WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after President Donald Trump made a series of false claims about U.S. elections, pledged to “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and voting machines, and inaccurately asserted that states must run elections in the manner the president tells them to, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s latest attack on free and fair U.S. elections is another reckless attempt to undermine our democracy. The fact that President Trump is relying on Vladimir Putin as a validator of his outrageous claims is deeply alarming and revealing.

“President Trump’s efforts to disenfranchise millions of voters and to put nationwide elections under his direct control highlights his fear of being held to account by the American people, who are experiencing higher prices, sluggish job growth, and less access to healthcare because of Trump’s policies.

“Congress and the courts must reject Trump’s authoritarian strategy to limit voting rights and instead act to ensure that all citizens have an opportunity to cast their ballots with the confidence that their votes will be transparently and accurately counted.”