This news story …
The Trump administration, acting in defiance of top Democrats on the House and Senate foreign affairs committees, has stripped tens of millions of dollars in U.S. military assistance from European and Middle Eastern countries and will give those funds instead to conservative-leaning governments in Latin America, three U.S. officials told The Washington Post.
The State Department notified Congress of its intentions in September, prompting Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York) to place a hold on the diversion of funds.
Late Wednesday, the administration quietly notified Congress it was defying the hold and moving ahead, diverting to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia $52 million that had been approved for Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq, the officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss security matters.
It is the latest move by the Trump administration to reduce U.S. spending or troop deployments in Europe and coincides with a Pentagon review that could result in a reduction and realignment of U.S. basing on the continent.
It is also a continuation of President Donald Trump’s undercutting of the legislative branch’s spending powers, a core constitutional authority that Trump has challenged in ways big and small. [WaPo]
… may prove to be the excuse for impeaching the President, post mid-terms.
Not to suggest he has a pristine record. There are many reasons to impeach him. But this one is clear-cut that it is in violation of the Constitution, and should be traceable to the President. If he follows his typical behavior of blaming it on an underling, then you impeach him for repeatedly hiring / nominating incompetents.
The metaphorical ruler-wielding nuns must be set loose on this Administration.
And, advertised to voters, while it’ll drive some voters away, others will be attracted: a clear and purposeful crime, and a chance to end the embarrassment of this Administration.
