A recent report has revealed that Donald Trump’s former NATO envoy, who has pushed for a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine, was involved in the withholding of military aid to Ukraine that led to Trump’s first impeachment.
A report by Mother Jones reveals that Trump’s former NATO ambassador Kurt Volker was heavily involved in the attempted bribing of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to smear current US President Joe Biden in exchange for the much-needed aid. Volker, as of late, has pushed for the US to impose a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine, which many have rejected out of concerns that the conflict would expand.
Mother Jones’ Dan Friedman wrote that there is irony in Volker’s siding with Ukraine given his involvement in withholding military aid to Zelenskyy in exchange for information on Biden and his son Hunter back in 2019. Friedman adds that Volker’s testimony during Trump’s impeachment was used by Senate Republicans, with the exception of Mitt Romney, to vote to acquit the former president.
“Volker made claims that were seized on by Senate Republicans to argue that Trump did not seek an illicit ‘quid pro quo’ with Ukraine. His claims helped Trump evade responsibility for using Ukraine’s national security needs as leverage to get foreign assistance in the 2020 elections,” wrote Friedman.
“When Trump in 2019 froze aid to Ukraine that Congress already authorized, Volker was serving as US Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations. Volker’s main role in the affair was to connect Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer, who had been scouring Ukraine for dirt on Biden,” Friedman continued, noting Volker’s later claims that he was keen on making sure that Ukraine did receive the aid and that Trump’s “quid pro quo” on Ukraine was the way to do it.
Trump was impeached twice, the second time surrounding the Capitol insurrection last January 6, out of his refusal to admit losing to Biden in the 2020 elections. The now-former president’s second impeachment by the House was on a bipartisan vote, with 10 House Republicans voting to impeach, drawing the ire of Trump.
GOP Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina, who was among those who voted to impeach, recently pushed back against Trump’s attack on him during a recent rally. Trump called Rice “an atrocious RINO” and “a total fool.”
Rice responded, saying that the former president is “full of spite” and that voters should choose candidate Russell Fry if they prefer putting their party first before the country and who will be beholden to Trump.