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Statement

'A Shocking Betrayal of Their Oath and Total Abdication of Their Duty,' Moms Leader Says of Today’s U.S. Senate Vote Not to Call Witnesses at Trump Impeachment Trial

January 31, 2020

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO of MomsRising, an on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the U.S. Senate vote not to hear from any witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump:

“Mitch McConnell’s victory today is America’s great loss. All but two Republican U.S. Senators joined in the shameful vote to call no witnesses at President Trump’s impeachment trial. This vote undermines the credibility of the U.S. Senate and makes a mockery of its commitment to justice and accountability. If, as appears almost certain, it leads to acquittal without consideration of the evidence, it will cause profound and lasting harm to our democracy. Such is the price of moral cowardice among those holding high office.

“The decision not to hear from witnesses or allow documentary evidence is especially appalling since former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton has highly relevant information that he has said he is willing to share. Burying your head in the sand doesn’t make President Trump’s crimes any less dangerous to our democracy. In fact, we fear it will embolden President Trump to continue to abuse his power and try to rig the 2020 election.

“There was a mountain of evidence that President Trump used his influence and taxpayers’ money to try to coerce Ukraine into interfering in our elections. This vote was a shocking betrayal of the Senators’ oath and a total abdication of their duty. America’s moms will long remember it.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.