Team,

Three years ago, I was chosen to serve as an impeachment manager for Donald Trump’s first trial.

I’ll never forget that day. It was my first term in Congress, and I was preparing to take on the President of the United States for threatening a foreign country into investigating a political rival.

I’ve always gone where the fight is, even in tough moments. I wasn’t going to stop now.

My oath to uphold and defend the Constitution has always been my North Star — both as an Army Ranger and in the halls of Congress. It was something I leaned on heavily during the trial.

It was a somber time for our country. We needed to approach this trial with the seriousness and gravity the moment called for. We needed to shine a light on the stunning abuse of power.

I carried copies of my children’s pocket Constitutions with me throughout the trial. I left a note inside:

“Our system only works if people stand up and fight for it. Fighting for something important always comes at a cost. Someday you may be called upon to defend the principles and ideas embodied in our Constitution. May the memory and spirit of those who sacrificed for them in the past guide you and give you strength as you fight for them in the future.”

Every day, I make a conscious decision on how to fulfill my oath. Some days that means litigating our nation’s third impeachment trial. Other days, it’s fighting for voting rights legislation to ensure every citizen can participate in our democracy.

Folks, our democracy is fragile. We must stand up and fight for it — especially in moments like these.

— Jason