Jim Risch actually said...

"democracy is foundational to that, and the United States remains the gold standard for democracy."

"The United States remains the gold standard for democracy."

"the ongoing pandemic has given opportunistic leaders another excuse to grab power and suppress their own citizens' fundamental freedoms and human rights."

"the restrictions used to fight the virus are also used to fight democracy, including by limiting protests, delaying elections, and implementing a press of state-sponsored censorship."