Washington (February 5, 2020) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today cast his two votes on the articles of impeachment to convict and remove President Donald Trump from office. Yesterday, Senator Markey spoke on the Senate floor, calling President Trump a “clear and present danger to our democracy and our national security.”

“If we acquit President Trump, he will believe himself to be accountable to no one. And when — not if — but when he is again faced with the choice between the public interest and his personal interest, he will choose his personal interest. And it will, in part, be a reckoning of our own making. A majority in this chamber will have made President Trump a dictator.

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“I believe that the vast majority of my Republican colleagues do understand what Donald Trump did here and know that it is very wrong. They know the House Managers proved their case. Some are even saying that out loud.

“I believe that the vast majority of my Republican colleagues recognize that abuse of power is an impeachable offense and that the president is not above the law.

“But, unfortunately, I also believe that they are simply too afraid of Donald Trump to do what they know is right.

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“This is the choice we must make: duty to this President or duty to democracy. For this reason, I will be voting to remove President Trump from office.”

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