My heart breaks for the over 200,000 Americans—including nearly 4,500 from Connecticut—who have lost their lives to the coronavirus. But in my grief, I am also deeply angry & frustrated. These deaths could have been prevented.
President Trump & his administration have failed our country at crucial points of this pandemic, downplaying the dangers of the virus & refusing to heed scientific advice. President Trump’s cruel, reckless indifference cost lives.
More than 6 months into this pandemic, countless priorities to rebuild our country—improved national testing, enforceable health & safety standards, robust relief funding—are at a standstill in Mitch McConnell’s Senate.
I’m prepared to consider any reasonable policies & plans that will help our fellow Americans through this health & economic crisis. Let’s do what the American people sent us to Washington to do & pass real relief.
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Patel is asking for one of the most consequential jobs in law enforcement, leading a Bureau under direct attack from the person who nominated him.
We can't move forward with this nomination without a second hearing—& I'm demanding Chairman Grassley schedule one immediately. 1/
Trump is seeking to fire FBI agents for investigating crimes.
I find it nearly impossible to believe Patel knew nothing about Trump’s reported plans to mass fire FBI agents assigned to investigate Jan. 6 when he testified—despite his disingenuous protestations otherwise. 2/
I am deeply disturbed by reports that agents who investigated January 6 have been ordered to complete a questionnaire detailing their roles in those cases apparently due this afternoon—a literal political litmus test. 3/ cbsnews.com/news/fbi-quest…
I was hoping for a unifying message—a speech seeking to bring us together & heal our differences. Instead, it was replete with grievance & grandiosity—playing to cultural & political divisions. 1/
I was struck by the panorama of Big Tech billionaires on a platform raised above Supreme Court Justices, placed ahead of Cabinet members. Governors were relegated to a separate room, including Republican Governors. It was a picture of a government for sale. 2/
As always, I wish the President well because his success will be America’s success—& I’ll work with him whenever & wherever possible. But I’m determined to fight if necessary to protect CT & our country. 3/
Ukraine is at a life or death moment. On my 5th trip to Ukraine—since the start of Russia’s savage, murderous invasion 2 years ago tomorrow—I heard from President Zelenskyy that his lines will break & Putin will conquer his country, unless the U.S. provides arms & ammunition. 1/
The facts on the ground here are starkly, staggeringly clear: With American support, Ukraine can win. Without it, Ukraine is sure to lose. The National Security Supplemental passed by the Senate must be approved by the House for Ukraine to survive, & prevail. 2/
The supplemental provides the tools Ukraine needs most urgently, as Zelenskyy told us—air defense, anti-mine systems, long-range artillery, & more. Without these arms, Putin will dine in Kyiv on his way to the Polish border. 3/
No real time broadcast, no visual record, not a single camera. Having argued 4 SCOTUS cases, & many more in lower courts, closing the courtroom to all cameras is incredible at a time when the Court will be hearing some of the most consequential cases in our history. Here’s why 1/
I’ve found that reading the bench is crucial to understanding the Justices—a view shared virtually universally by SCOTUS advocates. Yet, federal judges have barred any broadcast & visual recordings—not only at SCOTUS, but all federal courts—for outdated & outlandish reasons. 2/
They cite the fear of theatrics by counsel when lawyers think they’re playing to an audience.
But appellate arguments involve no evidence or jury, & state courts long ago squashed this objection when they found few lawyers change their strategy because there are cameras. 3/
The Tuberville holds are taking a totally unacceptable toll. Ask our military men & women, most immediately the U.S. Marine Corps. They deserve support, not disrespect. Here’s why you should care. 1/
Hundreds of military officers are being forced to work multiple high-stress, high-impact jobs because Senator Tuberville has halted progress on these nominations & won’t let the Senate finish the confirmation process. 2/
For example, the combatant command tasked with deterring Iran during the Israel conflict is currently lacking 9 senior officers. 3/
Over the last several days, I have visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, & Egypt. Having met with heads of state in each country, here are some key takeaways from my conversations on the ground. 1/
These world leaders agree, Hamas is a scourge that must be fought & dismantled. We must stand together to deter Iran, who enables & empowers Hamas, & ensure that Iran’s malign proxies don’t expand this conflict. 2/
In Saudi Arabia, we met w/Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&other officials, including women leaders. During our discussions, I stressed the importance of protecting human rights, the 9/11 families’ claims&my requests for information about efforts to exert influence in the US. 3/