Several Republican lawmakers called for investigation into Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States. They questioned whether it was meant to help Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the election.
Zelenskyy visited a Scranton, Pennsylvania, ammunition factory Sunday, Sept. 22. He thanked workers who are producing one of the most needed weapons for his country to fend off Russia.
In a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, a group of nine House Republicans requested information from the Justice Department and Defense Department. They wanted to find out if Zelenskyy’s factory visit was “politically motivated” and paid for by U.S. tax dollars, which they said would be a violation of federal law.
Zelenskyy made comments at the visit suggesting that if Donald Trump and JD Vance were to take office, that it could lead to a “global conflict.” Republican lawmakers called it a “stump speech” for Harris.
The letter also stated concerns that Zelenskyy may have flown into Pennsylvania on a U.S. military aircraft and may have been given Secret Service protection while at the ammunition plant.
Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, is leading the investigation request.
“Using American taxpayer dollars to fund what was clearly a campaign-style event for the Democrats is unacceptable and likely illegal,” Gooden said.
The Republican lawmakers also want an investigation into whether there was any coordination between Zelenskyy’s visit and other political campaigns. They pointed out that several Democratic officials were at Zelenskyy’s event including Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Bob Casey, who is locked into a tight race in his bid for reelection.
This all comes following a New Yorker story where Zelenskyy calls Vance “too radical” and said that Trump “doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.”
This did not sit well with some Republicans, who argued Zelenskyy’s comments are a political stunt.
“Zelenskyy is also attacking JD Vance in the biggest, most important battleground state in the country during an election year,” Trump supporter and former Senate candidate Sean Parnell said. “If that isn’t foreign election interference, I don’t know what is.”
Zelenskyy has not commented on the claims.
He planned to meet with President Biden and Harris on Thursday, Sept. 26, to present a “victory plan” to defeat Russia.
He’s also expected to give the plan to Trump, but it’s not clear when.
