Constitution from its origins until the present. Im here to describe three things. Why the framers of our constitution included a provision for the impeachment of the president. What that provision providing for impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors means. And last, how it applies to the question before you and before the American People whether President Trump has committed Impeachable Offenses under the constitution. Let me begin by stating my conclusions. The framers provided for the impeachment of the president because they feared that the president might abuse the power of his office for person benefit, to corrupt the electoral process and insure his reelection, or to subvert the National Security of the United States. High crimes and misdemeanors are abuses of power and public trust connected to the office of the presidency. On the basis of the testimony and the evidence before the house. President trump has committed impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors by corruptly a
The committee has compiled something ekwif lant roughly to a police report. They are trying to examine the facts and the law and draft possible charges against the president. Reporter thats right, george. The Intelligence Committee gathered the evidence and sworn testimony in open and closed door hearings and documented records like Rudy Giulianis cell phone records, and they turned that over in that relentless 300page report in this committee, the Judiciary Committee who will debate on whether the president should be charged. Does that evidence rise to the level of an Impeachable Offense, and thats why the first step in that will be four constitutional law scholars. Three chosen by democrats and one by the republicans, to talk about that word, impeachment which is confusing to some people. What do the framers mean by it, and what does history show, especially when it comes to the president . That is what well hear from, and were likely to hear a lot of rather fierce debate. The Judici
We dont know how they were using this money is not factually true. You heard mcclk chin tok saying he had the mcclintock saying that he had the prosecutor fired. Yet those talking points are respited despite the fact theyre not based on fact. Its an important moment. I want to get your sense of the history of what were about to see. You see the members showing up, the staff, theyre showing up. The witnesses will be there. Theyll be sworn in as well. Its a moment that doesnt happen very often if american history. It doesnt and it shouldnt. Because its so important you think about the the way constitution set up our democratic structure here and were looking back right now to say what did the founded fathers envision about the country that we are now in . What did the separation of powers mean . Are there truly three coequal
branches of government or can one thumb their nose that leads to an authoritarian regime . We are looking at a very historic moment. Looking at what the power of con
Densically record shows wrong acts on that scale here. It shows a president who delayed meeting a foreign leader and provided assistance that congressed a his own advisers agrees serves our National Interests in promoting democracy and in limiting russian aggression. Saying, russia, if youre listening, you know, a president who cant have the Constitution Say russia if you are listening, but out of our elections. It shows a president who did this to strong arm a foreign leader into smearing one of the president s opponents in our ongoing election season. Thats not politics as usual. At least not in the United States or not in any mature democracy. It is, instead, a cardinal reason why the constitution contains an Impeachment Power, put simply, a president should resist foreign interference in our elections, not demand it, and not welcome it. If we are to keep faith with our constitution and with our republic, President Trump must be held to account. Thank you. Thank you, professor ger h
Whether you think thats good or bad and matches the abuse of powers is an open question. And then he goes through and argues he doesnt see what he calls a statutory crime. And well see that debate as well. There are people youre going to hear from who are going to say its got to be an actual felony and then there are going to be other people pointing out the constitution doesnt require that. It has words like treason, bribery and high crimes. So were going to get into the weeds here, but the big picture is keep your eye on which witnesses and exchanges are talking about the serious question of whats impeachable. The other noise you can try and tune out as with any hearing. Mr. Wiesman, your last words of advice as we settle in to watch the legal experts. I think its very important to keep your eye on the facts and the law. And i think one of the things that the public is rightly upset about is the rule of law not being applied. And so i think the quote you read is fun, its sort of catc