ExclusiveHouse Speaker Mike Johnson is calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States for allegedly organizing taxpayer-funded visits to battleground states ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Fox News Digital reported.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, organized a weekend tour of American manufacturing facilities for Zelensky in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, ahead of the November presidential election.
Speaker Mike Johnson (Getty Images)
‘Abuse of power’: House Republicans launch investigation into Ukrainian president’s visit to battleground state Pennsylvania
Rep. Johnson, R-Louisiana, said the tour was led by a “top political surrogate” for Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and “intentionally excluded” Republicans. He called it a clear example of “election interference.”
“We demand that you immediately remove Oksana Markarova as Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States,” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky on Wednesday that was obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 20, 2024. (Pool photo by Christoph Soeder/via Associated Press)
“As you say, Ukrainians have sought to avoid becoming embroiled in U.S. domestic politics and influencing the choices of the American people ahead of the November elections,” Johnson wrote. “That objective has clearly been abandoned this week, with Ambassador Markarova arranging an event for you to tour a U.S. manufacturing site.”
“This facility was in a politically contested battleground state, it was led by Kamala Harris’ top political advisers, and they purposefully did not invite any Republicans, so not a single one attended,” Johnson continued, adding that the tour was “clearly a partisan campaign event designed to support Democrats and is clearly election interference.”
“This shortsighted and deliberate political move has caused Republicans to lose confidence in Ambassador Markarova’s ability to serve fairly and effectively as a diplomat in this country,” Johnson said.
“She should be removed from her position immediately,” he wrote.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, left, shakes hands with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova during a public event for a photo exhibit about the Ukraine war at the Capitol on April 28, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
“All foreign countries should refrain from commenting or interfering in the domestic politics of the United States,” Johnson said.
“Support for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine remains bipartisan, but our relationship is being unnecessarily tested and unnecessarily damaged by Republican presidential candidates being attacked in the media by government officials,” Johnson wrote.
“This kind of incident must never happen again.”
Johnson thanked Zelenskiy for “addressing this issue swiftly.”
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“I have confidence that action will be taken immediately,” Johnson said.
Over the weekend, Zelenskiy visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania accompanied by two top Pentagon officials, the undersecretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and the Pentagon’s largest arms buyer.
Zelensky also met with Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was reportedly on Harris’s shortlist to be running mate before Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
In a recent interview, Zelensky criticized former President Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, calling the Ohio senator “too extreme.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro attends the Wawa Welcome American Freedom Celebration on July 4, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
The House Oversight Committee is currently investigating allegations that the Biden-Harris administration used taxpayer funds to fly Zelensky to Pennsylvania ahead of the November presidential election.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), announced the investigation on Wednesday, seeking records related to allegations that the administration “misused government resources” to allow Zelenskiy to “interfere in the 2024 presidential election.”
“The Committee is seeking to determine whether the Biden-Harris Administration sought to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign and, if so, whether it necessarily committed an abuse of power,” Comer said in a letter sent Wednesday to the White House, Justice Department and Defense Department.
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Comer said he was investigating the circumstances that led the administration to “justify” transporting Zelenskiy to Pennsylvania on an Air Force Department plane.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Justice and Harris’ campaign for comment.
