Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) recently warned his fellow Senate Republicans against voting for the proposed Ukraine aid legislation that could be used to impeach former President Donald Trump if he denies sending the European country billions of more dollars in a hypothetical second Trump administration.
Vance sent his colleagues a memorandum indicating that the Ukraine aid bill assures the European country would be funded up until September 2025.
If the former president wins the presidential election in November 2024, it is unlikely he will grant further funding to Ukraine, given past statements he’s made about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“The [package] represents an attempt by the foreign policy blob/deep state to stop President Trump from pursuing his desired policy, and if he does so anyways, to provide grounds to impeach him and undermine his administration. All Republicans should oppose its passage,” Vance’s memorandum read.
“Back in 2019, Democrats articulated a novel theory of impeachment, based on Trump’s refusal to spend money from the USAI — Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Five years after impeaching Trump for refusing to spend money on Ukraine, they have drafted a new law that requires Trump to spend money on Ukraine,” Vance wrote in an op-ed for the American Conservative.
“If he negotiates an end to the war, as he has promised to do, they will undoubtedly argue that he has broken the law,” he added.
I just sent the below memo to every one of my Republican colleagues in Congress.
Buried in the bill’s text is an impeachment time bomb for the next Trump presidency if he tries to stop funding the war in Ukraine.
We must vote against this disastrous bill. pic.twitter.com/uKqet9s0xd
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 12, 2024
Vance’s opposition toward the Ukraine legislation comes after the Senate voted to push it forward with the support of 18 Republicans, according to Fox News. The bill contains funds for Israel and several other U.S. allies.
The package would send Ukraine $60 billion and includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv, Ukraine. On Feb. 11, 2024, the Senate advanced the $95 billion measure in a 67-27 test vote.
The bill’s future is uncertain. Even if it makes it out of the Senate, it is unlikely the House would approve the legislation, given Republicans’ alignment with the former president in the chamber.
