The inspector general of the intelligence community told the acting director of national intelligence that the phone call between President Donald J. Trump and the leader of the Ukraine could have been a federal campaign finance violation. However, the Justice Department determined that Trump did not commit a crime after prosecutors reviewed the rough transcript of the call made on July 25.
An official from the Justice Department said the inspector general suspected the call could have been a violation of federal law if Trump was soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign government by asking the Ukraine leader to investigate a political opponent.
According to the official, that was based on the whistleblower’s complaint and the inspector general did not yet have access to the call’s transcript.
Prosecutors from the Justice Department reviewed a rough transcript of the call and they determined that there were no violations to campaign finance law.
By Jeanette Smith
Sources:
Time: Justice Department Says Trump’s Ukraine Call Doesn’t Constitute Campaign Finance Violation
Moose Gazette: AP source: Watchdog believed Trump-Ukraine call could be campaign finance violation; Justice Dept found no violation
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