Democrats demand Ukraine files from Pentagon, WH office

By James Reinl

NEW YORK (AA) - Democratic lawmakers have told the Pentagon and the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to hand over files for the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and his dealings with Ukraine.

The Democratic chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight committees issued subpoenas to acting OMB acting director Russell Vought and Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday.

In a letter, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, and Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings wrote that the files should be released by October 15.

“The enclosed subpoena demands documents that are necessary for the committees to examine this sequence of these events and the reasons behind the White House’s decision to withhold critical military assistance to Ukraine that was appropriated by Congress to counter Russian aggression,” the chairmen wrote.

The Democrat-run House of Representatives launched an impeachment inquiry against Trump on Sept. 24 following claims by a whistleblower that Trump had sought to pressure Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections.

In a July 25 phone call, Trump allegedly made military aid contingent on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launching a probe into Joe Biden, a former U.S. Vice President, and his son, Hunter, a businessman, over unsubstantiated corruption allegations.

The elder Biden is a leading candidate in the race to win the Democratic nomination and challenge Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Trump, a Republican, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and lashed out at “do-nothing” lawmakers.