Violation of law. It was passed in an election president who has put his own year and we are sitting here on the day that election season interest above what was good for begins in iowa. It is wrong. All of us. Theres only one answer to that they will ask. They will want to understand. And the answer is to reject senators, we inherited a those articles of impeachment, to have confidence in the democracy and now we must American People. To have confidence in the result protect it and pass it onto the next generation. We simply cant give our of the upcoming election. To have confidence and respect children a democracy if there in the last election and not throw it out. President is above the law because in this country no one is above the law. And to leave the choice of the not me, not any of you, not even president to the American People and to leave to them also the this president. Accountability for the members of the house of representatives who did that. Thats what the constitution [speaking in foreign language] requires. This president must be removed. And i think that should be done with that, i yield to my colleague, mr. Crow. On a bipartisan basis and thats what i asked you to do. I believe the American People are tired of the endless investigations and false mr. Chief justice and members investigations that are coming of the senate, two weeks ago we out of the house from the started this trial showing you beginning as my colleague mr. That the president withheld 391 million of Foreign Military aid to force an ally at war to help him win the 2020 election. Mr. Secular pointed out. By many of your own admissions we succeeded in showing you that its a waste of tax dollars and because the facts still matter. A waste of time and i would we also promise you that argue more importantly, the eventually all of the facts opportunity cost of that. What you could be doing, what would come out and that continues to be true but we the house could be doing, didnt just show you that the working with the president to president abused his power and achieve those things on behalf obstructed congress, we painted of the American People is far a broader picture of more important than the endless President Trump. A picture of the man who thinks that the constitution doesnt investigations, the endless serve as a check on power but false attacks, the bears merging of the names of good rather gives it to him and then people. This is something that we should unlimited way. A man who believes that his personal ambitions are reject together and we should synonymous with the good of the move forward in a bipartisan country. Fashion. In the way that this president a man who in his own words has done successfully. Thanks that if you are a star, he has set achieve successful he will let you do anything. In short, its a picture of a results in the economy and so many other areas, working with you on both sides of the aisle man who will always put his and he wants to continue to do personal interests above the that. And thats what i believe the interest of the country. American people want those of but whats in an oath anyway . You elected to come here to washington to focus on, to spend your time on. Do we simply recite them out of to unify us as opposed to the Bitter Division thats caused by custom . These types of proceedings. So at the end of the day we put to me, an oath represents a firm our faith in the senate. Commitment to a life of service. A commitment to set aside your we put our faith in the senates personal interests, your because we know you will put comfort, and your vision to your faith in the american serve the greater good. People. You will leave these choice to i said last week that we believe them where it belongs. America is great not because of we believe that we should choose the vision of any one man and the president. They believe that this president , day after day, has not because we say its true but put their interest first. Because our 250 year history of has achieved a successful result americans who have taken the oath and they meant it. Has fulfilled the promises he many of them followed through on made to them and he is eager to that oath by giving anything to keep it. Go before the American People in there was more to it then keeping your milk word. This upcoming election. At the end of the day thats the perhaps the strongest example is only result. It is a result i believe guided by your wise words from the past. That we camped together and the the oath they took because the era of impeachment. That we can together put faith president would always put the in the American People. Country in front of the interests of his own. His orders will be in the best put faith in their wisdom, put interest of the country and that faith in their judgment. Thats where our founders put their sacrifice and fulfilling those orders will always serve the power and thats where it the common good. Belongs. And i urge you on behalf of what we have clearly shown at the last few weeks is that the promise flows only one way. Those americans, on every as my angela said, when someone american, on behalf of all of your constituents to reject shows you who they are, believe these articles of impeachment. Its the right thing for our them the first. Many of us in this room are country, the president has done nothing wrong. Parents and we all try to teach and these types of impeachments must end. One of those lessons is you he will vindicate the right to wont always be the strongest. You wont always be the fastest vote. You will vindicate the and you wont always win. Constitution. You will vindicate the rule of law by rejecting these articles. And i ask you to do that on a there are many things that are out of our control but our my bipartisan basis this week an wife and i have tried to teach our kids that we cant always control our our choices. End the era of impeachment once its in that spirit that hanging and for all. I think you from the bottom of in my sons room is a quote from my heart for listening to us, for your attention, for harry potter. The quote is from professor dumbledore who said it is our considering our case on behalf of the president. Choices that show who we truly are. Far more than our abilities. I come here today to ask you, this trial will soon be over and reject these articles of impeachment. Reject these articles of impeachment. I thank you for granting us the permission to appear here in the there will be many choices for us in days ahead of. The most impressive is how each of us will decide to fulfill our oath. Senate on behalf of this president and i ask you on his more than our words, our choices will show the world who we really are. Behalf, on behalf of the what type of leaders we will be American People, to reject these and what type of nation will be. So let me finish where i began with an explanation of why i am articles. Thank you. Here standing before you. Ive been carrying my kids constitutions these last few weeks and this morning i wrote, anote to them to explain why i mr. Chief justice and was here. Senators, its a problem that here at the end of the child the our founders ideas and president s lawyers still dispute the meaning of high principles contained in this crimes and misdemeanors. Document would always be greater than any one person. At some say it requires an ordinary crime or that if the its the idea that no one is above the law. President misbehaves when he but our system only works if thinks its good for the people stand up and fight for country, its okay. Neither is correct. It. Fighting for something important we need to clear this up by looking at what the founders always comes with the cost. Said. When the founders created the someday you may be called upon presidency, they gave the president great power. To defend the principles and ideas that embodied. They just have been through a war to get rid of the king with too much power and they needed a check on the great power given they will guide you and give you to the president. Strength as you fight for them it was late in the Constitutional Convention that they turned to the impeachment in the future. Thank you for your time. Clause. Madison argued in favor of impeachment, he said it was indispensable. Mason asked shall any man be about justice . Above all, so that man be above mr. Chief justice, senators it who can commit the most and counsel for the president. This is a defining moment in our extensive injustice . Randolph defended the propriety of impeachments as the history and a challenging time executive will have a great for our nation. Opportunity of abusing his power. A thousand things have gone the original draft of the constitution provided for through my mind since this body impeachment only for treason or voted to not call witnesses in bribery. This trial. Mason asked why is the provision restrained to treason the vote was unprecedented. And bribery only . Treason is defined in the the president s former National Constitution will not reach many great and dangerous offenses and security advisor indicated that he was willing to testify under he added, hastings is not guilty oath before the senate. Of treason. Yet, this body did not want to attempts to subvert the constitution may not be treason hear what he had to say. As defined. Now hastings and treason in the president s lawyers have asked you to not believe your britain was not they consider lying eyes and ears to adding the word maladministration to capture the reinterpret the constitution and abuse of abuse of power but madison objected to. He so vague of the term is the to believe that if the president equivalent to tender during thinks his reelection is in our National Interest, then he can do whatever he wants, anything to make it happen. And that is exactly what he was administration. So malice was withdrawn and attempting to do, anything, when replaced with the more certain term high crimes and misdemeanor because the founders knew the law. Blackstones commentary which madison said it was a in every mans hand described high crimes and misdemeanors as offenses against king and government. He illegally held muchneeded hamilton called high crimes and misdemeanors those offenses military aid to announce bogus which preceded from misconduct investigations into his most of public men or in other words feared political rival. From the abuse or violation of some public trust. This trial is about abuse of during ratification, randolph and virginia cited the presence power, obstruction, breaking the law and our system of checks and of receipt or emoluments in masons example was a president balances. Who would pardon crimes which were advised by himself or we were talking about the president of the United States, before indictment or conviction this trial is also most to stop inquiry and its clear certainly about character. I am reminded of my own father. They knew what they wrote. The president s lawyers try to create a model to confuse you. He worked more than one job. Dont let them. High crimes and misdemeanors he didnt have a famous last name. Mean abuse of power against the his name appeared on no constitutional order. Buildings. But my father was rich in conduct that is corrupt, whether or not a crime. Some say no impeachment when theres an election coming but something no money and apparently no powerful position can buy. There is the term limits when they wrote the constitution. You see my father was the man then impeachment in election who was decent, honest, a man of years was not to be, our founders would have said so. So Congress Passed the law to integrity. Fund ukraine and fight the and he was a man of good moral russians who invaded their country. President trump illegally held that funding up to coerce character. The president s lawyer never ukraine to announce an investigation to hurt his spoke about the president s strongest election opponent. Character during this trial. And i find that quite telling. He abused his power corruptly to benefit himself personally, and tried to cover it up. I joined the Police Department because i wanted to make a difference. And i believe i did. The facts are unclear and so is the constitution. The only question is what you as a police chief i was always will come the senate, will do. Concerned about the message. We were sending inside the age and none of the branches would be allowed to grab all the especially to young recruits and power. The impeachment was insured to especially to newly hired, dedicated police officers. Make sure the president will be we had to be careful about just held in check. Its a blunt instrument but its how we were defining what was acceptable and unacceptable what our founders gave us. Some of the founders thought the mere existence of the behavior inside the department impeachment clause would prevent and out in the community. Misconduct by president s but sadly, they were wrong because yes, people make mistakes. Twice in the last half century, yes, individuals make mistakes. A president corruptly used his but we had to be clear about the power to try to cheat in the culture inside the organization. Corruption. We had to send a strong message that the Police Department was not a place where corruption the founders worried about factions and what we call could reside, where corruption was normalized and where political parties. Corruption was covered up. Today unfortunately, i believe and opposing the president of we are holding young police your own party isnt easy. Recruits to a higher standard it wasnt easy one republican than we are the leader of the Caldwell Butler voted to impeach nixon and the judiciary committee. Free world. It wasnt easy for senator Barry Goldwater to tell nixon to if this body fails to hold this resign. But its not to do the easy president accountable, you must thing, its to do impartial ask ourselves, what kind of justice. It requires conviction and removal of President Trump. Republic will we ultimately have with the president who thinks that he can really, truly do whatever he wants. You will send a terrible message mr. Chief justice, counsel to the nation that one can get for the president , senators. Away with the abuse of power, since i was a little girl, and obstruction, cheating and spreading false narratives if started going to church, ive been inspired by the words in you simply know the right peop scripture. Whatever you did for one of people. Well, today senators, i reject that. Because we are a nation of laws. These least of my brothers, you did for me. We are called to always look out for the most vulnerable. Abraham lincoln, the 16th sometimes, fighting for the most president of the United States vulnerable means holding the said america will never be destroyed from outside. Most powerful accountable. And that is what we are here to do today. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we American People will have to live with the decisions made in chose to destroy ourselves. This chamber. In fact, senators, i believe that the decision in this case i urge you senators to vote, to will affect the strength of convict, and remove this democracies around the world. President. Thank you so much. Democracy is a gift that each wow for your time. Generation gives to the next one. If we say that this president can put his own interest above all else, even when lives are at mr. Chief justice and distinguished members of the senate, president s council. Stake, then we give our nations children a weaker democracy then i mentioned on the floor last week that Alexander Hamilton has we inherited from those that played a starring role during came before us. This impeachment trial. The next generation deserves but ben franklin has only made a better. They are counting on us. Cameo appearance. That cameo appearance was an i am a catholic and my faith teaches me that we all need important one. When he made the observation in the aftermath of that convention forgiveness. I have given this president the benefit of the doubt from the in 1787, the framers of the beginning. Constitution had created a despite my imposition to so many republic. If you can keep it. Of his policies, i know that the success of our nation depends upon the success of our leader. But he has let us down. And thats during such a transit we know what the president did and why he did it. Moment. This fact is seriously not in checks and balances, separate doubt. Senators on both sides of the aisle have said as much. And coequal branches of the question for you now is, government. Does it warrant removal from the independent judiciary, the free and fair press, all of office mr. Mark we say yes. We cannot simply hope that this those values. President will realize that he has done wrong or inappropriate, thats put together in one form of government. So perhaps it was uncertain as to whether america so it it coun we hope that he has done better. We know he has not apologized and has not offered to change. We all know that he will do it it. But year after year, century again. What President Trump did this after century, we held this democracy thing together. Time pierces the heart of who we but now all of those ideas, all are as a country. Of those values, all of those institutions are under assault. We would stop him from further harming our democracy and we not from without, but from must stop him from further betraying his oath. We must stop him from tearing up within. Our constitution. If you can keep it. The founders knew that in order house managers have proven our for republic to survive we would case against President Trump with a mountain of evidence. President trump trying to cheat, he got caught and then he worked hard to cover it up. President trump corruptly abused his power. President trump obstructed a congressionally and constitutionally required inquiry with blanket defiance. President trump solicited foreign interference in any American Election and shredded the very fabric of our democra democracy. House managers have proven our case against President Trump with a mountain of evidence. If the senate chooses to acquit under these circumstances then america is in the wilderness. If the senate c