Several prominent conservatives, including Sen. JD Vance, have voiced massive concerns over a provision in the newly passed national security supplemental bill, fearing it will pave the way for the impeachment of former President Donald Trump if he were to be re-elected later this year, Fox News Digital reports.
Vance’s memo to GOP lawmakers highlighted a clause ensuring funding for Ukraine until September 2025, contradicting Trump’s pledge to end the war immediately upon taking office, thus halting the funding.
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 memo suggested the provision was an “attempt by the foreign policy blob/deep state” to obstruct Trump’s goals and potentially provide grounds for impeachment. Sen. Rand Paul supported Vance’s concerns, stating Democrats are “setting up” scenarios to impeach Trump if he wins the presidency again.
Former Trump administration officials, including Mark Paoletta and Russ Vought, echoed Vance’s interpretation, arguing it seeks to “tie the hands of future presidents” and hinder their foreign policy. Sen. Tommy Tuberville criticized the provision, saying it forces funding to Ukraine at the expense of other priorities.
The bill includes substantial funding for Ukraine and other regions, set to pass through the Senate despite Republican opposition. Its fate in the GOP-led House is uncertain.
“Not only is it a terrible idea, but also, if the next President were to try to have a different policy, you can see the Democrats again starting an impeachment,” Rand Paul said.
“As OMB General Counsel, I issued the legal justification to pause the funding, and would do it again today,” Mark Paoletta affirmed.
Russ Vought stated, “Vance is absolutely right to interpret these Ukraine provisions in this manner.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville criticized, “This is in the bill. So, it’s just another situation where the Democrats are doing something and working towards making sure that money’s spent in a certain area where American taxpayers and this country don’t have.”
Despite these concerns, Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell have remained silent on Vance’s memo, and the bill was passed on Tuesday, with a final vote of 70 to 29, with 22 Republicans voting yes. Democratic Sens. Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, voted no.
