over frustration Europe was not contributing to Ukraine's fight against Russia-backed separatists.
"My complaint has always been – and I'd withhold again, and I'll continue to withhold until such time as Europe and other nations contribute to Ukraine," Trump said as he arrived at United Nations General Assembly, per AP. "Because they're not doing it. It's the United States. We're putting up the bulk of the money and I'm asking why is that."
The money was held up at least a week before President Trump's controversial call July 25 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, of which he will release the transcript in attempt to diffuse the controversy.
An intelligence community whistleblower filed a complaint against President Trump tied to that phone call, prompting Democrats to call for a release of the complaint. While President Trump has said he will release the call transcript, he has not offered to order the release of the whistleblower complaint.
The unidentified whistleblower has offered to testify before Congress.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire is set to testify before Congress on Thursday.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.