Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers, expressed concerns about corruption within Ukraine's leadership, comparing it to a "circus." Cortes made this statement in a social media post on November 17.
"This newest scandal flows right from the highest levels of the president's office and inner circle," said Cortes. "These crimes also greatly offend the good citizens of the United States, who have been the primary benefactors of Ukraine during this time of war. No wonder Americans tire of this kind of systemic corruption. As the details of Operation Midas sound increasingly like a corrupt circus, domestic support for American intervention dissipates, and fast."
According to Ukrainska Pravda, Cortes published a column on November 17, 2025, detailing allegations of systemic corruption among Ukraine’s leaders. The article discusses ongoing investigations involving senior political figures and notes that key individuals have moved abroad as inquiries intensified.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has allocated approximately $182.8 billion in emergency funding to Ukraine and its surrounding region through December 2024. This funding includes military, economic, and humanitarian assistance. The magnitude of this commitment has raised questions regarding oversight and the long-term fiscal implications.
Congress has appropriated over $174 billion in emergency supplemental funding in response to the war in Ukraine. Approximately 64% of this amount (around $110.7 billion) is designated for the U.S. Department of Defense and defense-related activities. These funds are intended for equipment support, replenishment of U.S. stocks, and allied operations, highlighting the emphasis on military spending within U.S. aid.
Cortes is also known as a senior political advisor to CatholicVote and previously served as a senior advisor to President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance. He has worked as an on-air commentator for Fox News and CNN and currently produces columns and documentaries at Cortes Investigates.
