Two Office of Management and Budget officials grew frustrated with the hold on Ukraine military aid ordered by President Trump and resigned from the agency, according to newly released impeachment inquiry testimony. Mark Sandy, deputy associate director for national security programs at Office of Management and Budget, testified behind closed doors on Nov. 16 that the two officials left the budget office after the hold on some $391 million in aid became known. Sandy became concerned that withholding Ukraine security funds could be a violation of the impoundment law when he learned about the verbal hold on July 18. Administration officials have said Office of Management and Budget counsel advised that the holds were legal, which Sandy confirmed in his testimony. Sandy signed the first formal hold on the $250 million in Ukraine security assistance on July 25.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 27, 2019 04:30 UTC