When I announced I was running for president, I said I believe that the core values of this nation, our very democracy, was at risk. And, events in recent days have made that even clearer, to not only me but I think to everyone. We have a president who believes there's no limit to his power. We have a president who believes he can do anything and get away with it. We have a president who believes he's above the law, pursuing the leader of another nation to investigate a political component, to help win his election, and is not the conduct of an American president. The allegations that blocked hundreds of millions of dollars -- that he blocked hundreds of millions of dollars in congressionally approved aid to another country is an allegation, unless he agreed to smear a political opponent is not the conduct if an American president. Denying Congress the information, which it is constitutionally entitled to, and obstructing its efforts to investigate actions is not the conduct of an American president. It's an abuse of power. It undermines our national security. It violates his oath of office. And, it strikes at the heart of the sworn responsibility of the president -- a president has to put national interests before personal interests. I knew when I decided to run, this president would attack me and anyone else who he thought would be a threat to his winning again. Well, that's what he does. That's what he's always done. And, even though every reputable publication has looked at the charge that has been made against me have found them baseless and untrue and without merit, that's not about to stop him. I can take the political attacks. They'll come and they'll go and in time, they'll soon be forgotten. But, if we allow a president to get away with shredding the United States Constitution, that will last forever. Too many people, too many good decent people, have taken oath to this nation and given their lives over the past 243 years to let that happen. Too many people are serving this nation right now and honoring the oath they've taken to let that happen. This isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is a national issue. It is a security issue. And, it's time for this administration to stop stonewalling and provide the Congress with all the facts it needs, including a copy of the formal complaint made by the whistleblower. And, it's time for the Congress to fully investigate the conduct of this President. The president should stop stonewalling this investigation and all the other investigations into his alleged wrongdoing. Using his full constitutional authority, Congress, in my view, should demand the information it has a legal right to receive. If the Congress does not -- if the president is not -- does not comply with such a request from the Congress, if he continues to obstruct Congress and flaunt the law, Donald Trump will leave Congress, in my view, no choice but to initiate impeachment. That would be a tragedy, but a tragedy of his own making. I've always believed, and still do, that America is a truly special and unique nation, better than any other nation in history. We have made the experiment of self-government work. We've always been a beacon to other countries around the world. We know who Donald Trump is. It's time to let the world know who we are. Thank you very much.
