Donald Trump

Harry Reid: Trump Has ‘Decimated' Institutions, But Don't Talk Impeachment

"Our democracy will survive but it’s going to be tough,” Reid told NBC News

What to Know

  • Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid spoke to NBC News in his first network interview since leaving the Senate in 2016
  • The longtime Democratic leader warned Democrats against focusing on impeaching President Donald Trump
  • Reid also said Senate Republicans were "afraid" of Trump, which has made the Senate “irreparably damaged”

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said he worries U.S. institutions have been “decimated” under President Donald Trump, who he says is not a "nice man."

But the longtime Democratic leader is warning members of his party that "the less we talk about impeachment the better we are."

"I’ve been through impeachment, and they’re not pleasant," he told NBC News in his first network interview since leaving the Senate in 2016.

Reid also expressed disappointment that Republicans were unwilling to warn the public about Russian meddling during the election.

"My colleagues were afraid," he said. "They were afraid of Trump. They were afraid of [James] Comey, the FBI.”

In October 2016, Reid sent a letter to Comey blasting him for withholding “explosive” information about Trump and Russia even as the FBI chief held a press conference about Hillary Clinton’s emails.

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