On April 25, 2018 Elise Stefanik released the following statement: “I pledged to be an independent voice for the North Country and will continue building on this record of bipartisanship to deliver results for the families I am proud to represent.”

Ms. Stefanik’s recent performance during the House Intelligence Committee Impeachment Hearings demonstrates that she has forgotten her pledge to the North Country. On Friday afternoon she spent her allotted time reading criticism of her colleague into the record rather than asking probing questions of the witness in order to discover the truth. A truly “independent voice” would have taken the time to question the witness rather than carry water for Republican Congressmen and yield the balance of her time to Congressman Jordan.

An independent voice would pay attention to the questions of all members and the answers of all witnesses rather than engaging in a Twitter squabble with a reporter.

An independent voice would also not use the impeachment hearings as a fundraising scheme by shamelessly promising to protect President Trump in order to raise campaign money outside of the 21st Congressional District. The families of the 21st District deserve better.

St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee