He abused the power of his office for personal and political gain and has refused to cooperate with a co-equal branch of government this is a vote for our constitution setting the precedent for all future presidents Democrat or Republican Donald Trump must be held accountable for his actions today we send a clear signal to this president and all future presidents no one is above the law I yield back the gentleman from Georgia. Thank you madam speaker at this time of year the minute after the gentleman from Kansas Mr Marshall Genzer recognize him and half I rise today in opposition to the impeachment of the legitimately elected president of the United States enough madam speaker for the love of this country enough as Roger Marshall this congressman from Kansas enough of these sham which guns I'm voting no because the president has done nothing wrong the only thing the President Trump is guilty of is doing the things he said he would do and if my Democrat colleagues were honest they tell us the only thing President Trump is guilty of is not being Hillary Clinton the only party guilty of obstruction abuse of power or whatever focus group term they're using today is the party on the other side of this aisle they're obstructing the will of the American people they're obstructing the very foundations of our country by politically weapon izing impeachment they have dangerously shattered precedent and abused our Constitution they alone will bear this responsibility Madam Speaker they will fail and it's no wonder the American people don't trust this body it's past time to be done with this circus and get to the work that matters like securing our borders and passing trade deals I will vote no and encourages body to move on from this heartbreaking disgraceful day to things that actually matter I yield back gentlemen yes back cattlemen from New York. Many speak right now you'll go one minute to the gentleman from North Carolina Mr Price tenements recognize for one minute. Matter speaker the what are the moment our founders anticipated in establishing Congressman David Price of North Carolina has arrived the evidence is clear President Trump abused his power by asking a vulnerable foreign leader to investigate both his political rival and a baseless Russian conspiracy theory while withholding congressionally appropriated defense aid and a coveted White House visit he then blocked congressional investigation into these abuses these abuses threaten the integrity of our elections they corrupt our diplomacy and they undermine national security. We sometimes regard constitutional checks and balances as the indestructible underpinnings of our democracy in fact they're not fixed they're not indestructible the president has demonstrated this beyond all doubt it's up to the Congress the 1st branch of government to apply the remedy that the Constitution for scrubs because the threats to our democracy are real and present with this vote we affirm that no one including the president is above the law. Gentleman from Georgia thank you Madam Speaker I yield a minute I have to the gentleman from Kentucky that's come Germans recognize for a minute have since the beginning of this impeachment inquiry it's been extremely troubling to see the partisan divide home a Republican of intolerance have carried out this entire process I guess we shouldn't be surprised though they promise they don't see this president since the day he took his oath of office from the start. This is been a baseless attempt to undo the will of 63000000 Americans who voted for President Trump I can tell you the people I represent in Kentucky the very people who voted for this president to enact change and fight for this country are appalled at the charade they've seen in the House in recent months they are appalled at the actions from House Democrats who have failed to even come close to proving their case I hope all of my congressional colleagues carefully consider the president they are sending by voting in favor of this sham process and these illegitimate articles of impeachment these articles were written and built on a report that was drafted with biased presumptions cherry picked witnesses and vastly disputed facts the president did not commit any impeachable offense and it's clear for all of us to see through the now very well known transcript this rig process it's such a concerning precedent for impeachable offenses moving forward and I wholeheartedly oppose these baseless articles of impeachment and I yield back the balance of term gentleman from New York. Many speak right now you had one minute to the gentleman from California Mr Peters gentlemen to recognize for one minute Thank you Madam Speaker many have lamented that this effort is not bipartisan but that's on my Republican Scott Peters Democrat of California have not sought the truth they have sought to avoid the truth they have demeaned and insulted witnesses Patriots warriors career diplomats diplomats who provided evidence against the president no House Republican has joined us to demand the documents and witnesses that President Trump has refused to produce and Senate Republican leaders this week have announced that President Trump himself can set the rules of his own trial and there will be no fact witnesses Republicans refused to seek the truth and condemn the abuse of power or to work with us to prevent this ongoing behavior in the future and that's the tragedy of today's events in our nation's history thousands of Americans have gone into battle without reservation to fight for our republic as they still do today many have been gravely injured and some have made the ultimate sacrifice but today in contrast for fear of losing an election my colleagues will not speak up for the rule of law or against presidential abuse of power voters may give them a pass but history will judge them harshly I will vote for the articles of impeachment I will bet. Gentlemen from Georgia thank you Madam Speaker it is a privilege out of you to men and I have to the general from Georgia missed a lot of Germans recognize for a minute I have. A thing a colleague from Georgia and friend Mr Collins Madam Speaker very loud and not Republican of Georgia these articles of impeachment but in strong opposition to the process that has brought us to this point our Constitution and Bill of Rights are all about process our Founders knew that a government without constraints could accuse anyone of any crime at any time even without compelling evidence that's why the 5th in the 14th Amendment says stablished a bedrock principle of innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt but on November the 14th Speaker Pelosi informed the press that the president should prove his innocence when she stated Mr President if you have anything that shows your incident in innocence then he should make that known the Constitution also a guarantees that the accused can call witnesses to testify on their behalf but the Republicans of the president were continually denied that right throughout this process the 6th Amendment guarantees the right of the defendant to face their accuser but not only have the Democrats were here but had Republicans in the president from questioning the so-called whistleblower his identity has been kept secret. Before you take this historic vote today one week before Christmas I want you to keep this in mind when Jesus was falsely accused of treason ponchos pilot gave Jesus the opportunity to face his accusers during that sham trial punches pilot afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats have afforded this president and this process I yield back. The gentleman from New York. The president was given the opportunity to come and testify before the Judiciary Committee to send his counsel to question witnesses he declined to do so and now you know one minute to the gentleman from Michigan Mr Kildee as from one minute. Thank you Madam Senate have Daniel kill the innocent and this is a sad day for our country and for our democracy the president has abused the powers of his office betrayed the public trust and undermined America's national security by pressuring or a foreign government to interfere in our elections for his own political gain in this moment in our history the Constitution is clear the remedy for such misconduct for by a president is impeachment I didn't come here to Congress to impeach a president of the United States but sadly the president's misconduct leaves us no choice but to follow the Constitution. I have 2 grandchildren I get my grand daughter Caitlin is 8 and my grandson Collin is 4 someday a long time from now they'll ask me about this day they'll ask about the time a president put himself above the law and they'll want to know what I did to stop him and I will have an answer for them. Today I vote to uphold the Constitution I will vote to impeach Donald Trump I yield back the gentleman from Georgia. Thank you Madam Speaker it is interesting that the present was supposedly given rise to use your committee but maybe who would have asked questions of 3 law professors and a staff member not a lot of the process there with this I yield a minute half the gentleman from Texas chairman's recognize from a minute a half Madam Speaker we are here today because House Democrats have spent upwards of 30000000 dollars in 3 years trying to overturn the 2016 election of President Trump and come up with nothing because of their radical left wing Democrats are willing to make all future presidential elections invalid until judged worthy by the majority in the House of Representatives the president of the United States does not serve at the pleasure of the House of Representatives Brian Babbin Republican of Texas reality regarding President Trump is acknowledging that under his policies things are actually going much better than they have in decades for working Americans we are a democratic constitutional republic in which power flows from We the People to our president and elected officials the Democrat majority thinks otherwise they believe that they are entitled to rule us even if they have to change the rules to invalidate the will in the votes of the people of America and that is why the absence of a case does not matter in this charade of impeachment I believe that the American people recognize and share my urgency about what is its stake here Madam Speaker you and your majority may decide today but I have faith that the American people will decide otherwise next November thank you and I yield back gentlemen else fact gentleman from New York and speak right now you have one minute to the gentle lady from Washington is that of any gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you Madam Speaker I rise in Del Benning of Washington state Democrat after carefully reviewing all of the evidence and the articles of impeachment before us it is clear that President Trump abused the power of the presidency and obstructed Congress I did not come to this conclusion lightly impeachment is an extremely serious matter but no president can be allowed to pressure a foreign country for personal and political gain no president is above the law his behavior has jeopardized the integrity of our elections put our national security at risk and placed his personal interests above those of the American people his obstruction has prevented the house from conducting its constitutional duty to of oversight of the executive branch by failing to uphold his oath of office President Trump forces each of us as members of the House of Representatives to uphold ours I urge my colleagues to do just that and defend our democracy I yield back the gentleman from Georgia thank you Miss madam speaker at this time of year the minute after the gentleman from Virginia Mr a chose to recognize for a minute and a half Thank you Madam Speaker I oppose this impeachment effort and will vote no on the articles of impeachment Republican Denver Riggleman of Virginia as well just so many founding fathers whose vision shaped the great country we are living in today Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are not around to see what their creation has become but I don't think they would be pleased to see Congress subverting the will of democracy by holding an impeachment vote because the majority party simply cannot accept the 2016 election. Instead of wasting the taxpayers' time and money on specious investigations we could have passed legislation to address surprise medical billing secure the border address the opioid epidemic reduce student debt and solve a litany of other issues that Americans actually care about tomorrow we might have a vote on the u.s. M.c.a. Which we should have passed months ago had it not been for the obstruction and delays from Democrats delays that are made farmers in my district and other districts suffer votes like the one we will take today the decisions that have led up to today's vote the nature and entire process of this proceeding reeks of careers bureaucrats and politicians that put politics over people I was not elected to take political votes that attempt to overturn the will of the American people I ran for office to serve my constituents let's remember that's why we are here weaponize emotion is not the way to serve the United States of America and to my colleagues to do just that I offer a quote Thomas Payne wrote in the crisis to argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead thank you and I yield back the balance of my time gentleman yells back gentleman from New York. This is big man a speaker I would remind the gentlemen that the House has passed over $400.00 bills $275.00 bipartisan bills driving down cost of health care in prescription drugs raising wages rebuilding infrastructure taking on corruption and self dealing in Washington 80 percent of these bills are languishing on Senator McConnell's desk and now you'll get one minute to the general 80 from Ohio Ms Kaptur that allays recognize for one minute man Speaker I thank the chairman for yielding on which to place on Marcy Kaptur Democrat of Ohio Congress where a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic and today we fulfill our oath by defending liberty the central figure . Testing America's resolve is not here in Washington today rather the closeted villain sits in Moscow with the Kremlin Vladimir Putin has coordinated murders election hacking propaganda the entrapment of willing fools and greedy underlings who put their own selfish interests over Liberty Putin seeks to sow disarray and destabilize democracies and the NATO alliance at Putin's direction Russia illegally invaded Ukraine in 2014 and as Ukraine defends Europe's eastern flank 14000 people have been killed at Putin's hand with over 2000000 displaced rather than stand up to Putin President Trump and his minions aided Putin 1st in hastening Russian interference in our 2016 elections and then more recently withholding vital military aid from Ukraine to coordinate interference in our 2020 Alexion for Mr Trump's personal gain general it is time to expire might I end by saying on word liberty vote for the articles of impeachment gentleman from Georgia thank you Madam Speaker this time I yield a minute and a half to the job of a North Carolina automorphic. Better Speaker I rise in opposition to these baseless articles of impeachment and the unprecedented process that's been used in Republican Gregory Murphy of u. North Carolina president of the United States it is a mockery of American justice in $178081.00 of our founding fathers Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist Papers in many cases impeachment will connect itself with the preexisting factions and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more than the comparable strength of parties majority and minority and then by real demonstrations of innocence or guilt what does this mean it means that the majority can exert its influence regardless of justice in this statement Hamilton warned us about the danger of mob rule Democrats have a criminal and have been searching for a crime for 3 years but this president has not committed a crime as a leader of American foreign policy the president has a constitutional obligation to root out corruption in countries to which we provide aid this is not an abuse of power it is his job one of the articles is obstruction of Congress the only thing that's been instructed is this president's right to due process I don't blame the president for refusing to fully participate in this guilty until proven innocent circus this is not how our founding fathers framed American justice this is a tragic day in our nation's history we have individuals that hate this president more than they love this country our country needs prayer and not this destructive partisanship thank you back. So there from New York. And the Speaker the president's obstruction is unprecedented and categorical President Trump claims that the House cannot investigate his misconduct outside of an impeachment inquiry he defies lawful congressional subpoenas then and then he sues to block 3rd parties from complying with such subpoenas even as he pursues his own interests in court his administration simultaneously argues that Congress is barred from obtaining judicial Foresman when executive branch officials disregarded subpoenas so when can the president be held accountable for his for his wrongdoing in his mind never the Constitution however disagrees I now yield one minute to the gentle lady from the District of Columbia Ms Holmes Norton the gentle ladies recognized her when met Eleanor hall Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia. Madam Speaker my words are my only remedy today in spite of the upcoming d.c. Statehood vote we expect to be successful the people of the District of Columbia have no vote on impeachment or on any other matter on this floor now I spoke on this floor on the impeachment of President Clinton 20 years ago unlike the Clinton impeachment on perjury concerning an affair with and in turn from some Pietschmann turns on sabotage of national security to get himself reelected Clinton repented Trump insists that he did nothing wrong that's a promise to continue his long pattern of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress impeachment is our only recourse I yield back channel ideas back gentleman from Georgia thank you madam speaker at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado member the gesture committee Mr Buck Gentlemen thank you guys for 10 minutes thank you Madam Speaker I thank the gentleman from Georgia today Democrats lower the bar for impeachment candidates Republican of Colorado in the absence of a crime without due process and for serving a legally constitutionally recognized privilege history shows Democrat presidents have abused power to undermine democracy and win elections and yet they have not been impeached President Franklin Roosevelt used the iris to target his political opponents his son later admitted f.d.r. Used quote the i.r.s. As a weapon of political retribution president John f. Kennedy used the f.b.i. To wiretap and monitor political opponents including congressional staff he deported one of his mistresses to avoid scandal. President Lyndon Johnson spied on Goldwater's campaign signing off on wiretapping his opponent and Goldwater's airplane and using a CIA spy to obtain advanced copies of Goldwater's strategies and speeches President Barack Obama refused to provide documents to Congress related to Fast and Furious his unconstitutional recess appointments were unanimously struck down by the Supreme Court he used national security agencies to lie to the American people about Benghazi to win the 2012 election he spied on reporters finally it was the Obama administration that committed 17 serious violations before the fire as a court to spy on Trump campaign associates despite these clear abuses of power by f.d.r. J.f.k. L.b.j. And Obama Republicans did not impeach why because the framers did not want a low bar for impeachment they wanted Congress and the president to work out their differences when I asked Professor Turley in a judiciary committee hearing if any president can void impeachment with those low standard he said no I yield back the gentleman from New York and speak out your mind the gentlemen that President Obama who voted thousands of pages of information to congressional requests that Attorney General Holder and others testified unlike . Now I know you're old. One minute to the general to the generally from Illinois coing general is recognized for one minute. Madam Speaker today is a solemn day Robin covered Democrat family on it none of us hoped for when we came to Congress but the events of today are something that each of us swore that we were prepared to execute and defense of the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic this is the oath that binds the men and women of the 116th Congress as our democracy implores we defend her a clear and present threat to American democracy it's what brings us here the architect a president who asked that a foreign nation interfere in our election this was our founding fathers greatest fear I cast the sound vote for the many individuals in my district who and trusted me to be their voice in Congress they entrusted me to uphold our constitution for them I vote yes but Sarah and Chicago dug in Kankakee Diane and flossed more yes for Kathy a momentous Katherine in Crete and Jimmy in Park Forest the facts a simple The path forward is clear impeachment is not an option it is an obligation because no one is above the law that gentleman from Georgia. Thank you madam speaker at this time it is my privilege to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania another member of the Judiciary Committee Mr actionable gentlemen stretches for 10 minutes thank you Madam Speaker and thank you ranking member Collins you know the Navy we had a guy Russian Thaller Republican of on line up front I'll give you the bottom line Democrats are terrified the president is going to win reelection they can't beat him on the merits so the Democrats are caving to their far left radical base and they're using that thoughts in the feelings and the assumptions of some unnamed bureaucrats rather than relying on facts and law to impeach a duly elected President let me be clear this is nothing more than a political hit job. You know I've been on all sides of the courtroom I was a prosecutor in the Navy I was a defense attorney in the Navy I was a district judge in my hometown and let me tell you as a lawyer I would defend this case every day of the week as a judge I would dismiss this on day one for lack of merit there is no prime aphasia case here. I'll tell you who I'd prosecute. Our prosecute Adam Schiff for abuse of power why how about the fact that he used his position as chairman to leak phone records of ranking member Devan Yes I love the fact that he dumped over 8000 pages of documents on Republicans less than 48 hours before a hearing that is the abuse of power and obstruction I prosecute the Democrats for obstruction How about the fact that judiciary Democrats voted down my request to subpoena the whistleblower. How about the fact that Chairman Adler refused every single Republican request for a fact witness that is obstruction of Congress so again let me be clear today is nothing more than a political hit job thank you and your back kind of Specter gentleman from New York . Minute speaker once again I hear a lot of attacks on members of a demo and Democratic members of Congress but not one single word of substantive defense of the president's conduct I know you would one minute to distinguish gentleman from Virginia Mr Connelly chairman's recognize for one minute madam speaker each of us here took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States Gerald Connelly Democrat from Virginia not our political party today history will judge did we abide that oath to extort a foreign country to investigate your political opponent is an unconstitutional abuse of power to solicit foreign interference in an American election isn't unconstitutional be subpar the need to protect against just such abuses prompted our founders to grant the sole power of a peach been to the south. The delicate balance of power that underpins our democracy is threatened when a president disregards the Constitution by obstructing Congress's power to cover up illegal behavior and doing that President Trump violated his oath today we must put country of a party conscience over complicity today we must assert no one's above the law today were summoned by history to do the right thing I yield back Jennifer in charge and thank you Madam Speaker I really I know this is probably not true but I think the speakers are not working on the majority side because I have talked about it many of our members are told about the facts this is going real quickly no pressure no conditionality no. It nothing was ever deny them and when they got through they actually got the money they never did anything for it we have talked about the facts that's a distraction that doesn't need to happen with Atmos Madam Speaker I yield a minute and a half to the general from Ohio Mr Davidson demonstration nice for a minute I have. Met him Speaker I've heard numerous colleagues say they didn't run for Congress to impeach the president. Well maybe not originally Davidson Republican of Ohio after the 4th vote to launch an impeachment inquiry today's vote was inevitable many of them campaigned on it I love this country with a soldier's passion I came here to defend freedom not to deny due process to anyone I came here to solve problems and change the broken status quo not to distract or disrupt those like President Donald Trump who deliver on promises to put America back on the path of peace and prosperity that has made and kept our country free for months now Americans have heard speculation about the president's motives in Ukraine despite months of effort dozens of hearings and countless documents Americans have not seen proof that the president committed a high crime or a misdemeanor we have a republic if we can keep it this is disgraceful dishonest process it's a discredit to this body into our nation I urge the House to drop these divisive articles of impeachment and get to work for the American people I yield on yes back gentleman from New York. Now to Speaker how much time would you tell me how much time you're listening to special coverage of the impeachment vote from n.p.r. News. Good morning from Sacramento State this is Capital Public Radio 90.9 k. X j z f famine h.d. Sacramento 91.3 k. You Opie f.m. An h.d. Stock in Modesto 90.5 k.t. Otaku City Reno and 88 point one k. Q In sequence the streaming a cap radio dot org will return to the hearings in just a few moments. Undermine you can hear inside tonight at 7 or any time online at Cap radio dot org. We get support from smog providing electric vehicle charging incentives for businesses to meet the demands of the growing a.v. Market went from ation at smug dot org slash Dr electric. Emma get support from Western Health advantage who believes that health care decisions should be made in hospitals not in corporate offices learn more at Western Health dot com Most are not the vantage advantage you. Ever get support from the mattress recycling Council's Bye-Bye mattress program since 2016 the council's work out recycle in California lawmakers up divert 161000000 pounds from the state's landfills by by mattress dot com. It is kind of gloomy out it's $51.00 cloudy in Sacramento $52.00 and raining in Stockton $53.00 in Sutter Creek $41.00 in Grass Valley $38.00 in South Lake Tahoe $37.00 in Reno 35 and Quincy and 53 and raining in San Francisco. And we return to special coverage of the hearings on listener supported kept radio it's $1133.00. Madam Speaker and 3 months we've gone from receiving an unsubstantiated here say and discredited. Complaint to the production of articles of impeachment against the President of you know it's a special coverage of the impeachment hearings on and on Young is causing this is Bradley Byrne from Alabama coast on from the beginning this has been a sham and this house has been nothing but a star chamber the Democrat majority literally locked themselves in the basement of this building hiding from the American people when my colleagues and I refused to stand for it Democrats moved to public hearings but denied us questions denied us witnesses and denied the president any meaningful opportunity to defend himself with this complete abuse of process the Democratic majority has produced the flimsiest and most legally unsound articles of impeachment in the history of this nation never before has the house reported an article of impeachment that does not allege an underlying crime yet this majority will do so today read the transcripts there was no quid pro quo no bribery no it's torsion no crime and no abuse of power and they don't even allege a crime in the articles of impeachment the president raised in Ukrainian corruption is not an impeachable offense if the daily's of 100 Biden were so above board you would think the majority would be just fine looking into this matter. Yet they haven't moved my resolution asking for an investigation and our subpoenas for Hunter have all been denied Horner but I'm done get a pass because his dad was vice president I am proud to have fought against the sure right every step of the way and I will proudly vote no today. Gentlemen Yes back gentleman from New York. Many speak right now one minute to gentle lady from Wisconsin is more gentle is recognized for one minute. Madam Speaker the facts are uncontestable the evidence when Moore from Wisconsin it grossly misuse the office of president and obstructed Congress and justice requires this impeachment I feel compelled to respond to the false narrative the Democrats are using this process to overturn an election you know I agree elections are the appropriate venue for public policy disputes However we're not talking about a public policy dispute we're talking about a president who subverted national security by soliciting for interference in our elections the execs playing our founding fathers feared and the exact circumstance for which they drafted the impeachment clause our democracy our Constitution deserves standing up for that double John Trump and I will leave my colleagues with this last thought if they decide how to cast this is stored vote. For what shall it profit a man to gain the world only to lose his own soul I yield back final spec gentlemen from Georgia thank you Madam Speaker this time a year old a minute and a half to the gentleman from Texas Mr Good gentlemens recognize her mentor have. Thank you Madam Speaker this is the day the founding fathers feared when they granted Congress the power of impeachment where we have a political party so dead set against the president that they will do anything to impeach him and they're about to get away with it simply because they have the votes but that's not how this process is supposed to work it's not meant to be dictated by a thin partisan majority nor is it meant to be used when election is just around the corner and no one understands that better than our speaker Lantz good Republican of Texas I agree with the comment she made on March the 6th of just this year impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan I don't think we should go down that path because it divides the nation and that's exactly what's happened and when we walk out of here tonight we all know how this result is going to go the Democrats are voting for this not one Republican is breaking this is not bipartisan the American people are disgusted with the United States House of Representatives and we bring shame upon this body today by moving forward this impeachment you'll back so many of us back gentlemen from New York. Now you had one move to the gentleman from California Mr Lowenthal gentleman is recognized for one minute Thank you Madam Speaker the facts in this case are as simple as a Lowenthal Democrat of California after a witness attested to these facts. No one has credibly refuted them President Trump tried to coerce Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 elections he used the power of his office for personal political gain by withholding aid to Ukraine the president has endangered our ally Ukraine and undermine our own national security and when he got caught the president an attempted to cover up the crime and shut down any investigation by obstructing Congress. We have overwhelming evidence that this president poses an urgent threat to our elections to our national security and to the rule of law Congress must vote to impeach him to protect our constitutional republic there is no alternative thank you and I yield back senator from Georgia thank you Madam Speaker the only urgent threat to this body is the clock in the calendar in the desire to impeach the president before we go home for Christmas with that a minute and a half to the general from Tennessee Mr Rove sentiments recognize for a minute Thank you Madam Speaker Today's a sad day in the people's house since Donald Trump was elected in 2016 Democrats have been on a crusade as David Rowe Republican of Tennessee I believe the American people the fairest people on this earth they believe that everyone should be treated equally under the law in the matter what your station you occupy in life rich poor president factory worker fair this process has been anything but fair for 2 years we've been told that then candidate Donald Trump colluded with Russians to interfere with our elections 2 years millions of dollars spent on the Mall investigation no collusion You'd think after being vacuum Democrats would finally decide to work on the problems at the American people sent us here to do you'd be wrong again then we were told that the president withheld money to the Ukrainians in a quid pro quo no no a bribery no abuse of power I guess whatever polls bassed to gather information on the political rival potential Rob Well here are some facts about what happened fact number one the transcript of July 25th phone conversation and present release shows no pressure Fact number 2 presidents Lansky did not know the money was withheld fact number 3 no investigation occurred or was announced fact number for the money was released September 11th 2019 facts are stubborn things one bit more on the other side of the aisle said quote I'm concerned that if we don't impeach this president he will get reelected in quotes that Madam Speaker says it all and I yield back gentlemen is back with the man from New York. It is figure now yield one minute to the gentle lady from Oregon has been to me chief journalist recognized for one minute Thank you Madam Speaker I take seriously my oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and I do not take today's proceedings like. Oregon Democrats with process and the Constitution to uphold our values and to maintain the checks and balances that are essential to separation of powers and to democracy they knew way back in 1787 that a president could abuse the power of the office in fact they adopted the phrase high crimes and misdemeanors from a phrase that had been used in the English Parliament sense 1386 intended to cover situations where an official abused his power and included in disobeying an order from the parliament Donald Trump has abused the power of his office by inviting a foreign government to interfere in the u.s. Election and he did this not to help the United States but to benefit himself that's wrong and it's an impeachable offense and then when Congress exercised our constitutional duty to investigate these wrongdoings he obstructed the investigation every step of the way that is also wrong and it's also an impeachable offense and our country no one is above the law that includes the president of the United States and I yield back the balance of the gentleman from Georgia thank you madam speaker at this point I yield a minute I have to the general from Pennsylvania Mr Kelly gentleman's recognize from in a hand I think the gentleman you know December is such a great month there are so many great dates in December and we talk about the wonderful things that happen to December's the past there's also in addition to Christmas being something we celebrate the Boston tea party took place in December but also on December 7th 1941 a horrific act happened in the United States in this one that President Roosevelt said this is a date that will live in infamy. Today December the 18th 2019 is another date that will live in infamy when just because you hate the Prez of the United States and you can find us in Mike Kelly Pennsylvania are so blinded by your hate that you can't see straight that you've decided the only way we can make sure this president doesn't get elected again is to impeach him on the floor of the people's house the bastion of democracy and liberty in the whole world we have decided the political power is far more important Porton than principle I would urge all members of the House to vote no on impeachment and to look their voters in the eye and remember this and let me tell you the voters will remember next November what you're doing this December this is a terrible time this is a date that will live in infamy Thank you Mr Speaker and you'll back. To members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair gentleman from New York then a speaker I know you had one minute to the generally from Florida Ms Franklin generally is recognized for one minute in 787 at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was that do we have a republic or a moniker he responded a republic if you keep it Madam Speaker Republic is a form of government was Frankel of Florida a public matter not the private concern or property of the rulers in a republic no person is above the law in a republic the president may not abuse his power by withholding critical foreign assistance for his own personal political gain nor May he stop witnesses from talking I did not come to Congress to impeach a president but I did take an oath to keep the republic for our children and our grandchildren we should do nothing less one day. I would tell my grandson that I stood up for our democracy I will vote yes to impeach the president and I yield back general ideas back gentleman from Georgia think about a speaker this time I yield a minute 40 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin Mr Rockwood chairman's recognize for a minute and 40 seconds thank you I'd like to address why we're here we're certainly not here because of a misquoted phone Glenn Grothman from Wisconsin the Washington Post ran an article headlined the campaign to impeach President Trump has begun the day he was sworn in the gentleman from Maryland who spoke earlier today called for impeachment 2 days before President Trump was it before he was sworn in the gentleman from Texas was introducing impeachment resolutions 2 years ago and said President Trump should be impeached so he can get reelected this impeachment is not about anything that happened on a phone call this impeachment is about what President Trump is done the people in this country who are let in who are in unmissable are apprehended and don't have legal authority fell from 100000 people in May to under 5000 people in November and you hate him for it then Carson thinks that low income housing should be used by American citizens and not people who are here illegally and you hate him for President Trump doesn't want people coming here and going on welfare and you hate him for it President Trump wants able bodied people and food stamps to try to work and he's hated Ford President Trump renegotiated that rip off trade agreement with Mexico and Canada and it was let in place by President Bush and President Obama and you hate him for. President Trump sides with law enforcement stead of criminals and murders dropped a 1000 people last year and you hate him for siding with the police President Trump lets Christian adoption agencies choose who they want to be parents and you don't like them for that President Trump won't let foreign aid go to agencies that perform abortions Jane and for that president trumps judges stick to the Constitution his dislike for their President Trump is keeping his campaign promises and you hate him for that I feel the remainder of my time. Members are once again reminded to keep their remarks to the chair gentleman from New York and speaker we do not hate President Trump but we do know that President Trump will continue to threaten the nation's security democracy and constitutional system if he is allowed to remain in office that threat is not hypothetical President Trump has persisted during this impeachment inquiry in soliciting foreign powers to investigate his political opponent the president steadfastly insists that he did nothing wrong and is free to do it all again that threatens our next election as well as our constitutional democracy and now you had one minute to the gentleman from California Mr McNerney gentlemen to recognize her one minute now the speaker of the House of Representatives the people's house its best Jerry McNerney Democrat of California. To balance the power of the presidency without this essential duty the president could exploit his sacred office without any regard for the law on January 3rd 2019 every member of the house swore north to defend the Constitution and lists we were being asked to do just that when allegations arose that the president tried to coerce. A foreign government to help undermine the 2020 Alexion the house carried out its duty to investigate a potential abuse of power but the president refused to cooperate and forbade his administration from doing so obstructing Congress from carrying out our sworn responsibility. If these actions bear no consequence future presidents may act without constraint and American democracy will be at an end therefore compelled by my sworn duty to defend the Constitution I will vote to impeach this president Beth . Gentleman from Georgia thank you madam speaker at this time I yield to my friend from Florida a minute and a half gentleman is recognized for a minute half. Thank you Madam Speaker I'd like to address my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and reiterate President Washington's Washington's were warning to the Republic 223 years ago the Constitution rightly sets a high bar for impeachment but the integrity of the process also depends on the ability of the legislators to vote their minds independent of party politics removing a president is too important lawmakers are given too much latitude to define high crimes and misdemeanors for it to be any other way otherwise excessively partisan politicians could overturn an election simply because the president is a member of the opposite and opposed Congressman Ted Yoho regard to Florida from a process that George Washington forewarned us as a nation at this moment in history. When political parties may now and then answer popular ends they are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines but which cunning ambitious in unprincipled men and women will be unable to subvert the power of the people to us usurp for themselves the reins of government how wise he was vote no on this assault to our republic the Constitution and against President Trump. Chairman yells back gentleman from New York. And a speaker John Adams warned in a letter to times Jefferson that these risks are unavoidable and might sometimes overlap quote you are apprehensive of foreign interference intrigue influence so mine as long as often is elections happen the danger of foreign influence recurs close quote are now your old one minute to the gentle lady from Michigan whose learns and lays recognize for one minute madam speaker today history is being written the facts are conclusive the president attempted to use the power of the powerful office of president to force Ukraine to flow as the Lawrence of Michigan in the process President jeopardize national security and withheld vital military assistance attend it to prevent further Russian aggression to our region however. As our committees including government oversight which I sit on and which I'm a member sought to interview additional witnesses and obtained documents the president ordered from the power of his office that the executive branch to not participate in obstructed the congressional oversight article one provides the House of Representatives with the sole power of impeachment as well as the authority to conduct oversight of the executive branch what did he have the high when the framers met over 200 years ago they went to great lengths to ensure future presidents would be forced to answer to their constitutional. Responsibility I stand today in support of the 2 articles of impeachment gentleman from Georgia thank you madam speaker at this time or you will 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia Mr Klein a gentleman is recognized for 2 minutes. Thank you Madam Speaker today is a sad day for this body Republican congressman Ben Klein of Virginia and for our nation Benjamin Franklin caution when asked what he had given us a republic if you can keep it today we take a step further toward losing the republic that our founding fathers envisioned by engaging in activity that they specifically warned against the misuse of the constitutional power of impeachment for one party's political gain our Constitution is the very foundation of our republic its assurance of self-determination has been the shining beacon by which our nation has chartered its course over the last 2 centuries from a new democratic experiment struggling to survive to the greatest nation on Earth America has been powered over the years not by government but by the ingenuity the bravery and the faith of its people confident in their place as one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all and so it is we the people who determine our president not we the Judiciary Committee or we have the Congress the Constitution is clear it's only when we see clear proof of the impeachable offenses outlined in Article 2 section for treason bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors that we are to challenge the decision of the voters break the figurative glass and pull the emergency record that is impeachment we do not have that proof today Thomas Jefferson said I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education but rather than educate this majority has chosen today to obfuscate with hearsay innuendo and speculation and when history looks back on this shameful period for this house it will judge it for what it truly is the ugly hijacking by the majority of our Constitution and the powers that so solidly in trusts to us to engage in a blatantly political process designed to finally achieve what they could not achieve at the ballot box the removal of a duly. Elected President compelled by my sworn duty to uphold its constitution and for the people I vote no on impeachment today you're back gentleman from New York. Then a speaker and now you have one minute to the gentleman from California Mr Huffman the chairman's recognized for one minute better speaker as we take this solemn necessary step of impeaching President Hoffman Democrat of California my Republican colleagues have made up their minds we can't persuade them to do the right thing so all address my remarks to the future today's vote will be judged by future generations including my precious children Abby and Nathan may be grand kids historians will study what members of this Congress did when our democracy was tested like never before by a president who put personal interests above country who compromise national security to achieve his way to reelection and when caught not only lied and refused to admit wrongdoing but flouted Congress's authority he even called the Constitutional impeachment mechanism unconstitutional historians will Marvel has some members of Congress continued to stand by this man how they put blind partisan loyalty or fear of Donald Trump above their duty to defend the Constitution how they made absurd partisan arguments and tried to obstruct these proceedings and how instead of pushing back when their party fell under the dark spell of authoritarianism they embraced it as if the Constitution the rule of law and our oath of office mean nothing so Madam Speaker for our future generations our children the judgment of history let me be clear I stand with our constitution with the rule of law and our democracy I'll be voting yes to impeach Donald j. Trump. Gentlemens recognize for a minute half Thank you gentleman for yielding the time today's vote to impeach the duly elected president States is truly historical and every each unique place in history is. Not for the reasons the Democratic Party and their mainstream media overlords are so desperately trying to convey today we will be remembered as the day that the Democrats claiming a false moral supremacy over the the desire of the American people executed a deliberate and orchestrated plan to overturn a presidential election it will be the 1st time in history that a project Williams Republican attacks or Ivy League academics to explain to $31.00 states and almost 63000000 people that their voice should not be heard and why their votes should be counted I pray for our nation every day but today I'm praying for my colleagues across the aisle who arrived at this partisan and self directed fork in the road and chose the road never before traveled and one that has aided in Donald j. Trump is our president chosen by the American people fair and square as we say in Texas it's a done deal Democrats attempt to change history will never undo that May God bless the greatest country in the world the United States of America I yield back my time at home and yes factories or from New York and speaker I would remind the gentleman that the impeachment clause is placed in the Constitution to protect the American people in our form of government against a president who would subvert our constitutional liberties in between elections I now you are one minute to distinguish gentleman from Texas Mr Green gentleman stretching nice for one minute. And still out rise Madam Speaker. Because Al Green of Texas and Madam Speaker shall any man be beyond justice this is the question posed in 1787 by George Mason at the Constitutional Convention. Celente man be beyond justice Madam Speaker if this president is allowed to throw aren't the efforts of Congress with a legitimate impeachment inquiry the president will not only be above the law he will be beyond justice we cannot allow any person to be beyond justice in this country in the name of democracy on behalf of the republic and for the sake of the many who are suffering I will vote to impeach and I encourage my colleagues to do so as well. No one is beyond justice in this country I yield back the balance and you're listening to special coverage of the impeachment vote from n.p.r. Know also remind him of that impeachable is not to be used in the between election cycles to defeat a sitting president who you think will be reelected with that one minute to the gym from Florida Mr Buchanan chairman is recognized for one minute Thank you Madam Speaker I will vote today against both articles of impeachment because we are without merit and setting a dangerous precedent for our country this political vendetta is that abuse of the impeachment process firm Buchanan heard from the state of Florida Americans just because the president's opponents are afraid that he'll win reelection is the excuse for weaponized impeachment no President history has ever been impeached 10 months before an election elections are the heart of our democracy our founding fathers devised a simple way to remove a president if you disagree with them it's called an election and we have one coming up in less than a year let's let the people decide this next November and I yield back I mean you're listening to special coverage of the impeachment vote from n.p.r. News with Luke are seeing the viral I'm Rachel Martin and we are joined in studio by n.p.r. Senior Washington editor Ron Elving and n.p.r. Congressional correspondent Susan Davis who is on Capitol Hill watching all of us who I want to start with you we've heard now roughly 6 hours why do my math right 6 hours of statements from members on the House floor what has stood out to you.

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