EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Rep. James Comer (R-KY), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said he wants answers and is launching an investigation into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Scranton on Sunday.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant where he thanked the hundreds of workers who play a vital role in Ukraine’s defense in their war with Russia. The plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year.
Comer sent letters to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, and Assistant to the President and White House Counsel Edward Siskel, asking them to justify the Biden-Harris Administration using taxpayer dollars and U.S. Airforce Aircraft to transport Zelenskyy to meet government officials in the battleground state of Pennsylvania to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.
Comer argues in his letter that in 2019, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives impeached then President Donald Trump for "abuse of power" claiming he attempted to use Zelenskyy to benefit his 2020 presidential campaign.
"The Biden-Harris Administration recently flew the same foreign leader—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—on an American-taxpayer-funded flight to Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, which has been described as the “trickiest battleground for Vice President Kamala Harris to win,” Comer's letter explained.
Now Comer wants to know if the Biden-Harris administration tried to use Zelenskyy's visit to benefit Harris' presidential campaign.
"Because resources from the Department of the Air Force were used in this apparentcampaign event that resulted in the potential interference of a federal election, the Committeeseeks information from the Department of Defense. Specifically, the Committee requests thefollowing relevant documents:Any information and communication, both internal and external, about President Zelensky’s visit to the United States during September 2024. Please provide these documents as soon as possible, but no later than October 2, 2024," Comer stated in the letter.
Comer cited a New York Times article published on September 22, in which he notes Zelenskyy said Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance is "too radical", and further stated he believes Trump and his administration would "not be able to stop the war", despite it being one of Trump's campaign platforms.
"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.
Also in attendance for Zelenskyy's tour of the munitions plant were Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA 8th District), and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D).
At about 3:30 p.m., Senator Bob Casey posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the following:
The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is playing a critical role bolstering Ukraine’s forces, and I was honored to join President Zelenskyy to thank Pennsylvania workers for helping defend democracy. Attempts to smear his visit to our Commonwealth are an insult and a disgrace.
Senator Bob Casey
Congressman Cartwright's office declined to comment on the matter.
28/22 News is still awaiting a response from Governor Shapiro.
You can read Comer's full letter by clicking here.
