The documents released to the center consisted of about 300 pages of emails between the Office of Management and Budget and the Pentagon about the Ukraine aid package. While the officially released version was heavily redacted — and the center is contesting the censorship in further litigation — the visible portions showed, among other things, that Pentagon officials had worried that holding the funds could be an illegal impoundment. The Times separately reported this week that Mr. Blair warned Mr. Mulvaney to “expect Congress to become unhinged” if the White House went ahead with the hold on the aid. “Did he get an order from the president, or did someone like Mr. Mulvaney get an order from the president passed on to Mr. Duffey? Was there discussion among officials about covering up for the president in delay of military assistance?

Source: New York Times January 04, 2020 00:33 UTC