WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Richard Durbin (D-IL) announced that they will introduce a motion today to mandate impeachment deliberations be open to the public. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has tried to rush this trial through without allowing for documents or witnesses with first-hand knowledge of what happened. On top of this, McConnell is working to quash any deliberations, and continues to limit Americans’ ability to get all the facts of the case. The American people not only deserve witnesses and evidence, but they also deserve to hear from their elected representatives as they deliberate on the articles of impeachment. Sens. Brown, Blumenthal, and Durbin will file a motion today that would make this process open to the American people.

“The American people know what a fair trial looks like – this isn’t it. Real trials have witnesses and evidence. Mitch McConnell has rushed this trial through and, to add insult to injury, he’s working to keep deliberations behind closed doors. This is about the American people, and they deserve to hear from their elected representatives. We’ll be filing this motion today to make sure deliberations are open to the people we serve,” said Brown. “This is our moment to do what is right for the future of our democracy.”

“The Senate deliberations should be fully open to the public. After a White House cover-up and a sham Senate trial, the very least we owe the American people is complete transparency in how we are contemplating this hugely consequential decision. Our vote isn’t just about whether President Trump solicited a bribe, corruptly abusing his power for personal political gain – it’s about what kind of country we want America to be. This president may believe he answers to no one, but I still believe that we are accountable to the people we serve,” Blumenthal said.

“Since day one, Senator McConnell’s goal has been to make sure that no witnesses are called and that no evidence is brought forward. The American people have a right to see the Senate’s deliberations – it shouldn’t happen behind closed doors. They have a right to see if Senate Republicans will continue to deny witnesses and evidence and still call this a trial,” Durbin said. 

Click here to view the motion.

 

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