DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement in response to reporting from the New York Times on the Oval Office conversation between Trump and Russian officials regarding the firing of James Comey and another from the Washington Post on the Russia probe reaching a White House senior adviser:

“Donald Trump told Russia that he shut down an investigation into their attack on our democracy. And while he was bragging to the Russians, he was lying to the American people. Now we’re learning this investigation goes all the way to the West Wing. It’s no wonder Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans didn’t want a special prosecutor. Trump’s first priority has been to protect himself at the expense of the American people’s security.  No matter how hard Trump tries to tear down the institutions of our democracy, he can’t avoid the pressure of the American people.”