Several House Republicans are pressing Secretary of State Antony Blinken about their concerns that Ukraine military aid may have been improperly invested in the bankrupt crypto-exchange FTX Trading Limited, Report informs referring to Fox Business.
In the letter exclusively obtained by FOX Business, the lawmakers wrote it has come to their "attention that billions of taxpayer dollars sent to Ukraine to assist with their war efforts were potentially invested in a crypto exchange that then made massive donations to Democrats" during the midterm elections.
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas and the Republicans wrote the Ukrainian government officially partnered with FTX in March to "launch a crypto donations website, ‘Aid for Ukraine,’ within days of President Joe Biden pledging billions of American taxpayer dollars to assist the country with war efforts against the Russian invasion."
"While this partnership was touted as a way to assist Ukraine in cashing out crypto donations for ammunition and humanitarian aid, we have serious concerns that the Ukrainian government may have invested portions of the nearly $66 billion of US economic assistance into FTX to keep Democrats in power – and keep the money coming in," the lawmakers wrote.
The Republicans wrote that Bankman-Fried "was the second-largest contributor to Democrat-affiliated political action committees (PACS) and organizations, only behind liberal billionaire, George Soros."
A State Department spokesperson told FOX Business that the department does not comment on congressional correspondence as a standard practice.
The spokesperson also said the State Department has "no reason to believe that these reports are anything but pure falsehoods and misinformation."
"US direct budget assistance to the Government of Ukraine cannot be used for a scheme such as the one being alleged, and the monitoring mechanisms we have in place have not detected a deviation from the funds’ expected use," the spokesperson said.
"The direct budget support that the United States is providing to the Government of Ukraine is transmitted via a World Bank mechanism to Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance," they continued. "There are agreements and monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure that US funds are used for verified GOU expenses; the types of expenses for which US funds can be used are specifically enumerated in those agreements."