[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3995-S3996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRUMP TRIAL VERDICT

  Mr. LEE. Madam President, the conviction of President Trump is a 
clear manifestation that our justice system has been weaponized against 
us, against the American people. This was a political persecution aimed 
squarely at one thing and one thing only: preventing President Trump 
from challenging the current administration in this Presidential 
election.
  Now, let's just examine the facts--just the basic, irrefutable facts. 
The proceedings against President Trump were marred by unclear charges 
and irregular jury instructions, making it evident, from the very 
beginning, that this trial was not about the pursuit of justice. It was 
not about the objective demands of the law.
  No, it was a choreographed act of partisan lawfare intended to 
dismantle the political rights of an individual who stands as the 
principal opponent--I would dare say the sole remaining obstacle--to 
President Joe Biden becoming a second-term President. He is the last 
person, the last man, the last object standing in the way of President 
Biden's second term.
  And so that fact, all by itself, signals something. It signals 
something we haven't seen before. It signals something that I wish we 
never had seen in our Republic and that I certainly hope we never see 
again. But the hypocrisy of this is just palpable.
  The Democrats and their allies in the media have long accused 
President Trump of undermining American norms and traditions and of all 
these supposedly norm-shattering actions. Yet they now champion a 
prosecution that reeks of the authoritarian tactics seen by the tinhorn 
dictators in banana republics--the same banana republics and failed 
systems of government that we have repeatedly sanctioned and shamed 
publicly with good reason.
  In what country could a judge who, according to the New York Times, 
violated judicial ethics when he donated

[[Page S3996]]

to a group supporting President Biden's campaign and another called 
Stop Republicans--that is literally the name of the group that he 
donated to, Stop Republicans. In what world could that judge be allowed 
to preside over the trial of a former President--a former Republican 
President and chief political opponent of the incumbent Democratic 
President?
  Or how about Matthew Colangelo, another key figure in this 
prosecution? How could that person be authorized to transition directly 
from a senior role in the Justice Department under President Biden to 
lead the political prosecution of President Trump with Manhattan DA 
Alvin Bragg?
  This intertwining of judicial proceedings with partisan politics 
should alarm every single American, regardless of your age, regardless 
of what part of the country you call home, and, frankly, regardless of 
your party affiliation.
  Now, let's not forget that Senator Schumer's brother, whose law firm 
has lent significant legal firepower to this prosecutorial effort--
let's not forget that his brother is a partner in the law firm--the law 
firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison--the same firm that 
granted three highly paid attorneys a paid leave of absence to join the 
Manhattan District Attorney's Office, specifically in its targeting of 
Donald Trump.
  We cannot stand idly by and act as if this didn't just happen and 
pretend that this whole endeavor hasn't changed--changed dramatically. 
We can't pretend that this didn't occur, nor should we. If we were 
observing such actions in another country, we would be discussing 
sanctions and shaming and perhaps a whole lot of other things, but 
certainly not silence. We wouldn't see that.
  Now, as we prepare to honor the sacrifices made by the heroes on the 
beaches of Normandy, we are reminded that those brave souls fought and 
died, 80 years ago this week, to defeat dictators who ruthlessly 
wielded the power of the state, specifically to suppress and persecute 
their political enemies and anyone else who they thought stood in their 
way.

  What would those American heroes say if they saw an American 
President cheering on a kangaroo-court attempt to imprison his 
political rival, his sole impediment to a second term in the Oval 
Office? Would they recognize the America they fought for?
  It is with their sacrifice in mind that I call upon every Member of 
this Chamber to make it clear that we are unwilling to aid and abet 
this White House in its project to tear the country apart.
  Now, Pandora's box is open and a sword of Damocles hangs over the 
neck of our great Republic. If we can muster even a fraction of the 
courage shown by the ``greatest generation'' on June 6, 1944, 80 years 
ago tomorrow, we may still change course. There is still time. They can 
still stand down on this.
  There are more instances of reversible error in this case, underlying 
this conviction, than I have time to recite in these remarks. For that 
reason alone, it would be very easy for the prosecution to confess 
error on appeal. There is still time, but there is not much time left. 
Let's put this genie back where it belongs and never, ever let it come 
back.
  I ask you, join me. Join me and fight. Push back on this while there 
is still time.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.

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