Washington Post: Trump denies explicitly tying U.S. military aid to demand for Ukrainian probe of Biden

NEW YORK — President Trump denied Monday that he had offered military aid to the president of Ukraine only if the country launched a probe into former vice president Joe Biden and his family, as the burgeoning controversy consumed the first day of Trump’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly.

“No, I didn’t,” Trump said when asked whether he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would obtain $250 million in stalled U.S. aid only if he agreed to investigate the Bidens. Slamming the former vice president for doing what he said was a “very, very bad thing,” Trump added: “I didn’t do it … when you see the call [transcript], you’re going to be very surprised.”

Trump’s comments came a day after he appeared to confirm that he mentioned Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in the call with Zelensky. The call is part of the whistleblower’s complaint, according to people familiar with the matter. …

The nonprofit government watchdog group Common Cause also on Monday filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice on the matter. The organization accused Trump and Giuliani of illegally soliciting a political contribution from Zelensky and Ukranian officials by allegedly urging them to investigate Biden.