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Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen is asking Congress watchdog office to answer whether the administration s suspension of Ukraine aid violated stanley cup federal law, as the articles of impeachment passed by the House remain in limbo.Van Hollen wrote a letter to Government Accountability Office GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro on Monday, asking GAO to provide an opinion on the legality of withholding federa stanley cup l assistance to Ukraine under the Impoundment Control Act ICA . Under the law, the executive branch is required to commit funds appropriated by Congress, although the law does allow the executive branch to withhold funds under limited circumstances.GAO has already said it intended to conduct a legal analysis of the aid withholding, so Van Hollen is asking the congressional watchdog to provide that conclusion. The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence HPSCI has conclu stanley cup ded mdash; and I agree mdash; that the facts lead to the inescapable conclusion that the administration illegally impounded the funds for Ukraine, Van Hollen wrote. Throughout the time that the executive branch withheld funds for Ukraine, numerous officials repeatedly raised concerns about violating the ICA. The evidence we have seen to date shows that the president of the United States abused his power and betrayed the trust of the American people by pressuring Ukraine to intervene in the 2020 election on his behalf. Van Hollen pointed to the memorable pres Yjgx McConnell eager to return to Senate as he recovers from fall, senators say
The suspense over whether Brett Kavanaugh will be the next Supreme Court associate justice is likely to end this weekend, after Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia became the final formerly undecided senators to announce their votes.Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican everyone had been waiting on to announce her vote, built up her support for Kavanaugh in a r air max oughly 45-minute speech before concluding, Mr. President, I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. Moments after Collins concluded her speech, Manchin tweeted, jordan I will vote to support Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. At this point, it s hard to see how Democrats have enough support to tank Kavanaugh s confirmation. The Senate is likely to vote late Saturday.Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate from Alaska, voted against advancing Kavanaugh in Friday morning af1 s procedural vote. Murkowski then indicated she will not vote for Kavanaugh in the final vote, which could take place Saturday. I did not come to a decision on this until walking into the floor this morning. I have been wrestling tomdash;to really try to know what is fair and what is right and the truth is none of this has been fair, Murkowski said Friday, adding, I believe we are dealing with issues that are bigger than a nominee.. I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man. I believe he is a good man, it just may be that in my view he is no