During the impeachment rules debate, Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed “offense” at Rep. Jerry Nadler’s comment suggesting Republican votes against all 11 amendments seeking new evidence submission and witness subpoenas were “treacherous.” Treachery is an act of deception or betrayal.
It is a fact that the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 was passed by Congress to prevent the president from delaying or withholding Congressionally authorized funding without official congressional notification. It is a fact that the ICA was put in place to prevent then-President Richard Nixon from withholding funds for programs he opposed. It is a fact that in 2019, $391 million of congressionally approved military aid for Ukraine was withheld and delayed by the White House, without congressional knowledge or approval. It is a fact that current evidence supports that this foreign aid was withheld at the direction of President Donald Trump.
The current GOP narrative ignores these facts and spreads an alternative, nonfactual story. This is deception. The GOP is on track to disregard Mr. Trump’s violation of the ICA for a political agenda. This represents betrayal of congressional duty to uphold the ICA. Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan, for Alaskans, your actions speak louder than words.
— Timothy Silbaugh
Anchorage
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