The Trump administration is considering criminal referrals of fighting

The Trump administration indicates that it may bring criminal referrals against the United States Agency for International Development Agency (the US Agency for Development) or the beneficiaries of the granted on allegations of misuse of external aid, which would constitute an extraordinary subsequent step in pushing the administration to the channel.

Peter Maruko, who works as a deputy director of the agency at the United States Agency for International Development, told the legislators at a closed press conference on Wednesday that he and his employees are looking into criminal referrals to the Ministry of Justice, according to two people familiar with the talks.

Someone said in the room during the briefing, but it is not clear whether Maruko would follow the threat.

The January Memorandum of the Inspector General Office (OIG) in January placed resistance from some inclined aid regarding the participation of information that officials say is necessary for control and accountability. The Oig Memorandum highlighted 8 billion dollars, which was primarily distributed to United Nations agencies and multilateral development banks that it criticized as protected from the audit.

However, an OIG consultant notice warned on February 10 that the Trump administration’s collective hairstyles for the United States Agency for International Development and Contractors, and the freezing of external aid, hindered supervision and protection of $ 8.2 billion from committed humanitarian assistance. Both Oig reports were composed by Paul K. Martin. Martin was rejected on February 11.

The Foreign Ministry, when it was reached for the comment, said it is generally not commented on communications and surroundings with Congress. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio is the official head of the US Agency for International Development, but Maruko was a leading figure in the agency’s efforts.

Criminal referrals would escalate tensions between the Trump administration and the government efficiency management team in Elon Musk on one side, government employees, and foreign aid and Democrats on the other hand. Some Republicans have been in particular for certain programs and priorities for spending behind the scenes.

Democrats criticized a meeting on Wednesday with Maruko, saying that a few information was not learned about the Trump administration’s decision to carry out collective demobilization operations related to the US Agency for International Development and end thousands of financing grants, which amounted to about $ 60 billion.

We specifically asked about the American companies that were contracted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which were contracted with the United States Agency for International Development, and why. “He refused to answer the question.”

“While he contradicted himself, saying that they had detailed documents on all programs, on all sellers, however, he is unable to provide this information.”

Democrats complained that the briefing occurred behind the closed doors and not publicly, they lasted only one hour and allowed each legislator 30 seconds to ask questions, with a few follow -up. Marocco was given two minutes to answer each question.

“He could not address the reason for making mistakes, he could not give us any details about how to make this review,” MP Sarah Jacobs (D-Calif) said.

“He was unable to give us answers about what the specified programs are turned off or operated, and he will not even commit to providing us with a written accounting for what the money will be, what is operated and what is being stopped. So I think it is clear that this is anything, but a review of an actual methodology.”

Not all Republicans were comfortable with surrounding Maruko.

Representative Michael McCall, the chairman of the honorary of the committee, told the group that the exemptions, which aim to exempt foreign life-saving assistance, have not been “fully implemented.”

“They have exemptions from life -saving humanitarian assistance, and they need to implement it,” said McCall. The previous chair left the session about 30 minutes later. Outside, activists protested HIV/AIDS at hearing, and they screaming, “Maruko has blood on his hands! Not free aid now!”

However, Republicans gathered the grants to the programs they oppose, such as LGBTQ, or education grants to refugees.

“Mr. Maroco was very clear in exposing the waste that is taking place there, referring to the way many of these programs were designed in the state and the American International Development Agency to be responsible and make sure again that the priority is to put dollars in programs that save life-food, medicines, and such things-and not everything that is going on in BS.

Maruko met the legislators shortly after the Supreme Court refused to request the Trump administration to retain billions of dollars in frozen foreign aid, and to send the case to the lower courts and perhaps allow the administration to continue to object to the matter.

“The big question was: Do they abide by the rule of the Supreme Court? Representative Gregory Mix (DN.Y.), a member of the ranking in the committee, told reporters after closed briefing in closed briefing:” This question has not been answered. ”

“He did not answer the question. He must return to speak to his people.”