Evidence. This will set a dangerous precedent where impeachment becomes the norm rather than the exception. Thats not what our Founding Fathers intended. They wanted impeachment to be rare. They set a high bar for impeachment, treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors. Alleged abuse of power. The first article is not a high crime and misdemeanor. In fact, its not even a crime. And since there is no concise Legal Definition of abuse of power, the Majority Party in the house can designate nearly any disagreement with the president from now on in impeachment offense. The second article alleged obstruction of congress would produce a similarly dangerous precedent. Asserting executive privilege a practice that began with George Washington is not obstruction of congress. Rather, its a function of the essential checks and balances contemplated under the constitution. Heres what nearly every Grade School Student in america knows, but apparently House Democrats
do not. If congress disagree
And one that once again will work with the president to get things done for you and your family, then join with us in rejecting this baseless impeachment. Thats whats wonderful about this system of ours. We are a government of, by and for the people. Always remember we work for you, not the other way around. Now i will say this stronger and with more conviction than i have ever said it before. In this time of great trial and tribulation, may god bless america. I yield back. [ applause ] gentleman from california is recognized. House will be in order. Gentleman from california. Madam speaker, i recognize myself for the remainder of our time. Gentleman is recognized. Madam speaker, my colleagues, after eight hours, let us return to where we began with the articles themselves. Article one charges the president of the United States with abusing the power of his office by coerce an ally into cheating in a u. S. Election on his behalf. It charges the president of the United States it charge
Other important things that are going undone. Within this committees own jurisdiction we should address the Opioid Epidemic and could be working together to find solutions to the challenges on our southern border. Protecting americans from jobs stolen by Chinese Companies and enhancing Election Security to name a few things. Congress as a whole could be working on rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, providing additional tax relief to the nations middle class families and providing additional security to our people here at home and abroad. Instead here we are spinning our wheels once again on impeachment. What a waste. The American People deserve so much better. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Thank you, mr. Chair. I take no pleasure in the fatha were here today. As a patriot who loves america,
it pain meese ths me the circum force us to undertake this solemn obligation. Nonetheless on the public evidence it appears President Trump pressured a Foreign Government to interfere i
Called wafer thin evidence. This is where impeachment becomes the norm rather than the exception. Thats not how our Founding Fathers intended. They wanted impeachment to be rare. They set a high bar for impeachment. Alleged abuse of power, the first article is not a high crime or misdemeanor. In fact its not even a crime. Since there is no concise Legal Definition of abuse of power the Majority Party in the house can designate nearly any disagreement with the president are now in an Impeachable Offense. The second article produced a similarly dangerous precedent. Its a practice that began with George Washington and its not obstruction of congress. Rather its a function of the essential checks and balances contemplated under the constitution. It is what every Grade School Student in america knows but apparently House Democrats do
not. Let the third branch of government decide to come up they are the referees. The house has never, i repeat never, approved an abuse of Power Roi Obstructio
Which i believe according to the laws of physics is impossible, and of course driven by ill motives. The story broke land wednesday. We are six days into this and the speed i guess we knew there was a whistleblower complaint coming out of the dni. One of the defining features of the trump era is the incredible speed, ferocity with which information happens. It was apt that we would end up here after all these months of waiting around, that the thing that turned out to be the trigger could turn it this quickly. Its a great point, it was last wednesday the Washington Post broke the story about the whistleblower complaint being tied to the president s conduct with ukraine. It snapped everyone square in the face. Theres nancy pelosi. Tuesday we observed the anniversary of the adoption of the constitution on september
17th. Sadly, on that day, the Intelligence Community Inspector General formally notified the congress that the administration was forbidding him from turning over a whistleblo