Wasserman Schultz on Trump Impeachment Trial

Washington, February 5, 2020
This is a sad day for America. This President is guilty of abusing his power by withholding vital federal funding while pressuring a foreign ally to investigate his political rivals to try to tilt the 2020 Election in his favor. Once caught, he also obstructed Congress to hide it.

“This is a sad day for America. This President is guilty of abusing his power by withholding vital federal funding while pressuring a foreign ally to investigate his political rivals to try to tilt the 2020 Election in his favor. Once caught, he also obstructed Congress to hide it.

House managers convincingly proved their case, despite a sham trial concocted by Senate Leader McConnell and complicit Republicans who, appallingly, refused to even allow witnesses. Today, Senate Republicans once again picked their party and cult of personality over protecting our elections, upholding their oaths of office and the rule of law. For now, the threat grows: Trump will be more emboldened to operate outside the law, just as any monarch would.

Longer term, the Republican Senate voted today for an imperial presidency that empowers future commanders in chief of any party, to abuse their office for political or financial gain, regardless of the impact on our democracy. Our nation serves as a global beacon for hope, and a model for due process and the rule of law. America lost some of that moral authority today. History students will read of this day with disbelief and confusion. At this point, we must rely on the American people to do in November what the Senate could not, while continuing to hold Trump accountable.”