Thursday
February 20, 2020 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday
Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
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Trump ousts top defense official who certified Ukraine aid By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ousted the Pentagon's top policy official who had certified last year that Ukraine had made enough anticorruption progress to justify the Trump administration's release of congressionally authorized aid to Kyiv in its conflict against Russianbacked separatists. John Rood resigned Wednesday, saying he was
leaving at Trump's request. The Trump administration's delay in releasing the aid to Ukraine was central to the president's impeachment by the House on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate voted to acquit the president. But in the wake of the Senate trial, an emboldened Trump has gone after officials he has perceived as being disloyal. Continued on next page
In this Feb. 2, 2018, file photo, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, John Rood, speaks during a news conference on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, at the Pentagon. Associated Press