Patrick Leahy: “I said earlier that I have never seen a time in my 22 years here when those who control the majority of the Senate would…”

“I said earlier that I have never seen a time in my 22 years here when those who control the majority of the Senate would schedule a resolution of this nature as a President was leaving for a summit meeting--even some of the less significant summits, and certainly not for a summit with the leader of a nation that is, militarily, a nuclear superpower. I can think of a number of times when there were issues that were as troublesome to Democrats, who had controlled the majority of the Senate, as this is to Republicans, or as they say it is--so long as it is limited just to investigate the Democratic President and not themselves. There were times when I was here in the majority with Republican Presidents, including President Ford, President Reagan, and President Bush, and time and time again we held off matters that we were thinking of bringing to the floor, even legislation, that might be a matter of some contention while the President was abroad at a summit meeting. At no time would even the most junior member of the Democratic Party, when the Democrats were in the majority, consider bringing up something like this while a Republican President was abroad. I think it shows one of the most egregious breakdowns of any bipartisan comity in this body, to see this come up as the President is about to go to Helsinki. I think certainly in my 22 years of experience, it is completely unprecedented. I think it is outrageous. I think it is inexcusable.”