This admin isn’t just closing the door to immigrant families&asylum seekers on our border—they’re rejecting refugees from around the world, telling survivors of global conflicts who've overcome great obstacles there's no safe place for them here. That is wrong—we must do better.
Today, I spoke on the Senate floor to commemorate #WorldRefugeeDay. Refugees who have made America their home are resilient survivors who embrace their new lives and contribute to their communities, even after harrowing journeys to the United States.
I'm so proud that since 2005 CT has resettled almost 7K refugees—our small state has welcomed people from around the world w/the help of orgs like @IRISCT & @CIRICT. Today I shared stories of refugees who've made CT home&highlighted the work my constituents do to support them.
Issa, Aminah&their 3 children fled Syria after Issa was abducted&beaten by the regime. They resettled in Westville where Issa works as a parking attendant, Aminah launched a catering business&their kids are thrilled to finally attend school again. #WorldRefugeeDay
Rafid was an electrical engineer in Baghdad&worked w/the U.S. Army Corps during military operations in Iraq. After receiving death threats he fled w/his family. Now Rafid is a team leader at Schick Manufacturing in Milford&started his own company: Golden Gate CT. #WorldRefugeeDay
Francis&Evelyne fled persecution in Rwanda&the DRC to resettle in Bridgeport. They told my office: “We understood that the American Dream was alive in each of us if we wished to move forward&work hard.” They launched African Families Synergy to support refugees&immigrants.
Trinity College Professor Janet Bauer has dedicated her career to welcoming&integrating refugees. Janet established the Hartford Global Migration Lab, connecting college students&refugees. Her students tutor at Jubilee House&help kids w/their homework at @HPLCT. #WorldRefugeeDay
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Republicans’ desperate attempt to distract from Dr. Blasey Ford’s powerful testimony by blaming Democrats is refuted by her own words: "All sexual assault victims should be able to decide for themselves whether their private experience is made public."
Judge Kavanaugh kept repeating that four witnesses swore that Dr. Blasey Ford’s account “did not happen.” Not true. All we have are statements from their lawyers claiming that they have no knowledge of the night in question. That is not the same thing as it "did not happen.”
One of the four witnesses Judge Kavanaugh kept on referring to as exonerating, Leland Keyser, has said publicly that she believes Dr. Blasey Ford.
I believe Dr. Ford. We have every reason to believe a survivor who comes forward at great personal risk & under hostile scrutiny. We have every reason to doubt Judge Kavanaugh—after his evasive & seemingly misleading testimony.
By rushing to have a hearing about Kavanaugh’s attempted rape allegations, Republicans are only trying to check the box on oversight, & not find the truth.
My Republican colleagues have handled Dr. Ford’s serious accusations with dismissals & attacks. These actions shamefully reinforces dangerous preconceptions that push survivors into silence.
The Senate Judiciary Committee must now give these allegations the serious weight they deserve. They must be fully & fairly investigated. Unquestionably, the Kavanaugh confirmation vote must be delayed.washingtonpost.com/investigations…
Ms. Ford has shown incredible bravery in coming forward. Now that she has made her story public, I am committed to ensuring that she is heard, that her safety is protected, & that she is treated with respect.
I’m dismayed by Republican dismissals of a sexual assault & denigration of a survivor. Calling an assault a political ploy & mocking Ms. Ford's wish for confidentiality reinforces dangerous preconceptions that shame&silence survivors. These comments are despicable&deeply harmful.
No one is above the law—not Manafort & not his former boss, Donald Trump. Not a witch hunt or hoax, this milestone verdict is a message: the Special Counsel is for real—getting results through real facts & evidence compelling to a jury of Americans.
The Mueller legal team’s abundance of evidence was on full display in this first major test in the courtroom. The Mueller team will now continue following the facts—& the money—as this investigation circles ever closer to the Oval Office.
After this powerful verdict, the President’s attacks seem increasingly desperate & dishonest—reflecting an ongoing effort to obstruct the Special Counsel investigation.
Introduced a resolution today w/Senate colleagues reaffirming our commitment to the First Amendment calling on the President to respect our free press rather than demean & diminish it.
The same day we introduce a resolution condemning the White House’s treatment of reporters, President Trump amplifies attacks on CNN’s @Acosta. This is unacceptable & intolerable.
Retaliating & banning reporters from public briefings on public property & retweeting the harassment of reporters at his rallies violates the public trust & perhaps the law.
Only one reason Trump Admin barred @kaitlancollins from White House press briefings: her questions made them uncomfortable. Too bad, Mr. President, that’s what a free press & open democracy is all about.
Reporters must be able to ask questions without intimidation or threats from the White House. Our democracy depends on it. The White House owes @kaitlancollins & the entire press corps an apology.
First, threatening former nat’l security officials who disagree w/ petty & political reprisal. Now, intimidating & punishing a reporter doing her job. Strongman tactics do not belong in America.