[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 153 (Monday, September 23, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5617-S5618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                UKRAINE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, over the weekend, details emerged about 
President Trump's conduct with Ukrainian President Zelensky. 
Specifically, the President's phone calls with the Ukrainian leader 
were subject of an official whistleblower complaint by a member of the 
intelligence community. The intelligence community's inspector general, 
a Trump appointee, has determined that this whistleblower's complaint 
is credible and a matter of urgent concern, whose subject matter ``not 
only falls within the DNI's jurisdiction, but relates to one of the 
most significant and important of the DNI's responsibilities to the 
American people.''
  By law, a whistleblower complaint labeled in this way must be 
transmitted to Congress--not shall be transmitted to Congress, must be. 
The Trump administration has not allowed that to happen. So far, in the 
face of this dire warning and the Trump administration's effort to 
cover it up, the Republican-led Senate has remained silent and 
submissive, shying away from this institution's constitutional duty to 
conduct oversight.
  That is an obligation we have. It is not a yes or no. That is our 
job. The Republicans are in the majority in the Senate. With that 
majority comes the power to call hearings, issue subpoenas, and decide 
what legislation

[[Page S5618]]

comes to the floor. The majority in the Senate, therefore, has an 
obligation to consider and act on the Senate's behalf, particularly 
when it comes to matters of oversight and matters of separation of 
powers. Yet, so far, we have no indication that Senate Republicans are 
planning to act. Most have yet to speak out.
  The Republican Senate's ``see no evil, hear no evil'' attitude is 
unacceptable and must change. Again, this is an issue of solemn 
obligation. There is no wiggle room here--none. The obligation of the 
inspector general is to turn over the whistleblower information now 
that he has found it credible and urgent. And here, typically, our 
Senate Republicans and the Senate leader sit supinely in obeisance to 
Donald Trump's reckless lawbreaking.

  This is a democracy, and we have heard nothing from our Republican 
colleagues about what the President has done, as abhorrent as that is, 
and the stonewalling of information. What is the President afraid of in 
this whistleblower report? We don't know; we can only speculate. But we 
do know there is an obligation for it to come to Congress.
  So today I sent the Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, a 
letter calling on him and the Republican chairs of the Senate relevant 
committees to fulfill their constitutional duties and immediately take 
the following actions:
  One, convene hearings to determine exactly what prompted the 
whistleblower to file this urgent complaint. At a minimum, these 
hearings should include testimony from Acting Director of National 
Intelligence Joseph Maguire, Acting Office of Management and Budget 
Director Russell Vought, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and President 
Trump's private attorney, Rudy Giuliani, among others.
  Two, issue a subpoena to compel the delivery of the whistleblower 
complaint to Congress as required--required--by law.
  Three, request the White House to release the transcript of President 
Trump's conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky during which 
President Trump reportedly pressured the Government of Ukraine to 
investigate Vice President Biden and his family.
  Four, identify the administration officials who directed that $341 
million of security assistance to Ukraine be delayed, and request that 
all records related to this decision be turned over to Congress.
  Five, insist that the Department of Justice provide any legal opinion 
or other guidance it has given regarding the administration's 
obligation to transmit the whistleblower complaint to Congress.
  It is the Senate's duty to take this national security matter 
seriously and investigate now. Senate Republicans have the sole power 
and the overwhelming responsibility to see that it does. How long must 
we wait for our Republican colleagues to rise up to their 
responsibilities to the Constitution, to separation of powers, and to 
rule of law when President Trump brazenly violates that law? When are 
we going to hear the voices? It is unbelievable.
  As President Trump erodes the very fabric of this democracy, our 
Republican colleagues--I believe out of fear--do nothing. That is not a 
profile in courage. That is not even what Senator after Senator, for 
generation after generation, regardless of party, has done. But we are 
obviously in a new era here where, on the Republican side, anything 
Donald Trump wants to do, he can get away with, whether or not it 
violates the law, violates our principles, violates the grand 
traditions of this democratic Republic.

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