Friend,

Yesterday, Speaker Pelosi and leaders in the House announced that they will bring two searing articles of impeachment against the President, bringing us one step closer to ending Trump's ongoing and brazen abuses of power. One thing is crystal clear: President Trump is guilty of bribery and should be impeached. Please let me explain why.

During a blatantly corrupt phone call, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to smear Trump's domestic political rival in exchange for releasing congressionally approved foreign military aid.

Federal law defines bribery as the solicitation of "anything of value personally" by a public official "in return for" an official act. So that means we face two questions:

Did Trump seek something of personal value from President Zelensky? He most certainly did. It couldn't be more clear that Trump valued these Ukrainian investigations into his political enemies. By all accounts, he was obsessed with them. And more important still, Trump's interest in the investigations centered around his own selfish gain, not the well-being of the American people.

Next question: Did Trump demand Ukraine provide him with his thing of value "in return" or out of gratitude for an official act? Absolutely. Trump has publicly admitted that he personally withheld military aid to Ukraine. And multiple members of his own administration have testified before Congress that he withheld that aid purposely to pressure a Ukrainian investigation.

When Presidents trade public actions for political favors, the proper punishment isn't a matter of opinion. It's a matter of law. The facts paint a stunning portrait of Trump's bribery, abuse of power, and obstruction of justice. As a former federal prosecutor and Connecticut Attorney General, I'd be ready to present my closing argument to the jury with this powerful, gut-punching evidence. A failed crime is still a crime.

Trump's actions are a dangerous threat to our democracy. But the even greater threat would be if America became a place where that level of corruption from the Oval Office went unpunished. Our Constitution tells us in no uncertain terms that the President's actions deserve the strongest penalty Congress can provide: removal from office. If the rule of law means anything, we need to follow its command. You can count on me to continue fighting in the Senate with everything I have to do just that.

Thank you for taking the time to read – and for continuing to stand beside me in this fight for truth, justice, and accountability.

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Dick


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