WASHINGTON – After reading the just-released call memorandum of the July 25, 2019 conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry.

“In the last few days, President Trump has admitted to urging the leader of Ukraine to investigate a political rival. Our country is still reeling from foreign interference in our 2016 national elections and yet the President of the United States sought the direct assistance of a foreign government that would benefit his own political campaign. President Trump has shown disdain for the rule of law in so many instances, including attempting to obstruct justice, refusing to abide by the Constitutional anti-corruption clauses, and flouting the most basic ethics and conflict-of-interest laws and regulations.

“Every lawmaker must set politics aside and understand that the integrity of our nation and the rule of law is at stake. No one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law. For the sake of our country, the House of Representatives followed the only Constitutional course available by formalizing an impeachment inquiry. Without prejudging the outcome, I agree that the American people need a full and complete understanding of whether President Trump has violated his responsibilities under the Constitution.”

###