Washington – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today released the following statement after the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced that it would not investigate DoD’s delay of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding appropriated by Congress.  The senators initially requested this review more than one month ago.

“We are disappointed that the Defense Department Office of the Inspector General has declined to investigate the Defense Department’s delay of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding appropriated by Congress.  The withholding of this security assistance and the Department’s subsequent handling of information and materials related to the delay raises numerous questions and concerns. Inspectors General play a critical role in uncovering potential wrongdoing, ensuring accountability, and maintaining trust in our institutions of government.  We continue to believe that an investigation by the Defense Department Office of the Inspector General is important to get to the truth and ensure appropriate accountability.”