Government watchdog finds White House broke law when it withheld Ukraine funds

The Government Accountability Office has found the White House Office of Management and Budget violated the law when it withheld $214 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine over the summer.

The watchdog agency says it found that OMB withheld the funds for a "policy reason," which is a violation of the Impoundment Control Act.

"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the president to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law," GAO wrote in a decision it released today.

The matter is at the heart of impeachment proceedings against President Trump, who claims he did nothing wrong, while Democrats and other current and former government officials allege he ordered the aid funds be withheld until Ukraine publicly launched a politically damaging investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Biden is a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

OMB spokeswoman Rachel Semmel told Inside Defense the White House does not accept GAO's finding.

"We disagree with GAO's opinion,” she said. "OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the president's priorities and with the law."