Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, a deposition from Ambassador Bill Taylor confirmed Donald Trump used military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump’s political rivals, noting that “everything,” including “security assistance,” was contingent on Ukraine announcing an investigation into his domestic political rival first.
Taylor’s deposition compounds previous evidence of Trump’s abuse of power including the call transcript between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, the whistleblower report, public statements of Donald Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, Ambassador Gordon Sondland’s deposition and the press conference with White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.
Today, the House is set to vote on the SHIELD Act which would protect the integrity of our democracy and our elections by strengthening the laws for foreign spending in elections, and contact between candidates and foreign powers which would prevent foreign interests like Iran and Russia from interfering in our elections. Senate Republicans are expected to block the SHIELD Act from passing, following their blockage of two election security bills yesterday.
As the nation’s largest grassroots environmental advocacy organization, with millions of members and supporters nationwide, the Sierra Club is a key part of U.S. civil society and a bastion for both environmental protection and safeguarding American democracy. The Sierra Club and the American people require a functioning government and democratic access to that government to achieve our mission of protecting the human and natural environment.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"The latest evidence from Ambassador Taylor’s testimony is clear: time and time again Trump has abused his power to protect his own interests, putting our democracy at risk. If our democratic norms and the law mean nothing, then the legal and democratic tools we use to protect clean air and water, public lands, and a safe climate could become meaningless. Trump is threatening the integrity of laws we all abide by, undermining the core principles of our democracy, and ignoring the presidential oath of office. His actions repeatedly prove that he is a danger to the health and safety of the American public, our Constitution and our country."
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.