Top House Republican Opens Probe Into Zelensky’s Visit to Pennsylvania Arms Factory: ‘Abuse Of Power’
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) announced the House Oversight Committee plans to open an investigation into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to Pennsylvania.
The committee will focus on the Biden administration’s alleged use of taxpayer money to fund Zelensky’s travel expenses to the state. Comer noted that lawmakers will seek to determine if the administration attempted to use the foreign leader’s visit to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris‘ campaign in a battleground state.
“In 2019, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives impeached President Donald J. Trump for abuse of power under the theory that he attempted to use a foreign leader — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — to benefit his 2020 presidential campaign, despite a lack of any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of President Trump,” Comer wrote in a statement.
He added, “The Committee seeks to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration attempted to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign and, if so, necessarily committed an abuse of power.”
On Sunday, Zelenskyy visited a factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania to thank the workers for producing munitions that are critical for Ukraine’s war effort against invading Russian forces. He was accompanied by some of the state’s top Democratic officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA).
Comer said the committee will investigate the justification for the administration to transport Zelensky to the factory on a U.S. Air Force aircraft. The Oversight chairman also cited comments by Zelensky where he criticized JD Vance for being “too radical” in asking Ukraine to surrender some of its territory to end the war.
“He further stated his belief that President Trump and his administration would not be able to stop the war, despite this being one of President Trump’s main campaign platforms (and peace in the region under the entirety of the former Trump administration),” Comer noted.
“This rhetoric coming from a foreign leader released in anticipation of a U.S.-taxpayer funded visit about the current Administration’s political opponent is highly concerning,” he concluded. “The Committee is investigating any coordination or communication among the Biden-Harris Administration, Pennsylvania’s Office of the Governor, and President Zelenskyy for use or solicitation of use of government property to politically benefit Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign.”
