WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Thursday made the following statement:

“The White House Chief of Staff just openly admitted that the Trump administration was holding up military aid for Ukraine to get them to investigate President Trump’s political opponents. That’s the definition of a quid pro quo and it echoes what current and former administration officials have told House investigators,” said Murphy. “Integrating the president’s political and financial interests into our foreign policy is a corrupt act and cannot be allowed to stand. I do not understand why Republicans don't realize the terrifying precedent this behavior sets for future chief executives."

On Wednesday, Murphy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor in which he addressed the global scope of the damage Trump’s foreign policy is causing and asked why the Republican party is so keen on protecting him. Murphy surveyed the world—from Ukraine, to Syria, and Venezuela—to show that every corner of the world is less safe since Trump took office.

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