Trump impeachment: White House withheld Ukraine aid just after Zelensky call

2019-12-23 10:41:16

The White House sought to freeze aid to Ukraine just 91 minutes after President Trump spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone in July, a newly-released government email has revealed. The email, telling the Pentagon to "hold off", was sent by a senior White House official. In the phone call, Mr Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to investigate his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden. Mr Trump has been impeached for abuse of power over the issue. Democrats say the phone call shows Mr Trump used the office for personal political gain. A US whistleblower who heard about the conversation raised concerns, which ultimately triggered the impeachment inquiry. Mr Trump was formally impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday, but is unlikely to be removed from office as the case will go to trial in the US Senate, where his Republican party has a majority.