WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress’ constitutional power to investigate.  These are gravely serious charges.

“President Trump’s unprecedented actions have forced Congress to undertake the extraordinary step of considering articles of impeachment.  The United States Senate now has a constitutional duty to hold a trial and render a decision. 

“In weighing these articles of impeachment, the Senate must be fair, transparent, and deliberate.  That should include hearing from witnesses who President Trump barred from testifying and seeing the actual documents at issue, not just the Trump Administration’s summary of his call to the President of Ukraine.  

“No Senator relishes this responsibility, but every Senator must take it seriously and with an understanding that our system of checks and balances is on trial as well.”