On the recordFebruary 5, 2020
as Senators, we cast a lot of votes throughout our tenure in this body. I have cast over 13,200 of them. Each vote is important. A vote to convict or acquit the President of the United States on charges of impeachment is one of the most important votes a Senator could ever cast. Until this week, such a vote has only taken place twice since the founding of our Republic. The President has been accused of committing ``high Crimes and Misdemeanors'' for requesting that a foreign leader launch an anti- corruption investigation into his potential political opponent and obstructing Congress's subsequent inquiry into his actions. For such conduct, the House of Representatives asks this body to remove the President from office and prohibit him from ever again serving in a position of public trust. As both a judge and juror, this Senator asks first whether the conduct alleged rises to the level of an offense that unquestionably demands removal. If it does, I ask whether the House has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the conduct actually occurred. The House's case clearly fails on the first of those questions. Accordingly, I will vote not guilty on both articles. The President's request, taken at face value, is not impeachable conduct. A President is not prohibited by law or any other restriction from engaging the assistance of a foreign ally in an anti-corruption investigation.…
