House Oversight probes Ukraine President Zelensky swing state trip on military plane amid elections

The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into the Biden Administration’s use of taxpayer funds to fly Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a key 2024 swing state in the midst of an election. 

The trip aboard at U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft to a Pennsylvania to visit a munitions plant and meet local officials, followed several public comments by the Ukrainian leader criticizing GOP nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance for their comments on the war his country is fighting against Russia after it invaded more than two years ago. 

In three letters, to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and the White House Counsel’s Office, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says he wants to understand the circumstances behind Zelensky’s trip and determine whether the administration used the leader to benefit the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“The Committee seeks to understand the circumstances that led—and any facts that could justify—the Biden-Harris Administration to transport President Zelensky on a Department of the Air Force aircraft to Pennsylvania to introduce government officials to President Zelensky about the Russia-Ukraine war,” Comer wrote. 

You can read the letters below: 

In a interview with the New Yorker published Sunday ahead of the trip, Zelensky was critical of Trump’s position on the Ukraine war, saying that he probably “doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.” 

Of Vance, Zelensky said "He is too radical.” 

“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,” Comer wrote. 

“The Committee is investigating any coordination or communication among the Biden-Harris Administration, Pennsylvania’s Office of the Governor, and President Zelensky for use or solicitation of use of government property to politically benefit Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign,” he continued. 

The committee is requesting documents and communications about Zelensky’s visit from the Justice Department, Defense Department, and the White House so that it can determine if there was any “potential interference in a federal election.” 

Other Republicans have dismissed concerns about the political nature of Zelensky's visit. 

"President Zelensky is trying to do everything he can to secure the support for a sustained successful effort against Putin. My guess is, if we were in similar circumstances, we’d do the same thing," North Carolina GOP Senator Thom Tillis said. 

"He’s making a reference to JD’s comments about supporting the Ukraine effort… And in that case I agree. JD has a position I don’t share, unfortunately. The majority of Congress doesn’t either," he continued.