McCollum Statement on President Trump’s Abuse of Power to Influence 2020 Election

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today:

"The impeachment of President Trump was already warranted given the results of Special Counsel Mueller's investigation showing evidence of obstruction of justice. But President Trump's explicit use of the Oval Office to pressure a foreign leader to attack his political opponent is unprecedented. Quite frankly, it would be extortion to withhold $250 million in aid to Ukraine while willfully and directly attempting to conspire with a foreign power to influence the outcome of our own election.

"In no uncertain terms, this event alone reaches the threshold of high crimes and misdemeanors laid out by our founders in the U.S. Constitution. I thank the brave whistleblower in the intelligence community who went through proper channels to raise the alarm about the president putting his own interests over the interests of the American people. Congress is owed the details of that complaint.

"Further, this incident adds urgency to the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment investigation. I support this process and will support articles of impeachment on the House floor. As our founders intended, it is high time for us to act to protect our democracy and the American people."

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