Impeachment November 11, 2019

Pentagon Official Tells Congress Trump Directed Aid Freeze To Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 30: Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, arrives on Capitol Hill before attending a closed-door deposition, on October 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. Today is Coopers second appearance before the impeachment inquiry against President Trump, led by the House Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs and House Oversight and Reform Committees. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Transcripts released on Monday revealed more damaging testimony against President Trump. NBC News writes:

Laura Cooper, the top Pentagon official overseeing U.S. policy regarding Ukraine, told House impeachment investigators last month that President Donald Trump directed the relevant agencies to freeze aid to Ukraine over the summer, according to a transcript of her testimony released Monday.

Cooper testified she and other Pentagon officials thought they had answered all the concerns about Ukraine aid in June. They were surprised when a hold was placed on funding for military assistance in July.

NBC writes “Cooper said that she attended a meeting on July 23, where “this issue” of Trump’s “concerns about Ukraine and Ukraine security assistance” came up. She said the president’s concerns were conveyed by acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.“

BREAKING: Pentagon official testifies President Trump directed a freeze on aid to Ukraine, according to a transcript of her testimony released Monday. https://t.co/5Qd5v4zNwL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 11, 2019

But when asked if the president was legally authorized to order a hold, Cooper said there were concerns that he wasn’t.

Cooper’s testimony came on the same day GOP lawmakers stormed the secure room where testimony was being heard. Her deposition was delayed for five hours.