White House official denies Ukraine investigation into 2016 election was a condition for aid

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney answers questions from reporters during a news briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, said on Thursday that the White House had never required Ukraine to investigate the 2016 U.S. election in exchange for military aid, reversing comments he made earlier that day.

"Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election ... There never was any condition on the flow of the aid related to the matter of the DNC server," Mulvaney said, using a Latin term to mean a favour in exchange for a favour and referring to the Democratic National Committee.