Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) has warned that the $95 billion aid package passed by the Senate contains an "impeachment time bomb" cla...
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) has warned that the $95 billion aid package passed by the Senate contains an "impeachment time bomb" clause that could sabotage the second term of former President Donald Trump if he wins the 2024 presidential election.
The senator from the Buckeye State issued this warning in a Feb. 12 memo sent to Republican members of Congress. According to Vance, the clause would be triggered if Trump attempts to stop funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia – something the former president did in his first term. He also pointed out that it dedicates the same dollar amounts to Ukraine that were frozen by Trump during his term, which Democrats subsequently cited during one of their impeachment efforts.
The $95 billion aid package includes $1.6 billion for the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program under the Department of State, and $13.7 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) under the Department of Defense. The funds for the FMF and USAI are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025, almost a year into a possible second term for Trump if the election isn't rigged.
However, the House of Representatives under the leadership of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) accused him of freezing these aforementioned funds in its 2019 impeachment proceedings. At the time, Trump froze $250 million earmarked for the USAI and $141 million earmarked for the FMF.
"Trump had allegedly paused these funds because he wished to see the corrupt nexus between the Biden family and Ukraine investigated," Vance continued. However, Democrats at the time saw things differently. They accused Trump of having "abused his power, with the aim of interfering with the U.S. presidential election" the following year.
The senator also pointed to Trump's promise of solving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war at the soonest. "He has stated that he would resolve the war in 24 hours," Vance wrote.
"If Trump were to withdraw from or pause financial support for the war in Ukraine in order to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion, … it would amount to the same fake violation of budget law from the first impeachment, under markedly similar facts and circumstances."
Democrats desperate to prevent another Trump term
The Senate approved the $95 billion aid package in a 67-27 vote on Feb. 11. Its current version would allocate $60.1 billion to Ukraine, $14.1 billion to Israel, $10 billion to Taiwan, $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestine and $2.44 billion for anti-Houthi operations around the Red Sea.
But Vance noted that the FMF and USAI funds "are the exact same accounts … [he] was impeached for pausing in December 2019. Every single House Republican voted against this impeachment resolution."
"Partisan Democrats would seize on the opportunity to impeach him once again. The Washington Post has reported that tying Trump's hands on foreign policy is very much top of mind for Biden administration officials, who are openly boasting about their plans."
Vance ultimately concluded his memo by pointing out that the impeachment clause "represents an attempt by the foreign policy blob [and] Deep State to stop Trump from pursuing his policy – and if he does so anyways, to provide grounds to impeach him and undermine his administration." (
"All Republicans should oppose its passage," the Ohio senator exhorted. X owner Elon Musk replied to Vance on the platform, writing: "This is insane."
"Now, as Trump has suggested he would once again halt funding, Democrats seem poised to launch another impeachment should he win re-election – with funding set to expire well into his potential second term," YourNews remarked. "Democrats' attempt to preemptively hamstring Trump's second term shows they are panicked and preparing for the eventuality he wins re-election."