A newly declassified intelligence summary has raised questions about whether U.S. taxpayer funds intended for Ukraine were allegedly diverted to benefit Democratic political operations and former President Joe Biden. Officials familiar with the matter say the claims are now under review after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard requested a deeper examination of the relevant records.
Gabbard asked officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to review contracts, payments, and internal communications connected to the allegations. Depending on what the review uncovers, the findings could be referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for further investigation, according to Just The News.
The declassified document is described as a summary of raw intelligence intercepts collected by U.S. agencies in late 2022. Officials who have seen the material say the allegations did not receive substantial follow-up within the government at the time. Gabbard’s team has not identified any evidence showing the claims were fully investigated during the Biden administration. The intercepts are also believed not to be linked to Russian disinformation, officials said.
According to the summary, the alleged plan involved using foreign aid as a political pipeline. It reportedly detailed discussions between Ukrainian officials and unspecified U.S. personnel working through USAID in Kyiv about funding an infrastructure project that could serve as a cover for redirecting money.
“The Ukrainian Government and unspecified U.S. Government personnel, through USAID in Kyiv, reportedly developed a plan that would provide hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund an infrastructure project for Ukraine that would be used as a cover to send approximately 90% of funds allocated to the DNC to fund Joe Biden’s reelection campaign,” the summary stated.
The plan allegedly counted on the project being initially funded, even if it was later deemed unnecessary, by which point the money would already have been allocated and difficult to recover or repurpose. Subcontracting layers were reportedly included to make the flow of funds difficult to trace. While two American subcontractors were mentioned in the intercepts, their names remain redacted in the declassified document.
“The plan included details of how subcontractors would be funded through U.S. companies so that how the funds were spent and allocated would be difficult to track,” the summary said. “Additionally, contracts would be executed that would be difficult to verify.”
These allegations come at a sensitive time for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues talks with envoys from former President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war with Russia. Ukraine has faced ongoing scrutiny over corruption even as Western support continues.
Over the weekend, Trump commented on Gabbard, noting she has a “softer” stance than he does on Iran obtaining nuclear weapons but affirming he still has confidence in her as Director of National Intelligence.
