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ALBANY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko called on the U.S. House of Representatives today to file formal articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump following multiple credible reports that the President tried to leverage U.S. military aid to compel a foreign government to help his re-election campaign, reinforced by the President’s own confirmations and simultaneous refusal to release the whistleblower complaint and underlying call transcription. Congressman Tonko’s full statement:

“I called for an impeachment inquiry in June of this year after a careful review of Robert Mueller’s report on 2016 election interference. That report detailed case after case of efforts by this President to obstruct America’s justice system and to place himself above the law.

“Since then, the President's misconduct has become increasingly apparent and grave. Our Constitution places on Congress a solemn duty to investigate, hold leaders accountable to the truth, and ensure America stands as a nation governed by the rule of law. We have a sworn duty to protect America’s founding as a nation governed by the people and for the people.

“With the evidence now before us, and in service of my sworn oath to support and defend our Constitution, I see no alternative but to call for the House to file articles of impeachment immediately. And I will vote YES.”

Tonko initially called for impeachment proceedings to begin on June 3^rd, 2019 following the release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s “Report On The Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election,” which detailed extensive evidence of misconduct including numerous attempts by Trump and his top advisers to evade or obstruct the American justice system.

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