Devised a simple way to remove a president if you disagree with him. Its called an election. We have one coming up in less than a year. Lets let the people decide this next november and i yield back. Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield ament to the gentle lady from michigan, mrs. Talib. Gentle lady is recognized for a minute. I rise in support of impeachment. I learn so much every day from my residents at home. Their common sense of what is right and wrong is centered why they oppose any person using the most powerful position in the world for personal gain. We honor our veterans in this chamber almost on a daily basis. But do we ever follow their lead . Where we serve the people of the United States and uphold the constitution not as republicans or democrats but as americans. We should learn from their sense of duty and responsibility to
country and democracy, not political party. Doing nothing here, madam speaker, is not an option. Looking away from these crimes is not an option. This is about protecting the future of our nation and our democracy from corruption, abuse of power, criminal coverup and bribery. And this, madam speaker, this vote is for my son and the future of so many generations. So i urge my colleagues to please vote yes on these articles of impeachment. With that, madam speaker, i yield. Gentleman from georgia. Thank you, madam speaker. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to mr. Joyce. Chairman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Madam speaker, i rise on this dark day in the United States house of representatives to voice my opposition to the shameful impeachment process that has occurred in the peoples house. Some of my colleagues on the
other side of the Aisle Dont Like President Trump. We know this because they proudly boasted about their intention to impeach our president before he was even sworn in to office. Out of disdain for the president and for those of us that elected him, the house of representatives is considering two articles of impeachment that are so very weak that they even fail to include specific crimes. The people that i represent in South Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania know the truth. The American People know the truth. This Impeachment Circus has never been about the facts. This process has been about seeking revenge for the president s election in 2016. And attempting to prevent him from winning again in 2020. Madam speaker, i whole heartedly oppose this partisan and shameful effort to impeach our democratically and duly elected
president. For the sake of our nation, i urge my colleagues to join with me and vet no on the articles of impeachment. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, all we keep hearing from the other side are attacks on the process and questions of our motives. We do not hear because we cannot hear because they cannot articulate a real defense of the president s actions. I yield a minute to the gentle lady of massachusetts, mrs. Pressley. Madam speaker, i rise to protect our democracy. Today we take a stand against corruption and abuses of power. What were doing hear today is not only patriotic, its uniquely american. America is a story of ordinary people confronting abuses of power with a steadfast pursuit of justice. Throughout our history, the oppressed have been relegated to the margins by the powerful and
each time we have fought back. Deliberate in our approach, clear eye. Each generation has fought for the preservation of our democracy and that is what brings us to the house floor today. Efficient and effective in the pursuit of our true. Congress has done its due diligence. Today we send a clear message. We will not tolerate abuses of power from the president of the United States of america. The future of this nation rests in our hands. It is with a heavy heart but a resolved one and because i believe our democracy is worth fighting for i will vote to impeach donald trump and urge my colleagues to do the same. I think my chairman hears us. When you have nothing but a process that was completely amuck, you talk about process. But the fact that many times, lets do it one more time. No pressure by mr. President
trump or president zelensky. President zelensky had said many times theres no pressure. The democrats are calling him a liar, weakening him and his own country. Thats deplorable. He has no conditionality in the transcript. Five meetings prove that. No conditionality, two of the meetings were after the ukrainians knew of the possibility of aid being held. Theyve not ever addressed the four truths and if five facts. Also theres nothing done to get the money, they got the money. Thats the facts. Thats where were at today. With that, i yield mr. Burglin. Thank you, madam speaker. I rise today in opposition to the articles of impeachment against President Trump. I believe all American People need to be looked in the eye by all their representatives. Today is the culmination of the
democrats threeyear long quest to delegitimize the president. This has been in the works since november 2016. It was all but promised when the democrats took the majority. This sham process began without a formal vote in the house and was continued over these past several months, trampling on decades of bipartisan precedent. No due process, closeddoor depositions, even though nothing in tip the investigation was classified and leaking their narrative. If this is not partisan politics, i dont know what is. Holding our elected officials account is a job i take seriously. The impeachment votes today represent the worst of washington d. C. Yet another reason my constituents are so disillusioned with the process and disappointed by the 116th congress. Michigans First District sent
me to washington to get things done, to get the government off their backs and to help rural michiganders and other people keep more of their hard earned currency. Not to impeach our duly elected president. With that, i urge my colleagues to vote against the articles of impeachment. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield a minute to the gentle lady from california. Gentle lady is recognized for a man. Madam speaker, its with a solemn sense of duty that i rise in support of impeachment. With the two articleses for the president s abuse of power, i want history to know that i stand for the constitution and our democracy. When my immigrant mom became a United States citizen, she took an oath and allegiance to our country and constitution. When i stood on this floor as a new member of congress, i took an oath to uphold and defend our constitution. The president abused his power
when he used his official office and power to ask a Foreign Government to interfere in our elections. When he asked for a favor to dig up dirt on his political opponent. He got caught and tried to cover it up. We say no more. We will not allow this president to abuse his power and endanger National Security. I stand to say no one is Above The Law. Not even this president. I yield back. The gentleman from georgia. Thank you. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Perry. I thank the gentleman. Since before inauguration, the press and members of this congress have been for impeachment. Members refused to attend the inauguration. They called for impeachment. They manufactured evidence. Recall and no votes of confidence are not included for a reason. Our system demands ed of high
crimes and misdemeanors. Such evidence existed, there would be an agreement in this chamber but theres not. Theres no evidence. Madison and hamilton warned us this might happen and impeachment would veer toward political factions and thats what this is. This is bitterly and nakedly partisan. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have made a mockery of this process and this government. They despise the president and are themselves abusing the power of this office. All to settle a political score. Madam speaker, they hope that if they stay on messages, youll believe their charges. Repeating things that are untrue does not make them two. The call record is clear. President trump was interested to getting to the bottom of what happened in the 2016 election. The ukrainians were getting the Military Hardware and got the money and the meeting they desired. These are not crimes. These are disagreements over Foreign Policy and the fact that this president is conducting it. If it were not so sad, it would be laughable. My colleagues are not driven by a quest for facts or truth. Theyre driven bipartisan a and a timetable. This are elitist actors in the swamp. I urge a no vote. I remind the gentleman that there is in fact extensive direct evidence including president s own words and actions which is Corr Rob Rated by circumstantial evidence. President trumps personal lawyer, rudy guliani,pushed ukraine to investigate joe biden and a Deboned Theory about the elections. President trump elected u. S. Officials and president zelensky himself to work with mr. Guliani
to fulfill his demands. President trump withheld Critical Military aid for ukraine. President trump stone walled congresss investigation to cover up his misconduct. I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from illinois. Gentleman is recognized for a minute. Madam speaker, this should not be a partisan vote. This is a vote about america. Its about democracy and an oath to our contusion. We took anest to protect ourselves from foreign and domestic. We know what President Trump did is wrong. Its wrong with to withhold foreign aid for a political favor. We know its wrong to ignore congressional subpoenas. Question know its wrong to default a sill will process rather than to look at this fragile democracy. When those elected power abuse their office, its up to us. So when you talk about
partisanship, i remind you of the great words of lincoln and paraphrasing him slightly when one party would inflame partisanship rather than let the nation survive, im proud to be the party that would accept partisanship than let the nation perish. In this moment, the answer is clear not because we want to impeach, but because we must. So when you vote in a few hours, dont vote your party. Vote your character. Thats how youll be judged and thats how well all be judged. I yield back. Gentleman from georgia. I ask for a time check for both. Gentleman from georgia has an her and 44 1 2 minutes. Gentleman from new york has and hour and 47 1 2 minutes. Thank you. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from colorado. Gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Madam speaker, i rise in strong opposition of this part san impeachment process. Make no mistake. This process did not begin with
the whistleblower report. In fact, Impeachment Efforts began shortly after the president was elected. The theatrics, political posturing have ensured that this body is not actually pursuing to preserve checks and balances. Rather this process echos the calls by some that renews to accepted the 2016 election results. Neither of the articleses receiving a vote justified the removal of the president from office. The first article suggested the president pressured a foreign respect. Ukraine received a favor without a prearranged agreement. This sun substantiated. The second article is said that the white house ignored subpoenas by the white house. Our federal courts are the federal arbiters of these decisions. Previous administrations republican and democrat both have dealt with these issues and claimed executive privilege. Mr. Speaker, madam speaker, the
articles before this house are unsubstantiated. I intend to vote no and encourage my colleagues to do the same. Gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new york. I yield a minute to the gentleman from arizona. Gentleman is recognized for a minute. Madam speaker, today i will vote to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of congress. Those that defend his actions are grasping at straws while living in an Alternative Universe where facts didnt exist. For those unwilling to search their souls, ask yourself. Would you support a democratic president using Taxpayer Dollars to pressure a Foreign Government to investigate a political opponent based on false russian Conspiracy Theories . Of course not. Any president that does that has abused the power of presidency for person gain and undermined our elections. In a few hours, every member will make a choice. Will you fall into the ageold political trap of Thinking Blind Partisanship . Will you vote to defend our democracy so President Trump and every future president will know theyre not Above The Law and held accountable for their actions . I have made my choice. I hope every member puts the defense of our nation first and joins me. I yield back. The gentleman from georgia. Thank you. I need to yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from nebraska, mr. Smith. Gentleman is recognized 1 1 2 minutes. I rise today to speak out against this attempt to remove the duly elected president of the United States. Impeachment is importantly established in our constitution, the impeachment of a president has happened twice in our countrys 243year history. Yesterday today for highly political purposes, the House Majority is trying to remove President Trump from office based on secondhand indirect accounts. The articles of impeachment were voting on today offer no
evidence of a crime, but instead are purposely broad to fit the majoritys narrative. Less than a year until the next president ial election, were being asked to override the choice of the American People. This process has had has been predetermined as an outcome from the very beginning. This is an unfortunate day in the history of our great country. We must hope this political game does not set a precedent of which to follow in the future. Surely there will be disagreements between the president and congress for many years to come. Instead of unnecessarily dividing our country as were seeing today, we should be looking at ways to bring our country together. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, President Trumps actions are both impeachable and criminal. Although the violation of the federal criminal statute is neither necessary or sufficient
to justify impeachment, he violated the antibribery statute clearly. I now recognize mr. Buyer. Today i vote to impeach President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of congress. I dont hate the president. I love my country and i have no other choice. Voting for these articles of impeachment is the only moral course of action, the only way to honor our oath of office. I have no doubt the vote i cast will stand the test of time. This has to do with the 2016 elections. So disappointed that our republican friends approve of his abuse of power. This is the very definition of the willful suspension of disbelief. They know in their hearts what the president has done is deeply wrong. To know that they would vote without hesitation to impeach a democratic president. I remind all americans the
president did not rebut the facts, the many facts that have led to articles of impeachment today. For the sake of cure our country, we have to vote this way. Thank you. I was amazed by what the chairman said. Obviously if he violated the robbery statue, why didnt we him impeach for for that . He didnt. Thank you, maam. Article 2, section for, the United States constitution states that the president of the United States may be removed from office for treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors. As a former prosecutor, i am confident that no court would accepted these articles of impeachment as having met the standard set forth by our Founding Fathers. The Impeachment Articles rely
almost exclusively on hearsay and opinion testimony and they present no direct evidence of wrong doing. As a former district attorney, i dismayed that the democrats have submitted articles of impeachment against a sitting president that used circumstantial president that offers no Impeachable Offense. The charges against the president and the articles of impeachment lacks historical precedent and motivated by Pure Lit Call reasons. If the house of representatives passes the articles of impeachment, the democrats will have set a dangerous precedent by undoing americas votes for president is because a single party disagreed with the 2016 president ial election results. I urge my colleagues to vote know and i yield back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield a minute to the distinguished gentleman there california, mr. Thompson. Recognized 1 minute. I find no pleasure to come to the floor to consider impeachment. I ran for congress to represent my community and the country i love. As a combat veteran and having served eight years on the Intelligence Committee, i understand the threat that foreign actors can play. Every elected official must dedicate themselves to protect our democracy. Nobody should invite a foreign country to interfere with our most sacred act of voting. It was abusive power of the president to ask a foreign nation to interfere in our election to benefit his personal and political interests and to condition bipartisan congressionally approved aid on that interference. Unchecked, theseses can lead us down a path that can unravel the fabric of our nation. Im saddened were here today. In the interest of defending our nation,ly vote for the articles of impeachment. I yield back the balance of any time. The gentleman from georgia. Thank you. At this time i yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from
texas. Gentleman is recognized 1 1 2 minutes. Thanks. Mr. Speaker, our founders did not embrace recalls for votes of no confidence. We demand ed of high crimes and misdemeanors. While my colleagues are free to dislike the president and view this as something as less than perfect, theyre not free to impeach something less than a high crime and misdemeanor. In less than ten months, the people are free to decide and we should let them. The eyes of the world are upon us. The press galleries are full. The floor is filled with members. When will we give the world Something Better than this . My colleagues talked about the contusions that they found under moth balls. Where is respect for the constitution when the peoples house daily renueces refuses their job . Today in mexico, a mexican girl will be abused while our lawmakers talk about cages. Today a young mother will be coerced into abortion by Planned Parenthood and we talk about the false name of choice. Diabetics will struggle to afford insulin to you to a Healthcare System ravaged by bureaucracy. Our children inherit 100 million an hour of debt. By Congress Failing to do their jobs, that should be impeached. One might ask if america will be better off taking the first 345 names out of our phone book to represent us in the house than what is on display today. Today is not a dark day. The American People know this. America is great. Washington is broken. Were taking our country back. I yield back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield 1 minute to distinguished gentle lady from california. Gentle lady is recognized for one minute. Madam speaker, i rise with a
heavy heart. I came to congress to serve the great people of sacramento and to build a Better Future for our children and grandchildren and My Grandkids Anna and robby. The facts before us are crystal clear. We heard testimony from 17 brave patriots that value our constitution. They testified that the president withheld money for dirt on a political rival and worse. He continues to violate foreign powers to violate our sovereignty. These are Impeachable Offenses that present a clear danger to our country. Thats why the only answer is to act now. We need to stand together and stop President Trump immediately so that he cannot violate the next election. For the sake of our country and our democracy, i will vote yes to impeach the president and i yield back. Gentleman from georgia. Thank you. I yield 1 1 2 minutes for the gentleman from pennsylvania. Thank you. I rise today to ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle how much is the trust of the American People worth . When the American People are dissatisfied with the government, the primary tool that the constitution gives them to make a change is their vote. On november 8, 2016, americans from every part of this nation packed the polls to elect donald trump to be the president of the United States. The country wanted a disrupter, a fighter, a dealmaker, a president that would put america first. But sadly on that very same day, democrats had no plan or interest in honoring the vote of the American People. They were going to attempt from day one to delegitimize this president and ultimately remove him from office. Right after the president was
sworn in, the Washington Post wrote the campaign to impeach President Trump has begun. Even before he took office. A politco article headline read, could trump be impeached shortly after he takes office . So House Democrats have been planning for this day since january 2017. Its clear that facts have never mattered to the House Democrats. They never planned to work with the president. Instead, they intended only to fulfill their divisive partisan agenda. I ask, how much is the trust of the American People worth . Because after the vote today, for what you think is a shortterm partisan gain, you can be sure that the American People will have lost their trust in our institution and will have lost their trust in congress and most importantly, they will have lost trust that their vote counts. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from california. Gentlemans recognized for one minute. Thank you, madam speaker. Impeaching a president is one of the most solemn and consequential decisions the United States congress can make. Its not an action that i or my fellow House Call Leagues take lightly. Investigations and hearings conducted by the house prove overwhelming evidence that President Trump abused his power and endangered our National Security. President trump also issued a Blanket Order prohibiting all Executive Office and personnels from testifying, responding to subpoenas or turning over documents. Therefore he has obstructed the legitimate constitutional obligation of congress. The president and his actions leave me no choice. President trump violated his oath of office. Now i will uphold my oath of
office to preserve and protect our constitution. And my promise to my constituents to kaifrcarefully analyze all issues before me. Ly vote in favor of all articles of impeachment against president donald john trump. I yield back. Gentleman from georgia. Thank you. I yield 1 1 2 minutes. Madam speaker, i stand before you today a disapointsed man. A broken and partisan processes that has consumed the House Democrats. We were told this investigation would be bipartisan and transparent. Instead, the proceedings were held in secret Behind Closed Doors with no attempt at a fair hearing. This is all done deliberate any in an attempt to undo the 2016 election. My constituents in florida want us to get to work. Theyre counting on us to fix the medical billing, the lower the cost of prescription drugs. Instead a week before christmas voting to im people President Donald Trump on the strength of nothing but rumors. We wasted a year on this process while House Democrats chose political theater over serving the American People. This shameful vote to im myrtle beach our president will be a lasting stain on our house. I urge my colleagues to vote no. I yield back. The gentleman from new york. I yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from oregon. Gentlemans recognized for one minute. Its clear cut. The president violated his oath of office. He admitted to soliciting interference to interfere in a
u. S. Election and aid his Political Campaign and a violation of the law and the constitution and an Impeachable Offense. Overwhelming evidence showed that the president withheld Taxpayer Dollars to blackmail the young new president of ukraine under attack from russia. Now the gentleman from georgia says ukraine didnt feel any pressure. Theyre being invaded by russia. Vladimir putin, you know, trumps friend. And he withheld that aid. Until the whistleblower report came out. Then the aid was released. It wasnt released for any good purpose. Congress voted for that aid, the president signed the bill. That is another Impeachable Offense and the Judiciary Committee has put together an extensive document which shows theres evidence of numerous other federal crimes including bribery and wire fraud. The president s actions threaten
the continuation of my representative democracy. Im proudly voting for impeachment today. Gentleman from georgia. Im glad to know that mr. Trump was giving them lethal aid, something to fight back with, nothing what was previously give to him. And there was no pressure. If your case is coercing somebody, but yet we dont seem to get that part on this floor debate today. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from montana. Gentleman is recognized 1 1 2 minutes. Today this chamber is pushing through the most partisan baseless articles of impeachment in our history. House democrats, Hyper Partisan Impeachment has been a sham since day one. Driven by those whose bitter rage about President Trump has blinded their better judgment. The fact is, they have resolved to overturn the results of the 2016 election the day President Trump won. Speaker pelosi said impeachment
is so divisive to the country, unless theres something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, i dont think we should go down that path. None of those standards have been met. None. The Committee Hearings were scripted, substancefree, made for tv show. They would be comedy if impeachment werent so serious and grave. Witnesses denied awareness of an Impeachable Offense. Because the majority has failed to make the case for impeachment, theres no bipartisanship. Compelling, overwhelming, bipartisan . Speaker pelosi has not met her own criteria for impeachment. But here we are. Despite democrats testing and tweaking their impeachment methods, the American People have rejected it. I will vote against this partisan Impeachment Sham. Lets get back to the work that the American People sent us here and on this sad day of an
impeachment charade, i yield back the balance of my time. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i a yield a minute to the gentleman from texas. Gentleman is recognized a minute. Madam speaker, i rise on a sad day for america, a sad day for texas and a very sad day for the people i represent. Im not gleeful for today. I came to congress to lowter cost of prescription drugs, fight for a debtfree education and improve the cost of special needs, children, seniors and veterans. I didnt come to impeach a sitting president. I have no choice. He has used the office for political gain. Our Founding Fathers feared one day the power of the presidency was stretched beyond its limits. They have put in a system of
checks and balances. We cannot and will not lower the ethical standards of our presidency. We cannot afford to wither like a flower. That is not the america the world knows and loves and certainly not the america that we would be proud to have our future generations inherit. Thats why today i must vote to impeach the president of the United States and fulfill my oath to the constitution and i yield back. Gentleman from north dakota. Madam speaker, i yield 1 1 2 minutes to my friend from texas, mr. Hurt. Gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Throughout this process, the American People have learned a bungling Foreign Policy decisions. But we have not heard evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of bribery or extortion. Allegations of these two crimes arent even mentioned in the articles of impeachment being debated today. But today we have seen a rushed Process Divide our country. Today accusations have been hurled at each other questioning one another eintegrity. Today a dangerous precedent will be set. Impeachment becoming a weaponized political tool. We know how this partisan process will end this evening. But what happens tomorrow. Can this chamber put down our swords and get back to work for the American People . This institution has a fabled history of passing legislation that has not only changed our country but inspired the world. This feat has been possible because this experiment we call america has one perpetual goal. Make a more perfect union. We can contribute to this history if we recognize the simply fact that way more unites our country than divides us. Tomorrow can we start focusing on that . The senator yields back. The gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Davis. Thank you, madam speaker. This is indeed a sad day for our country, this is indeed a sad day for america. Its a good day for our constitution. Its a sad day for our country because President Trump has defied our constitution, our rules, our requirements and our expectations. It is clear that President Trump places himself Above The Law, above our constitution and above the expectations of the American People. At my last town hall meeting, which was held saturday, december 15 in Malcolm X College in chicago, someone asked the question. What is our position on impeachment . Madam speaker, every person there rose and said impeach. When i speak, i speak for the
people of the seventh district of illinois and my vote will be impeach, impeach, impeach. And i yield back the balance of my time. Chairman from north dakota. Madam speaker, i yield two minutes 2 my friend from texas, mr. Gohmert. Thank you. In 1998, Senator Schumer said and i quote, this impeachment will be used as a routine tool to fight political battles. We thought would say a prediction. It was a promise. Now its playing out. Its exactly what is being done here. For those that say we dont address the defenses or fact, here you go. The impeachment serves two purposes. Number 1, stop the investigation by the u. S. Department of
justice and ukraine in to the corruption of ukraine interference in the u. S. Election in 2016. You said this was about oh, this terrible russian collusion. That fell through. Its about emoluments, bribery, extortion. Its changed. One thing hasnt changed and that is the intent to impeach this president. Its always been there. Lets be honest. The president turning his back on ukraine, that happened in 2009. In 2008, ukraine invaded georgia. What happened . Bush put sanctions on russia to teach them a lesson. What happened . In march of 2009, Hillary Clinton was sent to russia with a reset button to say, bush overreacted. Were okay that you invaded georgia. It was a green light to russia to invade ukraine and what do you do . Oh, yeah, you send blankets and
mres that you eat and be warm while the russians are killing them. That is what the Obama Administration did. This is a travesty. Were in big trouble. Schumer was right. Now its lowered even further, the bar. It will be used for political battles and this countrys end is now in sight. I hope i dont live to see it. This is an outrage. I yield back. Gentleman from new york. Im deeply concerned that any member of the house would spout russian propaganda on the floor of the house. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, mr. Huggins. The gentleman from new york is recognized. The house will come to order. The gentleman from new york is recognized for a minute. Thank you. The house will come to order. The house will come to order. The gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Chairman, madam speaker. The United States constitution is explicit. Bribery is an Impeachable Offense. Bribery involves the use of power and the president of the United States abused the power of his office by soliciting a bribe of a foreign leader to interfere in an election that he could not win honorably, fairly or freely. The president of ukraine open an investigation of my political rival and i the president of the United States will release 391 million in military aid and give you the stature amplifying white house meeting that you need. This is a this for that, something for something transaction. Soliciting a bribe from a foreign leader is a crime. I yield back. The gentleman that yields back. The gentleman from north dakota. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from florida, mr. Bill rakus. Thank you, madam speaker. I wanted to thank my republican colleagues that have defended the contusion, the rule of law under difficult circumstances, madam speaker. Madam speaker, you know, its a darn shame that we have found ourselves in this position today. Every time i step in to this chamber, im humbled to be serving in the greatest legislative body in the history of the world. However, its deeply disappointing that the Hyper Partisanship that have gripped this country has made its way into this chamber. I pride myself on being a consensus builder that works across the aisle too get things done for the American People. But when it comes to the matter of impeachment, i have no doubted that the entire process has been politically motivated. Theres absolutely no evidence that President Trump committed an Impeachable Offense, which is why i will vote no. This whole process has been a ploy to circumvent the will of the people by removing a dulyelected president of the United States. Its a national disgrace. Set as dangerous precedent. But we are a great anything. We will survive this indignity. Lets put in ugly chapter behind us and get to work. The gentleman from new york. I now yield a minute to the gentleman from mississippi, mr. Thompson. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you very much, madam speaker. Madam speaker, the question that will be answered today is will members honor their oath to uphold the constitution. Democrats are not supporting impeachment based on a Policy Disagreement or the election
results of 2016. No one is Above The Law. The president must be held accountable. A constitutional process is not a hoax or witch hunt. President trump just opposes it. Nobody is Above The Law. Not even president donald j. Trump. The president abused his power by pressuring ukraine to help his reelection campaign. Impeachment is a constitutional remedy for these actions. Trump betrayed his oath, the constitution and undermined the integrity of our elections. Those that are against Impeachment Inquiry are willing to turn a blind eye to constitutional violations by the president as a nation, we have no other alternative. We must protect our constitution and the United States of
america. In his own words, no intelligent person believes what hes saying. I yield back. Time has expired. The gentleman from north dakota. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from indiana. The gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Madam speaker, the totality of this process is just another reminder that my colleagues across the isle are more focused on politics than policy. The American People deserve better. Our republic deserves better. The brave men and women of our military, myself included, have fought for the freedom and democracy all around the world. Yet today my colleagues are eroding those freedoms through a process that ignored facts, abused power and was shrouded in
secrecy. The facts could not be more clear the president committed no crime, broke no laws and there was no quid pro quo. I look forward to doing the right thing, representing the hoosiers in my district and voting against this impeachment charade. I stand with President Trump and look forward to passing policies that continue to move our country forward. I yield back the balance of my time. Gentleman yields back. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from oregon. The gentleman is recognized one minute. Thank you. Thanks to the hard work of our committees, the leadership of the speaker, we found overwhelming evidence trump invited foreign interest to interfere in our elections for his personal gain and took efforts to covered it up. Obstructing congress. Im proud of the courage of new members to do their duty so for the first time in his privileged
life donald trump will be finally held accountable for his reckless personal behavior and business practices. I vote proudly for these two articles of impeachment and then i hope the house retains control of the articles until the speaker and leader schumer can negotiate agreement on process and witnesses for mcconnell so the next stage will be open and fair so that donald trump will ultimately be held accountable. The Gentleman Yields back. Gentleman from north dakota. I yield 1 1 2 minutes to my friend from oklahoma. Gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Public hearings began november 13. Less than a month later, Speaker Pelosi announced articles of impeachment on december 5. Saying the investigation had revealed enough information to move forward with impeachment. Lets think about that. 22day investigation. Six of those days were week ends. Hearings werent happening and the house wasnt in session. Seven days the house was in recess including weak of thanksgiving. Two days were in flying days where congress doesnt hold hearings. Seven days were used to investigate, debate and vote on the impeachment of the duly elected leader of our country. No wonder my constituents are upset. Seven days to impeach the president of the United States. Not to mention that the sevenday investigation uncovered zero facts in support of impeachment. I spent every minute i had in there as an observer of these hearings and i learned is if you hate someone so strongly and enough people agree with you, thats grounds enough to be impeached. We asked for 12 hours abate the same amount of time for president clinton, 12 hours for the biggest vote ill cast isnts asking much. No, they want to get it before christmas. Its okay to rush through the
process. Im ashamed to be a part of this today even as i voted against the impeachment. My constituents are calling every day mad as hell saying we should be ashamed that this Historic Chamber has fallen so low to allow this to happen. I yield back. The gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. Gentleman is recognized. The gentleman from georgia has a tag line about the clock and the calendar. This is not about the clock and the calendar. Its about corruption and the constitution. Its about a president who abused his power to cooers an ally to intervene in our election and poses a continuing threat to the integrity of our next election. The president s defense is built on three pillars. When those pillars fall, the entire defense of the president collapses. First, they claim there was no quid pro quo. Well, the evidence is
undisputed. Trump conditioned a white house president and military aid on president zelenskys Public Announcement of the investigations. Ambassador William Taylor wrote i think its crazy to withhold Security Assistance for help with the Political Campaign. A reporter asked white house chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney if there was a quid pro quo. He said we do that all the time. Get over it. The president refused to help our ally until he got a favor. The First Defense falls. The second, the minority claims that the ukrainians didnts know about the hold. The evidence is undisputed. Ukraine knew about the hold on the military assistance within hours of the president s july 25th call. Laura cooper from the Department Of Defense testified under oath The State Department sent two emails notifieding them that
ukrainian officials were asking where is the aid . Ukrainians understood what President Trump was asking. He wanted a personal political favor are before the aid was released. So the second defense falls. Third and finally, my republican friends say the aid was released. But the aid was released only after the president got caught. This house launched its investigation september 9. The hold on the aid was lifted on september 11th. This is not evidence of innocence. Its evidence of culpability. The evidence is overwhelming. When he got caught, he did everything in his power to prevent the American People from learning the truth about his actions by defying the congressional investigation, by ordering that all requests and demands for information be denied. With our National Security and the integrity of our election at
risk, we must act. Not because of the clock and the caliber but for continued selfgovernment by the American People. I yield back. I reserve the balance of my time. Gentleman from north dakota. Madam speaker, i would point out to believe everything you just said is to believe that president zelensky is a pathological liar. With that, i yield to my friend from south carolina, mr. Duncan. The gentleman is recognized for 1 1 2 minutes. Thank you. Were not debating impeachment of an american president. Your mind is made up. Youve been looking for this since the inauguration. The Washington Post ran the headline the campaign to impeach President Trump has begun 19 minutes after he took oath of office. 19 minutes. Freshman congresswoman from michigan told supporters, were going to impeach the mother blank after she was sworn in. Even Spoker Pelosi admitted last week that the Impeachment Effort has been going on for 2 1 2
years long before any phone call between two world leaders. In fact, 71 of the democrats on the Judiciary Committee supported impeachment before the phone call. The Impeachment Sham is based on hearsay, conjunction and opinion. You know what . You cant get a Speeding Ticket in this country based on hearsay but yet were going to impeach an american president based on just that. Where are the crimes of treason, high crimes . Those are things that constitute Impeachable Offenses. Not hatred or Policy Disagreements. If memory serves me right, Congress Told the administration to withhold the aid until they got their act together, straightened out. That was in multiple mdaas voted on both by parties in this chamber. So were im preaching the president for something we told him to do . Give me a break. We have wasted precious time were given to serve the American People. Secret hearings, depositions Behind Closed Doors in chairman
schiffs chamber of secrets. The American People see President Trump has not been treated fairly in this process and impeachment based on hearsay and opinion, not facts. Its a sad day in this chamber. The peoples house. I yield back. Members are again reminded to address remarks to the chair. Gentleman from new york. Madam speaker, i inform you that the gentleman from california, mr. Schiff, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee i will now serve as my designee and control the reminder of the time on the majority side. Does the Gentleman Yield to the gentleman from california . Hes my designee. To the gentleman from california yield to himself . Yes, as much the gentleman is recognized. I thank my colleague, chairman nadler. I thank him for the extraordinary job hes done throughout these difficult proceedings. Madam speaker, my colleagues, my follow americans, i raise to
support the impeachment of president donald j. Trump. When a man unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talented have in the advantage of military habits, despotic in his ordinary demeanor, known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty, which a mean is to mount the hobby horse of popularity to join in the cry of danger to liberty to take every opportunity of embarrassing the government, the general government and are bringing it under suspicion, to flatter and fall in with all of the nonsense of the zealots of the day, it my be suspected that his object is to throw things in confusion and that he may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind. These are the words of Alexander Hamilton written in 1792. Could we find a more perfect
description of the present danger emanating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue . The framers crafted a constitution that contemplated 43 and Fair Elections for the highest office in the land and afforded the congress with the power to remove a president that abused the powers of his office for person gain. Who compromised the public trust by betraying our nations security or who sought to undermine or democratic system by seeking foreign intervention in the conduct of our elections. I would say that the founders could have little imagined that a single president might have done all of these things except that the evidence has sadly proved this is exactly what this president has done. Hamilton among others seems to have predicted the rise of donald trump with a staggering pressure. Having one freedom from a king,
the drafters designed to check ambition. In which no branch of government would dominate over another and no man would be Above The Law including the president , especially the president since with whom the danger would be greater than with the officer charged with being our commanderinchief. Over the course of the last three months, we have found incontrovertible evidence that President Trump abused his power by pressuring the newly elected president of ukraine to announce an investigation into the president s political rival, joe biden. With the hopes of defeating mr. Biden in the 2020 president ial election and enhancing his own prospects for reelection. He didnt even need the investigation to be undertaken. Just simply announce to the
public. The smear of his opponent, to smear of his opponent would be enough. To effectuate this scheme, President Trump withheld two official acts of vital importance to a nation at war with our adversary, Vladimir Putins russia. The president withheld a white house meeting that ukraine desperately sought to bolster its standing on the world stage. And even more perniciously President Trump suspended hundreds of millions of dollars of military aid approved by this congress to coerce ukraine in doing his electoral dirty work. The president of the United States was willing to sacrifice our National Security by withholding support for a critical Strategic Partner at war in order to improve his reelection prospects. But for the courage of someone
willing to blow the whistle, he would have gotten away with it. Instead, he got caught. He tried to cheat, and he got caught. Now, this wasnt the first time. As a candidate in 2016, donald trump invited russian interference in his president ial campaign saying in a campaign rally, russia, if youre listening, i hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. A clear invitation to hack Hillary Clintons emails. Just five hours later, russian gift hackers tried to do exactly that. What followed was an immense russian hacks and dumping operation and social Media Disinformation Campaign designed to help elect donald trump. Not only did candidate trump welcome that effort, but he made full use of it. Building it into his campaign plan, his messaging strategy and
then he sought to cover it up. This russian efforts to interfere in our elections didnt deter donald trump. It empowered him. The day after special counsel bob mueller testified before congress about russias sweeping and systemic effort to influence the outcome of our last election, the day after President Trump believed that the investigation into his first electoral misconduct had come to an end, the president was back on the phone urging yet another country, this time ukraine, to help him cheat in another election. Three consecutive days in july tell so much of the story. Three consecutive days in july of 2019. July 24th. The day that special counsel
mueller testified before congress and President Trump thought he was finally in the clear. July 25. The day that he got on the phone with the ukrainian president and in the context of Military Support for that embattled nation said i would like you to do us a favor though. And asked ukraine to do two investigations to help his reelection efforts in 2020. That was july 25. And then we come to july 26. The day Gordon Sondland called President Trump on his cell phone from a restaurant in ukraine. Gordon sondland, not some never trumper but a Million Dollar donor to the president s inauguration, what doesnt trump ask sondland . The day after this call. What doesnt trump ask
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