Niagara Leader

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) has issued a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate President Biden's decision to freeze the delivery of military aid to Israel. The aid, consisting of 1,800 2000-lb bombs and 1,700 500-lb bombs, was sanctioned by Congress under H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.

The act was signed into law as part of a larger emergency aid package supporting Israel's ongoing military operations against Hamas. However, President Biden's decision to withhold the delivery of this aid is alleged to have violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) and subsequent Supreme Court case law. The ICA outlines explicit requirements for any deferral of budget authorities by the President, which Tenney argues have been disregarded by the Biden administration.

In her letter, Tenney urged that a special counsel be appointed immediately to investigate and prosecute any potential wrongdoing. She further demanded that Attorney General Garland declare his intentions on this matter by May 22, 2024.

“The law is clear: the President cannot unilaterally withhold aid appropriated by Congress,” stated Congresswoman Tenney. “By failing to promptly deliver this aid, not only has the President put our greatest ally in the Middle East at risk, but he has also failed to follow the ICA and uphold the principles of separation of powers outlined by the Constitution. Attorney General Merrick Garland must immediately appoint a special counsel to investigate President Biden for violating the law!”

The full text of Tenney's letter can be found here.