Sarbanes Statement on Partisan Senate Vote to Acquit President Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after Senate Republicans voted to acquit President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress:

"Today, Senate Republicans chose to defend the President instead of defending our democracy.

"The evidence in the case against the President has not been contested. In fact, several of the Senators who voted to acquit the President have acknowledged his misconduct.

"President Trump illegally withheld Congressionally appropriated aid for Ukraine in order to solicit personal and political benefits and to cheat in the 2020 election. When the President got caught, he directed his Administration to engage in an unprecedented cover-up to hide the truth from the American people. The President's scheme – shamelessly indulged by White House officials and his personal lawyers – placed his selfish personal interests ahead of America's interests. For this grievous breach of public trust, the President was impeached – and he will remain impeached forever.

"The refusal of Senate Republicans to convict President Trump for his efforts to undermine the 2020 election builds on a long-running pattern of inaction and dereliction of duty. For months, Senate Republicans have allowed critical election security bills – including H.R. 1, the For the People Act, H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act, and H.R. 4617, the SHIELD Act – to languish on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's desk. The Senate has an obligation to the American people to take up these bills and protect our country from foreign interference.

"While Senate Republicans have chosen to violate their oath of office and abandon their duty to the Constitution, House Democrats will continue to hold the President accountable – because no one is above the law."

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