>>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. 
I'M ANNE-MARIE GREEN. 
>> AND I'M VLADIMIR DUTHIERS.  
FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
IS SAID TO BE IMPEACHED BY THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, LAWMAKERS 
WILL CONVENE AND KICKOFF THAT 
PROCESS. 
LATER THIS EVENING, THE FULL 
HOUSE WILL VOTE ON TWO ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT DT. 
THE FIRST, ABUSE OF POWER. 
THE SECOND, OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
BOTH ARE EXPECTED TO PASS. 
DEMOCRATS ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT 
OF VIOLATING HIS OATH OF OFFICE 
AND THREATENING NATIONAL 
SECURITY WITH HIS ACTIONS 
TOWARD UKRAINE. 
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SLAMMED 
HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI AND HER 
PARTY IN A SCATHING LETTER LAST 
NIGHT. 
HE ACCUSES THE DEMOCRATS OF, 
QUOTE, DECLARING OPEN WAR ON 
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. 
CBSN HAS FULL COVERAGE OF 
TODAY'S EVENTS AND WE HAVE 
CREWS ON CAPITOL HILL WATCHING 
THE ACTION UNFOLD AS WELL AS 
TEAMS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND 
ACROSS WASHINGTON ON THE 
LOOKOUT FOR REACTION. 
WE WANT TO START WITH CBS NEWS 
CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL 
CORRESPONDENT NANCY CORDES. 
CAN YOU START BY TAKING US 
THROUGH WHAT WE CAN EXPECT 
TODAY. 
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF 
HEARINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT 
ASSOCIATE WITH THIS 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE 
KNOW WHAT STEP WE ARE AT AND 
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. 
>> Reporter: THE HOUSE WILL 
GAVEL IN AN 9:00 A.M. 
EASTERN, AND ABOUT HALF AN 
HOUR. 
WHAT WE WILL START OFF WITH IS 
A DEBATE ON THE RULES THAT WERE 
PASSED LAST NIGHT THAT WILL 
GOVERN THE DEBATE AND VOTE ON 
IMPEACHMENT ITSELF. 
THAT RULES DEBATE WILL BE 
FAIRLY QUICK LASTING MAYBE AN 
HOUR, POSSIBLY AN HOUR AND A 
HALF IF REPUBLICANS TRY TO 
INTRODUCE VARIOUS MOTIONS TO 
SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN. 
EITHER WAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 
VOTE ON THE RULE IN THE 10:00 
TO 11:00 A.M. 
OUR EASTERN TIME. 
THEN WE MOVE INTO THE DEBATE ON 
IMPEACHMENT ITSELF. 
THAT WILL BE A SIX HOUR LONG 
DEBATE. 
REPUBLICANS HAD WANTED 12, 
DEMOCRATS HAD SAID SIX. 
IT WILL BE EVENLY DIVIDED 
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND 
REPUBLICANS. 
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WILL BE LED 
BY DOUG COLLINS, HE IS THE TOP 
REPUBLICAN. 
THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WILL BE LED 
BY TWO INDIVIDUALS, BOTH JERRY 
NADLER, CHAIR OF JUDICIARY, AND 
ADAM SCHIFF THE CHAIR OF THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 
THEY WILL LEAD THE DEBATE BUT 
YOU WILL SEE MEMBER AFTER 
MEMBER FROM BOTH SIDES COMING 
TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE TO 
MAKE THEIR FEELINGS KNOWN FOR 
POSTERITY. 
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY 
INTERRUPTIONS OR PROCEDURAL 
MOTIONS WE SEE FROM REPUBLICANS 
THAT DEBATE WILL PROBABLY WRAP 
UP, LET'S SAY IN THE 5:00, 
6:00, 7:00 TIME EASTERN TIME 
AND THE HOUSE WILL TAKE TWO 
VOTES. 
ONE ON ARTICLE 1, ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
THEN ARTICLE 2, OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
>> Reporter: ONLY TO SEE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE 
NO AND MOST OF ALL DEMOCRATS 
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HAVE 
SUPPORTED IMPEACHING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
YOU SPOKE WITH FRESHMAN 
DEMOCRATIC ALYSSA SUCKING 
YESTERDAY ABOUT HER DECISION. 
I WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF 
A CONVERSATION. 
>> Reporter: HOW MUCH OF THIS 
WAS A POLITICAL CALCULATION FOR 
YOU WHEN DECIDING WHICH WAY TO 
VO? 
>> IT WASN'T AND TO BE HONEST 
IF THIS WAS A POLITICAL 
CALCULATION, I WOULDN'T HAVE 
COME OUT FOR AN INQUIRY AND I 
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN VOTING YES. 
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN 
DO BASED ON POLLS AND WHAT A 
POLITICAL CONSULTANT WANTS YOU 
TO DO. 
AGAIN, I FEEL FIRMLY AND THAT 
AND THE VOTERS WILL HAVE A 
CHANCE TO DECIDE NEXT YEAR AND 
IT'S THE BIGGEST HONOR IN MY 
LIFE TO REPRESENT THIS 
DISTRICT. 
I WILL NOT COMPROMISE MY 
INTEGRITY TO DO IT. 
>> EVEN WITH THE PRESIDENT 
LIKELY HEADING TOWARD A SENATE 
TRIAL AND AN EXPECTED 
ACQUITTAL, WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR 
LAWMAKERS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE 
SLOTS CAN AND OTHERS LEXI 
>> Reporter: THERE'S A COUPLE 
OF DOZEN FRESHMEN DEMOCRATS 
FROM SWING DISTRICTS. 
DISTRICTS THAT ONE FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2016 AND 
SWUNG TO THE DEMOCRATS IN 2018. 
THEY KNOW THAT THEIR DISTRICT 
COULD SWING BACK. 
THIS IS A TRICKIER VOTE FOR 
THEM THAN IT IS FOR THE REST OF 
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS. 
DEMOCRATS WHO COME FROM 
RELIABLY BLUE DISTRICTS. 
SO, IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION 
FOR SOME OF THEM. 
I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD FROM HER 
IS THAT WE HEAR FROM MOST OF 
THE SWING DISTRICT DEMOCRATS 
WHO HAVE NOW ANNOUNCED THAT 
THEY WILL BE VOTING FOR 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THAT THIS WAS A VOTE OF 
CONSCIENCE, THAT THEY VOTED 
BASED ON THE FACTS, THAT THEY 
KNEW THAT IT COULD BE DAMAGING  
PARTICULARLY AMONG THEIR VOTERS 
WHO ARE REPUBLICANS OR 
INDEPENDENTS BUT THAT THEY FELT 
THAT THEY HAD NO CHOICE AND 
THEY HAD TO PUT THEIR 
ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION 
OVER THEIR CHANCES FOR 
REELECTION. 
BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT 
THAT WAS ON THEIR MIND AND 
PROBABLY WILL BE ON THEIR MINDS 
TODAY AS THEY TAKE THIS VOTE. 
>> WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICANS, WHAT 
WILL BE THEIR STRATEGY TODAY? 
>> Reporter: THEY COULD 
INTRODUCE A VARIETY OF 
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS TO TRY TO 
COME UP THE WORKS TO SLOW 
THINGS DOWN, TO CREATE SOME 
CLASHES WITH DEMOCRATS. 
THEY COULD MAYBE INTRODUCE A 
MOTION TO A JUROR, FOR EXAMPLE, 
AND THE RULES REQUIRE THAT THE 
ENTIRE HOUSE DEAL WITH THOSE 
MOTIONS BEFORE THEY ARE 
DISPATCHED. 
BUT BECAUSE DEMOCRATS 
ULTIMATELY CONTROL THE HOUSE, 
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BLOCK SOME 
OF THOSE MOTIONS. 
IT JUST COULD MEAN THAT THIS 
STRETCHES OUT A BIT AND IT 
COULD MEAN, IRONICALLY, THAT 
THE FINAL IMPEACHMENT VOTE 
TAKES PLACE AS THE PRESIDENT IS 
HOLDING A CAMPAIGN RALLY THAT 
HE HAS SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT. 
>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK 
SCHUMER IS STILL STANDING BY 
HIS REQUEST FOR WITNESSES AND 
THE LIKELY SENATE TRIAL. 
HE ALSO DEFENDED HIS DECISION 
TO NOT CALL WITNESSES DURING 
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT 
AND HE SPOKE ABOUT THIS LAST 
NIGHT IN AN INTERVIEW. 
I WANT TO PLAY IT. 
>> THOSE WITNESSES WHO THEY 
WANTED TO CALL, THE REPUBLICANS 
DID IN THE CLINTON TRIAL, HAD 
ALREADY TESTIFIED BEFORE THE 
GRAND JURY. 
WE KNEW WHAT THEY HAD SAID. 
WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MICK 
MULVANEY WHO WAS RIGHT THERE. 
WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM JOHN 
BOLTON, WHO WAS RIGHT THERE. 
OR FROM THE OTHER TWO WITNESSES 
THAT WE HAVE ASKED. 
FURTHERMORE, WE HAVEN'T SEEN 
DOCUMENTS THE WAY KIM STAR WAS 
ABLE TO SEE DOCUMENTS WITH 
CLINTON. 
I WILL ASK, DURING THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING FOR A 
VOTE ON WHETHER MULVANEY SHOULD 
TESTIFY AND WHETHER BOLTON 
SHOULD TESTIFY AND WHETHER 
CASEY SHOULD TESTIFY AND 
WHETHER GRIFFIN SHOULD TESTIFY. 
AND MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN 
COLLEAGUES WILL BE IN IN A REAL 
DILEMMA. 
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THIS 
AS YOU KNOW ON CAPITOL HILL. 
REPORTERS ASKING MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS WHO WERE AROUND DURING 
THE LAST IMPEACHMENT, YOU SAID 
THIS BACK THEN AND HOW COME 
YOU'RE NOT SAYING THIS NOW. 
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING 
NOT JUST SENATOR SCHUMER BUT 
ALSO MITCH McCONNELL SAYING, 
THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO AND THE 
WAY WE FELT ABOUT WHAT WAS 
HAPPENING THEN IS VERY 
DIFFICULT OR DIFFERENT THAN 
WHAT WE FELT IS GOING DOWN 
TODAY. 
>> Reporter: I WAS PRETTY 
SURPRISED WHEN I ASKED LETA 
McCONNELL YESTERDAY IF HE HAD 
DONE A 180 ON THIS NOTION OF 
HAVING WITNESSES IN A SENATE 
TRIAL. 
HE SAID, SURE, AND THAT'S 
POLITICS, AND I'VE GOT TO STICK 
WITH MY TEAM. 
IT WAS A DEMOCRAT BEING 
IMPEACHED BACK THEN AND THE 
REPUBLICAN BEING IMPEACHED NOW. 
HE SORT OF SAID THE QUIET PART 
OUT LOUD. 
CHUCK SCHUMER TRIED TO COME UP 
WITH A MORE NUANCED RATIONALE 
FOR HIS CHANGE IN POSITION. 
HE SAID THAT BACK THEN, THEY 
HADN'T HEARD -- THEY HAD 
ALREADY HEARD FROM THE A LOT OF 
IMPORTANT WITNESSES AND IN THIS 
CASE THEY HAVEN'T. 
LETA McCONNELL BASICALLY SAID, 
THIS IS POLITICS, HARDBALL AND, 
OF COURSE, I AM GOING TO SIDE 
WITH MY TEAM, SO I THOUGHT THAT 
WAS A VERY REVEALING MOMENT, 
AND IT IS LET HOUSE DEMOCRATS, 
SOME OF THEM, TO ARGUE, ONCE WE 
TAKE THIS IMPEACHMENT VOTE 
LATER TONIGHT, PERHAPS WE 
SHOULDN'T SEND THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT OVER TO THE SENATE 
RIGHT AWAY AS THE CONSTITUTION 
LAYS OUT. 
PERHAPS DEMOCRATS THINK THEY 
SHOULD HOLD ONTO THEM IN AN 
ATTEMPT TO EITHER PRESSURE THE 
SENATE TO HOLD THE TRIAL THAT 
THE VIEW IS MORE FAIR, THAT 
INCLUDES WITNESSES. 
OR AS SOME OF THEM HAVE PUT IT 
TO US, TO PREVENT A SHAM TRIAL 
FROM TAKING PLACE THAT WOULD 
ALLOW THE PRESIDENT TO SAY THAT 
HE HAS BEEN ACQUITTED. 
AND THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP AIDE 
HAS TOLD CBS NEWS THAT THIS IS 
AN IDEA THAT IS UP FOR 
DISCUSSION. 
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AN AID 
TO LETA McCONNELL IN RESPONSE 
TWEETED LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW, 
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEND THE 
ARTICLES OVER, FINE. 
WE ARE NOT THAT EAGER TO HOLD A 
TRIAL ANYWAY. 
AND SO, THIS IS STILL SOMETHING 
THAT'S KIND OF BEING LOOKED AT 
FROM ALL ANGLES. 
WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN 
OFFICIAL INDICATION OF HOUSE 
SPEAKER PELOSI PLANS TO 
PROCEED. 
>> WHEN YOU HEAR MITCH 
McCONNELL SAY, I AM NOT 
IMPARTIAL. 
LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR. 
THERE'S AN OLD THAT HE HAS TO 
SWEAR TO BE IMPARTIAL. 
>> WHEN I SAW YOUR INTERVIEW 
YESTERDAY FOR YOUR QUESTIONING 
OF LETA McCONNELL AND HIS 
RESPONSE, I DID SORT OF LEAN 
BACK IN MY CHAIR AND SAID, WOW. 
WHAT ARE WE DOING? 
THERE IT IS. 
>> Reporter: HE WOULD ARGUE, NO 
ONE HERE IS IMPARTIAL. 
HE WAS A DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE 
WERE NOT IMPARTIAL WHEN I 
STARTED CALLING FOR PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT RIGHT AFTER 
HE TOOK OFFICE. 
OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL OF THEM BUT A 
FEW. 
HE WOULD ARGUE THAT THEY HAVE 
NOT BEEN IMPARTIAL ALL THE WAY 
THROUGH THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS, SO WHY SHOULD HE HAVE 
TO BE IMPARTIAL IN THE SENATE 
AND THE REALITY IS, AND WE 
TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, THERE 
ARE A LOT OF SENATORS WHO ARE 
PAYING LIP SERVICE TO 
IMPARTIALITY. 
SOME OF THEM A TRULY BELIEVE 
IT, BUT I THINK YOU'D BE HARD-
PRESSED TO FIND A U.S. SENATOR 
WHO HASN'T MADE UP THEIR MIND 
AT THIS POINT ABOUT WHETHER 
THEY THINK THE PRESIDENT DID 
SOMETHING WRONG HERE. 
>> I KNOW WE HAVE TO GET IN TO 
BEN TRACY BUT EVEN BASED ON 
WHAT WE READ IN THAT LETTER 
YESTERDAY, IS ANYONE CAPITOL 
HILL THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TO IN 
THE U.S. SENATE WHO AFTER 
SEEING THIS LETTER, MAYBE 
WAVERING IN THAT FEELING? 
>> Reporter: DO YOU KNOW, IF 
THEY WERE GOING TO WAVER, THEY 
WOULD HAVE WAVERED ALREADY. 
THEY WOULD HAVE WAVERED WHEN 
THEY HEARD FROM 17 WITNESSES. 
THEY WOULD HAVE WAVERED WHEN 
THE WHITE HOUSE BLOCKS ANY AND 
ALL DOCUMENTS WERE BEING HANDED 
OVER TO CONGRESS OR BLOCKED KEY 
WITNESSES FROM TESTIFYING. 
IF THAT DIDN'T LEAD THEM TO 
WAVER, I'M NOT SURE THAT A SIX 
PAGE LETTER IS GOING TO DO MUCH 
TO CHANGE THEIR POSITION. 
>> THANK YOU. 
THAT LETTER IS MANY OF THE 
ARGUMENTS WE HAVE HEARD BEFORE 
FROM THE PRESIDENT, SO IT'S NO 
NEW INFORMATION. 
>> EXCEPT NOW IT'S IN THE 
NATIONAL ARCHIVES ALONG WITH 
THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. 
>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BLASTING 
DEMOCRATS AHEAD OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT VOTE. 
LAST NIGHT THE PRESIDENT SENT A 
SIX PAGE LETTER TO HOUSE 
SPEAKER PELOSI ACCUSING HER OF 
ABUSING POWER AND INTERFERING 
WITH U.S. ELECTIONS. 
BEN TRACY IS JOINING US FROM 
THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE LATEST 
ON THAT. 
WE KNOW THE PRESIDENT WANTED 
WITNESSES IN THE SENATE TRIAL. 
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE WILL 
GET WHAT HE WANTS. 
I'M SURE HE WOULD AT LEAST 
ECLARE HE WANTED TO TESTIFY, 
SO IN A WAY, WE ARE ALMOST 
HEARING WITH THE PRESIDENT 
MIGHT HAVE SAID IN THE SENATE 
SHOULD HE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO 
TESTIFY, WHICH HE WILL NOT BE. 
TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS LETTER 
AND HOW IT SORT OF REFLECTS 
WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS THINKING. 
>> Reporter: WHAT'S PRETTY 
EXTRAORDINARY IS THIS IS REALLY 
THE FIRST TIME THE PRESIDENT IS 
FORMALLY ENGAGING THIS 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS BY PUTTING 
THESE THOUGHTS ON PAPER. 
HE SAID HE WANTED TO DO THIS SO 
THERE'S A PERMANENT, HISTORICAL 
RECORD OF HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS 
WHOLE PROCESS AND ABOUT BEING 
IMPEACHED. 
WE HAVE LEARNED THE PRESIDENT, 
AND SOME OF HIS TOP ADVISERS, 
WROTE THIS LETTER. 
IT'S VERY MUCH IN HIS OWN 
VOICE. 
IN FACT, THESE SIX PAGES READ 
LIKE A LONGFORM, SLIGHTLY MORE 
FORMAL VERSION OF SOME OF HIS 
TWEETS. 
WE HAVE ALSO CONFIRMED THE 
WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL WAS NOT 
INVOLVED IN DRAFTING THIS. 
WHEN YOU READ IT, IT IS NOT 
READ LIKE A LEGAL DOCUMENT. 
THIS IS CLEARLY THE PRESIDENT 
GETTING A LOT OF THINGS OFF HIS 
CHEST IN SIX PAGES OF TEXT TO 
SPEAKER PELOSI. 
>> COMES TO AN IMPEACHMENT, 
BOTH A POLITICAL AND LEGAL 
PROCESS. 
YOU THINK THAT MOST PRESIDENTS 
WHEN FACING IMPEACHMENT WOULD 
ALLOW THEIR LAWYERS TO SPEAK 
FOR THEM BUT THE LAWYERS DID A 
CURSORY, FINAL LOOK OF THIS 
LETTER, RIGHT? 
>> Reporter: IT'S EXTRAORDINARY 
BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THEY DID 
SEND ONE OF THESE LETTERS TO 
THE HILL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO NOW, 
THAT DID COME FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE COUNSEL. 
THAT WAS A LEGAL RATIONALE FOR 
NOT ENGAGING IN THE IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEDURE. 
THIS IS VERY MUCH THE PRESIDENT 
JUST SAYING, I'M VERY UPSET BY 
WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND I'M 
GOING TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHY. 
THIS IS A MUCH MORE PERSONAL, 
MUCH MORE ANGRY RESPONSE TO 
WHAT THE PRESIDENT FEELS IS A 
VERY UNFAIR PROCESS TO HIM. 
>> IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU 
READ THROUGH THE LETTER. 
WE CAN SPEND A HALF HOUR GOING 
THROUGH IT. 
FACT CHECKING MISLEADING CLAIMS 
THAT THE PRESIDENT MAKES AND 
SOME THAT ARE DOWNRIGHT FALSE 
IN THIS LETTER, BUT I WAS 
STRUCK BY THE ANGER AND 
PERSONAL ATTACKS THAT HE MADE 
IN THE LETTER. 
FOR EXAMPLE, AGAINST HOUSE 
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI. 
ARE YOU HEARING FROM ANYONE IN 
THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THEY ARE 
WORRIED? 
I ASKED THIS QUESTION TO NANCY 
ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE AND 
PERHAPS MEMBER OF CONGRESS THAT 
THEY ARE WORRIED AFTER SEEING 
SOMETHING LIKE THIS LETTER THAT 
THIS MAY ULTIMATELY HURT THE 
PRESIDENT MORE THAN IT HELPS 
HIM, OR IS IT JUST, WE KNOW 
THIS IS THE WAY A PRESIDENT 
THINKS AND TALKS, ADDED TO THE 
LIST OF OTHER THINGS? 
>> Reporter: I DON'T THINK 
THEY'RE PARTICULARLY WORRIED. 
I THINK THE OUTCOME TODAY IS 
BAKED INTO THE CAKE AND THAT 
THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHANCE, IF 
THAT'S YOUR CHANCE THE 
PRESIDENT WILL BE REMOVED FROM 
OFFICE. 
I DON'T THINK THEY VIEW THIS AS 
PARTICULARLY RISKY. 
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE 
IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT WOULD 
PREFER THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. 
THE ONE IMPLICATION FOR 
REPUBLICANS ON THE HILL IS THEY 
NOW HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS. 
THEY HAVE REPORTERS COMING UP 
AND SAYING, WHAT YOU THINK OF 
THE PRESENT'S LETTER? 
YOU THINK THAT'S PRESIDENTIAL? 
SHOULD HE BE SAYING THINGS LIKE 
THAT TO THE SPEAKER? 
I DON'T THINK THIS IN 
PARTICULAR WILL SWAY VOTES ONE 
WAY OR ANOTHER. 
FRANKLY, THERE ISN'T A LOT IN 
HERE THAT WE HAVEN'T ALREADY 
HEARD. 
WHAT SEEMS PERHAPS THE MOST 
EXTRAORDINARY IS THAT IT'S SIX 
PAGES LONG AND AM WHITE HOUSE 
LETTERHEAD, SO IT FEELS MORE 
FORMAL THAN THE TWEETS WE 
BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO. 
THE CONTENT OF IT IS NOT VASTLY 
DIFFERENT. 
>> WE HEARD EARLIER FROM SENATE 
LEADER MITCH McCONNELL THAT HE 
IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE 
WHITE HOUSE AS THEY MAP OUT 
THEIR PLAN MOVING FORWARD. 
I KNOW THEY WORKED TOGETHER BUT 
THAT WAS CLINTON WHEN THERE WAS 
A REPUBLICAN SENATOR MADE 
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT. 
IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A 
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. 
HOW CONCERNING OR UNPRECEDENTED 
IS IT TO SEE THIS SORT OF 
COOPERATION? 
>> Reporter: I THINK PEOPLE 
MIGHT EXPECT THAT MEMBERS OF 
THE SAME PARTY, THE REPUBLICANS 
ON THE HILL AND THE WHITE HOUSE 
WOULD COORDINATE IN SOME 
FASHION. 
I THINK WHAT IS SOMEWHAT 
DIFFERENT IS EVERYONE SAYING 
THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD. 
NOBODY IS REALLY HIDING THE 
FACT AND ARE PRETTY UNABASHED 
ABOUT DOING IT. 
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU HAVE 
SENATOR McCONNELL SAYING HE IS 
TAKING HIS CUES FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE. 
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUE. 
THERE'S A LOT OF McCONNELL 
TRYING TO CONVINCE THE WHITE 
HOUSE, MAINLY THE PRESIDENT, 
THAT A LONGFORM TRIAL WITH 
WITNESSES IS NOT IN HIS BEST 
INTEREST. 
THE PRESIDENT, I AM TOLD, ONCE 
A DEFENSE OF HIMSELF IN PUBLIC, 
THAT HE STILL LIKES THIS IDEA 
OF WITNESSES. 
BUT YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS IN THE 
SENATE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT TO 
GO THROUGH THAT. 
WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO 
REMOVE YOU FROM OFFICE SO WHY 
OPEN THE PANDORA'S BOX WITH THE 
DEMOCRATS CAN CALL WITNESSES 
YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO HAVE A 
PEER ON CAPITOL HILL. 
>> GIVEN THAT THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES, THIS 
PRESIDENT IN PARTICULAR, IS 
VERY CONCERNED WITH HIS LEGACY, 
WHENEVER HE SPOKE OF PRESIDENT 
BILL CLINTON, HE ALWAYS TALKED 
ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT OF BILL 
CLINTON. 
NOW, FOREVERMORE, IF THIS 
PASSES THE HOUSE, THIS 
PRESIDENT WILL BE ASSOCIATED 
WITH IMPEACHMENT AND THE FIRST 
THING YOU READ ABOUT IN HISTORY 
BOOKS. 
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM OFFICIALS 
CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT WHETHER 
OR NOT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT 
HE IS THINKING ABOUT? 
>> Reporter: YES AND THE WAY 
YOU KNOW HE'S THINKING ABOUT 
THAT IS THAT WHAT THE SIX PAGE 
LETTER IS ALL ABOUT. 
HE IS VERY, VERY ANGRY. 
THE WHITE HOUSE PUBLICLY HAS 
BEEN TRYING TO TELL US FOR DAYS 
THAT HE IS UNFAZED BY 
IMPEACHMENT AND THAT REALLY 
DOESN'T MATTER AND IT MIGHT 
HELP HIM POLITICALLY. 
I AM TOLD BY PEOPLE AT THE 
WHITE HOUSE AT THE PRESIDENT 
DEEPLY CARES ABOUT HIS LEGACY 
AND HE KNOWS AFTER TODAY, HIS 
LEGACY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGES. 
I WAS ALSO TOLD BY ONE SENIOR 
OFFICIAL THAT HE KNOWS HIS NAME 
WILL BE IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS 
BILL CLINTON. 
BILL CLINTON IS NOT SUMMARY 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A LOT 
OF RESPECT FOR. 
THAT DEEPLY IRRITATES HIM, AND 
YOU SEE THAT FRUSTRATION, ANGER 
IN THIS LETTER. 
>> IT IS A VERY ANGRY LETTER. 
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR 
>>> NOW WE WANT TO BRING IN CBS 
NEWS LEGAL ANALYST RIKKI 
KLIEMAN FOR MORE ON WHAT WE CAN 
EXPECT TODAY SO WE CAN 
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE 
WATCHING. 
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING 
US. 
WE WILL GO BACK TO THE 
BEGINNING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE 
SEEN HEARING AFTER HEARING AND 
VOTE AFTER VOTE AND THINGS GET 
MUDDLED. 
WE USE THE WORD "UNPRECEDENTED" 
FREQUENTLY AND "HISTORIC" 
FREQUENTLY. 
I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY 
IT IS SO IMPORTANT WHAT'S 
OCCURRING. 
>> Reporter: UNDER THE 
CONSTITUTION, THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT RESTS IN THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
THEIR JOB IS TO INVESTIGATE AND 
THEN TO DECIDE BY VIRTUE OF A 
VOTE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE 
PRESIDENT WILL BE IMPEACHED. 
MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T 
UNDERSTAND THE IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS SOMEHOW THINK, IF YOU 
ARE IMPEACHED, THAT MEANS YOU 
ARE REMOVED. 
NO. 
IMPEACHED MEANS THERE IS A VOTE 
BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND IT DOES NEED TO PASS ONLY 
BY A MAJORITY AND IT IS IN 
ESSENCE LIKE AN INDICTMENT. 
IT'S AN ACCUSATION BY THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT WOULD 
THEN IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF 
EVENTS, AND I WANT TO GO BACK 
TO THIS, IN THE NORMAL COURSE 
OF EVENTS BE HANDED OVER BY 
CONSTITUTIONAL DICTATE AS SOON 
AS POSSIBLE TO THE SENATE. 
THE SENATE, ONCE IT RECEIVES 
THE ARTICLES, AND WE ASSUME, I 
THINK WE WOULD ALL BE KNOCKED 
OVER BY A FEATHER IF THE VOTE 
DID NOT PASS TODAY AND WE 
ASSUME IT WILL PASS TODAY THAT 
THE SENATE RECEIVES IT AND 
MITCH McCONNELL HAS SAID IT 
MUST BE THE FIRST ORDER OF 
BUSINESS IN JANUARY. 
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE IS A 
VERY DIFFERENT MATTER BECAUSE 
THAT IS CONSIDERED A TRIAL. 
IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY A TRIAL 
LIKE WE ARE USED TO WHEN WE 
THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN A 
CIVIL OR CRIMINAL REPORT. 
TODAY WHAT WE WILL SEE IS LAID 
OUT BY NANCY CORDES IS AND WILL 
HEAR ABOUT THE RULES AND 
DEBATES ABOUT THE RULES AS TO 
HOW TODAY, JUST TODAY WILL TAKE 
PLACE. 
THAT YOU TAKE AN HOUR, HOUR AND 
A HALF. 
THEN WE WILL HEAR WHAT WILL 
HAPPEN FOR THE VOTE. 
THERE IS SIX HOURS ALLOTTED FOR 
DEBATES. 
THREE FOR THE REPUBLICANS, 
THREE FOR THE DEMOCRATS. 
REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT 
PEOPLE WILL MAKE IMPASSIONED 
SPEECHES ALBEIT SHORT. 
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, WE ARE 
NOT DEALING WITH 20 OR 41 HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CONGRESSPEOPLE. 
WE ARE DEALING WITH THE ENTIRE 
HOUSE. 
SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN GET UP 
THERE AND TALK FOR AN EXTENDED 
PERIOD OF TIME. 
I'M GOING TO CREDIT MY LAW 
PARTNER WITH THIS BECAUSE HE 
HAS SAID THIS FOR MANY, MANY 
WEEKS THAT IF THE HOUSE WERE 
SMART AND THEY REALIZE, WHICH 
EVERYONE REALIZES COMING FROM 
THE MOUTH OF MITCH McCONNELL, 
BECAUSE MITCH McCONNELL 
PRESIDES, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A 
JUDGE, THE SENATE IS REALLY SET 
FOR TRIAL UNDER THE WISHES OF 
MITCH McCONNELL. 
HE IS THE MAN IN CHARGE, AND 
IT'S CLEARLY NOT GOING TO BE 
IMPARTIAL, DOESN'T INTEND TO BE 
IMPARTIAL, DOES IT PRETEND TO 
BE IMPARTIAL. 
>> DON'T THEY TAKE AN OATH TO 
BE IMPARTIAL? 
>> Reporter: THEY DO BUT WE ARE 
BEING REALISTIC. 
NEITHER IS IT IMPARTIAL IN THE 
HOUSE. 
MY LAW PARTNER'S ASSESSMENT 
WEEKS AGO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY 
IT WAS MINE BUT I THINK HE IS 
VERY, VERY SMART, SAD, IF I 
WERE A PERSON THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, I WOULD VOTE 
TO IMPEACH HIM BECAUSE HE IS 
FOREVER IMPEACHED AND I WOULD 
NEVER SIGN THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE SENATE. 
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FROM 
USING YOUR POWERFUL LEGAL MIND 
AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE 
CONSTITUTION TO SORT OF GO TO 
THE FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS OF 
THIS LETTER. 
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS HIS MEGAPHONE 
WHERE HIS SUPPORTERS WILL READ 
THIS LETTER AND ESPECIALLY THE 
FIRST COUPLE OF PARAGRAPHS AND 
SAY, THERE IT IS. 
NANCY PELOSI IS ON A HINGED 
ACTING IN AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL 
WAY. 
HE WRITES, THIS IMPEACHMENT 
REPRESENTS AN UNPRECEDENTED AND 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
IT IS IMPEACHMENT 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR IS IT LAID 
OUT IN THE CONSTITUTION? 
>> Reporter: IT IS IN THE 
CONSTITUTION ABSOLUTELY 
CLEARLY, AND IT IS NOT AN ABUSE 
OF POWER TO GO THROUGH THE 
PROCESS OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THAT IS WHY TWO ARTICLES WERE 
DRAFTED AND THEY WERE DRAFTED 
PAINSTAKINGLY AND THEY WERE 
VOTED UPON BY THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE. 
THEY WERE SENT TO THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE BY THE HOUSE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 
ALSO, I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE 
WHOLE IDEA OF THE WOMAN WHO IS 
HYSTERICAL. 
IT GOES BACK TO HUNDREDS OF 
YEARS AGO WHEN WE USED TO HAVE 
FAINTING COUCHES AND IT WAS THE 
WOMAN WHO FAINTED AND FELL TO 
THE COUCH AND THE WORD 
"HYSTERIA" IF YOU LOOK BACK TO 
THE DERIVATION OF IT, YOU WILL 
FIND OUT IT WAS ABOUT A FEMALE. 
IT WAS A MALADY. 
CALLING NANCY PELOSI UNHINGED I 
FIND VERY OFFENSIVE AS A WOMAN. 
>> ALSO LATER IN THE LETTER 
REFERENCES THE SALEM WITCH 
TRIAL SAYING THE DUE PROCESS 
AFFORDED TO THOSE IN THE SALEM 
WITCH TRIAL WHICH, BACK THEN, 
THEY THREW YOU IN A RIVER AND 
IF YOU FLOATED -- 
>> Reporter: HE WAS INVITED TO 
TESTIFY. 
>> IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH HE 
SAYS, THEY INCLUDE NO CRIMES, 
NO MISDEMEANORS, NO OFFENSES 
WHATSOEVER. 
TWO PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED, 15 
JUDGES, ONE UNITED STATES 
SENATOR. 
DO YOU NEED A CRIME TO IMPEACH? 
>> Reporter: A CRIME UNDER THE 
CRIMINAL LAW AS DEFINED BY 
CRIMINAL STATUTE YOU DO NOT 
NEED. 
A HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR 
CLEARLY FALLS WITHIN THE ABUSE 
OF POWER OR OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
IF YOU GO INTO THE 600 PLUS 
PAGE REPORT THAT CAME ALONG 
WITH THE IMPEACHMENT FROM THE 
HOUSE, YOU WILL FIND THAT UNDER 
ABUSE OF POWER THAT YOU DO HAVE 
CRIMES THAT ARE LISTED THERE 
INCLUDING BRIBERY. 
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ACCORDING 
TO THE FEDERAL CODE AND SPELL 
OUT THE ELEMENTS OF BRIBERY OR 
EXTORTION. 
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ALLEGE 
ABUSE OF POWER, WHICH THEY HAVE 
THAT RUBRIC AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS IS AS OBVIOUS AS IT 
GETS. 
WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN OFFICIAL 
WHO HAS RESISTED ALL PROCESS, 
WHICH THIS PRESIDENT HAS. 
>> AND A THIRD PARAGRAPH HE 
WRITES, BY PROCEEDING WITH YOUR 
INVALID IMPEACHMENT YOU ARE 
VALIDATING YOUR OATH OF OFFICE 
AND BREAKING ALLEGIANCE TO THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
IN FACT, THE POWER TO IMPEACH, 
WHICH RESTS WITH CONGRESS IS IN 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
>> Reporter: CORRECT. 
IT IS NOT ONLY FALSE, IT IS 
DONE EXACTLY TO WHAT YOU SAID 
WHICH IS TO SATISFY HIS FACE SO 
PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND 
SAY, SEE I TOLD YOU SO. 
>> I REST MY CASE. 
I ONLY WANTED TO SAY THAT TO A 
LAWYER. 
>> I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO 
WHAT YOU SAID YOUR PARTNER SAID 
AND DID SOMETHING NANCY PELOSI 
SAID WAS BEING DISCUSSED. 
ON VOTING ON ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT BUT NEVER 
FORWARDING IT TO THE SENATE AND 
THE END RESULT WOULD BE WHAT? 
YOU WOULD SULLY HIS NAME BUT 
THEY WOULD NEVER BE A 
RESOLUTION? 
>> Reporter: THEY WOULD NEVER 
BE A TRIAL BUT WE WOULD KNOW 
WHAT THE RESULT OF A TRIAL 
WOULD BE AND THAT'S ACQUITTAL. 
THAT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. 
IS IT BETTER TO SAY THAT YOU 
HAVE IMPEACHED HIM SO HE JOINS 
THE RANKS OF THE OTHER TWO AND 
IS THE THIRD PRESIDENT TO IN 
FACT BE IMPEACHED? 
THERE WAS ANOTHER OPTION OPEN 
AS WELL BUT I THINK THAT TRAIN 
HAS LEFT THE STATION. 
>> WE WILL BRING IN LESLIE 
SANCHEZ. 
WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN AND 
DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST JOINING 
US. 
HE WANTS THE ABILITY TO DEFEND 
HIMSELF IN PUBLIC. 
TO THINK THIS IS HIS ATTEMPT TO 
ARGUE HIS CASE WITHOUT ACTUALLY 
SWEARING IN AND DOING WHAT 
MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED 
HIM TO DO? 
>> Reporter: PEOPLE CAN ASK HIM 
WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS WITHIN 
HIS RIGHTS TO EXERCISE WHATEVER 
FREEDOMS HE FEELS THAT HE WANTS 
TO DO TO DEFEND HIMSELF. 
I DON'T PARTICULARLY FIND THE 
LETTER SO UNUSUAL IN HIS STYLE. 
I THINK WE KEEP FORGETTING HE 
IS THE PRESIDENT WHO WAS 
ELECTED BY A CONSERVATIVE 
POPULIST MOVEMENT. 
HE WAS NOT OF THE CLOTH OF 
TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN. 
HECK, HE WAS A DEMOCRAT FOR A 
WHILE IN TERMS OF HOW HE SAW 
HIMSELF AND WHAT HE DID IN HIS 
SUPPORT. 
THIS IS WHAT RILES UP THE 
ESTABLISHMENT IN WASHINGTON. 
THIS IS WHAT I KEEP TRYING TO 
BRING US BACK TO UNDERSTAND AND 
WHY IT'S FRUSTRATING TO PUT 
ADDITIONAL APPROACHES OF HOW 
THEY DECORUM, THE RESPECT OF 
WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM A 
PRESIDENT, AND I EXPECT THAT 
TOO, WE ALL DO AS AMERICANS, 
AND HIS UNORTHODOX APPROACHES 
BREAKING THE SYSTEM. 
I WANT TO POINT OUT TODAY ON 
THE SAME DAY WE ARE DOING THIS 
THAT TRUCK HAS ECONOMIC 
APPROVAL AT THE HIGHEST HE HAS 
EVER HAD TODAY COMING OUT FROM 
CNBC. 
THE ECONOMY IS STRONG, PEOPLE 
LIKE WHAT HE IS DOING IN TERMS 
OF NEGOTIATING WITH CHINA, 
NEGOTIATING WITH TRADE, IN 
TERMS OF JOBS, BUILDING THE 
WALL. 
YOU JUXTAPOSE THAT A CROSS A 
HIGH AND PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT, 
AND IT JUST REEKS OF WHAT THIS 
IS. 
THE PRESIDENT IS PUSHING 
AGAINST A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT 
LIKE HIS APPROACH. 
AND JUST BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIKE 
HIS APPROACH DOES NOT MEAN IT'S 
FATAL. 
HISTORY WILL TELL US ONE WAY OR 
THE OTHER WHO IS GOING TO BE 
RIGHT OR WRONG BUT YOU CAN'T 
TELL ME TODAY WHETHER YOU ARE A 
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT AND YOU 
KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOMES OF ALL 
OF THIS WILL BE. 
DAVID BEGNAUD RAISES A POINT.  
YOU IMPEACH HIM BECAUSE IT'S A 
PARTISAN PROCESS. 
THE RESULT WAS GOING TO BE 
INEVITABLE. 
THEY DIDN'T MOVE IT THE OTHER 
WAY. 
DEMOCRATS LOST ABOUT 13 POINTS 
IN SUPPORT FROM OTHER DEMOCRATS 
WHO BELIEVED IMPEACHMENT WAS 
THE WAY TO GO. 
WE HAVE TO BREAK APART WHAT IS 
PARTISANSHIP, WHICH I SEE AS 
HIS HYPER- PARTISAN VERSUS 
TRADITIONALLY HOW IMPEACHMENT 
IS SEEN AND WHAT IT'S DOING 
AGAINST A PRESIDENT THAT IS 
HIGHLY UNFAVORABLE. 
>> MUCH HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT 
SULLYING HIS NAME AND WHEN YOU 
GOOGLE THE PRESIDENT YOU SEE 
THAT. 
I KEEP THINKING ABOUT BILL 
CLINTON. 
WHEN WE THINK OF HIM, I THINK 
WE WERE AWARE OF THE PARTY WAS 
IMPEACHED BUT NOT THE FIRST 
THING YOU THINK OF FREQUENTLY. 
>> I THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS. 
>> HE HAD THE BENEFIT OF 
ANOTHER TERM OR DID HE HAVE 
ANOTHER TERM? 
>> HE DIDN'T. 
>> PASSING LEGISLATION AND 
MAYBE THAT HELPED HIS LEGACY 
MOVE FORWARD. 
>> CERTAINLY YOU REMEMBER WHAT 
STARTED IT ALL. 
>> Reporter: PEOPLE COME BACK. 
I WILL TALK ABOUT THE PROS OF A 
DEMOCRAT. 
CLINTON. 
PEOPLE SAY HE BALANCED THE BUZZ 
IT, HAD TELECOM REFORM, HAD 
MAJOR REFORMS IN TRADE. 
HE WAS POLITICALLY SLAPPED IN 
THE FIRST TERM, IN THE FIRST 
TWO YEARS OF HIS TERM, HIS 
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT WAS A MESS 
UNTIL HE HAD A NEW CHIEF OF 
STAFF. 
IT WAS TURMOIL BUT ALL OF THE 
SAME ARGUMENTS THAT SCHUMER IS 
MAKING TODAY, THAT PELOSI IS 
MAKING, EVEN HOUSE MEMBERS THAT 
úWERE AROUND BACK THEN ARE THE 
SAME ONES. 
IT'S NOT BIPARTISAN, IT'S NOT 
BIPARTISAN. 
IT'S THE SAME. 
>> Reporter: CLINTON DID NOT 
HAVE REELECTION TO FACE. 
NUMBER TWO, HE APOLOGIZED FOR 
HIS WRONGDOINGS. 
WE DID NOT LIVE IN 
.
>>> TRUMP IS UNAPOLOGETIC, HIS
STYLE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
HE'S DOUBLED DOWN, TRIPLED DOWN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE
DEMOCRAT PARTY ARE DIFFERENT.
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T MAKE THE
SAME COMPARISON.
AND THOSE MAY BE A PLUS FOR
DONALD TRUMP, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE
NOT BEEN THE TYPE OF THE THINGS
ON PEOPLE'S MINDS WHEN THEY SHOW
UP TO THE BALLOT BOX.
THAT'S WHY THE DEMOCRATS WERE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE MIDTERMS.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
TALK ABOUT THIS IS THE DEATH
SENTENCE FOR DEMOCRATS NEXT
YEAR.
I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE.
THE NUMBERS CAME OUT, THE
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE OUTWEIGHING THE
REPUBLICAN.
ARECORD NUMBER OF MONEY
YESTERDAY IN SPITE OF THE
NARRATIVE THAT IMPEACHMENT IS
THE DEATH.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE SWING IN THE
BEGINNING DISTRICTS, THE NUMBERS
HAVE NOT CHANGED.
THEREFORE, WHEN DEMOCRATS PIVOT
TO THE POLICY AGENDA WE'VE
DELIVERED, I'M OPTIMISTIC.
AND KEEP IN MIND, DESPITE WHAT
EVERYBODY SAYS ABOUT WHAT
DEMOCRATS WANT TO DO, WE WOULD
NOT BE IN THE POSITION HAD
DONALD TRUMP NOT ASKED A FOREIGN
ENTITY TO BIG UP DIRT ON A
POLITICAL OPPONENT IF HE WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT CORRUPTION IN
THE UKRAINE.
>> AND WE'RE LOOKING AT LIVE
PICTURES ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
THEY ARE CONVENING IN
PREPARATION OF THE VOTING ON THE
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
THIS WILL BE A VERY LONG
PROCESS.
IT'S GOING TO BE SIX OR SEVEN
HOURS WE'LL BE --.
>> I THINK WE HAD THE OPENING
PRAYER AND OTHER THINGS
HAPPENING NOW.
>> AND YOU KNOW, TO LESLIE'S
POINT, IT'S INTERESTING THAT
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
AND THE SUPPORTERS OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS THIS
HAPPENED DAY ONE AND THEY HAVE
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OKAY --
WE'LL GET TO THIS AT SOME POINT.
LET'S LISTEN IN TO THE HOUSE
FLOOR.
>> THE MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> MADAME SPEAKER.
>> MADAME SECRETARY.
>> I'M DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES TO DELIVER
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A MESSAGE IN WRITING.
PURSUANT TO CLASS FOUR OF RULE
ONE, THE FOLLOWING ENROLLED BILL
SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER ON
DECEMBER 17, 2019.
>> COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
OTHER MINORITY SERVES
INSTITUTIONS.
>> WHAT PURPOSE IS THE GENTLEMEN
FROM ARIZONA SEEK RECOGNITION.
>> SO WE CAN STOP WASTING THE
TIME ON IMPEACHMENT I MOVE THE
HOUSE ADJOURNINGS.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSED SAY NO.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS NOT ADOPTED.
>> GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
.
>> THANK YOU.
ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER RISEN.
MEMBERS RECORD THE VOTE BY
ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A 15 MINUTE VOTE.
 
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY  
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING 
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION 
WITH T
.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'RE WITNESSING THE
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS IN THE HOUSE,
INCLUDING THE INSTRUCTION OF THE
HBCU BILL.
WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THE VOTE
THAT HAPPENS THERE AND OF COURSE
BRING YOU BACK WHEN THE
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS START.
I WAS ASKING THE QUESTION, WHICH
IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES HAS SAID LOOK, FROM DAY
ONE, THEY DON'T LIKE ME OR ME
STYLE.
THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT I'M NOT
TYPICAL OF PAST PRESIDENTS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE 63
MILLION PEOPLE SENT ME TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THE
DEMOCRATS LAMBASTED MCCONNELL
FOR SAYING WE ARE MAKING BARACK
OBAMA A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT.
DO IS SUPPORTERS HAVE A POINT
WHEN THEY SAY THEY'VE BEEN AFTER
HIM FROM DAY ONE AND YOU SO E
THE NUMBERS OF REPUBLICANS MORE
ENTRENCHED.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL UNDER ATTACK,
THEY TEND TO HOLD THE LINE AS
BEST THEY CAN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
IF THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE
JULY 25TH PHONE CALL AND YOU HAD
NOT HAD THE RUSSIAN COLLUSION,
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, WOULD WE BE
IN A DIFFERENT STATE OF PLAY?
THE POINT IS WHEN THE PRESIDENT
SAYS HE'S ATTACKED AND IT
HAPPENED FROM THE DAY HE WAS
INAUGURATED, DOES HE HAVE A
POINT?
>> THEY WANT PEOPLE, DEMOCRATS,
REPUBLICANS ALIKE TO IGNORE
ANYTHING HE DOES WRONG AND COULD
WANT IT AS HE'S NOT A
TRADITIONAL PERSON THAT'S RAN
FOR OFFICE.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
I SPOKE TO AT LEAST 16 FRONT
LINE MEMBERS OTHER THE PAST
SEVERAL DAYS AND THEIR SPOUSES.
THIS WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION.
I HEARD THEM OVER THE PHONE
SAYING I DIDN'T COME TO CONGRESS
TO DO THIS.
I WANT TO BE IN THE POSTURE OF
DELIVERING.
HOWEVER, THE PRESIDENT LEFT US
IN NO CHOICE.
FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THEY WANTED TO
IMPEACH HIM FROM DAY ONE, IT'S
NOT TRUE.
I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WHERE
NANCY PELOSI HELD BACK FROM THE
CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT FROM THE
FLOOR.
IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WANTED TO
APPEASE THE PRESIDENT AND THE
VOTE NEVER HAPPENED OR WAS
DELAYED OR REJECTED.
THIS WAS NOT AN EASY THING TO
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.
WHEN HE VIOLATED THE LAW AND
ASKED A FOREIGN ENTITY TO DIG UP
DIRT ON A POLITICAL OPPONENT AND
HE ADMITTED TO IT AND ADD IT
MANIED TO WITHHOW OLDING
FUNDING, THE RUBBER MET THE
ROAD.
>> AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD THING
TO SAY, WE'LL IMPEACH THE M.F.
AND AL GREEN TO SAY WE HAVE TO
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE HEARD.
WHEN ANYBODY NOT FOLLOWING THIS
AND YOU HEARD THAT AND PLAY THE
SOUND BITE, THEY'LL GO THAT
HAPPENED WHEN?
OKAY.
THE FIX WAS IN FROM DAY ONE.
>> TO THEIR CREDIT, I DON'T
ALWAYS AGREE, THEY FELT LIKE
THERE WERE THINGS HE DID IN THE
SAME WAY THAT THE DAY OF OBAMA'S
INAUGURATION, PEOPLE ACROSS THE
STREET SAYING WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE HUM A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT.
TO ME, IT'S ONE THIS THE SAME.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU HAVE REAL
ACTION AND SOMETHING THAT
DICTATES THE IMPEACHMENT, THAT'S
THE MOMENT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE OBVIOUSLY IN
DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT THE
ACTIONS ARE.
THEY SAY THERE'S NO QUID PRO
QUO.
PARTICULARLY WITH NANCY PELOSI
THAT SHE WAS SAYING UNLESS IT
WAS OVERWHELMINGLY COMPELLING
AND BIPARTISAN, THEY SHOULD NOT
MOVE FORWARD.
AND SHE HAD AN INTENTION FOR
IMPEACHMENT EARLY ON.
THAT WAS A RUZ IN THE PART.
AND THIS IS SUCH A
HYPERPOLITICAL PARTISAN EFFORT
THAT CRUSHED MINORITY RIGHTS AND
DIDN'T GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE PUBLIC TO COME ALONG WITH
YOU TO SAY SOMETHING WAS THERE.
>> AND ON BOTH PARTIES --.
>> AND I WANT TO POINT OUT TO
THE VIEWERS WONDERING WHAT'S ON
THE SCREEN HERE, THIS IS A
MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THE REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR A
MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING.
THAT IS WHAT THE HOUSE IS VOTING
ON.
THERE'S 11 MINUTES LEFT.
THIS IS A DELAY TACTIC.
WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
SORRY,LESSLY.
>> SPEAKING OF DELAY.
>> AREN'T BOTH PARTIES GUILTY OF
THAT?
MCCONNELL IS SAYING I AM NOT
IMPARTIAL AND LINDSEY GRAHAM
SAYING THE SAME THING.
IF THAT'S TRUE, THAT THE PUBLIC
HAS SORT OF THROWN UP THEIR
HANDS WITH THIS BECAUSE IT'S
PARTISAN AND LONG AND DRAWN OUT
AND ALL THAT, THE REPUBLICANS
WOULD BE JUST AS GUILTY AS THE
DEMOCRATS.
>> WE HAVE -- AGAIN, WHEN WE
UNPACK ALL THIS, ABSOLUTELY
PARTISAN SHIP ON BOTH PARTS.
PART OF IT IS YOU HAVE THIS
STRONG ATTACK AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT THAT'S SO
HYPERPARTISAN AND YOU ARE NOT
GIVEN MINORITY RIGHTS FROM THE
BEGINNING.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES TALKED ABOUT
YESTERDAY.
REPUBLICANS HOLDING THE LINE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT IF THIS IS THE
MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, I WOULD TELL HIM NOT
TO PARTICIPATE.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE RUSHING
BECAUSE OF AN ELECTION YEAR.
AND WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS
UNDER THE PALL OF AN ELECTION.
WHY COULDN'T WE WAIT AND HAVE
THE MINORITY RIGHTS?
>> AND I WANT TO GET RICKY TO
CHIME IN.
SORRY, I'LL LET YOU NO.
AND THEN RICKY.
>> AND THIS PROCESS, 47 MEMBERS
OF THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE WHO
WERE CLUED IN TO THIS DAY ONE.
EVEN THOUGH THE HEARINGS MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN HEARING, THEY WERE
CLUED IN TO THIS FROM DAY ONE.
THE STUNT OF BREAKING IN THE
ROOM, THAT WAS PROPAGANDA.
THEY WERE INVOLVED.
AND WE MISSED THE POINT, THE
PRESIDENT IN HIS ARROGANT WAYS,
HE AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF
BRAGGED TO THE POINT ABOUT WHAT
THEY DID WHEN IT CAME TO THE
UKRAINE.
AND WE FORGET GOING THROUGH THE
EXERCISE, HIS PERSONAL ATTORNEY
WAS IN THE KRAIRN A FEW DAYS AGO
BRAGGING ABOUT DIGGING UP DIRT
ON THE POLITICAL OPPONENT.
THEY WANT TO IGNORE THEY'RE
BREAKING THE LAW.
AND WE SAY, OH, IT SHOULDN'T
MATTER BECAUSE IT'S DONALD
TRUMP.
HE'S DOING WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO
DO.
IF THE PRESIDENT WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT CORRUPTION AND HUNTER
BIDEN IN THE UKRAINE, THEY
RECEIVED THE FUNDING YEAR ONE
AND TWO IN OFFICE.
WHY YEAR THREE WHILE JOE BIDEN
IS THIS MOST CREDIBLE OPPONENT
TO DEFEAT HIM IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
WHY NOT YEAR ONE AND TWO?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
>> AND RICKY WAS JUMPING OUT OF
HER SEAT.
WELL, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD A
STRONGER ARGUMENT MOVING
FORWARD, MORE PEOPLE BELIEVING
THIS WASN'T ABOUT PARTISAN SHIP,
IF THEY WAITED FOR THE COURTS TO
COMPEL CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS LIKE
JOHN BOATEN TO TESTIFY.
OR EVEN EARLIER ON IN THE
PROCESS WHEN THERE WERE PEOPLE
WHO REFUSED TO TESTIFY IF THEY
FOUND THEM IN CONTEMPT OF
CONGRESS OR SOMETHING AND FLEXED
THEIR MUSCLES A LITTLE BIT.
>> NO.
THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT
JONATHAN TURLEY MADE AS THE
EXPERT CALLED BY THE
REPUBLICANS.
IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE
REASON THAT WE LEARNED BY THE
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS AND IT
IS SUPPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS BY
LETTER, IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE
DEBATES ON THE FOUNDING FATHERS
AND THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, WHAT
WE FOUND IS THE REASON THEY PUT
AN IMPEACHMENT CLAUSE IN THE
CONSTITUTION IS THAT YOU CANNOT
WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND YOU MUST GO FORWARD WHEN
THERE IS IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT.
>> HOW ABOUT EXHAUSTING ALL YOUR
OPTIONS?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXHAUST ALL
YOUR OPTIONS.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE AND IT IS THE
LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN REALLY
CITED AND GOING BACK TO THE
FOUNDING FATHERS, IS THAT THE
POSITION THAT HAS COME OUT OF
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH IS
SUPPORTED, WHICH IS NOT
PARTISAN, IT IS REALLY SUPPORTED
BY ACADEMIA AND IF YOU LOOK BACK
AT HISTORY, WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTION.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CLEAR AND
PRESENT DANGER TO THE 2020
ELECTION, WHICH IS WHY YOU
CANNOT WAIT.
SO WHEN THE PRESIDENT MADE THIS
PHONE CALL AND WHEN MICK
MULVANEY SAID GET OVER IT AND
THIS IS HOW WE DO BUSINESS, WHAT
YOU HAD TO DO WAS SAY WE CANNOT
LET THIS CONTINUE BECAUSE THIS
COULD BE GOING ON NOW.
COULD BE GOING ON WITH OTHER
COUNTRIES TRADING A DEAL FOR A
DEAL.
WE CANNOT HAVE INTERFERENCE BY
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY RUDY GIULIANI, INTO
THE 2020 ELECTION.
SO NO, I DON'T BUY INTO THAT
ARGUMENT.
>> I DON'T BUY INTO THE IDEA
THAT THERE'S SPECULATION AND ALL
OF A SUDDEN, WE HAVE TO RUN.
FORGET THE FACT THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS WORKING WITH
CONGRESS.
I MEAN, THE HYPOCRISY THAT THE
DEMOCRAT, A CLEAR AND PRESENT
DANGER.
LET'S PASS THE HBCU FUNDING.
>> IS THAT JUST EVERYONE DOING
THEIR JOB?
>> SO LET'S PUT IT IN CONTEXT.
IF THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT
AND EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY,
YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE WOULD BE A
MOVEMENT AND AN AGGRESSIVE
MOVEMENT TO GET THIS DONE AND
MOVE IT TO A TRIAL AND TAKE
ACTION WHETHER TO REPRIMAND HIM
OR NOT.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED RUDY
GIULIANI.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
LAST NIGHT WATCHING OUR COVERAGE
AND READING THE NEWSPAPERS.
IT FEELS IN A WAY A LOT OF THIS
STARTED BECAUSE OF RUDY
GIULIANI.
RUDY GIULIANI WHO WHATEVER IMAGE
OR WHATEVER PEOPLE MAY HAVE
THOUGHT OF HIM AS NEW YORK CITY
MAYOR IN THE WAKE OF 9/11, AS A
PROSECUTOR, CRIME BUSTING
PROSECUTOR, THAT THE PRESIDENT
HITCHED HIS WAGON TO RUDY
GIULIANI WHO IN TURN WAS DOING
BUSINESS WITH UKRAINE AND
UKRAINENS, INCLUDING THESE GUYS
JUST INDICTED.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT THE
PRESIDENT, THIS PRESIDENT, WOULD
REALLY BE FOCUSED THAT INTENTLY
ON THE UKRAINE HAD RUDY GIULIANI
NOT BROUGHT IT UP TO HIM,
MR. PRESIDENT, I GOT BUSINESS,
HERE'S WHAT I'M DOING, HERE'S
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE
PRESIDENT HAS NOT SAID RUDY
GIULIANI, THIS IS YOUR FAULT,
YOU GO AND EXPLAIN.
>> DON'T YOU FIND IT INTERESTING
NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO CALL RUDY
GIULIANI.
>> BOTH BEING REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
>> HE WAS DOING BUSINESS WITH
THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS AND GOD
KNOWS WHO ELSE.
AND THEY'RE ACCUSED OF TAKING
MONEY AND FUNNELING THE MONEY
FROM FOREIGN ENTITIES TO U.S.
POLITICAL FOLKS TO BUY
INFLUENCE.
>> YES.
AND WE HAVE LEARNED THE BAIL WAS
ALMOST TOTALLY REVOKED AT A
HEARING.
HE HAPPENED TO GET A RATHD LARGE
WIRE TRANSFER FROM THE RUSSIANS.
SO AND THAT ALL TIED IN TO THIS.
THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS IS
VLADIMIR PUTIN.
THAT'S THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WHAT I FIND INTRIGUING IS THAT
THE PRIMARY WITNESS HERE IS NOT
JOHN BOLTON.
THE PRIMARY WITNESS IN MY MIND
IS NOT THE SECRETARY OF STATE
POMPEO.
THE PRIMARY WITNESS IS CLEARLY
RUDY GIULIANI.
BUT NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO CALL
HIM BECAUSE HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS
WHAT HE WOULD SAY ON THE WITNESS
STAND.
AND HE EXPOSES THE
UNDERBELLY OF BOTH SIDES.
THE DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT A TRIAL
ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN AND JOE
BIDEN.
THE REPUBLICANS REALLY DON'T
WANT A TRIAL THAT'S ABOUT RUDY
GIULIANI AND HIS BUSINESS
DEALINGS IN UKRAINE WITH PEOPLE
LIKE LEAVEN.
AND WHERE WAS THE MONEY FLOWING
INTO RUDY'S BUSINESS.
AND ALL OF THAT IS KIND OF A SUB
TEXT.
AND EVERYONE IS AFRAID TO TOUCH
RUDY.
AND I DON'T THINK BY THE WAY
RUDY GIULIANI EVER WENT TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SAID, OH, I
HAVE THESE BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UKRAINE.
YOU KNOW, LET ME GO THROUGH
THIS.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS THAT
KIND OF A CONVERSATION.
>> WHY IS HE STILL IN UKRAINE?
>> HE'S WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE
PRESIDENT IF YOU BELIEVE HIM.
>> HE'S CONTINUING TO TRY TO DIG
UP DIRT ON HUNTER BIDEN AND
HUNTER BIDEN GETTING THE
POSITION BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER.
I THINK WE CAN AGREE.
I'LL SPEAK PERHAPS NOT AGREE,
BUT IT REALLY WAS NOT WISE FOR
HUNTER BIDEN TO TAKE THE
POSITION.
AND I SAY THIS AS A LAWYER.
ON THE BOARD WHILE HIS FATHER
WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT BECAUSE
IT'S THE APPEARANCE OF
IMPROPRIORITY.
I DON'T HAVE A QUARREL ABOUT THE
MONEY.
BOARD MEMBERS MAKE THESE BIG
SUMS OF MONEY AND THAT HAPPENS
IN BOARDS.
YOU GET APPOINTED TO BOARDS
BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMEONE AND YOU
HAVE AN IMPORTANT LAST NAME.
THAT HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I HAVE A PROBLEM HUNTER BIDEN
AND HIS FATHER OF WHOM I HAVE
SUCH RESPECT FOR, I MEAN, I
REALLY, REALLY LIKE JOE BIDEN
AND RESPECT HIM.
AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW,
HE HAS GROWN.
BUT SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE SHOULD
HAVE SAID, WELL, MAYBE THIS
ISN'T SUCH A GOOD IDEA.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS IMPROPER,
JUST THE APPEARANCE.
>> AND DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY
ABOUT IVANKA AND JARED TRUMP?
WE DON'T HEAR THAT.
>> NO, IT'S A FAIR POINT.
>> IT'S THE APPEARANCE --.
>> MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> AND THE CONTROVERSY.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY FRANKLY THERE
WASN'T AN IMPEACHMENT ARTICLE
HAVING TO DO WITH THE TRUMP
HOTEL IN WASHINGTON HAS THE
COMPLETE APPEARANCE OF
IMPROPRIETY OF THE FOREIGN
OFFICIALS WHO COME TO WASHINGTON
AND STAY THERE.
AND THAT HAD A LOT OF TEETH.
.
>> YOU SAID IN THE PAST AND
EARLIER AND WE'RE ABOUT 20
SECONDS AWAY FROM THE VOTE BEING
COMPLETE.
FAIR WARNING.
AND YOU SAT FREQUENTLY AND YOU
GUYS CAN DISCUSS THIS AND LESLIE
PROBABLY DISAGREES DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ARE GRADED
DIFFERENTLY BY THE PRESS.
>> UNFAIRLY IN MANY WAYS.
>> BUT THE POINT YOU GUYS ARE
MAKING WHICH IS THAT THERE HAS
NOT BEEN AS MUCH MADE, YOU DON'T
HEAR THE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION BRINGING
UP JARED AND IVANKA.
>> THAT WOULDN'T BE WHAT I WOULD
BRING UP.
I WOULD TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY,
THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
>> BUT THE PRESIDENT IS BRINGING
UP HUNTER BIDEN.
IN THE LETTER, WHAT'S
INTERESTING ABOUT THE PARAGRAPH,
IT SEEMS THE ONLY THING HE'S
AWARE OF IS THE COMMENT ON
TELEVISION ABOUT THE $1 BILLION.
WHEN IN FACT, YOU KNOW, TO ME,
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD GO
ON THE RECORD AND SAY, YEAH, THE
BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE U.S.
SENATE BOTH REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATS SAID WE SHOULD
WITHHOLD FROM THE -- WHAT IS THE
BIG DEAL?
ALL OF YOU NOW AGREEING WITH THE
PRESIDENT, YOU AGREED WITH THIS
POLICY, WHICH WAS OFFICIAL U.S.
POLICY.
>> THIS WAS OFFICIAL U.S. POLICY
VERSUS WHAT TRUMP DID WAS
OFFICIAL DONALD TRUMP POLICY.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT
REPUBLICANS --.
>> I WISH THE CAMERA WAS ON IT.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE NOT DEFENDING
WHAT HE DID.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PAINT THE
DEMOCRATS BAD FOR THE FACT HE
GOT CAUGHT.
THEY'RE NOT DEFENDING WHAT HE
DID.
THEY'RE NOT DEFENDING THAT.
THEY'RE SAYING HE GOT CAUGHT AND
THEY'RE TRYING TO DEFEND THE
PRESIDENT.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
THE ONE THING BILL CLINTON DID,
HE ADMITTED HE WAS WRONG AND THE
COUNTRY FORGAVE HIM.
THAT'S WHY HE LEFT ON A HIGH
LEVEL.
>> THE COUNTRY FORGAVE HIM
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FEEL THAT
THE SEX ACT MERITED REMOVING HIM
FROM OFFICE.
AND THE ECONOMY WAS MOVING IN A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION AT THE TIME
TOO.
AND HAVING BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW,
SITTING IN THE GALLERY, I WAS AS
A YOUNG CUB STAFFER, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME, A
DIFFERENT APPROACH.
THERE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT
DEBATE ON THE ISSUE OF
PRIVILEGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO SOME OF
THE ISSUES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM HERE.
ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE FOR
IMPEACHMENT, IT SEEMS
TREMENDOUSLY UNFAIR, NOT BIPART
SAN AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THE OUTCOME WAS PREDETERMINED.
AND CRUSHING MINORITY RIGHTS
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IS NOT
GOING TO BUILD A CONSENSUS.
AND WE'LL SEE A LOT OF POLITICAL
THEATER AND NOTHING OF
SIGNIFICANT OTHER THAN A STRONG
MARK IN HISTORY.
>> YOU'LL NEVER GET THE
REPUBLICANS TO AGREE DONALD
TRUMP DID ANYTHING WRONG.
>> WE HAVE THE LINCOLN PROJECT,
A BAND OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
NOW COMMITTED TO REMOVING THE
PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE AND
WORKING AGAINST HIM IN THE 2020
ELECTION.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
CONGRESS.
.
>> AND EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE
LEAVING, WHO ARE RETIRING STILL
WILL NOT SAY WHAT HE DID WAS
WRONG.
I DON'T THINK IT RISES TO THE
LEVEL OF IMPEACHMENT.
YOU DON'T HEAR IT FROM LAWMAKERS
SITTING OR ON THE WAY OUT.
>> YOU HEAR IT FROM THE SDEM
DEMS SITTING ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE.
WHY IS IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEY
LOOKED AT THIS AND DON'T FEEL
WHAT HE DID IS WRONG.
BY THIS STANDARD, THE WHOLE
REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT, AND THE
DEMOCRAT ARGUMENT IN 1998, BY
THIS STANDARD, EVERY PRESIDENT
WOULD BE IMPEACHED.
>> THERE'S ONE DEMOCRAT WHO
MOVED TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
BECAUSE HE WAS FACING A DEATH
SENTENCE MANY IN THE DEMOCRAT
PRIMARY.
NOT BECAUSE OF IMPEACHMENT.
I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.
>> THERE ARE 31 DEMOCRATS IN
TRUMP AREAS, AREAS THAT TRUMP
WON.
MAYBE A COUPLE OF THOSE.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE
REPUBLICANS MOVE OVER.
>> AND YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AND
MAJOR GARRETT POINTED THIS OUT
ON CBS THIS MORNING THAT THE
WHITE HOUSE WAS EXPECTING A LOT
MORE DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICTS
TO COME OVER TO VOTING AGAINST
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
>> AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
>> DELUSIONAL.
>> THE NUMBERINGS ARE ON THE
SWING SEATS SIDE.
I'M TELLING YOU, SAY WHAT YOU
WANT ABOUT THE FEAR TACTIC AND
THE REPUBLICANS PUSHING ON
DEMOCRATS.
THE REPUBLICANS CAN SEE IF THE
PRESIDENT DID NOT DO ANYTHING
WRONG AND EVERYTHING WAS
PERFECT, LESLIE, WHY THIS THE
WORLD WOULD HE NOT ALLOW THE
PEOPLE TO TESTIFY WHO HAS THE
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WAS HEARING ABOUT THAT.
HERE WE COME.
IT WAS THE ISSUE OF EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE AND A RULING THAT CAME
OUT PARTICULARLY THAT WOULD HAVE
DEALT WITH FAST AND FURIOUS AND
WHAT EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE WAS IN
TERMS OF WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED
FOR AND WHO SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
HAVE THAT.
>> AND I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS.
I WILL ANSWER THE EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY LEGALLY, WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT ONE THING.
ONCE THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT
WAS FILED AND REFERRED, WHAT
WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO?
THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY IGNORE
IT.
THEY HAD TO HAVE A HEARING ABOUT
IT.
THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO SAY.
AND EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND
GOING TO THE COURTS.
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE IS MEANT IN
THE SAME WAY WE THINK OF
ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR
THERAPIST PRIVILEGE, SOME
CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE
CONFIDENTIAL SO THAT PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER
WITH CANDOR WITH THE SECURITY
THAT THE CONVERSATIONS WOULD NOT
BE REVEALED.
THE PRIEST PRIVILEGE IS PROBABLY
THE MOST OBVIOUS WHERE IF YOU'RE
SOMEONE WHO GOES TO SEE A PRIEST
AND CONFESSES, THAT GOES TO YOUR
GRAVE.
IF YOU GO TO SEE A LAWYER FOR
ADVICE, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO A
LAWYER AND MAY SAY TERRIBLE
THINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE
AND THE LAWYER CAN NEVER TELL
THE WORLD WHAT YOU HAVE SAID.
AND SO ON.
WITH EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, IT'S
NO ENABLE THE PRESIDENT AND
PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM WORKING IN
GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
FRANK CONVERSATIONS WHERE PEOPLE
CAN SPEAK THEIR MIND THEY WILL
NOT BE THEN REVEALED TO THE
PUBLIC.
HOWEVER, WITH THE ATTORNEY
CLIENT PRIVILEGE, ATTORNEY
CLIENT PRIVILEGE GOES OUT THE
WINDOW IF IT'S PART OF A CRIME
OR FRAUD.
THERE IS THE CRIME OR FRAUD
EXCEPTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE
ARGUED IN A COURT IS IT A
BLANKET EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE THAT
YOU CANNOT TESTIFY ABOUT
ANYTHING?
OR DOES IT GO QUESTION BY
QUESTION?
WE DID A LOT OF THIS DURING THE
CLINTON IMPEACHMENT.
A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ABOUT
THE THINGS PRIVILEGED AND NOT.
AND EVEN THE DON MCGANN DECISION
HAVING BEEN THE WHITE HOUSE
LAWYER WHO HAD TOLD THE MUELLER
INVESTIGATORS THAT HE WAS
ORDERED TO FIRE ROBERT MUELLER.
AND THEN HE KIND OF SAID
BASICALLY, THESE ARE MY WORDS,
NOT HIS.
THAT'S PRESIDENT TRUMP BEING
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I'M JUST GOING TO IGNORE THIS
AND NOT DO IT.
AND HE WAS TOLD AGAIN.
SO SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, IF THE
PRESIDENT IS CLAIMING THE
CONVERSATIONS FALL UNDER
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, DIDN'T HE
WAIVE THAT BY VIRTUE OF GOING
FORTH TO THE MUELLER COMMITTEE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE
PRIVILEGE ACTUALLY BELONGS TO
THE PRESIDENT.
SO THE PRESIDENT CAN
DECLARE WHAT IS OFF LIMITS.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR
EXPLANATION.
BUT DO I THINK THAT WE HAD
TO WAIT GOD KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS
THAT WOULD TAKE TO SEE WHAT
CONVERSATIONS WITH BOLTON,
POMPEO FALL UNDER PRIVILEGE, WE
WILL WELL BE IN PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S SECOND TERM OR A
DEMOCRAT'S FIRST TERM.
>> SO JUST REMINDING THE VIEWERS
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN
RIGHT NOW, THIS WAS A -- WHEN IS
HOUSE CONVENED AT APPROXIMATELY
9:00 P.M., THE REPUBLICANS THREW
UP A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE
PROCEEDINGS.
AND SO THE HOUSE HAS TO VOTE ON
THAT.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALTHOUGH THE
TIME ELAPSED, THERE ARE 41
MEMBERS NOW IT'S TICKING DOWN ON
THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND THAT THE
NUMBER IS TICKING DOWN OF FOLKS
THAT STILL NEED TO VOTE.
WE'RE WATCHING THAT.
AND WE MAY DIP INTO IT IF A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS TAKES OF THE
GAVEL THERE.
AND SO WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING
TOO JUMPING BACK TO SOMETHING
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER,
THE POLITICAL TACTIC THAT BOTH
PARTIES ARE USING TO EITHER
DAMPEN SUPPORT FOR IMPEACHMENT
OR DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR
IMPEACHMENT.
YOU POINTED TO THE FACT THAT
THERE ARE CERTAIN NUMBERS OF
DEMOCRATS WHO PERHAPS UP TO THIS
PROCESS WERE STILL ON THE FENCE.
SO FAR, ONLY TWO HAVE SAID THAT
THEY INTEND TO VOTE NO.
AND THE WHITE HOUSE ACCORDING TO
MAJOR PROBABLY EXPECTING A FEW
MORE.
YOU SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING
TO ME.
BOTH DEMOCRAT ASKS REPUBLICANS,
THESE ARE POLITICAL ANIMALS.
IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT SAYS
THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT,
THEY'LL DO IT.
IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN AND IN A
DISTRICT THAT SUPPORTS DONALD
TRUMP AND THE FOLKS WILL NOT BE
HAPPY IF YOU VOTE FOR THE
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, YOU'LL
DEFEND THE PRESIDENT UP, DOWN,
LEFT, RIGHT, AND CENTER.
IN YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT IN THE
SWING DISTRICT, YOU ARE SEEING
THE DAYLIGHT IN THE DISTRICT
THAT MAY HAVE SUPPORTED
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THERE ARE
ENOUGH THAT SAY THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
MERITS OF THESE ARTICLES.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE POLITICAL
TEA LEAVES.
>> AND CONSCIOUS.
>> IT SEEMS THAT'S IN SHORT
SUPPLY ON BOTH SIDES.
>> THEY SAY CONSCIOUS.
>> I TAKE THE WORK I DO
SERIOUSLY AND HELP MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS GET ELECTED EVERY DAY.
PUTS A DEATH SENTENCE TO THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IS FALSE.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
IN THE DISTRICTS, WE'VE POLLED
T, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
BODY OF WORK THE MEMBERS WORKED
ON AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE
DISTRICTS.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE
HARD VOTES.
THIS IS ABOUT COUNTRY AND
NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND BY THE
WAY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE PROMISED WE WOULD
DO WHEN YOU ELECTED US.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FEEL
GOOD ABOUT GOING HOME AND
TALKING ABOUT THE WORK WE'VE
DONE, THE 400 BILLS AND SOME
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SIGNED
ON TO TO FURTHER THE IDEA CALLED
AMERICA.
THE IDEA THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE
GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING, THAT'S
FALSE.
THE REPUBLICANS EVERY YEAR,
EVERY CYCLE TRY TO PUT A SCARE
TACTIC IN THE DEMOCRATS.
IN THE 2018 MIDTERMS, IT WAS THE
CARAVAN, THE OPEN BORDERINGS,
THE COUNTRY IS TAKEN OVER BY THE
CARAVAN.
WE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE TALKED ABOUT RAISING WAGES.
WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND
WON.
THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER
THEY VOTED FOR IT OR NOT, THE
REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO PAINT
THE SWING MEMBERS AS IMPEACHMENT
DEMOCRATS.
AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE FORAND THAT'S THE POSITION
WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
>> THE IMPEACHMENT NUMBERS,
WHAT'S INTERESTING, THOUGH, IS
REPUBLICANS SAID, LOOK,
AMERICANS ARE NOT FOR THE
IMPEACHMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLL
NUMBERS FOR BILL CLINTON, THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT
PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD BE
IMPEACHED BEFORE AND DURING THE
PROCESS NEVER WENT HIGHER THAN
30%.
THEY DID THE POLLING
RETROACTIVELY AND 44%.
YOU NEVER SAW 50%.
EVEN IF YOU SEE 50% AND
REPUBLICANS SAY THAT SHOWS THAT
THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDE ON THIS,
50% IS A HIGH.
.
>> I WONDER HOW MUCH THAT SAYS
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT
IMPEACHMENT OR HOW DIVIDED THE
NATION IS.
>> THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION.
CAN YOU MEASURE INTENSITY?
IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH ON THE
PARTISAN SHIP.
>> DEFINE THAT?
>> WHEN YOU'RE ASKED, SOMEWHAT
LIKELY TO IMPEACH, REALLY
LIKELY, COMPLETELY LIKELY.
THE INTENSE THE I ON A SCALE OF
ONE TO TEN, IT'S HIGHER.
THERE'S MORE HEAT.
WHEN WE SEE INTENSITY, THERE'S
SOMETIMES IT'S A PARTISAN SHIP
OR ANOTHER FACTOR.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
VARIABLE.
THE VARIABLE BEHIND THAT IS HOW
PARTISAN IT IS IN TERMS OF
DISLIKE FOR THE PRESIDENT.
WHEN YOU ADD DISLIKE, THIS IS A
PRESIDENT FLAT ON FAVOR BLT.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU HAVE TO
DISCOUNT THAT AND LOOK AT OTHER
VARIABLES.
THAT IS WHY I GO BACK TO THE
ECONOMY AND AGREEING WITH
ANTOINE ON SOME OF THE THINGS
ABOUT WHY THE MEMBERS ARE DOING
WELL.
PEOPLE IN THOSE DISTRICTS FEEL
THAT THEY'RE SERVED WELL AND
THEY LIKE A CHECK AND BALANCE.
THEY LIKE DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOU HAVE A STRONG PRESIDENT
LIKE THIS, THEY LIKE THE
COUNTERPRESSURE.
THEY DID THIS ON PURPOSE.
>> WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON HAD
HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, HE HAD 65% APPROVAL
BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS DOING
WELL.
DOES IT MATTER THAT THE
PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME
FAVORABLE NUMBERS AS PRESIDENT
CLINTON BACK THEN EVEN WITH THE
GREAT ECONOMY AND THE TRADE
DEALS.
>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALK
ABOUT THAT.
NORMALLY, WE LOOK AT THAT.
BUT WE CAN'T.
>> BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS.
>> BECAUSE OF TRUMP AND THE
NUCLEAR EFFECT THAT HE HAS.
AND BECAUSE SO MANY REPUBLICANS
HELD THEIR NOSE AND VOTED FOR
TRUMP AND WE'RE LIKE THE WILD
WEST OF GOVERNENS THAT NOBODY IS
USED TO AND NOBODY LIKES.
AND YOU SEE FACTIONS.
I TALKED ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS
STEPPING AWAY AND STARTING A
COALITION EFFORTS TO DEFEAT THE
PRESIDENT.
THIS IS A REAL THING.
WHAT WE WOULD AGREE UPON IS THE
REAL FACTOR, IT'S NOT YES,
THERE'S THE COMMITMENT TO
SERVICE, THIS IS ABOUT MONEY.
THIS IS ABOUT WHO IS RAISING THE
MONEY AND BENEFITTING
FINANCIALLY AND WHO'S PRIMARY.
THE WAY YOU KEPT THE REPUBLICANS
IN LINE, THERE'S A THREAT OF THE
PRIMARY.
YOU THREATEN TO PRIMARY THEM.
AND THEN ALL THE CANDIDATES COME
OUT AND THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES
WILL PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
MONEY BEHIND THE OPPONENT.
AND THEY FALL IN LINE.
IT'S A POLITICAL CALCULATION TO
TAKE THE VOTES.
>> AND THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T
RAISING AS MUCH MONEY AS THE
REPUBLICANS OFF THE IMPEACHMENT.
>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.
RECORD -- EVERY MONTH, IT'S AT
RECORD FUND RAISING NUMBERS IN
SPITE OF THE CONVERSATION OF HOW
BAD IMPEACHMENT WAS.
YESTERDAY, WE ANNOUNCED WE
RAISED $9 MILLION IN THE MONTH
OF NOVEMBER.
THE PUBLIC IS ON YOUR SIDE WHEN
IT COMES TO THIS.
IF IT WASN'T, THAT WOULD BE THE
CASE.
AND I SAY THIS RESPECTFULLY TO
LESLIE, WHENEVER WE GET OUT OF
THE IMPEACHMENT WINDOW AND PAST
THE SENATE TRIAL, THE
REPUBLICANS WHAT CASE ARE THEY
GOING TO MAKE TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THEY DESERVE TO BE BACK
IN THE MAJORITY?
THE ANSWER FOR DEMOCRAT IS WE
DELIVERED ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE
COUNTRY THE WHITE HOUSE
COMMITTED TO VETO.
WE DELIVERED ON THE MINIMUM
WAGES AND PROTECTING PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS, I COULD GO ON AND
ON.
WHAT CASE ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE YOU
DESERVE TO BE BACK IN THE
MAJORITY?
THAT'S WHY I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE
POSITION AS HOUSE DEMOCRATS.
>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE
INTENSITY AND IF IT CAN BE
MEASURED BY MONEY RAISED.
THE DIFFERENCE IS HE'S
TALKING ABOUT THE DCCC RAISING
MONEY VERSUS DONALD TRUMP.
DLT IS RAISING A LOT OF MONEY,
BUT IS THE PARTY RAISING MONEY.
>> DONALD TRUMP IS THE PARTY.
ONE AND THE SAME.
ALL THE MONEY AND I'M IN THE
MEETINGS.
HE IS THE MONEY MAGNET.
HE IS GETTING TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS
OF SUPPORT EVEN FROM PEOPLE NOT
ON BOARD.
HE DELIVERED ON THE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICES AND RELIGIOUS
FREEDOMS AND THE BORDER WALL.
THESE ARE THE REASONS THAT
BUSINESS OWNERS OR WHOEVER THEY
MAY BE, EVEN PEOPLE --.
>> DOES THE PASSION TRICKLE DOWN
TO THE REST OF THE PARTY?
>> THE INTERESTING PART IS IF
YOU THINK ABOUT THE INTENSITY,
THINK ABOUT BERNIE SANDERS.
HE IS ORGANICALLY DRAWING A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF APPEAL NOW
AND IN 2016.
AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
INTENSITY FACTOR FOR HILLARY
CLINTON.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT MONEY, NOBODY
TALKS ABOUT HOW HE OUTRAISES
EVERYONE AND HE'S IN THE TOP
THREE.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE, BIDEN.
WE DID THAT AS REPUBLICANS AND
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WELL FOR
US.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ORGANICALLY
WHERE THE MONEY IS.
>> AND LET ME PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT.
THAT MOTION NO SURPRISE DID NOT
PASS TO ADJOURN THE PROCEEDINGS.
NOW WE HAVE THE MINORITY LEADER.
LET'S GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.
>> BY USING AND EXCEEDING THE
POWERS OF CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEES.
ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 WITHOUT
CONSULTATION OF THE RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER IN VIOLATION OF
RULE NINE OF THE RULES OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE, THE CHAIRMAN
ANNOUNCED A WIDE RANGING
INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRUMP
RUDY GIULIANI UKRAINE SCREAM.
ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019, THE
CHAIRMAN RELEASED A REDACTED
VERSION OF THE AUGUST 2019
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT.
ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019, IN HIS
OPENING STATEMENT AT A PUBLIC
HEARING, THE CHAIRMAN ENGAGED IN
A FALSE RETELLING OF THE JULY
25, 2019 TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
PRESIDENT ZELINSKI. A LETTER WAS
TRANSMITTED REQUESTING THE
CONCURRENCE OF THE CHAIR TO
ISSUE CERTAIN SUBPOENAS.
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019, AFTER
EXCUSING THE WITNESSES AT AN
OPEN HEARING AND WITHOUT PRIOR
NOTICE TO THE REPUBLICANS ON THE
COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF
ANNOUNCED THE COMMITTEE HAD A
BUSINESS MATTER TO TAKE UP AND
CONVENED A BUSINESS MEETING TO
CONSIDER THE RANKING MINORITY
MEMBERS NOVEMBER 20TH REQUEST
CONCERNING CERTAIN SUBPOENAS.
ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019, CHAIRMAN
SCHIFF VIOLATED RULE 11 OF THE
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WHICH STATES,
THE CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE SHALL
ANNOUNCE THE DATE, PLACE, AND
SUBJECT MATTER OF A COMMITTEE
MEETING WHICH MAY NOT COMMENCE
EARLIER THAN THE THIRD CALENDAR
DAY ON WHICH MEMBERS HAVE NOTICE
THEREOF.
>> THE CLERK SHALL SUSPEND.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
ILL COME TO ORDER.
 
THE CLERK MAY CONTINUE. 
THE CLERK: WHEREAS ON NOV
CLERK MAY
CONTINUE.
>> ON NOVEMBER 20, 2019,
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF'S ACTION
VIOLATED PARAGRAPH 4B OF HOUSE
RESOLUTION 660 WHICH STATES IN
THE CASE THAT THE CHAIR DECLINES
TO CONCUR IN A PROPOSED ACTION
OF THE RANKING MINORITY MEMBER,
THE MEMBER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REFER TO THE COMPLE FOR
DECISION AND THE CHAIR SHALL
CONVENE THE COMMITTEE PROMPTLY
TO RENDER THE DECISION SUBJECT
TO THE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR A
COMMITTEE MEETING OF RULE 11.
ON NOVEMBER 21, 2019, PURSUANT
TO CLAUSE 2J1 OF RULE 11 OF THE
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, ALL REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS ON THE PERMANENT SELECT
COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE WROTE
TO CHAIRMAN SCHIFF DEMANDING TO
CALL WITNESSES ON A MINORITY DAY
OF HEARINGS.
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF REFUSED TO
SCHEDULE SUCH HEARINGS.
WHEREAS ON DECEMBER 6, 2019,
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF WITHOUT
CONSULTATION OF THE RANKING
MINORITY MEMBER IN VIOLATION OF
SECTION 3 OF HOUSE RESOLUTION
660 TRANSMITTED ADDITIONAL
RECORDS AND OTHER MATERIALS TO
THE COMMITTEE.
AND CHAIRMAN SHICH COMPELLED
DOCUMENTS FROM AT&T AND VERIZON
AND IN VIOLATION OF RULE 11 OF
THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES PUBLICLY USED
THESE DOCUMENTS TO SMEAR THE
PERSONAL ATTORNEYS OF THE
PRESIDENT, A JOURNALIST, AND
CREATE A FALSE NARRATIVE ABOUT A
SITTING MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS,
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF ABUSED HIS POWER
AS CHAIR BY RESTRICTING
REPUBLICAN LINES OF QUESTIONS
AND SUPPORTING WITNESSES
ATTEMPTINGS TO EVADE ANSWERING
REPUBLICANS OR THE MINORITIES
QUESTIONS BY DIRECTING WITNESSES
NOT TO ANSWER CERTAIN QUESTIONS
FROM REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AND
STAFF.
WHEREAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN
CLOSED DOOR DEPOSITIONS AND
PUBLIC HEARINGS, HE FAILED TO
FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE, FAILING
TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS WHO WISHED
TO RAISE VALID POINTS OF ORDER
AND REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTING THE
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS AND STAFF
CONTROLLING THE TIME.
WHEREAS AT THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE'S FIRST HEARING ON
DECEMBER 4, 2019, CHAIRMAN
NADLER WAS FURNISHED WITH A
REQUEST FOR A MIE NART DAY OF
HEARINGS OF THE RULES OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIGNED
BY THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
AND SUBSEQUENT TO RECEIVING THE
REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL DAY OF
HEARINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE
MINORITY PARTY, HE REFUSED THE
SCHEDULE THE HEARINGS.
AND THERE WAS A LETTER REMINDING
HIM ON THE OBLIGATION TO
SCHEDULE A MINORITY DAY OF
HEARINGS AS REQUESTED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY PARTY
AND THE XHARM IGNORED THE LETTER
AND FAILED TO RESPOND.
AND THE CHAIRMAN REPEATEDLY
MISSTATED THE RULES, MISGUIDING
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND REFUSED TO
RULE PROPERLY ON MEMBERS' POINTS
OF ORDER CONCERNING THE
REQUESTED MINORITY HEARING DAY.
WHEREAS THE CHAIRMAN REFUSED TO
CONSIDER THE SCHEDULING OF THE
MINORITY HEARING DAY DURING A
COMMITTEE MEETING UNTIL THE
MARKUP ON ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
WHEREAS IN PLACE OF FINDING
COMMON GROUND WITH THE MINORITY,
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF AND NADLER
CONSTANTLY DISREGARDED THE RULES
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND IGNORED THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY.
AND THE CHAIRMAN ACTIONS AND
ABUSE OF POWER AS CHAIRMAN OF
THE PERMANENT SELECT ECONOMY ON
INTELLIGENCE AND THE JUDICIARY
HAVE WILLFULLY TRAMPLED ON THE
RIGHTSOVER THE MINORITY IN
VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
BROUGHT DISHONOR AND DISCREDIT
ON THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
AND BE IT RESOLVED THAT ONE, THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STRONGLY CONDEMNS CHAIRMAN
SCHIFF FOR REPEATED AND BLATANT
ABUSE OF POWER NOT BEFITTING AN
ELECTED MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND TWO, THE HOUSE CONDEMNS THE
MANNER IN WHICH CHAIRMAN NADLER
FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE
MINORITY'S REQUEST FOR AN
ADDITIONAL DAY OF HEARINGS TO
CONSIDER IMPEACHMENT OF
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
>> WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN -- THE RESOLUTION
QUALIFIES.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND RAISE?
>> I HAVE A MOTION AT THE DESK.
>> HE MOVES TO LAY THE
RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE.
>> QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION TO
TABLE.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED NO.
THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR
THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I REQUEST A
RECORDED VOTE.
>> RECORDED VOTE IS REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A RECORDED VOTE
WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
RISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THE VOTES BY
ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS WILL BE A 15 MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY  
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING 
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION 
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED 
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE 
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR  
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS  
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE 
.
>>> THIS IS WHY THIS IS GOING TO
TAKE AS LONG AS IT WILL.
.
>> LONGER THAN EXPECTED I THINK.
>> I THINK SO.
>> I THOUGHT THAT LOOKING AT
CLOCK AT 9:43 EASTERN, WE WOULD
BE OUT OF THIS BY 10:00 AND
START THE DEBATE.
.
>> AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A
BUNCH OF THE MOTIONS.
>> THIS IS THE MOTION TO TABLE.
>> RIGHT.
>> MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AND THE DELAY TACTICS HAPPENING
NOW.
>> AND THE PROCEDURE RULES TO
DELAY AS LONG AS THEY CAN THE
VOTE.
>> RIGHT.
.
>> AND THE POINT IS?
>> DELAY.
>> AND FOR LESLIE, POLITICAL
THEATER.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THE VOTE WILL HAPPEN
AROUND 7:00 WHEN THE PRESIDENT
IS HITTING THE STAGE FOR THE
RALLY.
AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYONE IS
SITTING DOWN AFTER DINNER AFTER
THE EVENING NEWS TO WATCH TV.
>> THE AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED,
THE PRESIDENT IS RAISING A LOT
OF MONEY FOR THE RE ELECTION.
THEY HAD RECORD NUMBERS OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
IS DOES THE DONALD TRUMP
RE-ELECTION COME PAIN, THE MONEY
RAISED, HE'S SENDING OUT THE
FUND RAISING LETTERS, DOES THAT
TRANSLATE TO DOLLARS FOR SOME OF
THE REPUBLICANS IN DISTRIBUTES
NOT GENERALLY ON THE RADAR?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY, THERE'S THE
CALCULATION FOR A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT REASONS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE THE
REDISTRICTING COMING UP IN THE
NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
THING OF HOW THEY ARE GOING TO
BE.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT?
LET ME BACK UP AND SAY IT THIS
WAY.
THERE'S ALWAYS A BUNKER WITH A
LOT OF POLITICAL CALCULATION OF
WHAT WE NEED TO WIN AS
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ON THE
STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL
LEVEL.
AND IT'S BREAKING IT ALL DOWN BY
MONEY, PAST VOTING RECORDS,
LOOKING AT NEW DATA NOW.
YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN USING ADDITIONAL DATA
AND THE IMPACT OF THAT.
AND WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL
IMPACT OF THAT.
IT'S ALWAYS TIED TO MONEY IN THE
SENSE OF WHO CAN RAISE IT, WHERE
CAN YOU GET IT TO SUPPORT?
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER
ISSUES LIKE MICHAEL BLOOMBERG
PUTTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
PERSONAL MONEY ON THE
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
IT'S UNPRESS DEFINITED.
WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPACT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE MOST
MONEY DOESN'T MEAN YOU WIN.
>> IN LOUISIANA WHERE DONALD
TRUMP COME PAINED AGAINST JOHN
BELL EDWARDS, HIS OPPONENT
OUTRAISED HIM TWO TO OWN AND
EDWARDS CAME TO VICTORY.
THE RACES IN VIRGINIA, THE SAME
THING.
YES, THEY ARE RAISING RECORD
MONEY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
SO ARE THE DEMOCRATS.
RAISING RECORD MONEY.
ALL OF THE COMMITTEES RAISING
RECORD MONEY TOO.
AT WHAT POINT DOES THE WATER
OVERFLOW OUT OF THE CUP?
THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
IF THAT'S THE CASE AND EVERYBODY
IS RAISING THE RECORD MONEY AND
BUYS UP THE POINTS ON TV AND
FLOODS THE HOUSES WITH MAIL AND
ALL THAT, WHAT THEN WORKS?
YOUR BODY OF WORK.
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DELIVER.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL GOOD ABOUT
WHAT DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DO.
WHAT SENATOR REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THEY
WERE ABLE TO DO THIS TERM?
SIT ON 400 BILLS SENT BY THE
HOUSE.
WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SAY HE'S DONE?
THE ECONOMY IS GREAT TODAY.
THAT COULD CHANGE.
WE DON'T KNOW.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THE
CALCULATIONINGS OF THE
MEASUREMENTS PEOPLE ARE THINKING
DEMOCRATS WRITING THE DEATH
SENTENCE, THEY'LL BE OFF ON
THIS.
>> ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THERE'S
THINGS THAT GET LOST WE CAN
AGREE ABOUT.
THAT IS WHAT THE PROCESS
DISCLOSED.
IT'S LIKE ONE LONG
GROUNDHOG DAY.
BUT ABUSE AND THE CONTINUE
UNPACKING OF THAT.
AND THAT'S A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE I
WOULD LEAVE TO THE EXPERTS.
AND ALSO I KEEP GOING BACK TO
THE TESTIMONY IN IMPEACHMENT,
DR. HILL, THE EXPERT ON RUSSIA
AND THE AGGRESSION THERE WHO DID
TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUED EFFORTS
OF SABOTAGING AND IMPACTING
ELECTION SECURITY, MEANING THE
RUSSIANS IMPACT ON THE ELECTION
SECURITY AND THE OUTSIDE THREATS
HAPPENING EVERY DAY.
THAT IS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE TALKING
AND CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE.
BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE
ELECTION SECURITY.
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT IS NOT
THE WAY THERE.
úWE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE REAL,
MEANINGFUL EFFORTS.
.
>> I AGREE ABOUT THE ELECTION
SECURITY PART.
.
>> AND HOWEVER, JUST LAST WEEK,
RAND PAUL OBJECTED TO A
BIPARTISAN ELECTION SECURITY
BILL THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY
PROTECT ELECTIONS GOING TO THE
LAST CYCLE.
WE'VE SEEN ZERO PRESSURE FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE TO PUSH THE
LEGISLATION ALONG.
AND RUSSIA IS A THREAT TO OUR
DEMOCRACY.
THE CYBER WARFARE IS HAPPENING
AS WE SIT HERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, AGREE AS
GOOD ONE THING.
AND HANDS ON THE POWER SWITCH,
WE WOULD PASS THE LEGISLATION
AND WE DON'T.
NOW IT'S UP TO THE PARTIES TO
MAKE SURE WE DON'T REPEAT WHAT
HAPPENS IN 2016.
IF IT HAPPENS IN 2020 AND THE
SENATE REPUBLICANS IGNORE THE
THREATS ABOUT OUR NEXT ELECTION,
THE ELECTION SECURITY, THAT
MEANS IT WILL HAPPEN IN 2024 AND
2026 AND 2028 AND WE WILL NEVER
PUT AN END TO THIS.
>> AND I THINK WE CAN AGREE THIS
NEEDS TO BE AN AGGRESSIVE
APPROACH REGARDLESS OF THE PARTY
IDENTIFICATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS RAND
PAUL, HE HAS A LONG RECORD IN
TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT
INVOLVEMENT IN ANYTHING.
BUT I THINK ASIDE FROM THAT
CHARACTERIZATION, THAT'S WHAT
YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.
>> RAND PAUL IS KNOWN FOR BEING
AN INDEPENDENT THINKER.
THERE ARE OTHER INDEPENDENT
THINKING REPUBLICANS.
BUT THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT LEAVE
MUCH WIGGLE ROOM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED
AT SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'VE
HEARD FROM RAND PAUL.
BUT HE'S IN A PARTY THAT HAS
INCREASINGLY BECOME THE PARTY OF
DONALD TRUMP AND HELD NOT ALLOW
FOR A SHADE OF GRAY.
IT'S NOT TO BE BLACK AND WHITE.
I WONDER, THE THERE A CONCERN
MOVING FORWARD FOR THE PEOPLE
LIKE SUSAN COLLINS OR CORY
GARDENER, MITCH ROMNEY IS DOING
PRETTY GOOD.
BUT HE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT EVEN
THOUGH BY AND LARGE, THESE ARE
REPUBLICANS THAT VOTE ALONG THE
LINES OF THE PRESIDENT, EVERY
ONCE IN A WHILE, THEY SPEAK OUT
DIFFERENTLY AND GET SLAMMED
DOWN.
>> THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE THE
POLITICAL HEAT.
WE NEED THAT MODERATE VOICE
IN THERE.
AND THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO
TEND TO VOICE THESE CONCERNS
DURING THE DEBATE AND THEY COME
ONLINE TRADITIONAL DURING THE
VOTE.
>> THE PEOPLE IN THEIR AREAS
LIKE THAT ABOUT THEM.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A VOTE LIKE
THIS, AN IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
COMING UP PARTISAN.
>> THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY KIND OF
INTERESTING.
IT IS THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS
KEVIN MCCARTHY CALLING ON A VOTE
OF A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION TO
CONDEMN THE ACTIONS THAT HE SAYS
THEY COMMITTED LEADING UP TO THE
IMPEACHMENT.
AND YOU NOTICE THERE'S ONE
INDEPENDENT RIGHT THERE.
WE BELIEVE IT MIGHT BE AMASH,
WHO IS LEAVING CONGRESS.
AND THAT'S INTERESTING.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE
ON THE MARKETS.
THEY JUST OPENED ABOUT 20
MINUTES AGO FOR THE MOST PART,
FLAT.
LAST NUMBER I HAVE IS UP 53
POINTS OR SO.
SO MARKET GOING TO MARKET.
>> MARKET GOING TO MARKET.
THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
BEEN SAYING.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> THE MARKETS ARE GREAT.
>> EXACTLY.
SO THAT'S THE STATE OF PLAY
RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE'RE
WATCHING.
WE HOPE TO DIP IN ONCE THE VOTE
IS OVER.
YEAH, TO YOUR POINT --.
>> I WONDER IF THIS PROCESS IS
GOING TO BE DAMAGING TO SOME OF
THESE MORE OUTSPOKEN REPUBLICANS
WHICH IS GOING TO EXACERBATE
THIS PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE'RE IN.
>> FOR THE NONELECTIVE
PERSPECTIVE, SURE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE COALITION
LED BY HALF OF THE CONWAY
FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO
THE IDEA OF DEFEATING THE
PRESIDENT.
AND THEIR PROJECT AND THEIR
EFFORTS TO RAISE MONEY NOW AND
WORK AGGRESSIVELY AS A
COLLECTIVE TEAM AGAINST THEMENT.
THAT'S KIND OF UNHEARD OF
IN OUR EFFORTS.
AND IT'S AN ACTUALLIZATION OF A
LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND
ESPECIALLY FEELING THERE ARE
MANY REPUBLICANS WHO DO NOT LIKE
AT WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID.
BEGIN, THERE'S MANY WHO DON'T
FEEL IT MERITS REMOVAL FROM
OFFICE.
THAT'S IS SECOND PART OF THE
IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
>> PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR A FAIR
TRIAL IN THE SENATE.
IF THE PRESIDENT HAS NOTHING TO
HIDE, WHY NOT HAVE A FAIR TRIAL?
MY FRIEND FROM OXFORD, MITCH
MCCONNELL'S WIFE IS A RESIDENT
AND MAYBE IT'S ABOUT JOB
SECURITY, WHO KNOWS WHY HE DOES
NOT WANT TO HAVE A FAIR TRIAL IN
THE SENATE.
IF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE
WANT IT, WHY NOT CALL THE
WITNESSES UP.
>> LET ME THROW OUT FOR MITCH
MCCONNELL'S WIFE, SHE IS A
úRESIDENT AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
WOMAN CAPABLE OF GETTING HER OWN
JOB.
SHE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT JOB
SECURITY.
>> I DIDN'T SAY SHE DID.
BUT IT'S A QUESTION.
IT'S A QUESTION OF WHY HE
IS INTERESTED IN WORKING HAND IN
HAND WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND
NOT HAVING A FAIR TRIAL.
AND LINDSEY GRAHAM, HE'S NOT
INTERESTING IN HAVING ANY
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EVIDENCE,
HARD CORE EVIDENCE, WE SAW.
AND GUESS WHAT, RUDY GIULIANI
ADMITTED YESTERDAY ON A NEWS
PROGRAM THAT IS PERSON THAT
TESTIFIED UNDER OATH, HE NEEDED
HER OUT OF THE WAY TO GET DONE
WHAT HE NEEDED TO GET DONE ON
BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT.
>> AS A POLITICAL ADVISOR,
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST LIP SERVICE,
BUT WHY GET UP THERE AND SAY I'M
NOT IMPARTIAL AND SAY THAT OUT
LOUD AND BROADCAST MOVING
FORWARD, THIS IS LIKE AN ACT AND
WE KNOW OUR LINES AND WE'RE NOT
COMMITTED TO WHAT THE FOUNDING
FATHERS HAD INTENDED?
.
>> SURE.
THERE WAS A BIG PREAMBLE TO THAT
BEFORE THEY MADE THAT POINT.
THEY SAID THE ENTIRE PROCESS,
YOU KNOW WITH DEEP RESPECT FOR
MY FRIEND.
THERE HAS BEEN A PROCESS WHERE
THE REPUBLICANS FEEL THE HOUSE
PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN FAIR AND
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE.
>> WHY NOT MAKE THE SENATE THE
FAIR PROCESS?
>> BECAUSE THE ENTIRE HOUSE
PROCESS HAS BEEN HIGHLY PARTISAN
AND NOT BIPARTISAN AND THEY
HAVEN'T MOVED THE NEEDLE WHERE
WITH THE PUBLIC.
THEY'RE TOSSING TO THE SENATE TO
DO THE JOB THEY COULDN'T DO.
 JOB THEY COULDN'T DO.
.
>> AND HE SAID WE'LL TAKE THE
RECORD AS IT STANDS AND DEBATE
THAT AND HAVE A RAPID VOTE AND
WE DON'T WANT TO LEGITIMIZE THE
PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CUTTING THE WAY
IT'S CUTTING.
THEY'RE PUTTING ON THE PARTISAN
HAT.
>> AND LESLIE, THE MEMBERS OF
THE CONFERENCE WERE THERE EVERY
STEP OF THE WAY.
THEY WANT THE HEARINGS TO BE
PUBLIC.
NANCY PELOSI PASSED A RESOLUTION
AND THE HEARINGS WERE PUBLIC.
AND HE REFUSED TO TESTIFY.
WHAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED TO MAKE
THE PROCESS FAIR.
TO DRAG IT OUT?
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
TO MAKE THE PROCESS FAIR SO MAKE
THE ARGUMENT IT WASN'T FAIR, IT
WAS PARTISAN?
>> AND THIS WAS HOURS OF
TESTIMONY HAS GONE INTO THE
ISSUE.
THE ABILITY TO CALL THE
WITNESSES THE REPUBLICANS WANTED
TO AND THE ABILITY TO DISCLOSE
AND HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY
AROUND THE WHOLE PROCESS.
AND EVEN IN THE RULES, BOTH IN
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND
THE JUDICIARY AT EVERY TURN,
EVERY EFFORT, EVERY AMENDMENT,
EVERY RRPS TRIED TO DO WAS
BASICALLY KIND OF ROLLED RIGHT
PAST THEM.
NO VOICE FOR
>> THE TWO THINGS THEY WANTED, 
THEY WANTED TO TESTIFY AND THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER. 
THOSE WERE THE THREE THINGS 
THEY WANTED. 
THOUGH 
>> THERE WERE NO, THERE ARE 
MORE THAN THOSE THREE NAMES. 
>> THOSE WITH BIG THINGS WE GET 
HEARING REPEATEDLY FROM HOURS 
OF THE COMMITTEE. 
THEY WANTED HUNTER BIDEN AND 
ADAM SCHIFF AND BREAK THE 
IDENTITY OF THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
WE KNOW THE WHISTLEBLOWER, 
THERE ARE PROTECTIONS FOR THAT. 
>> THERE WAS AGREEMENT AMONG 
REPUBLICANS, SOME WANTED THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER BUT OTHERS 
DIDN'T. 
WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. 
AND LET'S GO BACK TO, THE 
REASON IMPEACHMENT WAS 
DIFFERENT WITH NIXON AND 
CLINTON, YOU THIRD PARTY, THE 
DOJ OR SPECIAL COUNSEL, YEARS 
OF EVIDENCE AND PRESENTED IT TO 
THEM AND BOTH PARTIES 
RESPONDED. A 
PARTISAN COMMITTEE THAT HAS 
BEEN TALK ABOUT IMPEACHING THE 
PRESENT FOR TWO AND HALF YEARS 
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE 
LEGITIMATE WHEN YOU ARE 
BUILDING OSHA 
>> I'VE TO STEP IN, MOST OF THE 
MEMBERS WERE NOT THERE FOR TWO 
AND HALF YEARS. 
A LOT CAME IN IN 18. 
THAT IS NOT TRUE. 
>> FOR THE CONFERENCE 
LEADERSHIP, YOU CAN'T IGNORE 
THE LEADERSHIP. 
>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THE 
COMMITTEE WANTED. 
THERE WERE A FEW MEMBERS IN THE 
CAUCUS WHO CAME OUT FOR 
IMPEACHMENT EARLIER, BUT THOSE 
REQUESTS WERE BATTED DOWN EVERY 
STEP OF THE WAY UNTIL THE 
UKRAINE PHONE CALL HAPPENED. 
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK 
YOU ALL WANT TO DEFEND THIS AND 
NOT JUST ADMIT TO THE FACT THAT 
THE PRESIDENT ESSENTIALLY DOES 
>> HE DID NOT. 
NOBODY BELIEVES THIS. 
OKAY, MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT, 
BUT A BIG PORTION OF THE 
AMERICAN ELECTORATE DOES NOT. 
>> THE WANT TO JUMP IN? 
>> I DO, BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO 
WITH THE QUESTION OF DUE 
PROCESS, AGAIN. 
THAT THE IDEA THAT WHAT THE 
REPUBLICANS WANTED TO DO, OR 
SOME REPUBLICANS WANTED TO DO 
WAS CALL THE WHISTLEBLOWER AS 
AND ONE POINTS OUT, THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER IS PROTECTED BY 
LAW. 
THERE WERE MANY ATTEMPTS DURING 
THE HEARING BOTH AT THE LEVEL 
OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE 
AS WELL AS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
TO TRY TO EXPOSE THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER. I FIND THAT KIND 
OF CONDUCT AS A LAWYER, I FIND 
THAT REPREHENSIBLE. 
WHISTLEBLOWERS, WITH A YOU ARE 
AT GENERAL MOTORS OR YOU ARE AT 
ANY KIND OF COMPANY, WHETHER 
YOU ARE HERE, WHETHER YOU ARE IN
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE, THE WHITE HOUSE, OR THE
CONGRESS, THE WHISTLEBLOWER IS 
PROTECTED BY LAW AND THAT IS 
WHY WE HAVE THE LAWS. 
>> IN THE LETTER SENT BY NANCY 
PELOSI, HE SAYS THAT THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER WHO STARTED FROM 
THE LETTER, STARTED THE ENTIRE 
HOAX WITH A FALSE REPORT WITH A 
PHONE CALL. 
>> THAT IS NOT TRUE. 
>> IT IS MISLEADING AND 
EXHIBITING THAT CANNOT. 
>> OF 17 WITNESSES. IT REALLY 
IS NOT ABOUT THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER'S COMPLAINT. 
IT IS ABOUT THIS OTHER WHOLE 
SORT OF SHADOW STATE DEPARTMENT 
PLAN THAT WAS GOING ON. THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT IS JUST 
SORT OF A SMALL PIECE OF THE 
PUZZLE. 
>> I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE 
OBSESSION. 
NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN 
-- 
>> IT IS TO ATTACK THE PROCESS. 
>> IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR 
THE REPUBLICAN BASE. 
IT IS REALLY EASY TO UNDERSTAND
. THE OTHER THING ABOUT DUE 
PROCESS IS IT IS NOT GOING TO 
HAPPEN IN THE SENATE EITHER I 
PREDICT, SHOULD THIS GO TO THE 
SENATE AND SHOULD THERE BE A 
TRIAL OF THE SUN, WE WILL NOT 
HAVE A MINI TRIAL OF HUNTER 
BIDEN. 
THAT IS NOT JUST GOING TO 
HAPPEN. 
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THIS. 
WHAT HUNTER BIDEN'S APPOINTMENT 
TO THE BOARD OF BURISMA AND THE 
MONEY HE RECEIVED AS A BOARD 
MEMBER, THE SAME AMOUNT OF 
MONEY I SOME EVERY OTHER BOARD 
MEMBER RECEIVED IS NOT IN ANY 
WAY RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION OF 
WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT DO. 
THAT IS JUST AS SUSTAINED AS I 
COULD MAKE IT. 
>> IT WOULD BE FASCINATING TO 
HAVE VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN 
CALLED BEFORE THE UNITED STATES 
SENATE TO TALK ABOUT THIS 
BECAUSE THIS IS AT A PLACE, A 
FLOOR THAT HE KNOWS VERY WELL 
BOTH AS VICE PRESIDENT AND 
BEFORE THAT AS A SENATOR. 
AND IT WOULD BE SO REMARKABLE 
TO HAVE THESE MEMBERS OF THE 
SENATE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT 
THINGS THAT THEY KNOW VERY WELL 
THEY HAVE THE ANSWER TO BECAUSE 
THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE 
DECISIONS TO RELEASE OR WITHHOLD
THE MONEY. 
>> HE HAS BEEN CLEARED, HUNTER 
BIDEN DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG 
TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 
>> ALL RIGHT. 
LET'S GO BACK TO THE FLOOR OF 
THE SENATE WHERE THE CHAIRMAN 
OF THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE IS 
NOW SPEAKING. 
>> HOUSE RESOLUTION 767 
RESOLVED THAT IMMEDIATELY UPON 
ADOPTION AND INTERVENTION OF ANY
POINT OF ORDER THE HOUSE SHALL 
PROCEED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF 
THE HOUSE, IN THE HOUSE OF THE 
RESOLUTION, HOUSE RESOLUTION 
755 IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP, THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES FOR HIGH CRIMES 
AND MISDEMEANORS. 
THE IMMINENT AND NATURE OF THE 
SUBSTITUTE RECOMMENDED BY THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY NOW 
PRINTED IN THE RESOLUTION SHALL 
BE CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED. 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION SHALL BE 
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON THE 
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED TO 
ADOPTION WITHOUT INTERBEING 
MOTION OR DEMAND FOR THE 
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION EXCEPT 
AS FOLLOWS, A, THE RESOLUTION 
AS AMENDED SHALL BE DEBATABLE 
FOR SIX HOURS EQUALLY DIVIDED 
AND CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND 
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY OR 
THE RESPECTIVE DESIGNEES. B, 
THE QUESTION OF THE ADOPTION IS 
A RESOLUTION AS AMENDED SHALL 
BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO 
ARTICLES, SECTION 2. DURING 
CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755, ONLY THE 
FOLLOWING PERSONS SHALL BE 
ADMITTED TO THE HALL OF THE 
HOUSE OR ROOMS LEADING THERETO. 
A, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, B, THE 
DELEGATES AND A RESIDENT 
COMMISSIONER, C, THE PRESIDENT 
AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, D, OTHER PERSONS 
AS DESIGNATED BY THE SPEAKER. 
SECTION 3, AFTER ADOPTION OF 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755, IT SHALL 
BE IN ORDER WITHOUT ANY 
INTERVENTION A POINT OF ORDER 
TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE A 
RESOLUTION OF POINTING AND 
AUTHORIZING MANAGERS FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF DONALD 
JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
IF OFFERED BY THE CHAIR OF THE 
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY OR 
HIS DESIGNEE, THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS 
ORDERED ON THE RESOLUTION TO 
ADOPT WITHOUT INTERVENING 
MOTION OR DEMAND FOR DIVISION 
OF THE QUESTION EXCEPT 10 
MINUTES OF DEBATE EQUALLY 
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY THE 
CHAIR AND RANKING MINORITY 
MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE 
JUDICIARY. 
NO OTHER RESOLUTION INCIDENTAL 
TO IMPEACHMENT RELATING TO 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755 SHALL BE 
PRIVILEGED DURING THE REMAINDER 
OF THE 116th CONGRESS. 
SECTION 4, THE CHAIR ON THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MAY INSERT 
IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD 
SUCH MATERIAL AS HE MAY DEEM 
EXPLANATORY OF A, HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755, NOT LATER THAN 
THE DATE THAT IS FIVE 
LEGISLATIVE DAYS AFTER ADOPTION 
THEREOF AND B, THE RESOLUTION 
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS 
RESOLUTION NOT LATER THAN THE 
DATE THAT IS FIVE LEGISLATIVE 
DAYS AFTER ADOPTION THEREOF. 
>> DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
LOUISIANA SEEK RECOGNITION? 
>> MET HIM SPEAK, RAISE A POINT 
OF ISSUE AGAINST 737 FOR FAILURE
. 
>> THE POINT OF ORDER. 
>> I RAISE THE POINT OF ORDER 
FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE THE 
WAIVER CLAUSE TJ ONE OF RULE 11 
PURSUANT TO SIX JG OF RULE 13 
WHICH REQUIRES THE RULES 
COMMITTEE TO SPECIFY THEIR 
REPORT IN A WAIVER OF A POINT 
OF ORDER UNDER A MEASURE OF 
CONSIDERATION AND MADAM 
SPEAKER, THIS UNDERLINING 
RESOLUTION VIOLATES CLAUSE TO 
JAY ONE OF RULE 11 WHICH 
ENTITLES THE MINORITY OF THE 
COMMITTEE TO HAVE THE ABILITY 
TO CALL WITNESSES TO TESTIFY 
DURING AT LEAST ONE DAY OF 
HEARING ON ANY GIVEN MEASURE. 
THIS WAS NOT AFFORDED TO THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MINORITY 
MEMBERS DURING CONSIDERATION OF 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS BY 
THE MINORITY MEMBERS. 
THEREFORE I RAISE A POINT OF 
ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION OF 
THE RULE AND THE UNDERLINING 
RESOLUTION FOR THE VIOLATION OF 
MINORITY RIGHTS AND THE DENIAL 
OF THIS EVIDENCE TO BE PUT INTO 
THE RECORD AND FOR THIS HEARING 
WHICH THE HOUSE RULES REQUIRE 
WHICH WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH AND 
WAS DENIED. I WOULD URGE THE 
ENFORCEMENT OF THIS RULE. 
>> THE GENERAL MONTH LOUISIANA 
SEEK TO RAISE A POINT OF ORDER 
AGAINST HOUSE RESOLUTION 767 ON 
THE GROUNDS THAT THE REPORT 
ACCOMPANYING THE RESOLUTION 
FAILS TO SPECIFY A WAIVER OF A 
PARTICULAR POINT OF ORDER AND IS
IN VIOLATION OF CLAUSE 6 TREE 
OF RULE 13. 
THE GENTLEMAN IS STATING A 
MATTER FOR DEBATE RATHER THAN A 
PROPER POINT OF ORDER. 
CLASS VIG OF RULE 13 IS MERELY 
INFORMATIONAL ON ANY SPECIFIED 
WAIVERS, QUOTE, TO THE MAXIMUM 
EXTENT POSSIBLE. 
AS ELUCIDATED BY CHAIRMAN 
SOLOMON IN THE LEGISLATIVE 
HISTORY, ACCOMPANYING THE 
ADOPTION OF THIS RULE IN THE 
104th CONGRESS, ANY QUOTE 
FAILURE OF THE RULES COMMITTEE 
TO SPECIFY WAIVERS IN A RULE 
WOULD NOT GIVE RISE TO A POINT 
OF ORDER AGAINST A SPECIAL RULE 
THAT WEIGHS ALL POINTS OF ORDER
,". 
THE CHAIRMAN WOULD ADVISE THE 
GENTLEMAN AGAIN THAT HE IS NOT 
STATING A PROPER POINT OF ORDER.
MASSACHUSETTS IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER. 
FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE 
ONLY, YIELD A CUSTOMARY 30 
MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA, MY 
GOOD FRIEND, MR. COLE PENDING 
WHICH I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME 
AS IT MAY CONSUME. 
DURING CONSIDERATION OF THE 
RESOLUTION, ALL TIME IS YIELDED 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE ONLY. 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL 
MEMBERS BE GIVEN FIVE 
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND 
EXTEND REMARKS. 
MADAM SPEAKER, ON TUESDAY, THE 
RULES COMMITTEE MET AND REPORTED
A CLOSURE RULE FOR HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 767 PROVIDING FOR 
CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE H RESID 
755 IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS. 
THE RULE PROVIDES SIX HOURS OF 
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED AND 
CONTROLLED BY THE CHAIR AND 
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OR THE 
DESIGNEES. 
THE RULE PROVIDES THAT THE 
QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF THE 
RESOLUTION SHALL BE DIVIDED 
BETWEEN TWO ARTICLES. 
THE RULE LIMITS ACCESS TO THE 
HOUSE FLOOR AND PROVIDES AT ANY 
TIME AFTER ADOPTION OF H RESID 
755 FOR CONSIDERATION OF A 
RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND 
AUTHORIZING MANAGERS FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IF OFFERED BY 
THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE DEBATABLE FOR 10 
MINUTES. 
NO RESOLUTION INCIDENTAL TO 
IMPEACHMENT RELATING TO ADDRESS 
755 SHALL BE PRIVILEGED DURING 
THE 116th CONGRESS. 
FINALLY, THE RULE PROVIDES THAT 
THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE MAY INSERT EXPLANATORY
AND CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, 232 YEARS AGO AS 
HE WALKED OUT OF THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 
PHIL DUFFY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 
STATED THAT THE FOUNDERS HAD 
JUST CREATED A REPUBLIC IF YOU 
CAN KEEP IT. 
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT NOTHING WAS 
PREORDAINED, THAT OUR NATION 
WOULD CONTINUE TO BE SHAPED 
DECISION BY DECISION, VOTE BY 
VOTE. 
NOT BY SOME OTHER LEADERS IN 
SOME OTHER TIMES, BUT DAY IN 
AND DAY OUT. 
BOTH THROUGH THE REGULAR WORK 
OF GOVERNMENT AND DURING 
HISTORIC MOMENTS LIKE THE ONE 
WE FACE TODAY. 
OUR FOUNDERS CRAFTED THE 
FUNDAMENTALS OF GOVERNMENT TO 
GUIDE US. 
PASSAGES LIKE ARTICLE 1 SECTION 
2 OF THE CONSTITUTION GIVING 
THIS CHAMBER THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
BUT NOWHERE DOES IT LIST 
EXACTLY WHAT CONSTITUTES A HIGH 
CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR. 
IN THEIR WISDOM, THE FOUNDERS 
UNDERSTOOD THEY COULD NOT 
ANTICIPATE WHAT THE FUTURE 
WOULD BRING. 
THEY GAVE SUBSEQUENT 
GENERATIONS, US ANOTHER CHANCE 
TO DECIDE PRECISELY WHAT OUR 
GOVERNMENT WOULD BECOME, TO 
DECIDE WITH EACH PASSING DAY 
WHAT A NATION DEFINED BY THE 
RULE OF LAW, BY THE RULE OF LAW
, WHAT, TO DECIDE EACH, WITH 
EACH PASSING DAY WHAT A NATION 
DEFINED BY THE RULE OF LAW WAS 
WILLING TO TOLERATE. 
THAT IS WHAT BRINGS US HERE 
TODAY. 
TO DECIDE NEARLY 2 1/2 
CENTURIES LATER WHETHER THE 
UNITED STATES IS STILL A NATION 
WHERE NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
OR WHETHER AMERICA BECOMES A 
LAND RULE RUN BY THOSE WHO ACT 
MORE LIKE KINGS OR QUEENS AS IF 
THE LAW DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM. 
YES, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS REALLY 
IS THAT SERIOUS. 
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO THE 
45th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES, DONALD JOHN TRUMP. 
OUR INQUIRY IS SIMPLY TO ANSWER 
THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, DID 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS TOP 
ADVISERS CORRUPTLY WITHHOLD 
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO 
OBTAIN AN IMPROPER ADVANTAGE IN 
THE NEXT ELECTION? 
WE NOW KNOW THROUGH THE HARD 
WORK OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE 
COMMITTEES AND BECAUSE OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S OWN ADMISSION THAT 
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS 
YES. 
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD 
CONDITIONALLY APPROVED MILITARY 
AID TO UKRAINE, A COUNTRY UNDER 
SIEGE NOT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION, 
BUT TO EXTRACT A PERSONAL 
POLITICAL FAVOR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO MEET 
WITH UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IN THE 
WHITE HOUSE UNTIL HE COMPLETED 
THIS SCHEME. 
ALL THE WHILE, LEADERS IN 
RUSSIA, THE VERY NATION HOLDING 
A LARGE PART OF UKRAINE 
HOSTAGE, THE VERY NATION THAT 
INTERFERED WITH OUR ELECTIONS 
HAD ANOTHER MEETING IN THE OVAL 
OFFICE JUST LAST WEEK. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
THE PRESIDENT UNDERMINED OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
AND THE PRESIDENT, A SUCCESSOR 
TO THE SAME OFFICE AS GEORGE 
WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
BETRAYED HIS OATH TO PRESERVE 
AND PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
THESE AREN'T OPINIONS. 
THESE ARE UNCONTESTED FACTS. 
I'VE READ THE DETAILS OF THE 
JULY 25 PHONE CALL WITH 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY WERE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID I WOULD 
LIKE YOU TO DO US A FAVOR, 
THOUGH. 
I'VE SEEN THE TELEVISED PRESS 
CONFERENCE WHERE THE CHIEF OF 
STAFF OPENLY ADMITTED TO THIS 
DEAL AND TOLD THE NATION TO 
JUST GET OVER IT. 
HOURS AND HOURS OF DEPOSITIONS 
BY THE INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT 
AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES 
HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WHERE 
WITNESSES OUTLINED THE PRESENCE 
DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE 
SCHEME. 
THE EVIDENCE IS AS CLEAR AS IT 
IS OVERWHELMING. 
IF A PRESIDENT UNDERMINING OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY BY USING THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR HIS OWN 
SELFISH PERSONAL GAME IS NOT 
IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT, THEN MADAM 
SPEAKER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. 
I'VE HEARD SOME ON THE OTHER 
SIDE SUGGEST THIS PROCESS IS 
ABOUT OVERTURNING AN ELECTION. 
THAT IS ABSURD. 
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
THESE FACTS ARE BEYOND DISPUTE. 
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS 
WHETHER WE ARE WILLING TO 
TOLERATE SUCH CONDUCT, NOT JUST 
TODAY BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT 
FURTHERMORE BY ANY PRESIDENT OF 
EITHER PARTY. 
TONIGHT, TO NOT ACT WOULD SET A 
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT NOT JUST 
FOR THIS PRESIDENT, BUT FOR 
EVERY FUTURE PRESIDENT. 
11 MONTHS AGO, MANY OF US TOOK 
AN OATH RIGHT HERE IN THIS 
CHAMBER. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE 
TO TAKE THAT OATH 12 TIMES NOW 
AND I BELIEVE IT IS NOT JUST 
FOR SHOW. 
IT IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN EACH 
OF US AND THE PEOPLE WE 
REPRESENT. 
TO PLACE THE NATIONAL INTEREST 
ABOVE PARTISAN INTEREST. AND TO 
PRESERVE THOSE LAWS THAT MAKE 
OUR COUNTRY UNIQUE. 
WE CANNOT RECONCILE THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSE OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS WITH 
THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT WE 
TOOK. 
WE ARE BEING TESTED ON 
SOMETHING GREATER THAN OUR 
ABILITY TO TELL A PARTY LINE. 
SOMETHING MORE THAN OUR ABILITY 
TO SCORE THE NEXT GREAT 
TELEVISION SOUNDBITE. 
THIS IS A DEMOCRACY DEFINING 
MOMENT. 
HISTORY WILL JUDGE US BY 
WHETHER WE KEEP INTACT THE 
FRAGILE REPUBLIC AND THE DOWN 
TO US BY OUR FOREBEARS MORE 
THAN 200 YEARS AGO OR WHETHER 
WE ALLOW IT TO BE CHANGED 
FOREVER. 
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY'S 
FUTURE, I HOPE AND I PRAY THAT 
MY COLLEAGUES WILL MAKE THE 
RIGHT DECISION. I RESERVE THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I THINK MY GOOD 
FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS, CHAIRMAN McGOVERN
FOR YIELDING TO THE CUSTOMARY 
30 MINUTES, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH 
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
TODAY IS A SAD DAY FOR ALL OF 
US, FOR ME, PERSONALLY, FOR THE 
RULES COMMITTEE AND THE ENTIRE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND 
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE, 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
WILL BE VOTING TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
BUT UNLIKE IN 1998, THE 
DECISION TO HAVE THE BOAT IS 
NOT THE RESULT OF A BIPARTISAN 
PROCESS, NOR AN OPEN OR FAIR 
PROCESS. 
INSTEAD, IT IS GOING TO BE A 
DEEPLY PARTISAN VOTE COMING AT 
THE END OF AN UNFAIR AND RUSHED 
PROCESS PRESCRIBED SOLELY BY 
DEMOCRATS TO ENSURE A 
PREDETERMINED RESULT. 
IMPEACHMENT OF A PRESIDENT IS 
ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL 
ACTS THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES CAN UNDERTAKE. 
IT SHOULD ONLY BE DONE AFTER 
THE FULLEST AND MOST CAREFUL 
CONSIDERATION. 
YET TODAY, AFTER A TRUNCATED 
INVESTIGATION THAT DENIED THE 
PRESIDENT DUE PROCESS, CHERRY 
PICKED EVIDENCE AND WITNESS 
TESTIMONY TO FIT THEIR NARRATIVE
AND TRAVELED ON REPUBLICAN 
MINORITY RIGHTS, DEMOCRATS IN 
THE HOUSE ARE PRESSING FORWARD 
WITH THE PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT 
VOTE. 
DOING SO CONTRADICTS SPEAKER 
PELOSI'S OWN WORDS BACK IN 
MARCH OF THIS YEAR WHEN SHE 
SAID THAT, QUOTE, AND 
IMPEACHMENT IS SO DIVISIVE TO 
THE COUNTRY THAT UNLESS THERE 
IS SOMETHING SO COMPELLING AND 
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN, I 
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO DOWN 
THAT PATH BECAUSE IT DIVIDES 
THE COUNTRY. 
BUT IF WE ARE REALLY BEING 
HONEST, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
SEARCHING FOR REASON TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE THE DAY 
HE WAS ELECTED. 
AND IN DECEMBER 2017, A CURRENT 
MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY FORCED A 
VOTE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
AND EVEN THEN, LONG BEFORE 
THERE WAS EVEN AN IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION, 58 DEMOCRATS 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
THOSE MEMBERS HAVE ONLY GROWN 
SINCE THEN TO THE POINT WHERE 
THE MAJORITY IS NOW PUSHING 
FORWARD WITH A FINAL VOTE ON 
IMPEACHMENT HEEDLESS OF WHERE 
IT TAKES THE COUNTRY AND 
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT 
THEY HAVE PROVEN THEIR CASE. 
AND IF MY COLLEAGUES IN THE 
MAJORITY BELIEVE THEY HAVE 
PROVEN THEIR CASE, LET ME BE 
CLEAR, THEY HAVE NOT. 
THE ENTIRE PREMISE OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT RESTS 
ON A PAUSE PLACED ON UKRAINIAN 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 
A PAUSE OF 55 DAYS. 
THE MAJORITY HAS SPUN CREATIVE 
NARRATIVES AS TO THE MEANING 
AND THE MOTIVE OF THIS PAUSE 
ALLEGING THE PRESIDENT DEMANDED 
A QUOTE, QUID PRO QUO, UNQUOTE, 
BUT WITH NO FACTUAL EVIDENCE TO 
BACK IT UP. 
SECURITY AID TO THE UKRAINE WAS 
RELEASED AND THE MINISTRATION 
DID SO WITHOUT THE UKRAINE EVER 
INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION 
INTO ANYONE OR ANYTHING. 
IT IS EVEN MORE STARTLING TO ME 
THAT THE MAJORITY WANTS TO MOVE 
FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION 
GIVEN HOW SUBSTANTIALLY FLAWED 
AND PROCEDURALLY DEFECTIVE THE 
ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN. THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH 
DRAFTED THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT ENGAGED IN AN 
ABBREVIATED PROCESS HEARING 
FROM NO WITNESSES WITH 
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE 
EVENTS IN QUESTION. 
THEY DID NOT CONDUCT THEIR OWN 
INVESTIGATION AND ONLY HELD TWO 
HEARINGS ON THIS TOPIC BEFORE 
DRAFTING THE ARTICLES. 
ONE WAS STAFF AND ONE WITH 
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SCHOLARS. 
THAT IS HARDLY THE TYPE OF 
LENGTHY AND SERIOUS 
CONSIDERATION A TOPIC AS GRAVE 
AS IMPEACHMENT DEMANDS. 
THE COMMITTEE ACTUALLY CHARGED 
WITH AN IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION WAS THE PERMANENT 
SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE. 
NOT THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. 
BUT THAT COMMITTEE ALSO 
FOLLOWED A PRIMARILY CLOSED 
PROCESS. 
REPUBLICANS WERE DENIED THE 
RIGHT TO CALL WITNESSES OR 
SUBPOENA DOCUMENTS. 
AND THE PRESIDENT WAS DENIED 
THE RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION IN 
THE COMMITTEE'S HEARINGS. 
WITHOUT RESPECTING MINORITY 
RIGHTS AND WITHOUT RESPECTING 
DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF THE 
PRESIDENT, HOW CAN ANYONE 
CONSIDER THIS A FAIR PROCESS? 
MADAM SPEAKER, IT GETS WORSE, 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WE 
ARE CONSIDERING TODAY ARE BASED 
ON THE SHIP REPORT, THE FINAL 
DOCUMENT PRODUCED BY THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND 
TRANSFERRED TO THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, BUT THE ATOMS SHIFT 
REPORT INCLUDES UNSUBSTANTIATED 
ALLEGATIONS, IT INCLUDES IN 
SOME CASES -- 
>> WE ARE JUST GOING TO PAUSE 
FOR A MOMENT TO WELCOME CBS 
NEWS VIEWERS TO CBSN'S 
CONTINUING COVERAGE  OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT DEBATE. 
>> ASSERTIONS OF EVIDENCE 
WITHOUT ANY FIRSTHAND 
INFORMATION FROM WITNESSES TO 
COOPERATE THE STATEMENTS. 
THE CHAIRMAN ADAM SCHIFF WAS 
NEVER QUESTIONED BY THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND HE 
REFUSED TO SIT FOR QUESTIONS OR 
TO EXPLAIN HOW HIS COMMITTEE 
CONDUCTED ITS INVESTIGATION. 
IN FACT, DURING THE STAFF 
PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE AT THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, RANKING 
MEMBER COLLINS ASKED HOW THE 
INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED 
THAT RESULTED IN THE DRAFTING 
OF THE ADAM SCHIFF REPORT BUT 
HE NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER. 
DURING THE RULES COMMITTEE, 
CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755, THERE WERE 
NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN NUMBERS ON 
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE POSED 
QUESTIONS TO OUR WITNESSES. 
QUESTIONS THEY COULD NOT ANSWER 
BECAUSE THEY SIT ON THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND WERE 
NOT THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT 
THAT BROUGHT ABOUT H755. 
THE AUTHOR HAS NEVER APPEARED 
BEFORE MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY 
TO EXPLAIN A SINGLE THING IN 
THE REPORT OR PROVIDE FACTUAL 
INFORMATION SUPPORTING THE MANY 
ASSERTIONS IT CONTAINS. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS NO WAY 
TO GO ABOUT IMPEACHING THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
THE ARTICLES BEFORE US ARE 
BASED ON VERY LIMITED 
INFORMATION. 
THEY ARE BASED ON HEARSAY AND 
NEWS REPORTS AND ON OTHER 
UNSUPPORTED ALLEGATIONS. 
THEY ARE BASED ON A REPORT 
WRITTEN BY A MEMBER OF CONGRESS 
WHO REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS 
ABOUT IT. 
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE 
ALLEGATIONS WHICH ARE SUBJECT 
TO INTERPRETATION ACTUALLY RISE 
TO THE LEVEL OF AN IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE. 
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WHEN 
REPUBLICANS ATTEMPTED TO 
EXERCISE ONE OF THEIR RIGHTS 
UNDER HOUSE RULES, THEY WERE 
SHOT DOWN BY CHAIRMAN NADLER 
UNDER CLAUSE 2J1 OF RULE 11, 
THE MINORITY IS ALLOWED TO 
DEMAND A MINORITY HEARING DAY. 
ON DECEMBER 4, THE REPUBLICANS 
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
PROPERLY EXERCISED THAT RIGHT 
AND JUST COMMITTED A DEMAND TO 
CHAIRMAN NADLER FOR A HEARING 
DAY AT WHICH THE MINORITY COULD 
CALL THEIR OWN WITNESSES. 
TO BE CLEAR, A MINORITY HEARING 
DAY IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE 
CHAIR'S DISCRETION. 
IT IS A RIGHT AND REPUBLICANS 
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
PROPERLY DEMANDED THE EXERCISE 
OF THAT RIGHT. 
AND YET, CHAIRMAN NADLER 
DECLINED TO ALLOW A MINORITY 
HEARING DAY TO BE HELD BEFORE 
THE VOTING OF THESE ARTICLES. 
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT 
IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER FOR THE 
INSTITUTION AND FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO ALLOW ALL 
VOICES TO BE HEARD AND ALL 
WITNESSES TO BE QUESTIONED 
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO A VOTE ON 
SOMETHING THIS CONSEQUENTIAL. 
AND YET, THE MAJORITY TRAMPLED 
ON THAT RIGHT. 
BUT I SUPPOSE I SHOULD NOT BE 
SURPRISED BY ANY OF THIS WHEN 
THE HOUSE PASSED H RESID 660, 
THE RESOLUTION SETTING UP THE 
OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 
LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, I 
WARNED THE HOUSE THAT THE 
MAJORITY WAS DOING, WAS SETTING 
UP A CLOSED, UNFAIR PROCESS 
THAT COULD ONLY HAVE ONE OUTCOME
. AND TODAY, WE ARE SEEING THE 
END RESULT OF THIS CLOSED AND 
UNFAIR PROCESS, A QUICK RUSH TO 
JUDGMENT FORCED TO NOT ONE BUT 
TWO COMMITTEES IN SHORT ORDER 
WITH MINORITY RIGHTS TRAMPLED 
IN WITNESSES LEFT UNQUESTIONED 
AND DUE PROCESS IGNORED. 
IT IS ALSO DISAPPOINTING THAT 
MEMBERS ARE NOT BEING GIVEN 
MORE TIME TO DEBATE THE ISSUE 
ON THE FLOOR. 
LAST NIGHT, AT RULES COMMITTEE, 
I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO 
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF FLOOR TIME 
DEBATE FROM 6 TO 12 HOURS. 
THIS WOULD'VE ALLOWED FOR 
ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF 
DEBATE TIME USED IN THE CLINTON 
IMPEACHMENT AND IT WOULD HAVE 
ENSURED THAT ALL MEMBERS COULD 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK 
ON THE FLOOR. UNFORTUNATE, THAT 
AMENDMENT WAS NOT ACCEPTED. 
I KNOW MY FRIEND, CHAIRMAN 
McGOVERN DID THE BEST HE COULD. 
I DO THINK IT IS IRONIC THAT 
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, 13 
MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE 
SPENT MORE TIME DISCUSSING A 
TRADE 755 IN COMMITTEE YESTERDAY
THEN WE WILL SPEND DEBATING IT 
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR EVERY 
MEMBER TODAY. 
I THINK THAT IS A DISSERVICE TO 
THE NUMBERS OF THE BODY INTO 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, WE DESERVE BETTER
THAN A FLAWED PROCESS THAT LED 
TO THIS FLAWED OUTCOME. 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DESERVES BETTER THAN THAT. 
THE PRESENT CERTAINLY DESERVES 
BETTER THAN THAT. MORE 
IMPORTANTLY, THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT 
WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY. 
I OPPOSE PROCEEDING ANY FURTHER.
I OPPOSE THE RULE, I OPPOSE 
THIS LIMITED AND UNFAIR PROCESS
, AND I CERTAINLY OPPOSE 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
WITH THAT, I URGE OPPOSITION TO 
THE RULE AND I RESERVE THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>> DETERMINE RESERVES, 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 
I WANT TO INSERT IN THE RECORD 
A STATEMENT, A LETTER THAT I 
SENT WITH REGARD TO THE MEMBERS 
DAY. 
I WANT TO, I THINK IT'S 
IMPORTANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD 
THAT IT WAS ZERO POINT OF ORDER 
LAYING AGAINST H RESID 755. I 
WANT TO YIELD MYSELF 30 
SECONDS. 
>> THE SETTLEMENT IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
>> WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT 
THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR AND 
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE 
FOCUSED ON. 
I WANT TO SAY THAT I'M PROUD OF 
THE PROCESS. 
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE 
HAD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO 
PARTICIPATE IN THE MONTHS LONG 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND NUMBERS 
OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN 
INVOLVED AT EVERY STAGE OF THIS 
PROCESS FROM SITTING IN AND 
ASKING QUESTIONS AND CLOSED-
DOOR DEPOSITIONS TO QUESTIONING 
WITNESSES AND OPEN HEARINGS. 
THE COMMITTEE TOOK MORE THAN 
100 HOURS OF DEPOSITION THIS 
MONEY FROM 17 WITNESSES AND 
HELD SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS 
INCLUDING REPUBLICAN REQUESTED 
WHAT IS IT, THEY PRODUCED A 300 
PAGE PUBLIC REPORT THAT LAID 
OUT THE FINDINGS IN EVIDENCE, 
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THEN 
TOOK THAT REPORT AND CONDUCTED 
TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS EVALUATING 
THE EVIDENCE AND THE LEGAL 
STANDARD FOR IMPEACHMENT BEFORE 
THE REPORTING OF THE TWO 
ARTICLES. 
>> DETERMINE'S TIME IS EXPIRED. 
>> I YIELD MYSELF AN ADDITIONAL 
15 SECONDS. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS GIVEN 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT 
DEBATE, TO PARTICIPATE. 
TO DATE, HE HAS NOT PROVIDED 
ANY EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE BUT 
HAS BLOCKED NUMEROUS WITNESSES 
FROM TESTIFYING ABOUT HIS 
ACTIONS. 
AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO 
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, 
THE MAJORITY MR. CLIBURN. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES. 
>> I THANK YOU FOR YIELDING ME 
THE TIME. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY 
FEELING THE FULL WEIGHT OF MY 
DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THIS AUGUST 
BODY. 
REFLECTED ON THE OATH OF OFFICE 
TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL 
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
IT IS MY SINCERE BELIEF THAT 
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT 
BRING US HERE TODAY, THERE IS 
ONLY ONE PATH FOR US TO TAKE TO 
FULFILL THE OATH. 
THOMAS PAINE IN THE FIRST OF A 
SERIES OF PAMPHLETS ENTITLED 
THE AMERICAN CRISIS PUBLISHED 
243 YEARS AGO TOMORROW AND TONED
THAT THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT 
TRY MEN'S SOULS. 
THE SUMMER SOLDIERS AND 
SUNSHINE PATRIOTS WILL END THIS 
CRISIS STRENGTH FROM THE 
SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY, BUT 
HE THAT STANDS BY IT NOW 
DESERVES THE LOVE AND THANKS OF 
MAN AND WOMAN. 
TIERNEY IS NOT EASILY CONQUERED.
THESE WORDS WERE WRITTEN AT A 
TIME WHEN OUR FOUNDERS WERE 
REBELLING AGAINST THE 
TYRANNICAL RULE OF THE BRITISH 
MONARCHY. 
TODAY, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO 
SEEMS TO BELIEVE HE IS A KING 
OR ABOVE THE LAW. 
THOMAS PAINE WARNED US THAT SO 
UNLIMITED A POWER CAN BE LONG 
ONLY TO GOD, ALMIGHTY. 
MY FAITH LEADS ME TO TAKE 
VARIOUS, VERY SERIOUSLY THE 
FINAL WORDS OF OUR OATH TO 
FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES 
OF THE OFFICE, SO HELP ME GOD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THREE DAYS AGO, 
I JOINED WITH A BIPARTISAN 
DELEGATION OF OUR COLLEAGUES 
CELEBRATING THE 75th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. 
WE LAID THE READS AT THE 
MEMORIALS OF GENERALS GEORGE 
PATTON AND ANTHONY McAULIFFE. 
WE VISITED FOXHOLES THAT WERE 
OCCUPIED BY SOME BRAVE 
SOLDIERS. 
WHO FOUGHT IN SOME OF THE WORST 
WINTER WEATHER EVER VISITED 
UPON A BATTLEFIELD. 
AND WE VISITED THE LUXEMBOURG 
AMERICAN CEMETERY, THE FINAL 
RESTING PLACE OF THOUSANDS OF 
THEM AND GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. 
THEY WERE NOT SUMMER SOLDIERS 
IN THEIR EFFORTS 75 YEARS AGO 
TO PRESERVE THE REPUBLIC AND WE 
MUST NOT BE SUNSHINE PATRIOTS 
TODAY IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT 
THE CONSTITUTION UPON WHICH 
THIS GREAT REPUBLIC STANDS. 
WHILE OUR FIGHT IS NOT IN THE 
TRENCHES OF BATTLEFIELDS BUT IN 
THE HALLOWED HALLS OF THIS 
CONGRESS, OUR DUTY IS NO LESS 
PATRIOTIC. 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> DIGITAL MANUALS BACK. 
THE GERMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAM SPEAKER. 
I YIELD MYSELF 15 SECONDS JUST 
RESPOND TO MY FRIEND. 
>> DETERMINE IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> PRESENT JUMP IS NOT PROVIDED 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE 
THE FACT IT STILL HAS NOT 
RECEIVED THE MATERIALS FROM THE 
JUDICIARY IS REQUIRED BY H 
RESID 660. 
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS 
ISN'T A FAIR PROCESS. 
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
TO THE GENTLE LADY FROM WYOMING
, THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF 
THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE FOR 
THE PURPOSE OF THE UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, 
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
AMEND H RESID 767 TO PROVIDE 
FOR VOTING BY A MANUAL CALL OF 
THE ROLE. 
SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SEE 
THE CICELY WHO IS SUPPORTING 
THE IMPEACHMENT OF A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT. 
MEMBERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO 
STAND AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES 
OPENLY AND ON CAMERA ON THE 
QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>> OUR TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATE BY 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
. DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS YIELD FOR THIS 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST? 
>> I DO NOT. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS DOES NOT YIELD. 
THEREFORE UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST CANNOT BE ENTERTAINED. 
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, YIELD TO MY 
GOOD FRIEND, THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MISSOURI, THE DISTINGUISHED 
SECRETARY OF THE REPUBLICAN 
CONFERENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF A 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST. 
>> GENTLEMAN SHELL STATE HIS 
REQUEST. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK FOR 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO AMEND HR 
767 TO PROVIDE FOR 12 HOURS OF 
DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED BY THE 
MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY WHICH 
WOULD ALLOW EACH MEMBER OF THE 
HOUSE AT LEAST ONE MINUTE AND 
40 SECONDS OF DEBATE AS OPPOSED 
TO CURRENTLY 50 SECONDS. 
THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES 
DESERVE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT OF 
MORE THAN 50 SECONDS TO BE 
HEARD IN THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. 
>> THE TIME HAS BEEN YIELDED, 
AS I SAID, FOR THE PURPOSE OF 
DEBATE BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS YIELD FOR THIS 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST? 
JUST, THE GENTLEMAN DOES NOT 
YIELD THEREFORE THE UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST -- 
>> I LIKE TO YIELD FOUR MINUTES 
OF MY GOOD FRIEND, THE 
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF BOTH 
THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE 
COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE RULES 
COMMITTEE AND DOCTOR BURGESS OF 
THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
FOUR MINUTES. 
>> I THINK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING. 
BATTERSBY, THE RULES COMMITTEE 
YESTERDAY SPENT EIGHT HOURS 
CONSIDERING WHETHER TO BRING H 
REDS 755, THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT TO THE FLOOR. 
GIVEN THE RATIO OF REPUBLICANS 
TO DEMOCRATS, IT'S NO SURPRISE 
THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THE 
ARTICLES BEFORE US DESPITE 
ROBUST DEBATE ON THE SO-CALLED 
FACTS DERIVED FROM THE 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION AND 
THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEY WERE 
OBTAINED, DEMOCRATS AND 
REPUBLICANS REMAIN IN 
OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER ON THE 
CONCLUSIONS. 
AS OUTLINED YESTERDAY BY 
RANKING MEMBER COLLINS AND 
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE RULES 
COMMITTEE THROUGH DIRECT 
QUOTES, SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE 
BEEN SEEKING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
IMPEACHMENT SINCE HIS 
INAUGURATION. 
THE RUSH TO IMPEACH FIRST AND 
SOLIDIFY THE CASE SECOND 
THREATENS THE CREDIBILITY OF 
THE PROCESS AND THREATENS THE 
CREDIBILITY OF THE BODY ENGAGED 
THIS VERY HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES. úIN FACT, IT H 
BEFORE AND IT WILL BE QUOTED 
AGAIN TODAY, I SUSPECT, 
CHAIRMAN NADLER RECOGNIZE THE 
GRAVITY OF IMPEACHMENT WHEN HE 
STATED IN DECEMBER 1998, 
QUOTING HERE, THE EFFECT OF 
IMPEACHMENT IS TO OVERTURN THE 
POPULAR WILL OF THE VOTERS AS 
EXPRESSED IN A NATIONAL 
ELECTION. 
THERE MUST NEVER BE A NARROWLY 
VOTED IMPEACHMENT OR AN 
IMPEACHMENT SUBSTANTIALLY 
SUPPORTED BY ONE OF OUR MAJOR 
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LARGELY 
OPPOSED BY THE OTHER. 
SUCH AN IMPEACHMENT WOULD LACK 
LEGITIMACY AND PRODUCE 
DIVISIVENESS AND BITTERNESS IN 
OUR POLITICS FOR YEARS TO COME 
AND WILL CALL INTO QUESTION THE 
VERY LEGITIMACY OF OUR 
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
". ON OCTOBER 31, THIS HOUSE 
VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICIAL 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION IN H 
PEREZ 660. 
IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE ROBUST 
MINORITY PROTECTIONS AFFORDED 
THE MINORITY PARTY IN PREVIOUS 
INVESTIGATIONS. EVEN MORE 
CONCERNING, CHAIRMAN NADLER AND 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF REFUSED TO 
COMPLY WITH THE VERY RULES OF 
THE HOUSE IN GRANTING ACCESS TO 
COMMITTEE RECORDS FOR MEMBERS 
AND SCHEDULING A MINORITY 
HEARING IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT 
OF TIME. 
THUS THE VENTING THE MECCA 
PEOPLE FROM BEING EQUALLY 
REPRESENTED IN THE PROCESS. 
REFUSING TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO 
ACCESS THEIR OWN RECORDS, THESE 
ARE RECORDS OF THE MEMBERS OF 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO 
ACCESS THEM OBTAINED IN SECRET 
UNDER ARMED GUARD IN THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, BUT IT 
IS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 2E 
RULE 11 AND THEY HAVE DENIED 
MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO DO THEIR 
JOB. THEY DO NOT HEAR TESTIMONY 
FROM EVEN ONE FACT WITNESS NOT 
EVEN ONE AFTER RECEIVING A 
DELUGE OF MATERIALS FROM THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 
THIS REVERSAL OF RESPONSIBILITY 
IS INDEED UNPRECEDENTED. 
BUT TURNING TO THE CASE UPON 
WHICH THE ARGUMENT IS BASED, WE 
HAD A WHISTLEBLOWER. 
I'M NOT A FACT WITNESS, A 
WHISTLEBLOWER WHO NEVER 
APPEARED BEFORE ANY MEMBER OF 
CONGRESS THAT WE KNOW OF, A 
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT 
CONCERNING A CONGRATULATORY CALL
AND PRESENT JUMP AND PRESENT 
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY OF UKRAINE. 
THE WHISTLEBLOWER IS KNOWN TO 
HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH CHAIRMAN 
SCHIFF STAFF WHILE REPUBLICANS 
WERE DENIED ANY CONTACT. 
THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT IS 
NOT BASED ON FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE
IN THE CALL TRANSCRIPT THAT WAS 
TO SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT REVEALS 
NOTHING MORE THAN A 
CONGRATULATORY PHONE CALL. 
A REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION AS 
TO HOW AMERICAN FOREIGN AID 
WILL BE SPENT DOES NOT, DOES 
NOT EQUAL SOLICITING ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE. 
THE EVIDENCE BROUGHT BEFORE US 
DOES NOT AMOUNT TO A HIGH CRIME 
INDEED. 
IT DOES NOT AMOUNT TO ANY CRIME
. DEMOCRATS CLAIM THAT WE MUST 
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTION. 
IF YOU REALLY CARED, THEN I 
HAVE TO ASK, WHAT ARE WE 
MISSING? 
WHILE WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON 
IMPEACHMENT? 
WE TIED UP THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE, WE TIED OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND BY THE 
WAY, THE WAYS AND MEANS CAN HAD 
TO GIVE UP THEIR ROOM, THEY 
COULDN'T EVEN MEET WHILE YOU 
WERE DOING ALL OF THIS. 
SO THIS IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION IS BEING PAINTED 
AS A PROTECTION AGAINST FUTURE 
INTERFERENCE WHEN IN REALITY, 
PRESENT TRUMPS REQUEST LOOKS 
BACK AT THE 2016 ELECTION, 
RUSSIA IS THE WINNER IN THIS 
EXCHANGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE. 
>> THEY'VE DISRUPTED THE 
PROCESS. 
>> I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, THE GENTLEMAN 
IS PASSIONATE ABOUT RECORDS. 
I SHOULD REMIND HIM THAT WE'VE 
GOTTEN NO RECORDS FROM THIS 
WHITE HOUSE, NOT A SINGLE 
DOCUMENT. 
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO 
YIELD ONE HALF MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, THIS 
THING WAS NEVER OF THE RULES 
COMMITTEE. 
>> YOUNG LADY IS McMASTER ONE 
HALF MINUTES. 
>> MATTERS., COME TO 
IMPEACHMENT WITH DEEP SADNESS. 
THE FACT OF THIS CASE ARE 
PAINFUL AND INDISPUTABLE. 
WE KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT 
ILLEGALLY HELD UP 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED AID
TO THE UKRAINE. 
WE KNOW THAT HE CONDITIONED THE 
RELEASE OF THIS AID ON 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S 
OPENING AN INVESTIGATION BASED 
ON A DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY 
ABOUT HIS POLITICAL RIVAL AND 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN THE 
2016 ELECTION. 
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT 
HAS ACTIVELY BLOCKED 
CONGRESSIONAL ATTEMPTS TO 
DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF HIS 
MISCONDUCT BY ORDERING 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS TO 
DEFY SUBPOENAS AND WITHHOLD 
INFORMATION. 
DESPITE THE UNPRECEDENTED 
OBSTRUCTION FROM THE PRESIDENT, 
THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE IS 
POWERFUL ENOUGH THAT TO DELAY 
THIS VOTE ANY FURTHER WOULD RISK
INTERFERENCE IN THE 2020 
ELECTION. 
IN THE PERMANENT EROSION OF OUR 
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT A 
MATTER OF POLITICS, THIS IS A 
MATTER OF PROTECTING THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY FOR 
THE NEXT GENERATION. 
AS WE LABORED TO PASS ON TO 
FUTURE GENERATIONS MANY OF THE 
GREAT HALLMARKS OF OUR SOCIETY, 
WE MUST ALSO WORK WITH ACTIVE 
STEWARDSHIP AND VIGILANCE TO 
PASS ON A VIBRANT AND 
FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY. 
IF WE DON'T DO OUR DUTY TO 
PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, THE 
REPUBLIC THAT WE HAND TO OUR 
CHILDREN WILL BE LESS VIBRANT. 
IF WE DO NOT DO OUR DUTY TO 
PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, THE 
REPUBLIC THAT WE HAND TO OUR 
CHILDREN WILL BE LESS RESILIENT 
AND LESS EFFECTIVE. 
>> THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS 
EXPIRED. 
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA? 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD FOUR 
MINUTES TO MY VERY GOOD FRIEND 
AND FELLOW MEMBER OF THE RULES 
COMMITTEE AND OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, THE GENTLE LADY FROM 
ARIZONA, THIS LESS GO. 
>> THANK YOU FOR YIELDING ME 
THE TIME. 
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, GOD 
TAKES US ON JOURNEYS IN OUR 
LIFE, AND ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, I 
WAS MARRIED TO AN ABUSIVE EX-
HUSBAND. 
AND WHEN I FINALLY LEFT HIM, 
THERE ARE TIMES IN MY LIFE I 
HAD NO MONEY AND NO PLACE TO 
LIVE. 
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I NEVER 
DREAMT IN 1 MILLION YEARS THAT 
I WOULD BE STANDING HERE TODAY 
AS A CONGRESSWOMAN IN THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES. 
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I NEVER 
WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THAT I 
WOULD BE STANDING HERE TALKING 
ABOUT IMPEACHMENT OF A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
I SERVE ON THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, I ALSO SERVE ON THE 
RULES COMMITTEE. 
I'VE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS AND 
HOURS READING TRANSCRIPTS, 
LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS, HEARING 
TESTIMONY, AND I CAN TELL YOU 
ONE THING, I BELIEVE THIS IS 
THE MOST UNFAIR POLITICALLY 
BIASED, RIGGED PROCESS THAT I 
HAVE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. 
HERE ARE THE FACTS. THERE IS NO 
PROOF, NONE, THAT THE PRESIDENT 
HAS COMMITTED AND IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE. 
NOT ONE OF THE DEMOCRAT 
WITNESSES COME AND NOT ONE WAS 
ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT THE 
PRESIDENT COMMITTED BRIBERY, 
TREASON, OR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS AS REQUIRED IN THE 
U.S. CONSTITUTION. 
AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE 
DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY 
UNDERMINING THEIR OWN, THEIR 
OWN ARGUMENT HERE BECAUSE 17 
OUT OF THE 24 DEMOCRAT MEMBERS 
ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
VOTED HERE ON THIS FLOOR TO PUT 
FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT ON JULY 17th OF 
THIS YEAR BEFORE THE PRESIDENT
'S CALL EVEN TOOK PLACE. 
IN FIVE OUT OF THE NINE RULES 
COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE 
DEMOCRATS DID THE SAME THING. 
IF YOUR ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS 
PHONE CALL IS THE MAIN REASON 
FOR THIS IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, 
WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT
, MOVING IMPEACHMENT FORWARD 
BEFORE THE CALL EVEN TOOK PLACE?
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN RIGGED 
FROM THE START. 
MY MEMBERS, OTHER MEMBERS HAVE 
TOLD YOU, I MEAN, NEVER IN THE 
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 
HAVE WE HAD IMPEACHMENT THAT'S 
GONE THROUGH THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE AND CLOSED-DOOR 
HEARINGS WHERE A MEMBER OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, MYSELF, 
WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO ASK ONE 
SINGLE QUESTION OF THE FACT 
WITNESS? 
THE WHOLE THING HAS BEEN RIGGED 
AND BEEN UNFAIR AND IN THE 
PROCESS THAT YOU HAD SET FORTH, 
YOU MADE SURE THAT THE PRESIDENT
DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO HAVE 
HIS COUNSEL THERE UNTIL 
JUDICIARY, BUT BY THEN, IT WAS 
TOO LATE. 
IT WAS TOO LATE. 
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FACT 
WITNESSES ALLOWED IN JUDICIARY. 
SO I COULDN'T EVEN ASK A 
QUESTION, NOR COULD THE 
PRESIDENT. 
THIS IS THE MOST PARTISAN 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HISTORY OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT 
IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, NOT ONE 
REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IN RULES 
AND NOT ONE REPUBLICAN I DON'T 
THINK IS GOING TO VOTE FOR IT 
HERE TODAY. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS A SAD DAY
. I BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE 
TEARING THIS COUNTRY APART. 
THEY ARE TEARING FAMILIES APART.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS ALL 
OF YOU. 
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS 
OUR GREAT NATION. 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
DIRECT THE COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR
. GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, IF REPUBLIC 
IS TO DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE 
BEHAVIOR, THEY CAN DO SO. 
BUT I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES 
TO STAND UP FOR THE 
CONSTITUTION AND TO STAND UP 
FOR THIS COUNTRY AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE HALF 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, THE DISTINGUISHED 
MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS McMASTER 
ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU, I WANT TO TAKE A 
MINUTE TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP 
OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, MR. 
McGOVERN AND MR. COLE FOR OUR 
CIVILITY LAST NIGHT ALTHOUGH IT 
WAS A LONG HEARING AND WE ARE 
VERY MUCH IN DISAGREEMENT, I 
FELT TO BE PART OF THE HEARING 
AND I REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE 
BOTH THE RANKING MEMBER AND THE 
CHAIR. 
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER IS PART OF 
THAT RULES COMMITTEE AND I 
WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE PASSION 
THAT SHE DEMONSTRATED IN HER 
COMMENTS, I CANNOT SAY HOW MUCH 
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH HER 
WHICH IS A STATEMENT ON THE 
ENVIRONMENT WE FIND OURSELVES IN
, AND I UNFORTUNATELY AGREE 
WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BUT 
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY IS, I 
WOULD PUT AT THE WHITE HOUSE 
AND THE PRESIDENT. 
>> HE IS THE DEVISE OF ONE AND 
HE IS NOT TRYING TO HEAL OUR 
WOUNDS. 
>> THE REALITY AND URGENCY OF 
THIS MOMENT CANNOT BE MORE 
CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY. 
THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP VIOLATED THE LAW
AND SOLICITED FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTION. 
AT THE SAME TIME, OBJECTIVE 
EXPERTS HAVE OVERWHELMING 
EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA INTERFERED 
IN THE 2016 ELECTION AND IS 
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN UNDERMINING 
THE 2020 ELECTIONS. 
OUR VOTE TODAY IN THE SENATE'S 
ACTIONS ON IMPEACHMENT HAVE 
VERY REAL LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES
FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. 
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE IF THE 
SENATE DOESN'T REMOVE HIM? 
THE PRESIDENT HAS A PATTERN OF 
ESCALATING BEHAVIOR. 
THE DAY BEFORE SPECIAL COUNSEL 
TESTIFIED THAT THE RUSSIAN 
GOVERNMENT INTERFERED IN OUR 
ELECTION IN SWEEPING AND 
SYSTEMIC FASHION, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP MADE THIS CALL. 
TWO DAYS BEFORE THAT, THE 
PRESENCE OF THAT ARTICLE 2 OF 
THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT HE 
CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. 
AS WASHINGTON WARNED IN THE 
FAREWELL ADDRESS, FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE TAMPERS WITH 
DOMESTIC FACTIONS AND MISLEADS 
PUBLIC OPINION. 
WE MUST HONOR THE NATION THAT 
OUR FOUNDERS ENVISIONED AND 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT FOR 
VIOLATING THE LAW AND BETRAYING 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
I YIELD TO MINUTES FOR MY VERY 
GOOD FRIEND DISTINGUISHED 
MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES 
COMMITTEE, FORMER MEMBER OF THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, MR. BYRNE OF 
ALABAMA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION 
TO THE ROLE AND UNDERLYING 
RESOLUTION TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
WHEN THE FRAMERS GRANTED THE 
HOUSE THE POWER TO IMPEACH, 
THEY FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE 
ABUSED. 
TODAY, THOSE FEARS ARE REALIZED 
IN RECORD SPEED, THIS MAJORITY 
HAS ASSEMBLED HEARSAY THE 
SPECULATION AND PRESUMPTIONS 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OVERTURNING 
THE 2016 ELECTION. 
WE AREN'T HERE TODAY DAYS 
BEFORE CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THE 
MAJORITY ASSEMBLED THE CASE 
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE ARE 
HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT 
MAJORITY BELIEVES GETTING 
IMPEACHMENT DONE NOW WILL 
PROVIDE THE MEMBERS TIME TO 
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR 
VOTE. 
BUT I ASSURE YOU, THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE ARE WATCHING. MANY OF MY 
COLLEAGUES HAVE, FROM DAY ONE, 
REJECTED THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE OF 
RESIDENT TRUMP. BUT UNDER THE 
PRESIDENT WILL COME ALONG MORE 
TO THE MAJORITY'S LIKING. 
OUR ACTIONS HERE TODAY WILL BE 
REMEMBERED AND WILL SET THE 
STANDARD. THE SECOND ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT SEEKS TO REMOVE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR FAILURE TO 
PRODUCE CERTAIN REQUESTED 
WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS. BUT AS 
THE MAJORITY KNOWS, EVERY 
PRESIDENT IN HISTORY HAS 
EXERTED EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE. 
THE HOUSE HAS A LEGAL AVENUE TO 
CHALLENGE THE PRESIDENT. 
THE COURTS. BUT THE MAJORITY 
WILL SKIP THIS STEP SHOWING 
THAT THIS IS ABOUT IMPEACHMENT 
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE HOWEVER 
POSSIBLE. 
MOST OF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE AISLE HAD NO 
PROBLEM BACKING PRESIDENT OBAMA 
WHEN HE STONEWALLED THE HOUSE 
FOR YEARS TO BLOCK OUR REQUEST 
TO FIND OUT THAT TRUTH IN THE 
FAST AND FURIOUS INVESTIGATION. 
THAT IS WHY I FILED AN 
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION 
REJECTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
SAYING BASED UPON THE 
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY STANDARD, 
THEY SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ERIC HOLDER
. I WISH MY COLLEAGUES WOULD 
THINK ABOUT THE STANDARD BEING 
SET. 
I PREDICT THAT THEY WILL VERY 
SOON REGRET IT, AND I YIELD 
BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS? 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA, THE DISTINGUISHED 
MEMBER OF -- 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, THE FACTS ARE 
CLEAR. 
TO QUOTE THE USA TODAY 
EDITORIAL BOARD, TRUMP USED 
YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO SHAKEDOWN A 
VULNERABLE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT 
TO INTERFERE IN A U.S. ELECTION 
FOR HIS PERSONAL BENEFIT. 
THE RULE OF LAW IS WHAT GIVES 
OUR GREAT COUNTRY ITS STRENGTH. 
IT IS WHAT SEPARATES US FROM 
THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES WHERE 
DICTATORS RAINED FOR DECADES ON 
END. 
THE RULE OF LAW IS WHAT MAKES 
US THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. 
THE PLACE OTHER COUNTRIES LOOK 
TO AS THEY GROW THEIR OWN 
DEMOCRACY.
. WE NEVER WANT TO SEE THE RULE 
OF LAW DETERIORATE OR RAMPANT 
CORRUPTION TAKE HOLD. 
WE NEVER WANT TO SEE THE DAY 
WHEN FUTURE GENERATIONS FLEE 
FOR REFUGE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. 
THE WAY THAT OTHERS ARE SEEKING 
REFUGE IN OUR SOUTHERN BORDER 
RIGHT NOW. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES
, AMERICAN VALUES AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION ARE WORTH FIGHTING 
FOR. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> I YIELD TO MINUTES TO ARE 
VERY GOOD FRIEND, DISTINGUISHED 
LADY FROM INDIANA AND 
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE 
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I RISE TODAY IN DIRECT 
OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE. 
AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE 
DIVISIVE BIPARTISAN SHIP THAT 
IS ON DISPLAY RIGHT NOW IN THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
IT IS NO SECRET THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE WANTED TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT
TRUMP SINCE DAY ONE REGARDLESS 
OF ANY FACT. 
THEY KNEW THE RESULT THEY 
WANTED, THEY JUST NEEDED TIME 
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THERE. 
SO THEY BEGAN THE IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, 
SELECTIVE LEAKS AND INSTEAD OF 
TRANSPARENCY, AND NO DUE 
PROCESS. 
ONCE THEY CRAFTED THE PERFECT 
NARRATIVE, THEY MOVED ONTO 
PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
THEY KEPT HIM IN THE HOPE TO 
THE MARKET PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE 
BUT THEY FAILED TO UNCOVER ONE 
PIECE OF EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THEY FAILED TO MAKE THE CASE 
FOR THIS DRASTIC ACTION. 
AND YET HERE WE ARE. FOR THE 
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, 
PRESIDENT IS ON THE BRINK OF 
BEING IMPEACHED WITH THE BOATS 
OF ONE SINGLE PARTY, BUT LET'S 
BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING, THIS 
IMPEACHMENT OBSESSION IS NOT 
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, IT IS NOT 
ABOUT JUSTICE, IT IS NOT EVEN 
ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS ABOUT PURE PARTISAN 
POLITICS AT ITS WORST AND YOU 
ARE WATCHING IT RIGHT HERE, AND 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE RIGHT 
THROUGH THIS TODAY. 
THEY'VE SEEN THE RAKE PROCESS. 
THEY HAVE SEEN THE LACK OF 
TRANSPARENCY AND THE COMPLETE 
ABSENCE OF ANY SUPPORTING 
EVIDENCE. 
THEY KNOW THAT WASHINGTON IS 
BROKE AND THAT IS WHY THEY SENT 
US HERE TO FIX IT. 
BUT INSTEAD, HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
ARE DIVIDING THE COUNTRY AND 
FURTHER SHAKING THE PEOPLE'S 
TRUST IN THIS CONGRESS. 
IT IS A SHAM IMPEACHMENT THAT'S 
BEEN CARRIED OUT, THE EXPENSE 
OF HARD-WORKING AMERICANS THAT 
WANT US TO MOVE FORWARD. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS CHARADE 
SHOULD GO NO FURTHER. 
WE SHOULD STOP WASTING TIME, 
FOCUS ON WHAT KEEPS OUR NATION 
MOVING FORWARD. HELPING WORKERS 
AND FAMILIES THRIVE. 
PROTECTING THE SAFETY AND 
SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY. I URGE 
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE AGAINST 
THE RULE SO WE CAN GET BACK TO 
WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> THE GENTLE LADY YIELDS BACK, 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
>> I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
SETTLEMENT FROM NEW MEXICO, THE 
ASSISTANT SPEAKER. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, NO ONE CAME 
TO CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT. 
WE CAME HERE TO SOLVE THE 
MIGHTY ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE 
LIVES OF THE CONSTITUENTS WE 
PLEDGE TO SERVE. 
I'M HERE BECAUSE TOO MANY 
FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT STILL 
RELY ON WATER TRUCKED IN FROM 
DOZENS OF MILES AWAY. I'M HERE 
BECAUSE TOO MANY NEW MEXICAN 
CHILDREN STILL GO TO SCHOOL 
HUNGRY. 
I'M HERE BECAUSE TOO MANY WOMEN 
IN NEW MEXICO DRIVE FOR HOURS 
TO FIND A DOCTOR ABLE TO CARE 
FOR THEM. 
BUT THIS MOMENT HAS FOUND US 
AND WE REACHED A POINT IN TIME 
WHERE OUR LOVE OF COUNTRY 
COMPELS ACTION. 
WHERE OUR DUTY TO THIS REPUBLIC 
MANDATES THAT WE DO WHAT IS 
RIGHT. 
THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR IS SO 
BLATANTLY WRONG THAT IGNORING 
HIS ABUSES OF POWER WOULD BE 
ABDICATING THE OATH WE MADE TO 
PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AND UPHOLD 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA? 
>> THANK YOU. 
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I 
MAY CONSUME. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> IT WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION, I WILL OFFER AN 
AMENDMENT ON THE ROLE, THE 
HOUSE SHALL NOT PROCEED TO 
CONSIDERATION OF THE UNDERLYING 
RESOLUTION UNTIL SIX CONDITIONS 
ARE MET, ALL EVIDENCE IN THE 
POSITION OF ADAM SCHIFF HAS 
BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE 
CHAIRMANSHIP APPEAR BEFORE THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO TESTIFY 
TO THE REPORT THAT HE AUTHORED 
AND THAT ALL UNDERLYING 
UNCLASSIFIED EVIDENCE HAS BEEN 
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC 
MINORITY NUMBERS OF THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAVE 
RECEIVED THE RIGHT TO MINORITY 
HEARING DAY AND MINORITY 
WITNESSES REQUESTED BY THE 
RANKING OR BY RANKING MEMBER 
NUNEZ AND RANKING MEMBER COLLINS
ARE CALLED AND ALLOWED TO BE 
HEARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH H 
RESID 660 AND SUBPOENAS 
REQUESTED BY THE RANKING, BY 
RANKING MEMBER NUNEZ AND THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ARE 
ISSUED IN FORCE. 
MADAM SPEAKER, TO BE CLEAR, IT 
ENSURES THAT IT IS NOT PROCEED 
WITHOUT PROVIDING A FAIR AND 
EQUITABLE AND TRANSPARENT 
PROCESS, ONE THAT RESPECTS 
MINORITY RIGHTS AND OPENS UP 
THE INVESTIGATION AND ALL 
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND ONE 
THAT ALLOWS PUBLICANS ON THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE 
THE MOST RELEVANT WITNESSES. 
PERHAPS MOST CRUCIALLY, IT WILL 
ALLOW ALL NEIGHBORS TO FULLY 
CONSIDER THE INFORMATION 
AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE THAT 
ACTUALLY CONDUCTED THE 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION, THE 
PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INTELLIGENCE. 
IT HAS BEEN ABYSMAL. 
IT WAS A CLOSED AND UNFAIR 
PROCESS THAT DID NOT RESPECT 
MINORITY RIGHTS AND DIDN'T GIVE 
THE DUE PROCESS TO THE PRESENT. 
WE CAN CHANGE THAT TODAY. 
IF WE DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION, HOUSE WILL MOVE 
FORWARD WITH A REAL THOROUGH 
AND ULTIMATELY FAIR PROCESS 
THAT ALL MEMBERS CAN BE PROUD 
OF. 
ADAMS PICK, I ASK UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT TO INSERT THE TEXT OF 
MY AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD 
ALONG WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL 
PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THE 
PREVIOUS QUESTION. 
WITH THAT, I URGE A NO VOTE ON 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. 
AND I YIELD A MINUTE TO MY GOOD 
FRIEND, THE GERMAN FROM GEORGIA
. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECKLESS 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> I WILL TAKE MY GOOD FRIEND. 
THE MAJORITY OF STONE ALMOST 
EVERY ALLEGATION IMAGINABLE 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT AND YET 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED CANNOT 
NAME A SINGLE ACTUAL CRIME. 
AFTER ALL OF THE DRAMA THEY'VE 
NOT FOUND A SINGLE SHRED OF 
EVIDENCE ONLY THIRD AND FOURTH 
AND INFORMATION BUT THE FACTS 
HAVE REMAINED THE SAME. 
THE TRANSCRIPT SPEAKS FOR 
ITSELF, THERE WAS NO QUID PRO 
QUO. 
THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT SAID 
MULTIPLE TIMES THEY FELT NO 
PRESSURE WHATSOEVER. 
THE AIDE ULTIMATELY CAME AND 
DESPICABLE AS HE SAID THIS 
WHOLE THING WOULD HAVE 
COMPELLING OVERWHELMING 
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. NONE OF 
THOSE THINGS EXIST. 
I URGED MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND 
AGAINST THE RULE IN THE 
FORTHCOMING ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THIS IS A DISGRACE AND 
DANGEROUS TO AMERICA AND I URGE 
KNOW. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
>> I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
MS. CLARK. 
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, THE PARENT 
PHRASE ONE OF THE FOUNDING 
MOTHERS, ABIGAIL ADAMS, A 
PEOPLE MAY LET A PRESIDENT FALL 
YET STILL REMAIN A PEOPLE. 
BUT IF A PRESIDENT LETS HIS 
PEOPLE SLIP FROM HIM, HE IS NO 
LONGER A PRESIDENT. 
JUST AS ABIGAIL ADAMS WARNED, 
DONALD TRUMP HAS LET THE PEOPLE 
SLIP FROM HIM. 
HE WORKS FOR HIMSELF, NOT US. 
HE TRIED TO EXTORT A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT INTO INVESTIGATING A 
POLITICAL RIVAL AND HE HAS 
UNLAWFULLY WITHHELD WITNESSES 
AND EVIDENCE. 
IF WE WANT A DEMOCRACY, TODAY, 
WE MUST STAND FOR THE RULE OF 
LAW. A BOAT TO IMPEACH IS ABLE 
TO REMAIN A GOVERNMENT THAT IS 
OF, FOR, AND BY THE PEOPLE IT 
IS A VOTE BORN OF GREAT FEAR 
FOR OUR FUTURE, BUT ALSO ROOTED 
IN OPTIMISM, THAT IF WE STAND 
FOR THE TRUTH, FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION, OR, WE CAN 
CONTINUE TO CREATE A COUNTRY OF 
LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY 
FOR ALL. I YIELD THE REMAINDER 
OF MY TIME. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>> MIGHT I INQUIRE HOW MUCH 
TIME WE HAVE REMAINING? 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM OAKLAND HAS 5 
1/4 MINUTES REMAINING. 
>> THANK YOU. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS 
HAS 13 AT A QUARTER MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
I YIELD 90 SECONDS TO MY GOOD 
FRIEND THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> THANK YOU. 
AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE AISLE THROUGHOUT 
THIS WHOLE PROCESS, OUR ALLIES 
IN THE MEDIA, THEY LIKE TO SAY 
THAT REPUBLICANS ONLY WANT TO 
TALK ABOUT PROCESS AND NOT 
SUBSTANC EVEN THOUGH WE 
CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT 
SUBSTANCE AS WELL, THEY DECLARE 
THEIR FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED. 
THEY JUST DID IT AGAIN. 
SO JUST MAYBE RECAP A FEW FOR 
EVERYONE WATCHING HIM AS WELL 
AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE AISLE, HOPEFULLY 
THEY WILL LISTEN. 
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY 
SAYS THERE WAS NO DEMAND OR 
PRESSURE OR PRINT, QUID PRO 
QUO, ANDRE 
>>> SAID THE WHOLE STORY WITH 
REGARDS THE DECEMBER 1 MEETING 
WITH AMBASSADOR GORDON SONDLAND 
IS COMPLETELY REFUTED. 
WE HEARD FROM AMBASSADOR GORDON 
SONDLAND, HIMSELF, THAT 
ADMITTED THAT HE HEARD FROM 
PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT HE DIDN'T 
WANT ANY QUID PRO QUO AND THAT 
HE WAS GUESSING WHEN HE SAID 
OTHERWISE. 
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID HE WAS 
GUESSING AND THAT NO ONE ON THE 
PLANET HAD TOLD HIM OTHERWISE. 
KURT VOLKER TOLD US THAT 
RESIDENT ZELENSKY DIDN'T KNOW 
THERE WAS A HOLD ON EIGHT ON 
JULY 25 AND HE DIDN'T FIND OUT 
UNTIL HE READ IT IN POLITICO ON 
JULY 29. 
THE AIDE GOT RELEASED SHORTLY 
THEREAFTER AND UKRAINE DIDN'T 
HAVE TO DO ANYTHING IN ORDER TO 
GET A HOLD RELEASED. 
WHEN THE COLLEAGUES ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SAID 
THE JULY 25 PHONE CALL SAYS DO 
ME A FAVOR, IT SAYS DO US A 
FAVOR. 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PARAGRAPH, 
IT ONLY HAS TO DO WITH 
UKRAINIANS INTERFERING WITH THE 
2016 ELECTION. 
THE BLACK LETTER TO BRING DOWN 
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, WHETHER IT 
IS THE STATEMENT OR THE STEEL 
DOCS SAY, THE STEELE DOSSIER, 
IT IS IRREFUTABLE THAT THESE 
ARE SUBSTANCE, STOP SAYING THAT 
THE FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>> I ASKED TO CONSENT TO -- THE 
OPEN HEARING WHERE THE DEPUTY 
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LAUREN 
COOPER TESTIFIED THAT THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WAS NOT 
ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE IT WITH $35 
MILLION NOT PROVIDED SINCE IT 
WAS RELEASED SO LATE. 
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THE AP 
ARTICLE ENTITLED U.S. OFFICIALS 
KNEW OF UKRAINE'S TRUMP ANXIETY.
AT THIS POINT, I AM PROUD TO 
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 
MR. KENNEDY. 
>> THE GERMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> DEAR ELLIE AND JAMES, THIS 
IS A MOMENT YOU WILL READ ABOUT 
IN YOUR HISTORY BOOKS. 
TODAY I WILL GO TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHY. 
HE BROKE OUR LAWS. HE 
THREATENED OUR SECURITY, AND HE 
ABUSED THE HIGHEST MOST SACRED 
OFFICE IN OUR LAND. 
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT DOES 
NOT FEEL GOOD. 
I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE 
COST TO OUR COUNTRY. NOT JUST 
THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES BUT 
THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF A 
PRESIDENT WHO USES POWER LIKE A 
WEAPON AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE. 
IT ERODES OUR DECENCY, DEGRADES 
OUR DIGNITY. I DON'T YET KNOW 
HOW THEY WILL TELL THE STORY OF 
THIS ERA. 
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THE 
STORY OF THIS DAY. 
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT
ORD SHOW THAT WE DID
>>>  WE STOOD OUR SACRED 
GROUND.  
LET THE RECORD 
SHOW WE DID NOT LET YOU DOWN.  
I LOVE YOU.
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  I WILL RESERVE MY TIME FOR 
THE MOMENT. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  I AM PROUD TO YIELD TO 
MOSTLY. 
>>  MADAM SPEAKER, FIRST OF 
ALL, LET ME SAY THAT I 
TAUGHT MY CHILDREN THAT THERE 
ARE CONSEQUENCES IF 
THEY BROKE THE LAW.  
I AM SADDENED BUT I'M NOT 
SHOCKED THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY 
CONSIDERING ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.  
I'M 
SADDENED BUT I'M NOT SHOCKED 
BECAUSE OF THE PATTERN 
OF CORRUPTION WE HAVE SEEN FROM 
THIS PRESIDENT.  
I 
AM SADDENED BUT NOT SHOCKED TO 
SAY THAT THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS ROUTINELY SHOWN 
HIS DISREGARD OF 
CONGRESS ON THE RULE OF LAW.  
THE FACTS ARE NOT IN 
DISPUTE.  
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER 
AND 
BETRAYED HIS OATH OF OFFICE.  
HE UNDERMINED OUR 
ELECTIONS BY SOLICITING FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR 
ELECTIONS TO BENEFIT HIS OWN 
FUTURE REELECTION 
EFFORTS.  
THEN HE OBSTRUCTED CONGRESS 
EVERY STEP OF 
THE WAY IN AN EFFORT TO COVER 
IT UP.  
DONALD TRUMP 
REMAINS A THREAT TO THE 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND A 
DANGER TO DEMOCRACY AND UNFIT 
TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES.  
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ACT 
TODAY TO UPHOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION AND SHOW OUR 
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW AND THAT INCLUDES THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  I RESERVE MY TIME. 
>>  TELEMANN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  I'M HAPPY TO YIELD TO THE 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.  
MADAME SPEAKER, TODAY 
I RISE TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. 
WE DEFEND THE 
NATION'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES.  
AND REASONABLE 
PEOPLE CAN DRAW DIFFERENT 
CONCLUSIONS.  
NOT TODAY.  
THE FACTS ARE BLACK AND WHITE.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ABUSE THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE 
FOR PERSONAL AND 
POLITICAL GAIN BUT THEN HE 
ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP.  
IT IS UP TO US TO CONFRONT THE 
FACTS AND VOTE TO 
PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.  
THIS 
IS NOT A FIGHT ME OR MY 
COLLEAGUES SOUGHT OUT WHEN 
WE RAN FOR CONGRESS.  
BUT IT IS ONE WE PLEDGED WHEN 
WE SWORE AN OATH TO DEFEND OUR 
CONSTITUTION.  
ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VOTE TO 
IMPEACH WILL BE READ 
AS A VOTE ENDORSING A FUTURE 
PRESIDENT WITHOUT 
CONSEQUENCES.  
AND ANYTHING GOES, NO HOLDS 
BARRED, 
AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH AUTHORITY 
THAT WILL LEAVE US 
MORE WEAK AND WE OWE IT TO 
FUTURE GENERATIONS TO 
TRANSCEND PERSONAL INTEREST AND 
PARTY LOYALTY AND 
VOTE OUR CONFERENCE FOR WHAT IS 
AT STAKE HERE TODAY.  
THE SANCTITY OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THE SANCTITY 
OF 
OUR DEMOCRACY.  
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
>>  RESERVING GENTLEMAN OF 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, OCTOBER 
23rd, NEW YORK TIMES 
ARTICLE ENTITLED UKRAINE KNEW OF
AID FREES 
UNDERMINING TRUMP DEFENSE. 
>>  I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GYM AND 
FROM MARYLAND. 
>>  GOVERNMENT IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>>  THANK THE GENTLEMEN FOR 
YIELDING.  
MADAME 
SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN 
SUPPORT OF THE TWO ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR ABUSE OF 
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS.  
VOTING TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT IS THE WAY
WEIGHTY DECISION.  
IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU REACH 
FOR BUT SOMETHING YOU 
WERE BROUGHT TO RELUCTANTLY 
WHEN THE EVIDENCE 
PRESENTED CAN NO LONGER BE 
DENIED.  
IN THIS SOBER 
AND HISTORIC MOMENT, MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS ARE CALLED 
UPON TO UPHOLD OUR OATH OF 
OFFICE AND OUR DUTY TO 
THE CONSTITUTION.  
TODAY, WE ANSWER THAT CALL.  
THE 
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS COMPROMISE 
NATIONAL SECURITY OF 
THE UNITED STATES AND UNDERMINE 
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND BETRAYED 
THE TRUST OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  IN SOLICITING 
FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
TOOK DIRECT AIM AT THE 
HEART OF OUR DEMOCRACY.  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD 
DECIDE OUR ELECTIONS.  
NOT A FOREIGN COUNTRY.  
AS 
LONG AS THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES 
TO INVITE FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE INTO OUR 
DEMOCRACY, THE INTEGRITY OF 
THE 2020 ELECTION REMAINS AT 
RISK.  
THE QUESTION IS, 
WILL CONGRESS ALLOW THE 
PRESIDENT TO PLACE HIS
PERSONAL INTEREST ABOVE THOSE 
OF HIS COUNTRY.  
I 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE 
TO JOIN ME IN 
ANSWERING THIS QUESTION WITH A 
RESOUNDING NO BECAUSE 
NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES 
IS ABOVE THE LAW.  I YIELD 
BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I CONTINUE TO 
RESERVE MY TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, OCTOBER 9 
POLITICAL POLITICO 
MAGAZINE ARTICLE ENTITLED "THIS 
IS WHAT A LEGITIMATE 
ANTICORRUPTION EFFORT TO 
UKRAINEWILL LOOK LIKE 
WHICH EXPLAINS THE LEGITIMATE 
REQUEST MADE THROUGH 
THE DOJ'S OFFICE INTERNATIONAL 
AFFAIRS AND PURSUANT 
TO THE UNITED STATES MUTUAL 
ASSISTANCE TREATY. 
>>  I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GYM AND 
FROM FLORIDA. 
>>  RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
>>  THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS 
POWER.  
HE VIOLATED 
HIS OATH OF OFFICE.  HE SOUGHT 
TO ELEVATE HIMSELF AS 
A DICTATOR OR KING.  
BUT WE ARE NOT A MONARCHY.  
WE 
ARE THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA.  
WE ARE A 
REPUBLIC, A DEMOCRACY.  
WE ARE THE EXECUTIVE WHERE 
THEY DO NOT HAVE EXACT 
EXECUTIVE POWER.  
AMERICA WAS 
FOUNDED ON A SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES.  
WHEN 
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD MILITARY 
AID TO UKRAINE AND 
PRESSED FOR PERSONAL FAVOR TO 
MANUFACTURE DIRT 
AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT, 
HE WENT TOO FAR.  
HE 
UNDERMINED THE NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND SOUGHT TO 
SABOTAGE THE ELECTIONS.  
AND HE TRIED TO COVER UP 
HIS SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR AND 
OBSTRUCTED THE 
INVESTIGATION.  
HE VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE 
AND I 
INTEND TO UPHOLD MINE AS A 
PROTECTOR AND DEFENDER OF 
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  
THE PRESIDENT MUST BE 
IMPEACHED TODAY.  
I YIELD BACK.
>>  I CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY 
TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  THE DECEMBER 5th BOSTON 
GLOBE EDITORIAL 
ENTITLED "IMPEACH THE PRESIDEN 
.." 
>>  WITHOUT OBJECTION. 
>>  THE DECEMBER 11th USA TODAY 
EDITORIAL 
ENTITLED IMPEACH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.  
THE PRESIDENT'S 
UKRAINE SHAKEDOWN AND 
STONEWALLING ARE TOO SERIOUS 
FOR THE HOUSE TO IGNORE. 
>>  WITHOUT OBJECTION. 
>>  I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, DEBBIE 
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
THROUGHOUT THE 
PROCESS, I LISTENED AS A MEMBER 
OF THE HOUSE 
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO CAREER 
DOUGLAS TESTIFYING AND 
FOUND MYSELF CONTEMPLATING THE 
GRAVITY OF THIS 
DECISION.  
ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS ASK THEN 
HOW I WOULD 
MAKE MY DECISION ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT.  
I TOLD HER THAT 
WHEN HER FUTURE CHILDREN LEARN 
ABOUT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT, THEY MAY 
ASK, MOMMY, WHAT DID 
GRANDMA DO?  
I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE 
TO TELL 
HER CHILDREN THAT HER 
GRANDMOTHER TO THE RIGHT THING 
BECAUSE IN AMERICA, NOBODY IS 
ABOVE THE LAW.  
WITH 
HIS CONDUCT AROUND UKRAINE, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CORRECTLY ABUSED HIS POWER FOR 
HIS OWN INTERESTS AT 
DIRECT ODDS WITH OUR NATIONAL 
WELFARE AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION.  
THE PRESIDENT PUT HIS INTEREST 
BEFORE 
THOSE OF THE NATION, LEFT 
UNCHECKED HE WOULD DO IT 
AGAIN AND HAS SAID SO.  
THE ACTIONS AND ONGOING 
SCHEMES THAT LEAD US TO THIS 
MOMENT ARE SEVERE 
THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY THAT 
WE CANNOT DEFEND OR DISMISS.  
WITH HISTORY WATCHING, 
I WILL FULFILL MY 
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND VOTE TO 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT.  
HIS CORRUPT CONDUCT AN 
ASSAULT ON THE CONSTITUTION 
LEAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.  
I YIELD BACK.
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  I CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY 
TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GYM AND FROM 
CALIFORNIA. 
>>  RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
TODAY THE HOUSES 
VOTING TO AFFIRM A CONSERVATIVE 
PRINCIPLE.  
WHAT 
MAKES AMERICA THE STRONGEST AND 
MOST PROSPEROUS 
NATION IN THE WORLD IS OUR 
REVERENCE FOR THE RULE OF 
LAW.  
IT IS OUR LOVE OF THE LAW THAT 
PROTECTS THE 
FREEDOMS, THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, 
FAMILIES FROM THE 
EXERCISE OF ARBITRARY POWER.  
THE REAL THREAT TO 
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE 21st 
CENTURY IS 
INTERNAL DECLINE.  
WE CHOOSE NOT TO STAND IDLY BY 
WHILE WE SEE THE CORRUPTING OF 
THE BODY POLITIC WITH 
AN ATTITUDE THAT MIGHT MAKES 
RIGHT THAT WINNERS 
DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES. 
VOTING TO IMPEACH, 
WE REMEMBER LINCOLN'S ADDRESS.  
LET EVERY AMERICAN, 
EVERY LOVER OF LIBERTY IN EVERY 
WELL WISHER TO HIS 
POSTERITY, SWEAR BY THE BLOOD 
OF THE REVOLUTION 
NEVER TO VIOLATE IN THE LEAST 
PARTICULAR, THE LAWS 
OF THIS COUNTRY.  
AND NEVER TO TOLERATE THEIR 
VIOLATION BY OTHER.  
LET IT BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS, 
SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES, LET IT 
BE WRITTEN IN 
SPELLING BOOKS AND ALMANACS.  
BE PREACHED FROM THE 
PULPIT, PROCLAIMED AND 
LEGISLATE APPALLS AND 
ENFORCED IN THE COURTS OF 
JUSTICE AND IN SHORT, LET 
IT BECOME THE POLITICAL 
RELIGION OF THE NATION.
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I CONTINUE TO 
RESERVE TO ADVISE FOR THE CHAIR 
MY FRIEND.  
I'M 
WAITING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 
SPEAKER BUT WE RESERVE OUR 
TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  CONSENT TO INSERT INTO THE 
RECORD THAT IS 
NUMBER 17 SEE IN AN ARTICLE 
ENTITLED FACT CHECK, 
TRUMP'S WILDE LETTER TO PELOSI 
IS FILLED WITH FALSE 
AND MISLEADING CLAIMS. 
>>  WITHOUT OBJECTION. 
>>  I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM 
CAROLINA, MR. BUTTERFIELD. 
>>  THINK THAT ON.  
MADAME SPEAKER, I RISE ON THE 
SOLEMN OCCASION AS WE THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES 
EXERCISE THE POWER GIVEN TO US 
BY THE UNITED STATES 
CONSTITUTION.  
THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION WAS 
FLAWED 
IN SOME RESPECTS BUT WITH 
RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL 
MISCONDUCT IT WAS UNMISTAKABLE. 
THE FRAMERS KNEW 
THE PRESIDENTS COULD BE CORRUPT 
OR ABUSIVE WITH 
POWER SO IMPEACHMENT WAS 
WRITTEN INTO THE ORGANIC 
LAWS.  
AND HAS TAKEN OFFICE AND THREE 
YEARS AGO 
PRESIDENT TRUMP INTENTIONALLY 
DIVIDED THE COUNTRY 
AND IS CONSISTENTLY ENCOURAGING 
FOREIGN ACTORS TO 
INTERFERE AND OUR ELECTIONS.  
HE HAS FIRMED HIS 
KNOWS SAYS  WITH THE 
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.  
ENOUGH IS 
ENOUGH.  
WE MUST PROTECT OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND 
DEMOCRACY AND THE VOTE TO 
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DELIVER THE 
CHARGES TO THE 
SENATE FOR TRIAL.  
A PLACE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO 
DEFEND HIMSELF AND AN ATTEMPT 
IF HE CHOOSES, TO 
CONVINCE THE SENATE AND THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT HIS 
CONDUCT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
I THINK 
THE GENTLEMAN.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA. 
>>  THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAME 
SPEAKER.  
I YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO MY GOOD FRIEND, 
DISTINGUISHED COMBAT 
VETERAN FOR OUR COUNTRY, MR. 
BARRETT OF INDIANA. 
>>  GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, TODAY MARKS 
A SAD DAY FOR 
AMERICA.  
INSTEAD OF GETTING TO WORK TO 
SOLVE THE 
ISSUES OF OUR TIME, THE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE DECIDED 
TO TRY TO DISCREDIT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP.  AND THE UNDUE 
RESULTS OF THE 2016 ELECTION.  
THE FACTS THERE ARE 
CLEAR.  
THE PRESIDENT DID NOT COMMIT 
ANY CRIMES.  
HE 
DID NOT BREAK ANY LAWS.  
AND THERE WAS NO QUID PRO 
QUO.  
THIS HAS BEEN A SECRETIVE 
MISDIRECTED PROCESS 
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.  
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.  
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING 
AGAINST THIS IMPEACHMENT 
CHARADE AND GETTING BACK TO 
WORK TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO 
CONTINUE GROWING OUR ECONOMY, 
CREATING JOBS AND 
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL 
AMERICANS.  
I YIELD BACK 
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, 
MR. BOYLE. 
>>  GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>>  THANK YOU.  
MADAME SPEAKER, THIS IS THE 
FOURTH 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING AGAINST 
AN AMERICAN 
PRESIDENT.  
AND THE MOST SERIOUS.  
THE PRESIDENT 
COMMITTED NUMEROUS CRIMES, 
THREATENING THE NATIONAL 
SECURITY.  
ULTIMATELY, THE MATTER BEFORE 
US TODAY IS 
NOT A QUESTION OF FACT.  
FOR THE EVIDENCE IS 
UNDISPUTED.  
NOR IS IT A QUESTION OF A LAW, 
AS THE 
CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR.  
THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS 
THIS.  
WILL MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE HAVE 
THE COURAGE 
TO CHOOSE FIDELITY TO THE 
CONSTITUTION OVER LOYALTY 
TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY?  FOR 
THE SAKE OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR COUNTRY, 
FOR AMERICANS TODAY 
AND TOMORROW, I URGE ALL MEMBERS
TO SUMMON THE 
COURAGE TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF 
LAW AND VOTE YES.  
I 
YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.  
GENTLEMAN FROM 
OKLAHOMA. 
>>   THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I CONTINUE TO 
RESERVE MY TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  ONE MINUTE FROM MR. CLAY. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>>  I RISE TODAY TO HOLD DONALD 
JOHN TRUMP 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS REPEATED 
ABUSE OF POWER.  
HIS 
DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTION OF THE 
HOUSE'S 
CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED 
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY 
AND HIS UNPRECEDENTED MISUSE OF 
THE PRESIDENCY TO 
WEAKEN THE SEPARATION OF POWERS 
AND SUBVERT OUR 
CONSTITUTION BY DANGLING $391 
MILLION AND 
CONGRESSIONAL AID APPROPRIATED 
TAX DOLLARS OVER THE 
HEAD OF AN EMBATTLED ALLY IN 
ORDER TO COERCE A 
FRAUDULENT INVESTIGATION INTO A 
POTENTIAL POLITICAL 
OPPONENT.  
OUR FOUNDERS FEARED A LAWLESS, 
AND MORAL 
PRESIDENT WOULD WILLFULLY PUT 
NATIONAL SECURITY AT 
RISK FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL GAIN. 
IN 1974, 
REPUBLICANS MADE IT CLEAR THAT 
THE ULTIMATE LOYALTY 
WAS NOT TO ONE MAN BUT TO 
UPHOLDING THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
TODAY, THE UNCONTESTED EVIDENCE 
SHOWS 
DONALD TRUMP VIOLATED HIS OATH 
OF OFFICE.  
MY 
FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 
AISLE, THEY CAN EITHER 
DEFEND HIM OR DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
>>  EXPIRED. 
>>  I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA 
CONTINUES TO RESERVE. 
>>  I DO MADAME SPEAKER. 
>>  JOHN FROM MASSACHUSETTS. 
>>  I'M INQUIRING HOW MANY MORE 
SPEAKERS HE HAS. 
>>  CLOSE. 
>>  DELMAN FROM OKLAHOMA IS 
RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE IT. 
THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I YIELD MYSELF THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, BEFORE I 
BEGIN MY POSING 
REMARKS, I WANT TO SAY ONE 
THING FOR THE RECORD.  
I 
HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL OF 
MY FRIENDS ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.  
I AM SURE THEY ARE VOTING 
THEIR CONVICTIONS.  
WHEN I VOTE MIND, PLEASE DON'T 
IMPLY I'M DOING IT FOR MY 
POLITICAL PARTY.  
I'M 
DOING IT BECAUSE IT IS WHAT I 
BELIEVE IS RIGHT.  
I 
DO BELIEVE I CAN DEFEND BOTH 
THE PRESIDENT AND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES AND I THINK THAT 
IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM DOING.  
MADAME SPEAKER, I 
CANNOT OPPOSE THE RULE STRONGLY 
ENOUGH.  
THE PROCESS 
WE SAW LEADING UP TO IT TODAY 
WAS A COMPLETE 
CHARADE.  
IT WAS A CLOSED PROCESS, UNFAIR 
PROCESS 
AND A RUSHED PROCESS.  
AND IT COULD ONLY HAVE EVER 
HAD ONE LOGICAL PREDETERMINED 
ENDING.  
THROUGHOUT IT 
ALL, THE MAJORITY TRAMPLED ON 
MAJORITY RIGHTS AND 
REFUSED TO CALL WITNESSES WITH 
RELEVANT FIRSTHAND 
KNOWLEDGE AND RELIED ON HEARSAY 
NEWS REPORTS TO MAKE 
THEIR CASE AND THEY DENIED 
REPUBLICANS THE RIGHT TO 
HOLD THE MINORITY HEARING DAY 
AND THEY REFUSED TO 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES'S DUE PROCESS AND 
THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS ACTUALLY 
CONDUCTING AN 
INVESTIGATION FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.  IN THE 
END, WHAT WAS THE RESULT?  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BASED ON THE EVENT THAT NEVER 
HAPPENED.  
A REPORTED 
QUID PRO QUO THAT DID NOT EXIST.
A THAT WAS 
ALLEGEDLY WITHHELD THAT IN 
REALITY WAS NEVER 
WITHHELD AT ALL.  
AND A NARRATIVE OF INTENT BASED 
ON 
NOTHING MORE THAN FANTASY.  
MADAME SPEAKER, WE 
DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IS THE MOST 
CONSEQUENTIAL ACT THAT THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
CAN UNDERTAKE.  
IT MUST NOT AND CANNOT BE BASED 
ON A 
FLAWED PROCESS.  IT CANNOT COME 
AT THE EXPENSE OF 
MINORITY RIGHTS OR DUE PROCESS 
TO THE ACCUSED.  
IT 
CANNOT BE BASED ON A VENDETTA 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT 
THAT THE MAJORITY HAS PURSUED 
SINCE THE DAY IT WAS 
ELECTED.  
AND IT CANNOT BE BASED ON 
NOTHING MORE 
THAN HEARSAY.  
I OPPOSE THIS ROLE AND I OPPOSE 
THE 
FLAWED AND UNFAIR PROCESS.  
MADAME SPEAKER, IT IS A 
SOLEMN VOTE THAT ALL OF US WILL 
CAST.  
I WANT TO END 
BY NUMBER ONE THANKING MY GOOD 
FRIEND, THE CHAIRMAN 
OF THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR 
CONDUCTING THE KIND OF 
HEARING HE CONDUCTED YESTERDAY 
BUT I ALSO WANT TO 
UNDERSCORE AGAIN THAT WE ARE 
VERY VIOLENTLY OPPOSED 
TO THE PROCESS, FAIRLY FAIRY 
VERY STRONGLY OPPOSED.  
MADAME SPEAKER, I URGE MY 
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.  
NO ON THE RULE.  
NO ON THE 
UNDERLYING MEASURE AND I YIELD 
BACK THE BALANCE OF 
MY TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
. 
>>  I YIELD MYSELF THE 
REMAINING TIME. 
>>  RECOGNIZED. 
>>  LET ME THANK MY FRIEND MR. 
COLE FOR HIS KIND 
WORDS AND I APPRECIATE HIS 
LEADERSHIP AND THE FACT 
THAT HE RESPECTS THIS 
INSTITUTION.  
MADAME SPEAKER, 
LET ME SAY AGAIN WHAT HAPPENED 
HERE.  
THE PRESIDENT 
WITHHELD CONGRESSIONALLY 
APPROVED MILITARY AID TO A 
COUNTRY UNDER SIEGE TO EXTRACT 
A PERSONAL POLITICAL 
FAVOR.  THAT IS A COLD HARD 
FACTS.  
THE QUESTION 
BEFORE US COMES DOWN TO THIS 
WORK SHOULD A PRESIDENT 
TO BE ALLOWED TO ASK A FOREIGN 
NATION TO INTERFERE 
IN AN AMERICAN ELECTION?  
I REMEMBER MY FIRST 
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AS A 
MIDDLE SCHOOL OR IN 1972 
LEAVING LEAFLETS AT THE HOMES 
OF POTENTIAL VOTERS, 
URGING THEM TO SUPPORT GEORGE 
MCGOVERN FOR 
PRESIDENT.  
NO RELATION, BY THE WAY.  
I REMEMBER 
WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS TO ASK 
PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HIM 
EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOO YOUNG TO 
VOTE MYSELF.  
AND 
WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WAS LATER 
IN LIFE TO ASK VOTERS 
FOR SUPPORT IN MY OWN 
CAMPAIGNS.  
I HAVE BEEN PROUD 
OF WINNING CAMPAIGNS AND LOSING 
WANTS TO FOSTER 
PEOPLE I THOUGHT WOULD BE GREAT 
PRESIDENTS LIKE 
SENATOR MCGOVERN WERE NEVER 
GIVEN THE CHANCE.  
MAKE 
NO MISTAKE, I WAS DISAPPONTED 
BUT I ACCEPTED IT.  
I 
WOULD TAKE LOSING AN ELECTION 
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK 
WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RENDER 
THAT VERDICT.  
BUT I 
WILL NEVER BE OKAY IF OTHER 
NATIONS DECIDE OUR 
LEADERS FOR US.  
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES IS ROLLING OUT THE 
WELCOME MAT FOR THAT KIND 
OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.  
TO MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, 
IMAGINE ANY DEMOCRATIC 
PRESIDENT SITTING IN THE OVAL 
OFFICE, PRESIDENT OBAMA OR 
PRESIDENT CLINTON OR ANY 
OF THEM, WOULD YOUR ANSWER HERE 
STILL BE THE SAME?  
NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE 
THE POWERS OF THE 
PRESIDENCY TO UNDERMINE OUR 
ELECTIONS, PERIOD.  
THIS 
IS NOT ABOUT SIDING WITH YOUR 
TEAM.  
I DID NOT SWEAR 
ON OATH TO DEFEND A POLITICAL 
PARTY.  
I TOOK AN OATH 
TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA.  
AND WHEN I VOTE YES ON THIS 
RULE AND THE 
UNDERLYING ARTICLES, MY 
CONSCIENCE WILL BE CLEAR.  
I 
ASK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO 
SEARCH THEIR SOULS 
BEFORE CASTING THEIR VOTES.  
I ASKED THEM ALL TO 
STAND UP FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND 
STAND UP FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION.  
MADAME SPEAKER, I URGE A YES 
VOTE ON 
THE ROLE OF THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION AND YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>>  THE QUESTION IS ON ORDER IN 
THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION ON THE RESOLUTION.  
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.  
OPPOSED, NO. 
>>  IN THE OPINION OF THE 
CHAIR, AYE HAS IT. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I REQUEST THE AYE 
AND THE NAY.  A SUFFICIENT 
NUMBER HAVING RISEN, 
ORDERED.  
MEMBERS WILL RECORD VOTES BY 
ELECTRONIC 
DEVICE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE NINE 
OF RULE 20, THE CHAIR 
WILL REDUCE TOO MINUTES THE 
MINIMUM TIME FOR ANY 
VOTE ON THE PRODUCT OF ADOPTION 
OF THE RESOLUTION.  
THIS WILL BE A 15 MINUTE VOTE.
19]
>>  SO THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS 
OF VOTING.  
WE WILL 
PULL OUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE 
THIS IS NOT THAT 
INTERESTING TO WATCH.  
AND WE HAVE RICKIE KLEEMAN 
WITH US.  
WE ARE JOINED BY MOLLY HOOPER 
WHO IS GOING 
TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAS BEEN 
UNFOLDING FOR THE LAST HOUR 
AND A HALF OR SO.  
MOLLY, THERE HAVE BEEN 
RESOLUTIONS.  
THERE HAVE BEEN BOATS.  
WHAT ARE THEY 
VOTING ON RIGHT NOW? 
>>  RIGHT NOW THEY ARE VOTING 
ON CUTTING OFF 
DEBATE.  
ON THIS SPECIFIC RULE, WHICH 
ESSENTIALLY 
SETS THE PARAMETERS FOR DEBATE 
THIS AFTERNOON.  
THE 
RULE SAYS THERE WILL BE SIX 
HOURS OF DEBATE AND THE 
HOUSE WILL VOTE ON THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT, ONE 
AFTER THE OTHER.  
AND BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY MOVE ON 
TO 
THAT VOTE, YOU HAVE SOMETHING 
CALLED ORDERING THE 
PREVIOUS QUESTION WHICH MEANS 
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT 
VOTE.  
OSTENSIBLY IT IS TO GIVE THE 
MINORITY PARTY 
THE ABILITY TO KEEP THE FLOOR 
OPEN FOR DEBATE IF THE 
MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE VOTES TO 
VOTE AGAINST ORDERING 
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION 
BRICKHOUSE WOULD CONTINUE 
TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE ARE 
TALKING ABOUT.  
IT IS A 
PROCEDURAL VOTE.  
PARTIES STICK WITH PARTIES.  
THIS 
WILL BE DEFEATED.  
OR THIS WILL BE PAST.  
THEY WILL 
ORDER THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AND 
MOVE ON TO THE RULES 
VOTE.  
THEN WE GO FOR THE GENERAL 
DEBATE ON THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>>  THAT WILL LAST SIX HOURS? 
>>  YES. 
>>  DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING AS 
EACH OF THESE MEMBERS 
OF CONGRESS STOOD UP TO MAKE 
THEIR POINTS THAT WERE 
SURPRISING AT ALL TO YOU?  
OR PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHT 
DOWN PARTY LINES?  
EVERYTHING WE HAVE COME TO 
EXPECT
EXPECT, SORT OF THE GREATEST 
HITS? 
>>  GREATEST HITS.  
I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR A LOT THAT 
WAS NEW.  
IN FACT, IF YOU WATCH THE RULES 
COMMITTEE 
HEARING LAST NIGHT WHICH I'M 
SURE EVERYBODY DID, 
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME POINTS 
WERE REITERATED.  
DEMOCRATS SAYING IT IS AN ABUSE 
OF POWER.  
AND 
REPUBLICANS SAID THE PROGRESS 
IS SKEWED AND 
DEMOCRATS HAVE WANTED TO DO 
THIS SINCE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WAS ELECTED AND IT IS A 
SHAM.  
THAT IS WHAT IS 
UNFOLDING IN THE HOUSE.  
WE WILL HEAR MORE OF THIS 
LATER THIS AFTERNOON.  
THE QUESTION MARK REALLY IS, 
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS GETS TO 
THE SENATE?  BECAUSE 
YOU ONLY NEED 51 VOTES IN THE 
SENATE FOR PROCEDURAL 
MATTERS AND TERMS OF CALLING UP 
WITNESSES, THAT IS 
WHERE THE BIG QUESTION MARK 
COULD BE.  
ONLY FOUR 
REPUBLICANS ARE NEEDED TO VOTE 
WITH DEMOCRATS IN 
TERMS OF WHICH WITNESSES THE 
SENATE WOULD CALL 
BEFORE THEM.  
THAT IS I THINK WHERE WE WILL 
GET A 
LITTLE MORE SURPRISE WERE THE 
MOMENTS. 
>>  BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE 
SENATE AND THE 
SURPRISE WERE THE MOMENTS 
POSSIBLY, I SHOULD ASK YOU 
THIS.  
WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON TWO 
ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.  
WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE 
OUTCOME OF THOSE VOTES FOR THE 
ARTICLE WOULD BE 
DIFFERENT OR THE SAME? 
>>  I THINK THEY PROBABLY WILL 
BE DIFFERENT.  
BECAUSE ON THE ONE END, YOU 
HAVE ABUSE OF POWER.  
IT 
SEEMS DEMOCRATS INCLUDING 
MODERATE IN THE DISTRICTS 
TRUMP WON, SEEM TO BE ON THE 
SAME PAGE SAYING THAT 
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER 
AND WAS AN IMMEDIATE 
THREAT TO NATIONAL ELECTION 
SECURITY.  
WE ARE GOING 
TO BE IN AN ELECTION YEAR IN A 
FEW WEEKS.  
AND 2020 
ALREADY SEEMS LIKE IT HAS BEEN 
GOING THIS PAST YEAR.  
AND DEMOCRATS ARGUE THAT 
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT 
ALREADY HAS SOLICITED 
ASSISTANCE FROM A FOREIGN 
POWER, THE POWER NEEDS TO BE 
CUT OFF NOW.  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS IS A 
DIFFERENT MATTER.  
THE 
REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE 
DEMOCRATS HAD THE 
ABILITY TO SUBPOENA A NUMBER OF 
WITNESSES AND TO 
REALLY CONTEST THAT IN THE 
COURT SYSTEM.  
AND THE 
NIXON TAPES.  
THE REASON NIXON TURNED OVER 
ALL THE 
TAPES WAS BECAUSE THE SUPREME 
COURT SAID, YOU MUST 
TURN OVER ALL THE TAPES.  
DEMOCRATS NEEDED TO DECIDE 
TO DROP THAT ESSENTIALLY.  
AND MOVING FORWARD WITH 
THIS IN THE JUDICIARY.  
SOME DEMOCRATS FEEL I THINK 
JARED GOLDEN OF MAINE SAYING HE 
WOULD VOTE AGAINST 
THAT ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT.  
BECAUSE I THINK 
CONGRESS HAS NOT DONE 
EVERYTHING IT SHOULD DO TO 
COMPEL THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH TO BY WITH 
SUBPOENAS.  
WE MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT OF 
DIFFERENCE 
IN THE VOTES.  
BUT NOT AS EXTREME AS WE DID 
WHEN 
BILL CLINTON WAS IMPEACHED 
FIRST. 
>>  THE POINT MOLLY BRINGS UP, 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, NOT CHOOSING TO 
SEND TO CONGRESS 
ANYTHING IS FAIRLY 
UNPRECEDENTED.  
WHEN PRESIDENT 
NIXON WAS COMPELLED TO PRODUCE 
THE TAPES, DID SO.  
THE IDEA OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES, AND 
THEIR ABILITY TO CHECK THE 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WHAT IS 
YOUR TAKE. 
>>  ARGUE  --  REPUBLICANS WOULD
ARGUE OTHERWISE.  
THERE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTS 
PROVIDING.  
MAYBE NOT THE 
DOCUMENTS THEY WANTED OR 
REQUESTED. 
>>  PEOPLE HAVE TESTIFIED.  
MAY BE SOME PEOPLE YOU 
WANTED TO TESTIFY DIDN'T SHOW 
UP BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE 
HAVE.  
JUST TO ARGUE THE OTHER SIDE. 
>>  IF YOU ARE SAYING YOU WANT 
DOCUMENT A AND THEY 
SAY, I DON'T HAVE THAT FOR YOU 
BUT I HAVE DOCUMENT 
B, THAT IS NOT WHAT I ASKED 
FOR. 
>>  IT IS FUNDAMENTAL WHEN YOU 
LOOK AT THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC WHICH 
WE HAVE FOR THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA.  
THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT ARE 
SUPPOSED TO BE EQUAL. 
YOU CAN'T HAVE THE EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE 
CONGRESSIONAL BRANCH.  
THE CONGRESSIONAL BRANCH, 
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE 
IMPEACHMENT RESTS SOLELY ON THE 
HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CONGRESS 
HAS A RIGHT TO BE ABLE 
TO DO THIS INVESTIGATION.  
THEY HAVE A RIGHT.  
SO 
YOU CAN'T DECIDE, I'M NOT GOING 
TO GIVE YOU STUFF 
BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE BAD FOR ME 
OR I'M NOT GOING TO 
LET YOU TALK TO JOHN BOLTON, 
NICK WILL VEINY OR 
OTHERS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE BAD 
FOR ME.  
IT IS NOT A 
LEGAL REASON IT WOULD PASS 
CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER.  
LISTENING TO MOLLY  --  AND I 
THINK MOLLY AS ALWAYS 
IS ACCURATE.  
ABOUT THE QUESTION OF HOW SOME 
PEOPLE 
MAY VOTE BUT ONE ARTICLE VERSUS 
ANOTHER ARTICLE.  
THERE IS ALSO AN ARGUMENT TO BE 
MADE THAT ALTHOUGH, 
ON THE OTHER SIDE, ALTHOUGH 
THEY DID NOT GO THROUGH 
THE COURT SYSTEM TOO 
PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF 
JOHN BOLTON, LET'S NOT HAVE 
THIS FIGHT.  
BUT THERE 
IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE BY 
PEOPLE IN CONGRESS THAT 
WOULD SAY, WE ARE EQUAL WITH 
YOU.  
JUST IN THE SAME 
WAY YOU CAN'T TELL THE SUPREME 
COURT OF THE UNITED 
STATES THAT YOU DON'T LIKE 
THEIR DECISION AND DO THE 
OPPOSITE.  
YOU CAN'T TELL US THAT WE 
CANNOT 
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE OUR 
BELIEF THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE OR ABOUT 
ABUSE OF POWER.  
I 
DO HAVE A FEELING THAT I HAVE 
BEEN VERY CONSISTENT 
ABOUT THAT I REALLY THINK THERE 
SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 
THIRD ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT 
FOR OBSTRUCTION OF 
JUSTICE GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 
FIVE OF THE 
ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE LEFT 
OPEN.  
THEY MAY BE 
OBSTRUCTION OR MAY NOT IN THE 
CRIMINAL REPORT OR THE 
MUELLER REPORT.  
THAT IS CONCRETE.  
OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS IS A LITTLE SQUISHY.  
ABUSE OF POWER 
BECOMES A LITTLE MORE SQUISHY.  
WHEN YOU GET TO FIVE 
SPECIFIC ACTS OF ALLEGATIONS OF 
OBSTRUCTION OF 
JUSTICE IN THE MUELLER REPORT, 
I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T 
WANT TO GO BACK THERE.  
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IT 
IS WHAT IT IS.  
I'M SORRY THEY DIDN'T DO THAT. 
>>  NICOLE KILLIAN IS STANDING 
BY IN THE WASHINGTON 
DC BUREAU TO GIVE US HER 
REPORTING AND WHAT YOU HAVE 
HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, 
NICOLE AS THIS PLAYS 
OUT BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
DOES IT STRIKE YOU, 
AND TALKING TO SOME MEMBERS, 
THAT EVERYONE IS PRETTY 
MUCH STICKING TO THE PARTY LINE 
PRODUCTS AND WHAT 
ARE YOU HEARING, IF THIS VOTE 
GOES THROUGH AND THE 
PRESIDENT IS ULTIMATELY 
IMPEACHED.  
WHAT NANCY 
PELOSI IS SAYING TO HER CAUCUS 
ABOUT POTENTIALLY 
DOING A VICTORY DANCE.
>>  EVEN THOUGH MANY HAVE SAID 
THAT THIS VOTE THAT 
IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY WILL BE 
PARTISAN AND THE 
WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN 
PARTISAN, I THINK ONE AREA OF 
AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE HEARD 
TODAY FROM BOTH 
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IS 
THAT THEY FEEL THAT 
THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY.  
THAT IT IS A SOLEMN DAY OR 
A GRAVE DAY.  
DEMOCRATS HAVE ARGUED UP TO 
THIS POINT 
THAT THEY DON'T TAKE THIS STEP 
LIGHTLY.  
YOU HEARD 
ONE MEMBERS SAY DURING THE 
DEBATE OVER THE RULE, 
THAT NO ONE CAME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.  
AND OBVIOUSLY SOME REPUBLICANS 
ARE ARGUING THE 
OPPOSITE SAYING THAT FROM DAY 
ONE, SOME OF THESE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN INTENT ON 
TRYING TO GET THE 
PRESIDENT OUT OF OFFICE TO 
IMPEACH HIM.  
BUT 
CLEARLY, I THINK BOTH SIDES OF 
THE AISLE, YOU ARE 
HEARING THAT MEMBERS REALLY 
DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.  
BUT THE FACTS TO DEMOCRATS 
DICTATE OTHERWISE.  
THEY 
CONTINUE TO ARGUE THAT THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS ABUSED HIS 
POWER AND HAS OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS AND THEY FEEL AT 
SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO DRAW THE 
LINE.  
THEY FEEL 
THAT, HOW LONG CAN YOU LET THE 
PRESIDENT ACT IN THIS 
MANNER?  
THEY FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE 
PRESIDENT TRIED 
TO SHAKE DOWN UKRAINE TO EXACT 
A POLITICAL FAVOR.  
AND FOR THAT REASON, THAT IS 
WHY MANY OF THEM ARE 
ARGUING THE NEED TO MOVE 
FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT.  
REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER HAND, 
AS YOU HEARD, 
CONTINUE TO ARGUE AGAINST THE 
PROCESS OF FEELING IT 
HAS BEEN UNFAIR AND THAT THE 
CARDS HAVE BEEN STACKED 
AGAINST THEM AND THEY HAVE NOT 
BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN 
THE WITNESSES THEY WANT.  AND 
THIS IS BEING RUSHED.  
ALL BEING TIMED RIGHT BEFORE 
CHRISTMAS.  
THEY FEEL, 
AS ONE MEMBER ARGUED THIS 
MORNING THAT THE MAJORITY 
IS TRYING TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH 
THIS SO THAT THEY CAN 
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THIS 
VOTE.  
YOU ALSO HEARD 
REPUBLICANS SUGGESTING THAT 
WHEN THIS VOTE TAKES 
PLACE, MEMBERS SHOULD STAND UP 
AND DO A MANUAL ROLL 
CALL.  
AND WHETHER REPUBLICANS ARE 
CALLING FOR A 
LONGER DEBATE AND BEYOND THE 
SIX HOURS.  
AT THIS 
POINT, THAT IS UNLIKELY TO 
HAPPEN.  
WE WILL SEE HOW 
THIS VOTE SHAKES OUT.  
CERTAINLY WE EXPECT THEM TO 
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS SIX 
HOURS OF DEBATE WHEN 
THESE TWO VOTES CLEAR. 
>>  I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HEARD 
ANYONE'S TAKE ON THE 
PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO NANCY 
PELOSI, WHETHER THEY 
THOUGHT IT HELPED AT ALL OR ANY 
REACTION TO IT. 
>>  IN TERMS OF REPUBLICANS, WE 
HEARD CONGRESSMAN 
MARK MEADOWS SPEAKING TO NANCY 
CORDES EARLIER TODAY, 
WHO HAS BEEN A VERY VOCAL 
SUPPORTER OF THE PRESIDENT 
SAYING THAT THIS EXPRESSES NOT 
ONLY THE PRESIDENT'S 
FRUSTRATIONS BUT OUR ON 
FRUSTRATIONS TOO ABOUT THIS 
PROCESS AND THAT IT HAS BEEN 
UNFAIR AND ESSENTIALLY, 
THEY MORE OR LESS BACK WITH THE 
PRESIDENT IS SAYING.  
ON THE FLIPSIDE, WE HAVE HEARD 
SPEAKER PELOSI TELL A 
REPORTER YESTERDAY THAT SHE 
FEELS THE PRESIDENT'S 
LETTER WAS SICK AND CERTAINLY 
WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR 
A MORE FORMAL RESPONSE.  
WE WILL HEAR FROM HER LATER 
TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.  
OVER THIS ISSUE OF 
WHETHER OR NOT SHE WILL PRAY 
FOR THE PRESIDENT DOES 
THE PRESIDENT TOOK AIM AT THE 
SPEAKER OVER THAT 
SAYING HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT 
SHE DOES THAT.  
SHE 
HAS DEFENDED THAT WHEN ASKED 
ABOUT IT.  
SHE GOT VERY 
UPSET AND HE DID WITH A 
REPORTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS 
AGO WHO QUESTIONED HER 
SENTIMENT TOWARD THE 
PRESIDENT.  
SHE MADE CLEAR THEN THAT SHE 
DOESN'T 
HATE ANYBODY.  
SHE IS NOT DOING THIS OUT OF 
SPITE.  
THAT SHE DOES IN FACT PRAY FOR 
THE PRESIDENT AND IT 
WILL BE INTERESTING TO HEAR THE 
TONE THAT SHE 
STRIKES TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
. 
>>  IN FACT, NICOLE, WE DO HAVE 
THE MOMENT WHEN 
NANCY CORDES GOT A CHANCE TO 
SPEAK TO CONGRESSMAN 
MARK MEADOWS.  
LET'S PLAY THAT.
>>  THE LETTER EXPRESSES HIS 
FRUSTRATIONS.  
NOT 
JUST HIS FRUSTRATIONS BUT THE 
FRUSTRATIONS OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
I THINK THIS IS THE SAD DAY FOR 
THE COUNTRY.  
EVEN THOUGH POLITICALLY, IT MAY 
BE A 
GOOD DAY FOR THE PRESIDENT AND 
REPUBLICAN SWING 
DISTRICTS. 
>>  HAVE YOU SEEN POLLING THAT 
INDICATES THIS IS 
GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS? 
>>  WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF 
POLLING.  
BUT IF YOU LOOK 
AT THE SUPPORT FOR IMPEACHMENT, 
IT HAS BEEN 
DROPPING.  
THE MORE DEMOCRATS ARE ON TV 
AND THE MORE 
THE HEARINGS HAPPEN.  
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CLEAR 
POLITICS AVERAGE, IT HAS BEEN 
STEADILY DECLINING 
OVER THE LAST MONTH, THE LAST 
45 DAYS.  
MORE 
IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT.  
IT IS NOT ABOUT POLLS OR ANY 
OF THIS BUT IT IS ABOUT OUR 
COUNTRY AND TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT ON SUCH A NARROW 
SCOPE WITH THE MOST 
FLIMSY EVIDENCE IS VERY 
TROUBLING. 
>>  DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT WAS 
OKAY FOR THE 
PRESIDENT TO ASK A FOREIGN 
POWER TO INVESTIGATE HIS 
POLITICAL RIVAL? 
>>  WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, THAT 
IS THE WAY EVERY 
REPORTER FITS THE NARRATIVE. 
>>  THAT IS THE QUESTION.  
THAT IS WHAT HE IS BEING 
IMPEACHED FOR. 
>>  WHAT HE IS BEING IMPEACHED 
FOR IS TOTALLY 
POLITICS. 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS, 
ABUSE OF POWER, THEY ARE TRYING 
TO PUT THAT ON 
DISTANT DIFFERENT NARRATIVES.  
LET ME ASK YOU A 
QUESTION.  
WAS A PHONE CALL APPROPRIATE?  
IT 
CERTAINLY WAS.  
WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT THIS, 
THE 
PRESIDENT HAS LONG DEFENDED THE 
FACT THAT WE SHOULD 
NOT BE SENDING HARD-WORKING 
AMERICAN TAXPAYER 
DOLLARS ABROAD.  
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO 
SEND 
IT A BROAD PERIOD.  
BUT CERTAINLY NOT SEND IT TO A 
CORRUPT COUNTRY.  
AS WE LOOK AT THAT, YOU CAN 
FIND 
NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE BUT FOUR 
DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE 
THE PRESIDENT BROUGHT UP 
CORRUPTION MORE BROADLY 
ABOUT UKRAINE.  
SO TO ASK THE PRESIDENT OF 
UKRAINE 
TO LOOK INTO THAT WAS CERTAINLY 
APPROPRIATE.  
HERE 
IS THE OTHER INTERESTING FACTS. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY 
OF UKRAINE NEVER SAW IT AS 
ANYTHING POLITICAL.  
HE 
NEVER SAW A CONNECTION. 
AND YET, HE IS THE STAR 
WITNESS AND WE DON'T HAVE A 
SINGLE AFFIDAVIT FROM 
THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE FOR 
ADAM SCHIFF AND HIS 
JUDICIARY COLLEAGUES TO LOOK 
AT.  
WOULDN'T YOU THINK 
THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT? 
>>  WHAT I'M ASKING IS 
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.  
I'M 
SAYING, IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR 
THE PRESIDENT TO ASK A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY TO INVESTIGATE 
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN 
WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE HIS 
CAMPAIGN RIVAL?  
YOU HAVE 
EVERY WITNESS. 
>>  THERE ARE A LOT OF 
DEMOCRATS THAT WOULD 
DISAGREE WITH YOU.  
A LOT OF BERNIE SUPPORTERS 
WATCHING RIGHT NOW WOULD 
SUGGEST THAT IS NOT THE 
CASE.  
BUT DOES RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT 
EXONERATE YOU 
FROM BEING INVESTIGATED?  I 
WOULD LOVE FOR MY 
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES TO GIVE UP 
ON THE INVESTIGATION 
OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BASED ON THE 
SAME RATIONALE.  
HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING.  
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS 
PARTICULAR PRESIDENT AND WHAT 
HE ASKED FOR TO BE 
DONE, HE ASKED FOR THEM TO LOOK 
AT IT AND COORDINATE 
WITH OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.  
IF YOU CAN'T HAVE 
SOMEONE COORDINATE WITH OUR 
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO 
TRULY INVESTIGATE WRONGDOING, 
ARE YOU SAYING IT IS 
OKAY FOR HUNTER BIDEN TO SERVE 
ON THE BOARD OF A 
CORRUPT COMPANY AND ACTUALLY 
MAKE THE KIND OF MONEY 
HE IS MAKING?  
WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT?  
WOULD YOUR 
VIEWERS SUGGEST IT IS 
APPROPRIATE?  
MY VIEWERS DON'T 
THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE. 
>>  IF PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED 
UP ANGELA MERKEL AND 
SAID, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO 
INVESTIGATE DONALD 
TRUMP, WOULD THAT BE OKAY WITH 
YOU? 
>>  YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF 
HYPOTHETICALS WHEN YOU 
LOOK AT THAT.  
THERE ARE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT 
OBAMA 
DID THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE 
WELL BEYOND WHAT THIS 
PRESIDENT IS BEING ACCUSED OF 
DOING AND HE WASN'T 
IMPEACHED.  
WE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.  
WE HAVE FOUR 
AMERICANS THAT DIED IN 
BENGHAZI.  
YET HE DID NOT GET 
IMPEACHED.  
WE HAD A MAJOR INVESTIGATION AS 
YOU 
KNOW.  
YOU TALK ABOUT A POLITICAL 
SPIN.  
THEY WERE 
BLAMING IT ON A VIDEO.  
YOU KNOW AND I KNOW AND THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT WAS NOT 
A VIDEO.  
DID THAT 
HAVE A POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE?  
YES.  
YET HE DID NOT 
GET IMPEACHED FOR THAT.  
WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT 
THE STANDARDS, I WILL BE GLAD 
TO COME BACK ON AND 
DEBATE THOSE STANDARDS ALL DAY 
LONG.  
HERE'S THE 
BOTTOM LINE.  
NO FAX.  
NO CREDIBLE FACTS.  
THREE OF 
THE TOP PEOPLE IN UKRAINE 
CONTINUE TO STATE THAT 
THERE WAS NO PRESSURE.  AT WHAT 
POINT DO YOU SAY, 
WHERE IS THE VICTIM OF THE 
CRIME?  
IT IS NOT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
THE PRESIDENT WAS LOOKING OUT 
FOR 
THEIR BEST INTEREST. 
>>  YOU SAY NO FAX. 
BUT WE HEARD FROM THE U.S. 
AMBASSADOR TO THAT EU.  
WE HEARD FROM THE TOP U.S. 
DIPLOMAT IN UKRAINE.  
WE SAW THE TOP OFFICIAL THAT 
OVERSEES UKRAINE.  
WE HEARD FROM WHITE HOUSE 
OFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE 
PRESIDENT.  
ALL OF THEM 
SAID THAT THEIR UNDERSTANDING 
IS THAT THE AID TO 
UKRAINE WOULD NOT FLOW UNTIL 
THE PRESIDENT GOT THESE 
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INVESTIGATION 
BY THE UKRAINIANS. 
>>  YOU COVER CAPITOL HILL AND 
YOU KNOW THIS VERY 
WELL IF YOU CAN HEAR ALL KINDS 
OF THINGS ON WHAT 
PEOPLE BELIEVE ARE FACT.  
NONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU 
JUST MENTIONED EVER GOT ANY OF 
THAT INFORMATION FROM 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES.  
NOT A SINGLE 
ONE OF THEM.  
IN FACT, YOU TALK TO THEM AND 
YOU SAY, 
I PRESUME THAT.  
I THOUGHT THAT WAS HAPPENING.  
WHEN 
YOU TALK TO AMBASSADOR VOLKER 
WHO DID TALK TO THE 
PRESIDENT OR YOU TALK TO 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF 
UKRAINE WHO DID TALK TO THE 
PRESIDENT OR VICE 
PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE WHO DID 
TALK TO THE PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY, FIVE DIFFERENT 
CONVERSATIONS AND NOT A 
SINGLE CONNECTION BETWEEN AID.  
WE HAVE SENATORS ON 
THE OTHER SIDE.  
BIPARTISAN.  
MR. MURPHY AS WELL.  
SENATOR MURPHY WHO WAS IN THERE 
TALKING TO PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY.  
NOT BROUGHT UP.  
DON'T YOU THINK IF THERE 
WAS A LINKAGE IN ONE OF THOSE 
FIVE CONVERSATIONS, IT 
WOULD HAVE COME UP?  
IT DIDN'T.  
I'M HERE TO TELL 
YOU THIS IS ALL ABOUT 
CONVICTING A PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES BASED ON HEARSAY 
AND INNUENDO NOT 
BASED ON THE FACTS. 
>>  DO YOU THINK THE SENATE 
SHOULD HEAR FROM SOME 
OF THE FIRST-HAND WITNESSES?  
LIKE JOHN BOLTON OR 
MICK MULVANEY, THE ACTING WHITE 
HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF 
WHO DID NOT COME AND TESTIFY 
WHEN THEY WERE 
SUBPOENAED IN THE HOUSE? 
>>  I AM ONE THAT HAS CERTAINLY 
ENCOURAGED 
SECRETARY MIKE POMPEO AND 
SECRETARY PERRY TO COME 
IN.
>>  YOU GOT TO ASK A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS. 
>>  I GOT TO ASK A LOT OF 
QUESTIONS BUT I WAS ONE 
OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS 
THAT GOT TO ASK 
QUESTIONS.  
BUT WHEN I WANTED TO CALL 
WITNESSES AND 
WHEN I ACTUALLY GOT CLOSE TO 
THE TRUTH, ADAM SCHIFF 
WOULD CUT US OFF.  
YOU CAN GO BACK AND CHECK THE 
TRANSCRIPT.  
HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING.  
THE 
PROCESS HAS BEEN SO UNFAIR.  
AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE 
LEAKS FROM SOME OF MY 
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES. 
>>  NAME THEM.  
I WILL HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT.  
I CAN 
TELL YOU THAT I WAS IN THE 
ROOM.  
JORDAN WAS IN THE 
ROOM.  
WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE 
LEAKED A FEW 
THINGS AND BROKEN HOUSE RULES.  
WE WOULD COME OUT 
AND FIND SOME OF THE REPORTERS 
WITH DEMOCRAT TALKING 
POINTS BEFORE WE HAD THE 
INFORMATION.  
IT IS AN 
UNFAIR PROCESS.  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO 
KNOW 
WHAT.  
AND THEY ALREADY ARE.  
THEY ARE SEEING IT FOR 
WHAT IT IS. 
>>  WHAT I OBSERVED IS THAT 
THERE WERE DOZENS OF 
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FROM 
THREE DIFFERENT 
COMMITTEES ALLOWED IN THOSE 
DEPOSITIONS.  
YOU SPLIT 
THE TIME THE REPUBLICANS HAVE 
PLENTY OF TIME TO 
INTERVIEW THE WITNESSES JUST 
LIKE DEMOCRATS. 
>>  BUT THEY DID NOT ALLOW FOR 
MINORITY. 
>>  YOU DID GET SEVERAL 
WITNESSES. 
>>  
WHAT STARTS THE 
PROCESS
. 
>>  IF THEY WERE TO HOLD THAT 
UP TO GIVE CHUCK 
SCHUMER SOME LEVERAGE, IT SHOWS 
THAT THEY WANT THE 
PROCESS TO BE UNFAIR ON THE 
HOUSE SIDE AND THE 
SENATE SIDE AS WELL. 
>>  STEPPING BACK AND LOOKING 
AT THIS FROM A BIG 
PICTURE STANDPOINT, WHAT DOES 
THIS MEAN?  
HOW DOES 
THIS CHANGE THINGS ON CAPITOL 
HILL?  
HOW DOES THIS 
CHANGE THINGS FOR THE 
PRESIDENT?  
IS THERE A BEFORE 
AND AFTER?  
WILL TOMORROW BE A NEW DAY FOR 
THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
HE NOW HAS THE STAR 
NEXT TO HIS NAME.  
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH DEMOCRATS?  
GIVE US THE BIG 
PICTURE SENSE OF WHAT CHANGES 
AFTER TODAY. 
>>  THE SCARS AND WOUNDS OF 
THIS PARTISAN PROCESS 
WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME 
FOR IT IS NOT AS 
MUCH ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OR 
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OR 
SENATE BUT MORE ABOUT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
IT IS, 
WHAT ARE THEY NOT GETTING.  
THE PRESIDENT IS TRULY 
AT 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE 
WAITING TO HELP US LOWER 
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.  
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH 
MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES TO 
FIND A BIPARTISAN 
SOLUTION.  
WHAT THIS DOES IS NOT ONLY PUT 
A CHILLING 
EFFECT ON IT BUT ALMOST PUTS A 
DEATH NAIL AND 
ANYTHING THAT IS BIPARTISAN.  
YOU CAN'T IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT AND IMPUGN HIM IN 
SUCH A WAY AND EXPECT 
TOMORROW THAT EVERYTHING WILL 
BE OKAY.  
THIS 
PRESIDENT WILL BE JUDGED ON THE 
AMAZING ECONOMY AND 
THE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE 
HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET 
DONE.  
AND WHAT HE WILL GET DONE IN 
THE NEXT FIVE 
YEARS.  
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T 
SEE IT AS AN 
STAR AS MUCH AS PEOPLE VIEWING 
IT FOR WHAT IT IS.  
A 
PARTISAN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT AND I THINK 
IT WILL BACKFIRE. 
>>  CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS OF 
NORTH CAROLINA, 
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. 
>>  CREDIT TO NANCY CORDES 
THERE WHO TRIED MIGHTILY 
TO GET CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS 
TO ANSWER SOME OF 
THE QUESTIONS THAT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE HAVE.  
IN 
OTHER WORDS, THE PHONE CALL.  
WAS IT A PROPER 
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS FROM THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES OR WAS IT NOT.  
MARK MEADOWS SAYING HE 
BELIEVES THAT WAS.  
HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED TO ROOT 
OUT CORRUPTION AND 
BELIEVED THAT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE 
SPENDING HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS
ON A COUNTRY NOT 
CLEAN.  
UP UNTIL THAT MOMENT, THE 
PRESIDENT HAD NOT 
EXPRESSED INTEREST.  AND ON THE 
SO-CALLED TRANSCRIPT 
RECEIVED, THE PRESIDENT DOES 
NOT TALK ABOUT 
CORRUPTION BUT TALKS ABOUT JOE 
BIDEN. 
>>  THEN YOU HEAR FROM MEADOWS 
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD 
FROM A LOT OF REPUBLICANS 
CRITICIZING THE PROCESS 
SAYING THAT IT WAS A BIASED 
PROCESS AND THE MINORITY 
PARTY DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO 
PARTICIPATE ON AN 
EQUAL LEVEL.  
SO THESE ARE THE ARGUMENTS WE 
HAVE 
HEARD BEFORE.  
THE PROCESS IS FLAWED AND 
THEREFORE 
WE SHOULD NOT GO FORWARD WITH 
IT. 
>>  RICKEY AND MOLLY ARE HERE.  
MOLLY, AS WE WERE 
LISTENING TO THE INTERVIEW WITH 
NANCY CORDES AND 
CONGRESSMAN MARK MEADOWS, WE 
WERE GIVING OUR 
PLAY-BY-PLAY ANALYSIS.  
IT IS INTERESTING.  
WHEN 
CONGRESSMAN MEADOWS SAID TO 
NANCY  --  THEY SAID 
REPUBLICANS LIKE AN DEMOCRATS 
LEAK AND HE SAID, I'M 
SHOCKED.  
WHO LEAKS.  
AND YOU AND I WERE SITTING 
HERE GOING, EVERYBODY LEAKS.  
AND THE IDEA. 
>>  AND SHE ALSO POINTED OUT TO 
MARK MEADOWS ONE HE 
WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT 
HAVING A FAIR SHAKE AT 
THIS, THAT HE WAS IN THERE AND 
ASKED PLENTY OF 
QUESTIONS.  
TO ME AND SAID, RIGHT AS HE WAS 
GETTING 
UP TO THE TRUTH, THAT 
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF 
STOPPED THEM AND STOPPED JIM 
JORDAN AND STOPPED OF 
THE REPUBLICANS GETTING OUT 
WHATEVER IT WAS.  
SO 
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING, 
YOUR REPORTING AS TO 
THIS NOTION WHICH WE HAVE HEARD 
OVER AND OVER AGAIN 
THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE 
DENIED THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR 
ABILITY TO PURSUE THIS 
INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF 
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF.  
IT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO 
UNDERSTAND, WHEN NANCY SAYS TO 
MARK MEADOWS.  
THAT I 
SAW YOU THERE AND I SAW JIM 
JORDAN THERE AND I SAW 
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN 
PARTY THERE.  WHAT 
ARE WE MISSING? 
>>  WHAT WE ARE MISSING IS THE 
CHALLENGE WITH THIS 
ISSUE IN PARTICULAR, THIS 
IMPEACHMENT MATTER IS THAT 
CONGRESS IS INVESTIGATING.  
TAKING A LEAD ON THE 
INVESTIGATION.  
WITH BILL CLINTON, YOU HAD 
INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.  
THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT.  
HE HAD 
BEEN INVESTIGATING ON SOMETHING 
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT 
THAN SOMETHING THAT CAME TO 
CONGRESS EVENTUALLY.  
NIXON STARTED OUT ON THE SENATE 
SIDE.  
A SENATE 
PEDAL STARTED TO INVESTIGATE 
THE INITIAL WATERGATE 
BREAK-IN.  
AND THAT ENDED UP COMING TO THE 
HOUSE.  
IN THIS MATTER IN PARTICULAR, 
HOUSE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE TOOK THE LEAD.  
AND SO THEY DIDN'T REALLY 
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COME UP WITH
HOW MANY 33 BOXES 
OF EVIDENCE THAT THE HOUSE 
MEMBERS COULD GO ACROSS 
THE STREET TO THE FORD BUILDING 
TO SEE LIKE THEY DID 
WITH BILL CLINTON.  
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO 
THAT.  
AND AGAIN, THAT IS WHERE 
REPUBLICANS WILL SAY 
IT IS RUSHED.  
WE WERE DOWN IN THE QUOTE 
UNQUOTE 
BUNKER IN THE BASEMENT SO WE 
COULD INTERVIEW THESE 
PEOPLE BUT OFF-CAMERA.  
AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO 
SEE ALL THE FACT WITNESSES 
BEFORE THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE.  
REPUBLICANS AND WOULD ARGUE. 
>>  THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF 
ACTIVITY THERE ON THE 
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.  
LET'S JUST 
DIP AND TO SEE IF WE ARE AT 
THAT MOMENT WHERE WE 
BELIEVE THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS WILL ACTUALLY 
BEGIN.  
UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THERE HAVE 
BEEN A LOT 
OF MOTIONS. 
>>  I THINK THEY ARE VOTING ON 
THE ROLE NOW. 
>>  THEY WILL VOTE ON THIS 
RULE.  
IF THEY DECIDE WE 
WILL CUT OFF DEBATE AND MOVE ON 
TO THIS, VOTE ON 
THIS.  
FIVE MINUTES.  
AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE 
GENERAL DEBATE. 
>>  BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT 
ARGUING THAT THE 
PROCESS IS NOT FAIR, 
REPUBLICANS WANTED THIS TO BE 
DONE IN THE QUOTE UNQUOTE LIGHT 
OF DAY.  
WITHOUT 
HAVING DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS 
AND BOXES AND BOXES 
OF EVIDENCE TO GO THROUGH, THEY 
SAY THE PROCESS HAS 
BEEN RUSHED.  
KEEP IN MIND, I'M SURE 
REPUBLICANS 
WOULD SAY THAT EVEN IF THERE 
WERE A FEW MORE MONTHS 
DEDICATED TO THE PROCESS.  
UNLIKE BOB MUELLER WHO 
CAME OUT AND SPENT TWO YEARS 
INVESTIGATING RUSSIAN 
COLLUSION, THE MATTER THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE 
IMPEACHED ON OR IS LIKELY TO BE 
IMPEACHED ON WAS 
ONLY AND BEST TO GET IT OVER A 
PERIOD OF WEEKS. 
>>  THE ONE THING INTERESTING 
TO ME AND WE WERE 
TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST 
HOUR, YOU HEAR OVER 
AND OVER AGAIN FROM REPUBLICANS 
THAT THEY WANT TO 
STICK TO THE WHISTLEBLOWER AND 
THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
NEVER TESTIFIED.  
THEY BELIEVE THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
IS 
SOMEBODY WHO HAD A POLITICAL 
BIAS AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
THE QUESTION I HAVE 
IS, LET'S SAY FOR ARGUMENTS 
SAKE THAT THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER DID IN FACT HAVE 
SOME CONNECTION TO 
SOMEBODY RUNNING FOR THE 
PRESIDENCY IN 2020.  
WHEN 
YOU HAVE 17 OTHER INDIVIDUALS, 
MANY OF THEM 
APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTS, MANY 
WHO ARE REPUBLICANS, 
SAYING, WHAT I UNDERSTOOD AS 
FAR AS WHAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WANTED FROM UKRAINE'S 
PRESIDENT IS SOMETHING 
THAT WAS PROBLEMATIC.  
AND IT MAY NOT BE, AS SOME 
REPUBLICANS PERHAPS BELIEVE, 
AND IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE 
BUT IT WAS WRONG.  
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE 
IDEA 
OF THE WHISTLEBLOWER AND HAVING 
SUCH A CASE TRIED TO 
BE MADE FOR THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
TO TESTIFY BEFORE 
CONGRESS OR EVEN IN WRITING 
WHEN EVERYTHING WE HAVE 
SEEN FROM THE PEOPLE WHO 
TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS 
VALIDATES WHAT THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER SAID. 
>>  THE WHISTLEBLOWER IS NOT 
THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF 
THE INFORMATION.  
WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER 
SAYS THAT HE OR SHE, WE WILL 
ASSUME FOR THE SAKE OF 
ARGUMENT RIGHT NOW IT WAS A HE 
SO THE RUMORS HAVE 
BEEN AFLOAT.  
BUT HE OR SHE RECEIVED 
INFORMATION 
FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.  
THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY 
SOURCES.  
WHEN YOU ADD 17 WITNESSES, YOU 
HAVE 
BASICALLY ALL PRIMARY SOURCES 
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 
RUDY GIULIANI, MICK MULVANEY, 
JOHN BOLTON. 
>>  AND SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE 
POMPEO.  
SO THOSE 
FOUR, THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT 
ALLOWED TO TESTIFY.  
BUT YOU HAD 17 OTHER WITNESSES 
AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO 
REMEMBER IS NOT ONLY DID GORDAN 
SONDLAND, WHO IS NOT 
ONLY APPOINTED BY THIS 
PRESIDENT AS AMBASSADOR TO 
THE EUROPEAN UNION, BUT WAS A 
MILLION-DOLLAR 
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE PRESIDENT'S 
INAUGURATION, WHO 
CERTAINLY SOUNDED PRETTY 
FAMILIAR ON HIS PHONE CALL 
WITH THE PRESIDENT WHICH HE 
MADE FROM A RESTAURANT 
IN UKRAINE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE 
DAVID HOLMES WHO 
OVERHEARS THE PRESIDENT TALK 
ABOUT OR ASK THE 
QUESTION ABOUT THE 
INVESTIGATIONS, MEANING INTO 
JOE 
BIDEN, AS WELL AS WHAT WE CALL 
CROWD STRIKE WHICH 
HAD TO DO WITH A DEBUNKED 
THEORY THAT HAS  --  THAT 
THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE SAYS 
IS INNOCENCE GARBAGE 
THAT THE UKRAINIANS WERE THE 
ONE WHO CREATED 
INTERFERENCE WITH THE 2016 
ELECTION.  
THAT THAT IS A 
PRIMARY SOURCE.  
THE WHISTLEBLOWER CAN ONLY SAY 
THROUGH HIS LETTER OR HER 
LETTER OF COMPLAINT THAT, 
I HEARD FROM A, B AND C, THE 
FOLLOWING.  
YOU DON'T 
NEED THE WHISTLEBLOWER TO 
TESTIFY THAT MAKE THE 
ARGUMENT HAD BEEN BUT THEN 
THERE WERE OTHER 
ARGUMENTS THAT FOLLOWED THAT 
BECAUSE THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER WAS THE IMPETUS 
FOR THE ENTIRE 
PROCESS, THAT IF IT WAS FLAWED, 
IF THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
IS FLAWED, EVERYTHING ELSE 
COMING AFTER IT IS FLAWED 
AS WELL. 
>>  IF THE WHISTLEBLOWER HAD 
RELEASED HIS REPORT  
--  AND LET'S REMIND THE 
AUDIENCE AT THE INSPECTOR 
GENERAL, A TRUMP APPOINTEE 
FOUND IT CREDIBLE AND 
URGENT. 
>>  CREDIBLE AND URGENT.  
SO WHAT THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
ALLEGED, HAD IT TURNED OUT NOT 
TO BE TRUE WHEN THE 
17 WITNESSES GOT UP BEFORE 
CONGRESS, THEN YOU COULD 
SAY, THIS GUY NEEDS TO BE 
STANDING TALL BEFORE THE 
MAN TO EXPLAIN WHERE THAT CAME 
FROM.  
BUT THAT IS 
NOT WHAT HAPPENED. 
>>  EXACTLY.  
BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE 
INDIVIDUALS 
THAT WERE ON THE CALL LIKE 
ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER 
VENMO IN. 
IT EXPLAINS WHY YOU WOULD WANT 
THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER TO COME FORWARD.  
WHEN IT COMES DOWN 
TO IT, AT THAT TIME, MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS LIKE RON 
JOHNSON, CHRIS MURPHY, SENATOR 
MCCONNELL, THEY WERE 
ASKING, WHY HASN'T THIS AID TO 
UKRAINE BEEN 
RELEASED?  
REALLY THAT WAS SOMETHING 
CONGRESS WAS 
LOOKING INTO.  
THEY WERE STARTING TO LOOK INTO 
IT AT 
THE TIME.  
AND AROUND THAT TIME, THE WORD 
OF THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER REPORTER, I GUESS 
THERE WAS A MEETING 
WITH ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS 
FOR ADAM SCHIFF AT THE 
INTEL COMMITTEE HAD THE 
MEETING.  
OUGHT ALL 
HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.  
BUT THE IMPETUS WAS 
THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND THIS 
MONEY THAT WAS ALLOTTED 
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH.  
WHERE IS IT AND WHY HASN'T 
IT BEEN SPENT?  
NOBODY RECEIVED A GOOD ANSWER.  
FIONA HILL SAID SHE NEVER 
RECEIVED A GOOD ANSWER FOR 
THAT.  
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE 
WITNESSES HAD AN 
ANSWER FOR IT.  
I THINK SONDLAND SAID, I'M 
STILL 
LOOKING INTO IT.  
THAT WAS FROM THE IMPETUS.  
I 
THINK REPUBLICANS WOULD TAKE 
ISSUE WITH THE 
INTERPRETATION OF THE 
INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE EVEN GORDAN 
SONDLAND SAID, I PRESUMED THE 
PRESIDENT WAS DOING 
THIS FOR THAT AND WHICH IS WHY 
IT WILL HE AN 
IMPORTANT AND KEY IN THE SENATE 
IF CHUCK SCHUMER CAN 
GET THE 51 VOTES COME TO CALL 
THE WITNESSES WHO 
WOULD HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE 
AS TO WHAT THE 
PRESIDENT WAS THINKING OF MICK 
MULVANEY, JOHN 
BOLTON.  
IF HE IS ABLE TO GET THE VOTES 
IN THE 
SENATE, WILL THE PERSON WHO 
WILL BE DECIDING IF IT 
IS AN ORDER OR NOT, IF IT IS A 
SUPREME COURT 
JUSTICE, JOHN ROBERTS 
PRESIDING. 
>>  BUT ROBERTS IS ALSO BETWEEN 
A ROCK AND A HARD 
PLACE.  
EVEN THOUGH HE IS THE CHIEF 
JUSTICE OF THE 
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.  
IN MANY WAYS, HE IS A 
FIGUREHEAD.  
I THINK IT WAS JUSTICE WILLIAM 
REHNQUIST WHO PRESIDED OVER THE 
CLINTON IMPEACHMENT 
TRIAL WHO SAID WORDS TO THE 
EFFECT, I DID ABSOLUTELY 
NOTHING AND I DID NOTHING VERY 
WELL.  
AND THAT IS 
THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.  
THAT REALLY, THE 
CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS IS UP 
TO MITCH MCCONNELL AND 
AS MOLLY POINTS OUT, YOU CAN 
TRY TO OVERRULE THAT 
WITH A VOTE OF 51.  
AND THEN IT IS ROBERTS JOB TO 
ENFORCE THE VOTE AND INTERPRET 
THE VOTE AND HOW DOES 
HE ENFORCE IT. 
>>  I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHICH 
SENATORS WILL BE 
FEELING THE PRESSURE.  
WHICH REPUBLICAN SENATORS 
WILL BE FEELING THE PRESSURE TO 
PERHAPS JOIN IN WITH 
THE DEMOCRATS AND ADD TO THAT. 
>>  IT WON'T GET TWO THIRDS. 
>>  BUT THEY NEEDED GENERAL 
CONSENSUS. 
>>  FOR THE WITNESSES, RIGHT. 
>>  ROBERTS WILL BE IN A TOUGH 
POSITION GIVEN THAT 
HE IS, LIKE YOU SAID, THE 
FIGUREHEAD.  
AT THE SAME 
TIME  - 
>>  HE WILL BE PARTISAN IN ANY 
WAY. 
>>  AND IF THE ADMINISTRATION 
IS ARGUING EXECUTIVE 
PRIVILEGE, THE SUPREME COURT 
HAS DECIDED IN THE PAST 
THAT IN CASES OF IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRIES AND WHATNOT, 
YOU HAVE TO THROW THAT OUT THE 
WINDOW. 
>>  HOW ELSE WOULD YOU DISCOVER 
WHETHER OR NOT 
THERE IS IMPROPER BEHAVIOR IF 
YOU ARE BLOCKED? 
>>  EXACTLY.  
WHICH IS AN INTERESTING 
WRINKLE.  
FOR 
THE REPUBLICANS YOU ARE TALKING 
ABOUT, CORY GARDNER, 
SUSAN COLLINS, MITT ROMNEY DOES 
NOT BECAUSE HE IS A 
VULNERABLE BUT BECAUSE HE IS 
DISTURBED BY THE 
PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR AND 
GENERAL. 
>>  STANDBY TEAM FOR A MOMENT.  
WILL TAKE YOU BACK 
TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.  
THEY 
HAVE JUST GAVELED IN.  
WE WILL FIND OUT THE RESULTS 
OF THE VOTE AND SEE WHERE WE GO 
NEXT.  
 
MEMBERS WILL TAKE THEIR 
CONVERSATIONS OFF
>>  MEMBERS WILL TAKE 
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION  
767, THE HOUSE WILL PROCEED TO  
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 
767, THE HOUSE WILL 
PROCEED TO THE IMMEDIATE 
CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 755.  
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE 
RESOLUTION. 
>>  HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 61.  
HOUSE RESOLUTION 
755, RESOLVED.  
THAT DONALD JOHN TRUMP, 
PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES IS IMPEACHED 
FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS AND THAT THE 
FOLLOWING ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT BE EXHIBITED TO THE 
UNITED STATES 
SENATE.  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
EXHIBITED BY THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF 
AND OF THE PEOPLE OF 
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
AGAINST DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA IN 
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS.  
ARTICLE ONE, 
ABUSE OF POWER.  
THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT 
THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL 
HAVE THE SOLE POWER 
OF IMPEACHMENT AND THE 
PRESIDENT SHALL BE REMOVED 
FROM OFFICE ON IMPEACHMENT FOR 
AND CONVICTION OF 
TREASON, BRIBERY, OR OTHER HIGH 
CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS.  
IN HIS CONDUCT OF THE OFFICE OF 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
AND IN VIOLATION OF 
HIS CONSTITUTIONAL OATH 
FAITHFULLY TO EXECTE THE 
OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES AND TO THE 
BEST OF HIS ABILITY, PRESERVE, 
PROTECT AND DEFEND 
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES AND IN 
VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL 
DUTY TO TAKE CARE 
THAT THE LAWS BE FAITHFULLY 
EXECUTED, DONALD TRUMP 
HAS ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE 
PRESIDENCY IN THAT 
USING THE POWERS OF HIS HIGH 
OFFICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
SOLICITED THE INTERFERENCE OF A 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, 
UKRAINE, IN THE 2020 UNITED 
STATES PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION.  
HE DID SO THROUGH A SCHEME OR 
COURSE OF 
CONDUCT THAT INCLUDED 
SOLICITING THE GOVERNMENT OF 
UKRAINE TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE 
INVESTIGATIONS THAT 
WOULD BENEFIT HIS REELECTION, 
HARM THE ELECTION 
PROSPECTS OF A POLITICAL 
OPPONENT AND INFLUENCE THE 
2020 UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION TO HIS 
ADVANTAGE.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO SOUGHT TO 
PRESSURE 
THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO 
TAKE THESE STEPS BY 
CONDITIONING OFFICIAL UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT ACTS 
OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO UKRAINE 
ON ITS PUBLIC 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 
INVESTIGATIONS.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ENGAGED IN THIS SCHEME OR 
COURSE OF CONDUCT FOR 
CORRUPT PURPOSES AND PURSUIT OF 
PERSONAL POLITICAL 
BENEFIT AND SO DOING, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP USE THE POWERS 
OF THE PRESIDENCY IN A MANNER 
THAT COMPROMISE THE 
NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED 
STATES AND 
UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF THE 
UNITED STATES 
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.  
HE THUS IGNORED AND ENTERED THE 
INTEREST OF THE NATION.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN 
THIS SCHEME OR COURSE OF 
CONDUCT THROUGH THE 
FOLLOWING MEANS.  
ONE, PRESIDENT TRUMP ACTING 
BOTH 
DIRECTLY AND THROUGH HIS AGENTS 
WITHIN AND OUTSIDE 
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, 
CORRUPTLY SOLICITED 
THE GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO 
PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO A, A 
POLITICAL OPPONENT, FORMER 
VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN 
JUNIOR AND A DISCREDITED 
THEORY PROMOTED BY RUSSIA 
ALLEGING THAT UKRAINE, 
RATHER THAN RUSSIA, INTERFERED 
IN THE 2016 UNITED 
STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.  
TWO, WITH THE SAME 
CORRUPT MOTIVES, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ACTING BOTH 
DIRECTLY AND THROUGH HIS AGENTS 
WITHIN AND OUTSIDE 
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 
CONDITIONED TWO 
OFFICIAL ACTS ON THE PUBLIC 
ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT HE 
HAD REQUESTED A, THE RELEASE OF 
$391 MILLION OF 
UNITED STATES TAXPAYER FUNDS 
THAT CONGRESS HAD 
APPROPRIATED ON A BIPARTISAN 
BASIS FOR THE PURPOSE 
OF PROVIDING MILITARY AND 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO 
UKRAINE TO OPPOSE RUSSIAN 
AGGRESSION IN WHICH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD ORDERED 
SUSPENDED AND B, A HEAD 
OF STATE MEETING AT THE WHITE 
HOUSE WHICH THE 
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE SOUGHT TO 
DEMONSTRATE, 
CONTINUED UNITED STATES SUPPORT 
FOR THE GOVERNMENT 
OF UKRAINE IN THE FACE OF 
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.  
THREE, THE PUBLIC REVELATION F 
HIS ACTIONS, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ULTIMATELY 
RELEASED THE MILITARY AND 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE BUT 
HAS PERSISTED OPENLY AND 
CORRUPTLY URGING AND 
SOLICITING UKRAINE TO UNDERTAKE 
A DOMESTICATION SORE 
HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL BENEFIT. 
THESE ACTIONS WERE 
CONSISTENT WITH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S PREVIOUS 
INVITATONS OF FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN THE UNITED 
STATES ELECTIONS.  
ALL OF THIS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE 
PRESIDENCY BY IGNORING 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND OTHER 
VITAL NATIONAL INTEREST 
TO OBTAIN AN IMPROPER PERSONAL 
BENEFIT.  
HE ALSO HAS 
BETRAYED THE NATION BY ABUSING 
HIS HIGH OFFICE TO 
ENLIST FOREIGN POWER IN 
CORRUPTING DEMOCRATIC 
ELECTIONS.  
THEREFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP BY 
SUCH 
CONDUCT HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT 
HE WILL REMAIN A 
THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND 
THE CONSTITUTION IF 
ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN OFFICE AND 
HAS ACTED IN A 
MANNER GROSSLY INCOMPATIBLE 
WITH SELF-GOVERNANCE AND 
THE RULE OF LAW.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP THUS WARRANTS 
IMPEACHMENT AND TRIAL, REMOVAL 
FROM OFFICE AND ITS 
QUALIFICATION TO HOLD AND ENJOY 
ANY OFFICE OF HONOR, 
TRUST OR PROFIT UNDER THE 
UNITED STATES.  ARTICLE 
TWO, OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.  
THE CONSTITUTION 
PROVIDES THAT THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES SHALL 
HAVE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND THAT THE 
PRESIDENT SHALL BE REMOVED FROM 
OFFICE ON 
IMPEACHMENT FOR AND CONVICTION 
OF TREASON, BRIBERY, 
OR OTHER HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS.  
AND HIS 
CONDUCT OF THE OFFICE OF 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS 
CONSTITUTIONAL OATH, 
FAITHFULLY TO EXECUTE THE 
OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.  
AND TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY, 
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND 
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE 
UNITED STATES AND IN VIOLATION 
OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL 
DUTY TO TAKE CARE THAT THE LAWS 
BE FAITHFULLY 
EXECUTED, DONALD TRUMP HAS 
DIRECTED THE 
UNPRECEDENTED CATEGORICAL AND 
INDISCRIMINATE 
DEFIANCE OF SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY 
THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES PURSUANT TO ITS 
SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED THE 
POWERS 
OF THE PRESIDENCY IN A MANNER 
OFFENSIVE TO ANTS 
OBSERVERS SUBVERSIVE OF THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THAT 
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
HAS ENGAGED IN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY FOCUSED ON 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
CORRUPT SOLICITATION OF THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE TO 
INTERFERE AND THE 2020 UNITED 
STATES PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION.  
AS PART OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY, THE 
COMMITTEES UNDERTAKING THE 
INVESTIGATION SERVED 
SUBPOENAS SEEKING DOCUMENTS AND 
TESTIMONY DEEMED 
VITAL TO THE INQUIRY FROM 
VARIOUS EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
AGENCIES AND OFFICES AND 
CURRENT AND FORMER 
OFFICIALS.  
AND RESPONSE, WITHOUT LAWFUL 
CAUSE OR 
EXCUSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTED EXECUTIVE 
OFFICE AGENCIES NOT TO COMPLY 
WITH THE SUBPOENAS.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP THUS INTERPOSE 
THE POWERS OF THE 
PRESIDENCY AGAINST THE AWFUL 
SUBPOENAS OF THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ASSUMED 
IT TO HIM SO 
FUNCTIONS AND JUDGMENTS 
NECESSARY TO THE EXERCISE OF 
THE SOLE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTED BY THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED POWERS 
OF HIS HIGH OFFICE 
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MEANS.  
ONE, DIRECTING THE 
WHITE HOUSE TO DEFY A LAWFUL 
THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS 
SOUGHT THEREIN BY THE 
COMMITTEES.  
TWO, DIRECTING OTHER EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH 
AGENCIES AND OFFICES TO DEFY 
LAWFUL SUBPOENAS AND 
WITHHOLD THE PRODUCTION OF 
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS 
FROM THE COMMITTEES IN RESPONSE 
TO WHICH THE 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, OFFICE OF 
MANAGEMENT AND 
BUDGET, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
AND APARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE REFUSED TO PRODUCE A 
SINGLE DOCUMENT OR 
RECORD.  
THREE, DIRECTING CURRENT AND 
FORMER 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS NOT 
TO COOPERATE WITH THE 
COMMITTEES IN RESPONSE TO WHICH 
NINE ADMINISTRATIVE 
OFFICIALS DEFIED SUBPOENAS.  
THESE ACTIONS WERE 
CONSISTENT WITH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S PREVIOUS EFFORTS 
TO UNDERMINE UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS 
INTO FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN 
UNITED STATES 
ELECTIONS.  
THERE THESE ACTIONS, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP 
SOUGHT TO ARROGATE TO HIMSELF 
THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE 
THE PROPRIETY SCOPE, NATURE AND 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 
INTO HIS OWN CONDUCT AS WELL AS 
THE UNILATERAL 
PREROGATIVE TO DENY ANY AND ALL 
INFORMATION TO THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND 
THE EXERCISE OF ITS 
SOLE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT.  
IN THE HISTORY OF THE 
REPUBLIC, NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER 
ORDERED THE COMPLETE 
DEFIANCE OF AN IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY OR SOUGHT TO 
OBSTRUCT AND IMPEACH SO 
COMPREHENSIVELY, THE ABILITY 
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
TO INVESTIGATE HIGH 
ARMS AND MISDEMEANORS.  
THIS ABUSE OF OFFICE SERVED 
TO COVER UP THE PRESIDENT'S OWN 
REPEATED MISCONDUCT 
AND TO SEIZE AND CONTROL THE 
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT 
AND THUS TO NULLIFY A VITAL 
CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARD 
AND VESTED SOLELY IN THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES.  
AND ALL OF THIS, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP HAS ACTED IN A 
MANNER CONTRARY TO HIS TRUST AS 
PRESIDENT AND 
SUBVERSIVE OF CONSTITUTIONAL 
GOVERNMENT TO THE GREAT 
PREJUDICE OF THE CAUSE OF LAW 
AND JUSTICE AND TO THE 
MANIFEST ENTRY OF THE PEOPLE OF 
THE UNITED STATES.  
WHEREFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP BY 
SUCH CONDUCT HAS 
DEMONSTRATED THAT HE WILL 
REMAIN A THREAT TO THE 
CONSTITUTION IF ALLOWED TO 
REMAIN IN OFFICE AND HAS 
ACTED IN A MANNER GROSSLY 
INCOMPATIBLE WITH 
SELF-GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF 
LAW.  
PRESIDENT 
TRUMP THUS WARRANTS IMPEACHMENT 
AND TRIAL, REMOVAL 
FROM OFFICE AND 
DISQUALIFICATION TO HOLD AND 
ENJOY 
ANY OFFICE OF HONOR, TRUST OR 
PROFIT UNDER THE 
UNITED STATES.
>>  PURSUANT TO HOUSE 
RESOLUTION 767, THE 
AMENDMENTS AND THE NATURE OF 
THIS SUBSTITUTE 
RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE ON 
JUDICIARY IS 
ADOPTED, THE RESOLUTION SHALL 
BE DEBATABLE BY SIX 
HOURS, EQUALLY DIVIDED.  THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW 
YORK, MR. NADLER AND THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
COLLINS, EACH WILL CONTROL 
THREE HOURS.  
THE 
CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, 
MR. NADLER. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT 
ALL MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE 
LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN WHICH 
TO REVISE AND EXTEND REMARKS 
AND EXERT EXTRA IN HIS 
MATERIAL ON RESOLUTION 765. 
>>  THE OBJECTION SO ORDERED. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER OF THE 
HOUSE. 
>>  THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER 
IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE.
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
I THINK THE JUDGMENT 
FOR YIELDING, FOR HIS 
TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP AND 
HELPING US HONOR THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES.  
I ALSO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO 
CHAIRMAN ADAM 
SCHIFF HE WILL BE PRESIDING 
LATER IN THE DAY.  
MY 
COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING, AND 
EVERY MORNING, WHEN WE 
COME TOGETHER, MEMBERS RISE AND 
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 
THE FLAG.  
EVERY DAY, ALL ACROSS AMERICA, 
CHILDREN 
IN SCHOOL, MEMBERS OF THE 
MILITARY, OFFICIALS AND 
THOSE SPECIFICALLY ENGAGED ALSO 
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 
THE FLAG.  
LET US RECALL WHAT THAT PLEDGE 
DOES.  
I 
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 
OF THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, 
TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR 
WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, 
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, 
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR 
ALL.  
THE REPUBLIC FOR 
WHICH IT STANDS.  
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO 
TALK 
ABOUT TODAY.  
A REPUBLIC.  
IF WE CAN KEEP IT.  
WE 
GATHER TODAY UNDER THE DOME OF 
THIS TEMPLE OF 
DEMOCRACY TO EXERCISE ONE OF 
THE MOST SOLEMN POWERS 
THAT THIS BODY CAN TAKE.  
THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NO MEMBER, 
REGARDLESS OF PARTY OR POLITICS 
COMES TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.  
BUT EVERY ONE OF US, AS OUR 
FIRST ACT AS A MEMBER OF 
CONGRESS STOOD ON THIS 
HISTORIC HOUSE FLOOR BEFORE OUR 
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN 
FLAG AND RAISED OUR HANDS IN 
THIS OATH.  
I DO 
SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL 
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES AGAINST ALL 
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC SO 
HELP ME GOD.  
FOR 
230 YEARS, MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN 
THAT SACRED OATH WHICH 
MAKES US CUSTODIANS OF THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
WHEN OUR 
FOUNDERS DECLARED INDEPENDENCE 
AND ESTABLISHED A NEW 
NATION, THEY CRAFTED A SYSTEM 
OF GOVERNMENT UNLIKE 
ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.  
A REPUBLIC.  STARTING 
WITH THE SACRED WORDS, WE THE 
PEOPLE.  
FOR 
CENTURIES, AMERICANS HAVE 
FOUGHT AND DIED TO DEFEND 
DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE.  
BUT VERY SADLY NOW, OUR 
FOUNDER'S VISION OF A REPUBLIC 
IS UNDER THREAT FROM 
ACTIONS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.  
THAT IS WHY TODAY, AS 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, I 
SOLEMNLY AND SADLY OPEN THE 
DEBATE ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.  
IF WE DO NOT ACT NOW, WE WOULD 
BE 
DERELICT IN OUR DUTY.  
IT IS TRAGIC THAT THE 
PRESIDENT'S RECKLESS ACTIONS 
MAKE IMPEACHMENT 
NECESSARY.  
HE GAVE US NO CHOICE.  
WHAT WE ARE 
DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE 
ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
IT IS A MATTER 
OF FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT IS 
AN ONGOING THREAT TO 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS, THE BASIS OF OUR 
DEMOCRACY.  
HUNDREDS OF 
HISTORIANS, LEGAL SCHOLARS AND 
FORMER PROSECUTORS, 
REGARDLESS OF PARTY COME HAVE 
STATED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSES.  
SINCE 
TODAY IS A NATIONAL CIVICS 
LESSON, THOUGH A SAD ONE, 
I SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS FOR 
THE RECORD AND COMMEND 
THEM FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY. 
>>  THE OBJECTION SO ORDERED. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
>>  WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING 
TODAY IS THE ESTABLISHED 
FACT.  
THAT THE PRESIDENT VIOLATED THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT IS AN 
ONGOING THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY.  
AND THE 
TESTIMONY OF DECORATED WAR 
HEROES, DISTINGUISHED 
DIPLOMATS AND PATRIOTIC CAREER 
PUBLIC SERVANTS, SOME 
OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN 
APPOINTEES OVER THE PAST 
WEEKS HAVE TOLD US THIS.  
THE PRESIDENT USE THE 
POWER OF HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO 
OBTAIN AN IMPROPER 
PERSONAL POLITICAL BENEFIT AT 
THE EXPENSE OF 
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY.  
WHEN A PRESIDENT 
WEAKENS A DEMOCRATIC ALLY 
ADVANCING AMERICAN 
SECURITY INTEREST BY FIGHTING 
AN AMERICAN ADVERSARY, 
THE PRESIDENT WEAKENS AMERICA.  
THIS ABUSE OF POWER 
ALSO JEOPARDIZES THE INTEGRITY 
OF OUR ELECTIONS.  
ALL AMERICANS AGREE THAT 
AMERICAN VOTERS SHOULD 
CHOOSE OUR PRESIDENT.  
NOT SOME FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.  
FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS 
PROFOUNDLY CORROSIVE 
FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO INVITE 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.  
AS GEORGE 
WASHINGTON, OUR NATION'S 
PATRIOTIC, HIS GAZE WE 
STAND UNDER TODAY, WARNED THAT 
HISTORY AND 
EXPERIENCE PROVE THAT FOREIGN 
INFLUENCE IS ONE OF 
THE MOST PAINFUL PHOTOS OF 
REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT.  
GEORGE WASHINGTON.  
SADLY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE 
WITNESSED FURTHER ROUNDS OF THE 
PRESIDENT WHICH 
NECESSITATE THE SECOND ARTICLE 
OF IMPEACHMENT.  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.  
WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S 
WRONGDOING WAS REVEALED, HE 
LAUNCHED AN 
UNPRECEDENTED, INDISCRIMINATE 
AND CATEGORICAL 
CAMPAIGN OF DEFIANCE AND 
OBSTRUCTION.  
NEVER BEFORE 
IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION 
HAVE WE SEEN A 
PRESIDENT DECLARE AND ACT AS IF 
HE IS ABOVE THE LAW.  
THE PRESIDENT GOES EVEN SO FAR 
AS TO SAY AND ACT ON 
THIS ABSURDITY WHEN HE SAYS, 
ARTICLE TWO SAYS I CAN 
DO WHATEVER I WANT.  
NO IT DOESN'T HURT THAT 
RECKLESSNESS IS A PROFOUND 
VIOLATION OF THE 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR ARE 
PUBLIC, WHICH IN DOOR 
BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEM OF 
SEPARATION OF POWER, THREE 
COEQUAL BRANCHES, EACH A CHECK 
AND BALANCE ON THE 
OTHER.  
IN REPUBLIC AGAIN IF WE CAN 
KEEP IT.  
THE 
FOUNDER'S GREAT FEAR OF A ROGUE 
OR CORRUPT PRESIDENT 
IS THE VERY REASON WHY THEY 
ENSHRINED IMPEACHMENT IN 
THE CONSTITUTION.  
AS ONE FOUNDER, WILLIAM DAVIE 
OF 
NORTH CAROLINA WARNED, UNLESS 
THE CONSTITUTION 
CONTAINED IN IMPEACHMENT 
PROVISION, PRESIDENT MIGHT 
SPARE NO EFFORTS OR MEANS 
WHATEVER TO GET HIMSELF 
REELECTED.  
ANOTHER FOUNDER, GEORGE MASON, 
INSISTED 
THAT THE PRESIDENT WHO PROCURED 
HIS APPOINTMENT IN 
THE FIRST INSTANCE THERE 
IMPROPER AND CORRUPT ACTS, 
MIGHT REPEAT HIS SKILLS AND 
RETURNED TO POWER.  
WE 
IN CONGRESS, ARTICLE ONE, THE 
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 
MUST STAND UP AND MAKE CLEAR TO 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
AND TO ALL PEOPLE THAT THIS 
BODY STILL STANDS BY THE 
PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE 
CONSTITUTION AND 
DEFENDED BY GENERATIONS OF 
AMERICANS.  
LAST WEEK, 
AND OBSERVANCE OF THE 75TH 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE 
OF THE BULGE, MEMBERS TRAVELED 
TO THE HALLOWED 
GROUND TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE 
TO THE HEROES OF 
FREEDOM WHO SACRIFICED 
EVERYTHING TO SECURE VICTORY 
OF FREEDOM OVER TYRANNY, NOT 
JUST FOR AMERICA, BUT 
FOR THE WORLD.  
THE VETERANS OF THAT BATTLE WHO 
WERE 
THERE IN THEIR 90S TOLD US HOW 
AFTER THE WAR WAS 
WON, THE EUROPEANS WHOM THEY 
LIBERATED WOULD ASK, 
WHY DID YOU RISK US YOU DON'T 
KNOW US.  
AND GIVE 
YOUR LIVES TO SAVE US?  
WE ARE NOT AMERICANS.  
AND 
OUR MEN WOULD SAY, WE CAME HERE 
TO FIGHT FOR YOU, 
NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICANS 
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE 
AMERICANS.  
AS OUR BELOVED CHAIRMAN ELIJAH 
CUMMINGS 
AND OVERSIGHT CHAIR NORTHSTAR 
SAID WHEN ANNOUNCING 
HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS ACTION 
QUOTE "WHEN THE HISTORY 
BOOKS ARE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS 
TUMULTUOUS ERA, I WANT 
THEM TO SHOW THAT I WAS AMONG 
THOSE IN THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES WHO STOOD UP TO 
LAWLESSNESS AND 
TYRANNY ."  HE ALSO SAID ALMOST 
PROPHETICALLY "WHEN 
WE ARE DANCING WITH THE ANGELS, 
THE QUESTION WILL 
BE, WE KEPT OUR DEMOCRACY INTAC 
."  ELIJAH HAS 
PASSED ON AND NOW HE IS DANCING 
WITH THE ANGELS.  
AND I KNOW THAT HE AND ALL OF 
US HERE ARE VERY PROUD 
OF THE MORAL COURAGE OF MEMBERS 
WHEN YOU HONOR THE 
VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS FOR A 
REPUBLIC.  
THE 
SACRIFICE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN 
IN UNIFORM TO DEFEND 
IT IN THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR 
CHILDREN TO LIVE FREELY 
WITHIN IT.  
TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND 
DEMOCRACY 
FOR THE PEOPLE.  
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.  
I YIELD 
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>>  
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO 
TALK ABOUT A DEBATE THAT SHOULD 
SURPRISE NO ONE.  
IT 
IS NOT SOMETHING WE WOULDN'T HA 
FROM THE VERY MOMENT THAT THE 
MAJORITY PARTY IN THE 
HOUSE WON THE INEVITABILITY 
THAT WE WOULD BE HERE 
TODAY WITH ONLY A MATTER OF 
WHAT DATE THEY WOULD 
SCHEDULE IT.  
NOTHING ELSE.  
IN FACT, HOW IT EVEN 
BEGAN TO BE LOOKED AT FURTHER 
WAS SEPTEMBER 24th, 
THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED IN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY BEFORE 
EVEN SEEING THE CALL TRANSCRIPT 
THAT WE WILL HEAR 
MUCH ABOUT TODAY.  
IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT THIS BODY 
CAN DO IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
OATH AND THERE HAVE 
BEEN A LOT OF CONSTITUTIONAL 
AND FOUNDERS THROWN 
AWAY AND THROWN AROUND TODAY.  
THE FOUNDERS WERE 
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A PARTISAN 
IMPEACHMENT IN WHICH 
POLITICS ARE THE MAJORITY THAT 
HAVE THE STRENGTH AND 
CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DEAL 
IRREGARDLESS OF ANY 
FACTS.  
IN FACT, I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE 
AND I WILL 
SAY IT AGAIN.  
I DO NOT BELIEVE, NO MATTER 
WHAT WAS 
SAID TODAY, THAT THIS IS NOT A 
SOLEMN OCCASION.  
WHEN YOU GO LOOKING FOR 
SOMETHING FOR THREE YEARS 
AND ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR SINCE 
JANUARY, YOU SHOULD 
BE EXCITED WHEN YOU FOUND IT.  
IT TOOK ME LAST NIGHT 
BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.  
WHY DO WE KEEP CALLING 
THIS A SOLEMN OCCASION WHEN YOU 
HAVE BEEN WANTING TO 
DO THIS EVER SINCE THE 
GENTLEMAN WAS ELECTED?  
CAME 
FORWARD AND DID WHAT HE SAW IT 
FIT BUT THEY WANTED 
TO IMPEACH HIM.  
IT HIT ME.  
NOW I KNOW.  
THE REASON 
THEY WANT TO IS NOW THEY 
REALIZE WHEN I TOLD HIM IT 
HAD BEEN TELLING THEM FOR THE 
LAST FEW WEEKS THAT 
THE CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR ARE 
TERRIBLE MASTERS.  
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING 
BUT GETTING THE TIME 
DONE AND FIX TRICK THEY DON'T 
CARE ABOUT TIME.  
AND 
IT WILL HANG ON THIS BODY IN A 
DETRIMENTAL WAY.  
HOW 
DO I KNOW THIS?  
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS SAID ON THE 
NIGHT SHE WAS SWORN AND, WE ARE 
GOING TO IMPEACH.  
YOU KNOW THE REST.  
IN MAY OF 2019, AL GREEN SAID 
I'M CONCERNED IF WE DON'T 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT, HE 
WILL GET REELECTED.  
THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST 
PRESSING THING SAID BY THE 
MAJORITY IN THE LAST YEAR 
WHO SAID, WE CAN'T BEAT HIM IF 
WE DON'T IMPEACH HIM.  
THERE IS A REASON BEHIND THIS 
IMPEACHMENT.  
EVEN 
SPEAKER PELOSI SAID IT WOULD BE 
DANGEROUS TO LEAVE 
IT TO VOTERS TO DETERMINE 
WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP 
STAYS IN OFFICE.  
REALLY?  
AFTER WE JUST SAID THE 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WE GO 
BACK TO THE SPEAKER'S 
OWN WORDS AND SAID IT WOULD BE 
DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT 
TO THE VOTERS.  
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW 
MADAME 
SPEAKER, WE ON THE REPUBLICAN 
SIDE HAVE NO PROBLEM 
TAKING OUR CASE TO THE MAJORITY 
AND TO THE PEOPLE OF 
THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY 
ELECTED DONALD TRUMP AND 
IT IS A MATTER FOR THE VOTERS, 
NOT THIS HOUSE AND 
NOT IN THIS WAY.  
NOT IN THE WAY THIS IS BEING 
DONE.  
IT IS TRAMPLING EVERYTHING THIS 
HOUSE BELIEVES IN.  
I SAID IT YESTERDAY AND I 
BELIEVE IT TO BE THIS TRUE 
TODAY.  
I WILL FIGHT THIS ON PROCESS 
WHICH HAS BEEN 
DEPLORABLE, TO USE THE WORD OF 
THE MAJORITY.  
IT HAS 
BEEN AWFUL.  
THE CALENDAR AND THE CLOCK MAKE 
IT 
IMPRESSIVE THAT WE DO IT 
QUICKLY.  
WE DON'T CARE 
ABOUT RULES.  
WE DON'T CARE ABOUT MINORITY 
HEARING 
DAYS OR WE DON'T CARE ABOUT 
GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY 
FOR WITNESSES TO BE CALLED.  
BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN 
GETS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS 
RELEVANT.  
WOW.  
THAT IS 
GOOD.  
LET THE ACCUSER DETERMINE WHAT 
IS RELEVANT TO 
THE ONE BEING ACCUSED PICK THE 
PEOPLE OF AMERICA SEE 
THROUGH THIS.  
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA 
UNDERSTAND DUE 
PROCESS AND THEY UNDERSTAND 
WHEN IT IS BEING 
TRAMPLED.  IT IS NOT A MATTER 
OF PROCESS WHICH WILL 
BE DISCUSSED TODAY.  
IT IS A MATTER OF FACTS.  
I 
WILL FIGHT THE FACTS ALL DAY 
LONG.  
WHAT WE FOUND 
HERE TODAY WAS A PRESIDENT WHO 
DID NOT DO AS BEING 
CHARGED.  
THEY HAD TO GO TO ABUSE OF 
POWER.  
IT IS 
AMORPHOUS TERM YOU WILL HEAR 
MANY ARGUMENTS ABOUT ON 
THE ABUSE OF POWER.  
EXCEPT FOR ONE THING.  
THE CALL 
ITSELF PICK THE TWO PARTIES SAY 
NO PRESSURE.  
NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO GET 
THE MONEY.  
IN FACT, 
THEY DID NOT KNOW THE MONEY WAS 
HELD BUT THERE IS 
SOMETHING THAT VERY MUCH 
BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE FACT.  
THERE WERE FIVE MEETINGS.  
WE WILL HEAR ABOUT THOSE 
TODAY.  
WHERE THERE WAS NEVER A LINKAGE 
MADE.  
THERE 
WAS ONE WITNESS THAT WAS 
DEPENDED ON OVER 600 TIMES 
IN THE MAJORITY'S REPORT.  
IN THE END AFTER 
QUESTIONING HAD TO SAY, THAT 
WAS MY PRESUMPTION OF 
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.  
YOU SEE, THIS IS AN IMPEACHMENT 
BASED ON PRESUMPTION.  
IT IS IN IMPEACHMENT ON WHAT 
ACTUALLY SELLS TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE.  
TODAY WILL 
BE A LOT OF THINGS.  
WHAT IT IS NOT IS FAIR.  
WHAT 
IT IS NOT IS ABOUT THE TRUTH.  
WHAT IS TRUE TODAY 
AND I JUST HEARD IT A MOMENT 
AGO IN THE ARTICLES 
THEMSELVES WHERE IT SAID AND I 
BELIEVE THE SPEAKER 
TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL, IS 
THAT THE PRESENT 
PRESIDENT MADE WEAK A FOREIGN 
LEADER.  
THE MOST A 
POURABLE THING I HAVE FOR THE 
LAST FEW WEEKS IS THE 
ACTUAL ATTACK BY THE MAJORITY 
ON PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.  
BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THE WHOLE 
CRUX OF THE CASE IS 
THAT IF HE WAS NOT PRESSURED, 
THE HOUSE OF CARDS 
FALLS.  
AND BY THE WAY, IT ALREADY 
FELL.  
IF WE 
CAN'T SHOW PRESSURE, THEN WE 
EITHER HAVE TO CALL HIM 
A LIAR, A WORLD LEADER, OR WE 
HAVE TO MAKE UP NAMES 
TO CALL HIM.  
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED 
IN THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHEN A 
MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY 
SAID HE IS ACTING OR THEY ARE 
COMPLAINING TO A 
BATTERED WIFE.  
THAT IS BELOW THE DIGNITY OF 
THIS 
BODY TO TAKE A WORLD LEADER AND 
WHEN HE DOESN'T MAKE 
YOUR CASE FOR YOU, TO BELITTLE 
HIM.  
ESPECIALLY AS 
IT WILL OFTEN BE SAID BY THE 
MAJORITY.  
THAT THEY 
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOT WAR 
WITH RUSSIA.  
YOU SEE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ACTUALLY DID 
GIVE THEM OFFENSE OF 
WEAPONS.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOTHING 
WRONG.  
WE 
WILL TALK ABOUT THAT ALL DAY 
LONG TODAY.  
WE WENT ON 
PROCESS AND WE WENT ON FACTS?  
WHY?  
BECAUSE THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SEE 
THROUGH THIS.  
BEFORE I 
CLOSE THIS PART, I HAVE TO 
RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN THE 
SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER IN 
THE SENATE RECOGNIZED 
THE HOUSE DID NOT DO THEIR JOB 
BECAUSE HE CAN'T MAKE 
THE CASE TO HIS OWN MEMBERS SO 
HE IS HAVING TO ASK 
FOR WITNESSES AND ASK FOR MORE 
TIME.  
EVEN 
YESTERDAY, I FOUND IT HILARIOUS 
THAT THE MINORITY 
LEADER IN THE SENATE WENT OUT 
AND DID A PRESS 
CONFERENCE AND SAID, THEY DID 
NOT?  THEY DID NOT 
DENY MY WITNESSES THAT IS WHAT 
HAPPENED OVER HERE 
FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS.  
SO TODAY, WE ARE GOING 
TO TALK A LOT ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT.  
WE WILL TALK A LOT 
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AND WE WILL 
TALK ABOUT TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.  
ABUSE OF POWER, BECAUSE 
THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY PUT 
ANYTHING OF FACTUAL BASIS ON 
HIM.  
THE PRESIDENT DID NOTHING WRONG 
IN THIS ISSUE.  
AND IT WILL TALK ABOUT 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS.  
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS AS I 
SAID BEFORE IS LIKE 
SAYING WE DID NOT GET OUR WAY 
WHEN WE DID NOT ASK 
THE RIGHT WAY AND WE DIDN'T TRY 
TO MAKE A CASE.  
YOU 
KNOW WHY MADAME SPEAKER?  
THE CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR 
ARE TERRIBLE MASTERS AND THE 
MAJORITY WILL ON THAT 
PROBLEM TODAY BECAUSE TO THE 
CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR, 
FACTS DON'T MATTER.  
THE PROMISES TO THE BASE MATTER 
AND TODAY IS A PROMISE KEPT FOR 
THE MAJORITY.  
NOT A 
SURPRISE.  
A FACT.  
WITH THAT, I RESERVE. 
>>  GENTLEMEN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMEN FROM NEW YORK. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, I YIELD 
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I 
MAY CONSUME. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, THE HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MUST CONSIDER TWO ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR THE FIRST 
ARTICLE CHARGES AT THE 
PRESIDENT HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO 
COERCE A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT INTO ATTACKING HIS 
POLITICAL RIVAL.  THE 
SECOND ARTICLE CHARGES THAT THE 
PRESIDENT TOOK 
EXTREME AND UNPRECEDENTED STEPS 
TO OBSTRUCT OUR 
INVESTIGATION INTO HIS CONDUCT. 
TAKEN TOGETHER, THE 
TWO ARTICLES CHARGED, THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP PLACES 
PRIVATE POLITICAL INTEREST 
ABOVE THE NATIONAL 
SECURITY, ABOVE THE ELECTIONS 
AND ABOVE THE SYSTEM 
OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.  
AFTER MONTHS OF 
INVESTIGATION, THERE CAN BE NO 
SERIOUS DEBATE ABOUT 
THE EVIDENCE AT HAND.  
ON JULY 25TH, WHEN HE SPOKE 
TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF 
UKRAINE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HAD THE UPPER HAND.  
THE PRESIDENT, THROUGH HIS 
AGENTS, HAD ALREADY DEMANDED 
THAT UKRAINE ANNOUNCE 
AN INVESTIGATION OF HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENTS.  
UKRAINE NEEDED OUR HELP, BOTH 
MILITARY AID, WHICH 
HAD BEEN A PERFORATED BY 
CONGRESS BECAUSE OF OUR 
SECURITY INTEREST, AND AN OVAL 
OFFICE MEETING, TO 
SHOW THE WORLD THAT THE UNITED 
STATES CONTINUES TO 
STAND WITH UKRAINE AGAINST 
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD HAVE 
BEEN FOCUSED ON THE 
INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
ON THAT CALL.  
INSTEAD, HE PRIORITIZES 
PRIVATE, POLITICAL INTEREST.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY FOR A 
FAVOR.  
HE WANTED UKRAINE TO ANNOUNCE 
TWO BOGUS 
INVESTIGATIONS ONE INTO FORMER 
VICE PRESIDENT JOE 
BIDEN AND THEN HIS LEADING 
OPPONENT IN THE 2020 
ELECTION, AND ANOTHER TO 
ADVANCE A CONSPIRACY THEORY 
THAT UKRAINE NOT RUSSIA, ATTACK 
THE ELECTIONS IN 
2016.  
NEITHER REQUEST WAS PREMISED ON 
ANY 
LEGITIMATE NATIONAL SECURITY OR 
FOREIGN POLICY 
INTEREST.  
ONE WAS INTENDED TO HELP 
PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CONCEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE 
2016 ELECTION AND THE 
OTHER WAS INTENDED TO HELP HIM 
GAIN AN ADVANTAGE IN 
THE 2020 ELECTION.  
AFTER THE CALL, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
RATCHETED UP THE PRESSURE HE 
DEPLOYED HIS PRIVATE 
ATTORNEY AND OTHER AGENTS, SOME 
ACTING FAR OUTSIDE 
THE REGULAR CHANNELS OF 
DIPLOMACY, TO MAKE HIS 
DESIRES CLEAR.  
THERE WOULD BE NO AID AND NO 
MEETING 
UNTIL UKRAINE ANNOUNCED THE 
SHAM INVESTIGATIONS.  
TO 
OUR FOUNDING GENERATION, ABUSE 
OF POWER WAS A 
SPECIFIC WELL-DEFINED OFFENSE.  
A PRESIDENT MAY NOT 
MISUSE THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY TO OBTAIN AN 
IMPROPER PERSONAL BENEFIT.  
THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID EXACTLY 
THAT.  
FOR THIS ALONE, 
HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED.  
BUT THE FIRST ARTICLE ALSO 
IDENTIFIES TWO AGGRAVATING 
FACTORS.  
WHEN PRESIDENT 
TRUMP CONDITIONED MILITARY AID 
ON A PERSONAL FAVOR, 
HE HARMED AMERICA'S NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND WHEN HE 
DEMANDED THAT A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT TARGET HIS 
DOMESTIC POLITICAL RIVAL, HE 
TOOK STEPS TO CORRUPT 
THE NEXT ELECTION.  
TO THE FOUNDERS, THESE OFFENSES 
CLEARLY MERITED REMOVAL FROM 
OFFICE.  
THE PRESIDENT 
FACES A SECOND ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT FOR HIS 
EFFORTS TO OBSTRUCT OUR 
INVESTIGATION OF HIS 
MISCONDUCT.  
THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THE 
SOLE POWER 
OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES.  
WITH AN OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES, THE 
PRESIDENT MAY NOT DECIDE FOR 
HIMSELF WHAT 
CONSTITUTES A VALID IMPEACHMENT 
INQUIRY.  
NOR MAY HE 
IGNORE LAWFUL SUBPOENAS OR 
DIRECT OTHERS TO DO SO.  
MANY PRESIDENTS, INCLUDING 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE 
ASSERTED PRIVILEGES AND OTHER 
OBJECTIONS TO SPECIFIC 
SUBPOENAS.  BUT ONLY PRESIDENT 
TRUMP HAS ORDERED THE 
CATEGORICAL DEFIANCE OF A 
CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION.  
THE AUTOMATIC REJECTION OF ALL 
SUBPOENAS.  
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE THE 
LAW AND 
SHOULD BE IMPEACHED FOR THIS AS 
WELL.  
CONGRESS 
CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT 
ELECTION TO ADDRESS THIS 
MISCONDUCT.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
DEMONSTRATED A 
CLEAR PATTERN OF WRONGDOING.  
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST 
TIME HE HAS SOLICITED FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN AN 
ELECTION, HAS BEEN EXPOSED AND 
IS ATTEMPTING TO 
OBSTRUCT THE RESULTING 
INVESTIGATION.  
WE CANNOT 
RELY ON THE NEXT ELECTION AS A 
REMEDY FOR 
PRESIDENTIAL MISCONDUCT.  
WHEN THE PRESIDENT 
THREATENS THE VERY INTEGRITY OF 
THAT ELECTION.  
HE 
HAS SHOWN US HE WILL CONTINUE 
TO PUT HIS SELFISH 
INTEREST ABOVE THE GOOD OF THE 
COUNTRY AND WE MUST 
ACT WITHOUT DELAY HER BY HIS 
ACTIONS, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP HAS BROKEN HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE.  HIS CONDUCT 
CONTINUES TO UNDERMINE OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THREATEN 
OUR NEXT ELECTION.  
HAS ACTIONS WARRANT HIS 
IMPEACHMENT AND DEMAND HIS 
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.  
I 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT 
THESE ARTICLES AND I 
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>>  GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
IT IS MY PLEASURE AT 
THIS TIME TO YIELD THREE 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM WISCONSIN. 
>>  GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
THREE MINUTES. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, I RISE AND 
OPPOSITION TO 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT.  
THE CONSTITUTION SAYS 
THAT ANY CIVIL OFFICER 
ICLUDING THE PRESIDENT MAY 
BE IMPEACHED FOR TREASON, 
BRIBERY OR OTHER HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.  
UNLIKE THE NIXON AND 
CLINTON CASES, THERE ARE NO 
ALLEGATIONS THAT THE 
PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED A 
CRIME.  
WE HAVE HAD ALMOST 
THREE YEARS OF NONSTOP 
INVESTIGATIONS.  
WE HAVE HAD 
THE MUELLER REPORT, THE SCHIFF 
INVESTIGATION AND THE 
NADLER INVESTIGATION.  
AT NO TIME, IS THERE ANY 
EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES THAT 
DONALD TRUMP VIOLATED 
ANY CRIMINAL STATUTE OF THE 
UNITED STATES.  
SO WHY 
ARE WE HERE?  
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE 
MAJORITY 
CAUCUS, THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, 
HAS BEEN HIJACKED BY 
THE RADICAL LEFT.  
THEY HAVE WANTED TO REVERSE THE 
COURSE OF THE 2016 ELECTION 
EVER SINCE DONALD TRUMP 
WON THE ELECTION.  
LET'S LOOK AT THESE TWO PHONY 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.  
FIRST OF ALL, ABUSE OF 
POWER.  
THE PHONE CALL IN QUESTION HAD 
THE PRESIDENT 
SAY "OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN 
THROUGH A LOT.  
I WANT YOU 
TO DO US A FAVO ."  NOT ME A 
FAVOR.  
US A FAVOR.  
AND THEY ARE HE WAS REFERRING 
TO OUR COUNTRY, THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  
NOT A PERSONAL POLITICAL 
GAIN.  
HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO LET THIS 
TRANSCRIPT GO 
PUBLIC.  
AND HE RELEASED THE TRANSCRIPT 
ALMOST 
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CALL.  
THE SECOND ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT, OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS.  
BASICALLY 
SAYS THAT UNLESS THE PRESIDENT 
GIVES US EVERYTHING 
WE WANT AND WHEN WE WANT IT, 
THEN HE HAS COMMITTED 
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.  
THAT IS A BUNCH OF BUNK.  
THE PRESIDENT HAS CERTAIN 
INDIVIDUAL PRIVILEGES BY 
VIRTUE OF HIS OFFICE.  
WHENEVER THERE HAS BEEN A 
DISPUTE BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE 
AND EXEC OF BRANCHES 
BEFORE, THEY HAVE GONE TO 
COURT.  
AND THE SUPREME 
COURT A COUPLE OF WEEKS SAID 
THEY WOULD TAKE 
JURISDICTION OVER DECIDING 
WHETHER THE PRESIDENT 
WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ONE 
SUBPOENA RELATING TO 
HIS TAX RETURNS.  
HERE, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
BENT 
TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES BEFORE 
THE COURT DECIDES THIS.  
AND THIS MEANS THAT THERE 
IS A RUSH JOB TO DO THIS.  
AND WHY IS THERE?  
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO INFLUENCE 
THE 2020 ELECTIONS.  
AND THEY SPENT THREE YEARS 
DOING IT AND SPENT 
MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, 
INCLUDING THE MUELLER 
REPORT, PUTTING TOGETHER THIS 
IMPEACHMENT AND THEY 
ALSO HAVE HAD THIS CONGRESS 
THAT WRAPPED AROUND 
IMPEACHMENT AND NOT DOING THEIR 
JOBS UNTIL THE DAM 
BROKE THIS WEEK.  
STOP THIS CHARADE.  
VOTE NO AND I 
YIELD BACK. 
>>  MR. STEGER, THE GENERAL FROM
WISCONSIN KNOWS 
FULL WELL THAT THE PRESIDENT 
ASSERTED NO PRIVILEGES 
HERE.  
HE SIMPLY ORDERED COMPLETE 
DEFIANCE OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.  
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLE LADY FROM WISCONSIN. 
>>  THANK YOU SPEAKER AND THANK 
YOU CHAIRMAN NADLER 
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WE 
NAVIGATE THIS CHALLENGING 
TIME NOT JUST FOR OUR COMMITTEE 
IN CONGRESS BUT OUR 
COUNTRY.  
IT IS WITH PROFOUND SADNESS 
THAT I STAND 
HERE TODAY.  PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
BEHAVIOR IS EXACTLY 
WHAT OUR FOUNDERS FEARED MOST 
PART THEY KNEW THAT 
WITH THE AWESOME POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY CAME THE 
RISK OF A PRESIDENT ABUSING 
THAT POWER FOR PERSONAL 
GAIN.  
THEY WERE PARTICULARLY 
CONCERNED ABOUT AN 
EXECUTIVE WHO BECAME ENTANGLED 
WITH FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENTS, CORRUPTED OUR 
ELECTIONS OR SOUGHT TO 
AVOID CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS OWN 
MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE.  
THAT IS WHY THEY INCLUDED 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE 
CONSTITUTION, TO PROTECT OUR 
REPUBLIC.  
OUR 
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE 
HAVE CLAIMED WE ARE 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE HIM.  
BUT THIS MOMENT IS ABOUT MORE 
THAN DISAGREEMENT WITH 
THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES OR 
PERSONALITY.  
THOSE 
ISSUES BELONG AND THE VOTING 
BOOTH.  
OUR TASK HERE 
IS NOT TO JUDGE THE PRESIDENT 
HIMSELF.  
INSTEAD WE 
MUST JUDGES CONDUCT AND WHETHER 
HIS ACTIONS HAVE 
UNDERMINED OUR CONSTITUTION.  
THE PRESIDENT HAS 
COMMITTED THE HIGHEST OF HIGH 
CRIMES UNDER OUR 
CONSTITUTION.  
HE USED OF THE HIGHEST OFFICE 
IN OUR 
GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS 
TO PRESSURE A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY TO INTERFERE IN 
OUR ELECTIONS.  
HE 
UNDERMINED OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY.  
AND WHEN HE GOT 
CAUGHT, HE TRIED TO COVER IT 
UP, OBSTRUCTING OUR 
INVESTIGATION AND REFUSING TO 
PRODUCE SUBPOENA 
DOCUMENTS AND WITNESSES.  
A GOVERNMENT WHERE THE 
PRESIDENT OF USES HIS POWER IS 
NOT OF THE PEOPLE.  
A 
GOVERNMENT WHERE THE PRESIDENT 
PRESSURES A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO UNDERMINE OUR 
ELECTION IS NOT BY THE 
PEOPLE.  
AND A GOVERNMENT WHERE THE 
PRESIDENT PUTS 
HIS OWN INTERESTS BEFORE THE 
COUNTRY IS NOT FOR THE 
PEOPLE.  THIS ISN'T 
COMPLICATED.  
YOU KNOW IT.  
I 
KNOW IT.  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT.  
PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S WRONGDOING AND THE 
URGENT THREAT THAT HIS 
ACTIONS PRESENT TO OUR NEXT 
ELECTION AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY LEAVE US NO 
PRINCIPLED ALTERNATIVE BUT TO 
SUPPORT THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT.  
OUR 
CONSTITUTION, OUR COUNTRY AND 
OUR CHILDREN DEPEND 
UPON IT.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLE LADY YIELDS BACK 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.  
I WISH THEY WOULD 
EXAMINE THE FACTUAL CONDUCT BUT 
THAT WON'T HAPPEN.  
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE GYM 
AND FROM LOUISIANA, 
MR. JOHNSON. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, THE FOUNDERS 
OF THIS COUNTRY 
WARNED US AGAINST A SINGLE 
PARTY IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE 
THEY FEARED IT WOULD BITTERLY 
AND PERHAPS 
IRREPARABLY DIVIDE THE NATION.  
THE TRUTH IS, IN THE 
243 YEARS OF THIS REPUBLIC, 
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A 
SINGLE PARTY FRAUDULENT 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS LIKE THE 
ONE BEING USED TODAY.  
THAT OUR DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES HAVE WEAPON EYES THE 
IMPEACHMENT 
PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION 
TO NULLIFY THE VOTES 
OF 63 MILLION AMERICANS WHO 
ELECTED PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.  
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A PHONE CALL 
OR UKRAINE OR 
EVEN HIS USE OF THE EXECUTIVE 
PRIVILEGE.  
YOU HAVE 
TO REMEMBER THAT 95 OF THE 
DEMOCRATS ON THIS FLOOR 
TODAY VOTED TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP BEFORE THE  
JULY 25TH PHONE CALL EVER 
HAPPENED BETWEEN PRESIDENT 
TRUMP AND PRESIDENT ZELENSK.  
NOT ONLY IS THIS A 
SINGLE PARTY IMPEACHMENT BUT IT 
IS ALSO EVIDENCE 
FREE.  
AFTER ALL THE HERCULEAN 
EFFORTS, THEY COULD 
ONLY COME UP WITH TWO SHORT 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.  
AT FIRST THE DEMOCRATS KNOW 
THERE IS ZERO DIRECT 
EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD OF THESE 
PROCEEDINGS TO SHOW 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ENGAGED IN 
ANY ABUSE OF POWER.  
AS IT WILL HEAR TODAY, THE 
ENTIRE CASE IS BASED ON 
HEARSAY, SPECULATION AND 
CONJECTURE AND THERE IS NOT 
A SINGLE FACT WITNESS THAT CAN 
PROVIDE TESTIMONY TO 
SUPPORT THE BASELESS 
ALLEGATIONS.  
THE DEMOCRAT'S 
SECOND CLAIM IS THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS BY SIMPLY DOING WHAT 
VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER 
PRESIDENT IN THE MODERN ERA HAS 
ALSO DONE AND THAT 
IS TO ASSERT, MR. CHAIRMAN, 
LEGITIMATE EXECUTIVE 
PRIVILEGE WHICH PROTECTS THE 
SEPARATION OF POWERS.  
AND IF THEY DISAGREED WITH 
THAT, THE DEMOCRATS COULD 
AND SHOULD HAVE JUST SIMPLY 
GONE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY 
TO A FEDERAL COURT TO GET AN 
EXPEDITED COURT ORDER 
COMPELLING THE EXTRA DOCUMENTS 
AND INFORMATION THEY 
REQUESTED.  
THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN 
THE PAST.  
BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT HERE 
BECAUSE THESE 
DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE TIME FOR 
IT.  
THEY ARE TRYING 
TO MEET THEIR OWN ARBITRARY 
COMPLETELY RECKLESS AND 
MACHIAVELLIAN TIMELINE TO TAKE 
ON A PRESIDENT THAT 
THEY LOATHE.  
THE REAL ABUSE OF POWER HERE IS 
ON THE 
PART OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND 
THEY HAVE FEVERISHLY 
PRODUCED AND PURSUED 20 TIMES 
FASTER THAN THE 
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION OF 
BILL CLINTON.  
TRYING 
TO REACH THE PREDETERMINED 
POLITICAL OUTCOME AND ON 
THE WAY STEAMROLLED DUE 
PROCESS. 
>>  GENTLEMEN'S TIME IS 
EXPIRED. 
>>  THIS MUST FAIL. 
>>  I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMEN FROM NEW YORK IS 
úRECOGNIZED. 
>>  THE GENTLEMAN KNOWS THAT 
IMPEACHMENT WAS PUT 
INTO THE CONSTITUTION AS A 
DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC 
IN BETWEEN ELECTIONS.  
AND NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO 
THE DISTINGUISHED YOUNG LADY 
FROM WASHINGTON. 
>>  RECOGNIZED. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS A DAY 
OF ACCOUNTABILITY 
AND DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRACY.  
THE FACTS IN FRONT OF 
US ARE CLEAR.  
THIS PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP 
COERCED 
A FRAGILE, FOREIGN ALLY, TO 
INVESTIGATE HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND 
INTERFERE AND OUR ELECTIONS 
AND HE LEVERAGED CRITICALLY 
NEEDED CONGRESSIONALLY 
APPROVED MILITARY AID TO 
UKRAINE.  
THE PRESIDENT'S 
ALLIES WANT TO CLAIM THAT HE 
DID THIS BECAUSE HE 
CARED ABOUT CORRUPTION.  
BUT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP 
TRULY CARED ABOUT CORRUPTION, 
THEN HE WOULD HAVE 
LISTENED TO THE TALKING POINTS 
THAT WERE PREPARED BY 
THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 
ON ANTICORRUPTION.  
HE 
DID NOT.  
AND FACTS, ON THOSE TWO CALLS 
WITH 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, HE NEVER 
MENTIONED THE WORD 
CORRUPTION.  
HE DID NOT ABIDE BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE'S OWN RECOMMENDATION 
THAT UKRAINE HAD PASSED 
ALL THE ANTICORRUPTION 
BENCHMARKS AND HE DIDN'T 
LISTEN TO THE UNANIMOUS 
CONCLUSION OF ALL OF HIS TOP 
ADVISERS, THAT HE MUST RELEASE 
THAT AID TO UKRAINE.  
HE DID RELEASE THE EIGHT IN 
2017 AND 2018 BUT NOT IN 
2019.  
WHY?  
BECAUSE IN 2019, VICE PRESIDENT 
JOE 
BIDEN WAS RUNNING FOR 
PRESIDENT.  
BECAUSE THIS IS 
NOT HERE SO HEARSAY.  
THE PRESIDENT TOLD US HIMSELF 
ON NATIONAL TELEVISION EXACTLY 
WHAT HE WANTED FROM 
THE PHONE CALL WITH PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY.  
HE CAME ON 
TO THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN AND 
SAID, I WANTED PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY TO OPEN AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE BIDENS.  
HE SOLICITED FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE BEFORE AND HE IS 
DOING IT NOW AND HE WILL DO IT 
AGAIN.  
THE PRESIDENT 
IS THE SMOKING GUN.  
OUR FOUNDERS, MR. SPEAKER, AND 
TRUSTED US WITH THE AWESOME 
RESPONSIBILITY OF 
PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY, WHICH 
GETS ITS POWER NOT 
FROM THE BLOODLINES OF MONARCHS 
BUT FROM THE VOTES 
OF WE, THE PEOPLE.  
WITHOUT THAT, WE ARE NO LONGER 
A 
DEMOCRACY.  
WE ARE A MONARCHY OR A 
DICTATORSHIP.  
AND SO, TODAY, TO UPHOLD MY 
OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION 
AND COUNTRY, I WILL VOTE TO 
IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP.  
I 
YIELD BACK. 
>>  THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  I WOULD REMIND MY CHAIRMAN 
THAT IMPEACH HAS 
NEVER BEEN HELD AS A POLITICAL 
ELECTION BETWEEN 
ELECTIONS WHEN YOU CANNOT WIN 
AN ELECTION. 
>>  I YIELD TWO MINUTES. 
>>  OTHER THAN AUTHORIZING 
ACTIVE WORK, IMPEACHMENT 
IS THE GRAVEST ITEM WE CAN 
CONSIDER AS CONGRESS.  
THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH IMPEACHMENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES PRESIDENT IS SO 
CONSEQUENTIAL THAT IT 
HAS ONLY BEEN DONE THREE TIMES 
PREVIOUSLY AND OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY BASED ON 
LEGITIMATE EVIDENCE OF 
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.  
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE 
DIMINISHED WHAT SHOULD BE A 
SOLEMN AND GREAT 
PROCEEDING IN A POLITICAL 
CIRCUS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY 
DON'T LIKE THE MAN OCCUPYING 
THE WHITE HOUSE.  
AND 
THE INTENT ON IMPEACHING THE 
PRESIDENT SINCE THE DAY 
HE TOOK OFFICE DIRECTLY ACTIONS 
ARE CLEARLY 
MOTIVATED BY HATRED FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.  
THE 
IMPEACHMENT VOTE TODAY IS NEXT 
UP IN THE LONG PLAN 
TO REMOVE HIM FROM OFFICE.  
THE PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT 
INVESTIGATION RUN BY THE HOUSE 
INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE WAS UNNECESSARILY 
HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS 
IN A ROOM DESIGNED TO SHARE 
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.  
NOTHING CLASSIFIED WAS SHARED 
DURING THESE MEETINGS 
BUT THE RESULT OF THE DECISION 
WAS THAT MOST MEMBERS 
OF CONGRESS AND ALL AMERICANS 
ARE BLOCKED FROM 
HEARING THE FACTS FOR 
THEMSELVES.  
CHAIRMAN ADAM 
SCHIFF WITHHELD CRUCIAL 
INFORMATION FROM THE 
REPUBLICANS INCLUDING THE 
ABILITY FOR ANYONE BUT 
HIMSELF AND HIS STAFF TO SPEAK 
WITH THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER AT THE CENTER OF 
THE INVESTIGATION.  
IT WAS EVEN CALLED OUT BY 
LIBERAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR 
SPREADING MISINFORMATION 
FALSEHOODS THROUGHOUT THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE COMPLETE 
DISREGARD FOR THE HOUSE RULES 
AND THE DECADES OF 
PRESIDENT.  
RELATIVES NONLOGICAL WITNESSES 
OR MAKE 
BASIC PARLIAMENTARY MOTION 
STRICKEN FACT THE ONLY 
WITNESS IS ALLOWED TO TESTIFY 
PUBLICLY WERE THOSE 
THAT FIT NEATLY WITHIN THE 
DEMOCRAT'S PREDETERMINED 
NARRATIVE.  
WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED ANY 
REAL 
EVIDENCE THAT PROVES THE 
PRESIDENT IS GUILTY OF HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS AS 
REQUIRED BY THE 
CONSTITUTION TO REMOVE A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT.  
IF 
THERE WAS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AS 
MANY OF MY DEMOCRAT 
COLLEAGUES CLAIM, WHERE ARE THE 
CRIMES LISTED IN THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT?  
WE ARE FOREVER WEAKENING 
THIS BODY BY TURNING 
IMPEACHMENT INTO A POLITICAL 
WEAPON.  
THE IMPEACHMENT SCHEME IS 
NOTHING MORE THAN 
AN ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT OF 
TAXPAYER-FUNDED OPPOSITION 
RESEARCH AND DAMAGE THE 
PRESIDENT'S ELECTABILITY 
GOING INTO 2020.  
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE RIGHT 
THROUGH THE CHARADE AND ARE FED 
UP.  
IT IS TIME FOR 
THIS MADNESS TO STOP AND FOR US 
TO GET BACK TO THE 
IMPORTANT WORK THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE SENT US HERE TO 
DO.  
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD THREE 
MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED JOURNEYMAN FROM 
CALIFORIA. 
>>  GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>>  THANK YOU CHAIRMAN ANOTHER 
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.  
LET'S START BY MAKING THIS VERY 
SIMPLE.  
NO ONE IN 
AMERICA COULD DO WHAT DONALD 
TRUMP DID AND GET AWAY 
WITH IT.  
NO AMERICAN-LED OFFICIAL COULD 
CALL IT 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND ASK FOR 
THE INVESTIGATION OF 
A POLITICALOPPONENT.  
NO MEMBER OF CONGRESS CAN 
CALL A FOREIGN OFFICIAL AND ASK 
FOR HELP IN THE 
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.  IF WE DID 
THAT, WE WOULD 
LIKELY GET INDICTED.  
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW AND 
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME 
LAW OF THE LAND.  
EYESORE ON OATH TO THE 
CONSTITUTION WHEN I JOINED 
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON 
ACTIVE DUTY.  
THE 
OATH I TOOK WAS NOT TO A 
POLITICAL PARTY OR A 
PRESIDENT OR A KING.  
IT WAS TO A DOCUMENT THAT MADE 
AMERICA THE GREATEST NATION ON 
EARTH.  
THAT DOCUMENT 
CONTAINS A SAFEGUARD FOR WHEN 
THE PRESIDENT'S ABUSE 
OF POWER IS SO EXTREME THAT IT 
WARRANTS IMPEACHMENT.  
WE ARE NOT HERE BECAUSE APOLOGY 
POLICY DISPUTES.  
HE 
HAS THE RIGHT TO RESTRICT 
REFUGEES COMING TO THE 
COUNTRY AND THE RIGHT TO SIGN A 
BILL THAT HAS GIVEN 
TAX BREAKS TO THE WEALTHY.  
BUT THE PRESIDENT DOES 
NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHEAT AND 
SOLICIT FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE ON THE ELECTIONS 
THAT IS ILLEGAL.  
IT 
IS NOT WITH THE VOTERS ELECTED 
HIM TO DO AND WE WILL 
NOT STAND FOR IT.  
THE ACTIONS WERE PARTICULARLY 
INSIDIOUS BECAUSE HE USED OUR 
GOVERNMENT FOR HIS 
PRIVATE GAIN.  
HE CONDITIONED TAXPAYER 
MILITARY AID 
IN A CRITICAL WHITE HOUSE 
MEETING WITH UKRAINIAN 
PRESIDENT ON THE REQUIREMENT 
THAT UKRAINE PUBLICLY 
ANNOUNCE AN INVESTIGATION INTO 
HIS OPPONENT.  
AND BY 
HARMING UKRAINE, THE PRESIDENT 
ALSO HARMED U.S. 
NATIONAL SECURITY.  
AND THEN THE PRESIDENT 
SOLICITED 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE AGAIN ON 
THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE 
WHITE HOUSE WHEN HE ASKED TO 
INVESTIGATE HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENT.  
AND THEN HE ASKED CHINA TO DO 
THE SAME.  
THAT ABUSE OF POWER IS NOT 
ACCEPTABLE.  
WHETHER OR NOT THE SENATE 
CONVICTS, THE HOUSE HAS AN 
INDEPENDENT DUTY TO DO THE 
RIGHT THING.  
THAT IS WHY 
WE ARE PASSED OVER 275 PARTISAN 
BILLS STUCK IN THE 
SENATE.  
WHETHER IMPEACHING OR 
LEGISLATING, WE WILL 
CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE 
CONSTITUTION 
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SENATE 
MAY OR MAY NOT DO.  
MOREOVER, IMPEACHMENT IS A FORM 
OF DETERRENCE.  
OUR 
CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.  
NO PRESIDENT EVER WANTS TO 
BE IMPEACHED.  
AND WHETHER DONALD TRUMP LEAVES 
AND 
ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR OR FIVE 
YEARS, THE IMPEACHMENT 
IS PERMANENT AND WILL FOLLOW 
HIM AROUND FOR THE REST 
OF HIS LIFE AND HISTORY BOOKS 
WILL RECORD IT.  
OF 
THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHY WE 
IMPEACHED.  
IT IS ALL 
VERY SIMPLE.  
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW.  
NOT THE 
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.  
NOT THE PRESIDENT.  
I YIELD 
BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.  
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO 
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NORTH CAROLINA. 
>>  RECOGNIZED. 
>>  IN 2016, 63 MILLION 
AMERICANS WENT TO THE POLLS 
AND ELECTED DONALD TRUMP, 
PRESIDENT OF UNITED 
STATES.  
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
TRYING TO 
OVERTURN THE ELECTION A SENSE.  
IN FACT, THEY HAVE 
TRIED FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
INCLUDING THE VOTE IN MAY OF 
2017.  
JUST FIVE MONTHS 
INTO HIS TERM.  
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL OF THIS 
CHAMBER AND ARE FACED 
WITH A CHOICE.  
THEY COULD USE THE TOOLS OF THE 
MAJORITY TO PURSUE A LEGITIMATE 
PRIORITY TO THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE, POLICIES THAT 
CAN IMPACT THEIR 
LIVES OR THEY CAN USE THE TOOLS 
TO UNDO THE 2016 
ELECTION.  
THEY MADE THEIR CHOICE.  
SINCE THEN, 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE ISSUED 
MORE SUBPOENAS THAN 
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN SIGNED 
INTO LAW.  
THAT TELLS US 
ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS 
CONGRESS.  
AND THAT 
PARTY.  
RATHER THAN LAUNCH A LEGITIMATE 
INVESTIGATION, DEMOCRATS TURNED 
TO FOCUS GROUPS TO 
WORKSHOP THEIR LANGUAGE.  
AND TO SEE IF THEY CAN 
SELL THIS TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE.  
AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED IT.  
INSTEAD OF NEGOTIATING 
WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND 
ALLOWING THE COURTS TO 
RESOLVE DISPUTES, HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS RUSH THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS SO HERE WE 
ARE 12 WEEKS LATER, 
VOTING WHETHER TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT BASED OFF 
THE MOST THIN RECORD IN MODERN 
HISTORY.  
IT IS NO 
SURPRISE THAT THE SENATE IS 
ALREADY ASKING FOR 
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES AND MORE 
DOCUMENTS AND REAL 
EVIDENCE.  
THE BODY OF EVIDENCE IS WEAK 
AND WOEFULLY 
INSUFFICIENT FOR IMPEACHMENT.  
WITH THAT, I YIELD 
BACK ON THIS SAD DAY FOR THIS 
INSTITUTION. 
>>  THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW 
YORK.  
MR. NADLER. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.  MR. 
RASKIN. 
>>  MR. RASKIN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.  
AMERICAN ELECTIONS 
BELONG TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
NOT THE AMERICAN 
PRESIDENT AND NOT FOREIGN 
POWERS.  
NO PRESIDENT MAY 
CHEAT THE PEOPLE BY WORKING 
WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS 
TO STEAL FROM US A FREE AND 
FAIR ELECTION.  
AND NO 
PRESIDENT WHO ATTEMPTS IT MAY 
COVER UP THAT CHEATING 
BY SYSTEMATICALLY OBSTRUCTING 
CONGRESS AND OUR WORK.  
ARTICLE TWO OF THE CONSTITUTION 
DOES NOT AUTHORIZE A 
PRESIDENT TO DO WHATEVER HE 
WANTS.  
THE REASON WE 
HAVE A CONSTITUTION IS TO KEEP 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
FROM DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT.  
IF WE THE PEOPLE 
LOSE THE CERTAINTY OF THE FREE 
AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO 
PRESIDENTIAL CORRUPTION AND 
FOREIGN MANIPULATION, 
THEN WE LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY 
ITSELF.  
THE MOST 
PRECIOUS INHERITANCE WE HAVE 
RECEIVED FROM PRIOR 
GENERATIONS THAT PLEDGE THEIR 
SACRED HONOR AND GIVE 
EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO DEFEND 
IT.  
THE STRUGGLE FOR 
DEMOCRACY IS THE MEANING OF 
AMERICA.  
THAT IS WHY WE 
REMAIN THE LAST BEST HOPE OF A 
WORLD RAVAGED BY 
AUTHORITARIANISM, VIOLENCE AND 
CORRUPTION.  
WE MUST 
ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR 
ELECTIONS AND SAFEGUARD 
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY FOR 
THE ENORMOUS AND 
UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THAT 
STILL LIE AHEAD OF US.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  AT THIS TIME IT IS MY 
PLEASURE 2-YEAR-OLD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>>  RECOGNIZED. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.  
I RISE AND OPPOSITION 
OF HR755.  
TODAY IS A DISAPPOINTING DAY.  
IT IS THE 
DAY THAT MY COLLEAGUES FROM 
ACROSS THE AISLE CAST A 
VOTE THAT THEY HAVE SPENT THE 
LAST THREE YEARS 
OBSESSING OVER THE VOTE TO 
IMPEACH OUR DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT.  
THERE OR TWO CHARGES CLAIMED BY 
HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS AND THERE IS ZERO 
CAUSE FOR EITHER.  
WHILE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS LED OF THE 
COUNTRY HAS THRIVED 
AND WASHINGTON LIBERALS HAVE 
FAILED.  
DESPITE THE 
COMMITMENT OF MANY OF OUR 
COLLEAGUES TO OBSTRUCT THE 
ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA, OUR 
COUNTRY CONTINUES TO 
SUCCEED.  
IN THIS BODY HOWEVER, WE HAVE 
NOT BEEN 
ABLE TO DELIVER ON WHAT 
AMERICANS WANT AND NEED.  
WE 
STILL HAVE NOT FINISHED 
SECURING OUR BORDER.  
THE 
OPIOID EPIDEMIC STILL RAGES AND 
OUR COMMUNITIES.  
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS STILL IN 
DIRE NEED OF AN 
OVERHAUL AND WE STILL HAVE NOT 
REACHED A BIPARTISAN 
RESOLUTION ON DRUG PRICING.  
IF CONGRESS HADN'T 
SPENT THE LAST YEAR STUCK IN A 
DIVISIVE, UGLY 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT DEBACLE, 
THINK OF WHAT WE COULD 
HAVE DONE.  
THE LIVES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN 
SAVED, 
THE COMMUNITIES THAT COULD HAVE 
BEEN IMPROVED AND 
THE CRISIS ON THE SOUTHERN 
BORDER ENDED AND THE 
POSITIVE WORK THAT WE SHOULD DO 
FOR OUR COUNTRY.  
BUT WE DIDN'T.  
ALL BECAUSE OF DIVISIVE 
POLITICAL 
THEATRICS.  
CONGRESS CAN DO BETTER THAN 
THIS AND 
AMERICA DESERVES BETTER.  
I YIELD BACK MY TIME. 
>>  YIELDS BACK.  
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA 
RESERVES PICK GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW YORK. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 
RHODE ISLAND. 
>>  RECOGNIZED. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN 
SUPPORT OF THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DONALD 
TRUMP, THE 45TH 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NO ONE RUNS FOR 
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT 
BUT THIS PRESIDENT 
HAS LAST LEFT US NO CHOICE.  
HE ABUSED POWERS OF HIS 
OFFICE WHEN HE'S ELICITED 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE FOR 
THE PURPOSE OF HELPING HIM AND 
HIS REELECTION 
CAMPAIGN IN 2020.  
THE PRESIDENT BUT TRADE OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND 
UNDERMINED THE SECURITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS WHEN HE PUT HIS OWN 
PERSONAL POLITICAL 
INTEREST AHEAD OF THE INTEREST 
OF OUR COUNTRY PICK 
HE TRIED TO CHEAT TO WIN 
REELECTION.  
THIS WAS NOT 
AN ATTACK ON VICE PRESIDENT JOE 
BIDEN.  
IT WAS AT AN 
ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.  
IF WE DON'T HOLD THE PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE TODAY, WE WILL NO 
LONGER LIVE IN A 
DEMOCRACY BUT IN A DICTATORSHIP 
OR ANY FUTURE 
PRESIDENT WILL BE FREE TO ABUSE 
THEIR OFFICE IN 
ORDER TO GET REELECTED.  
TODAY, EVERY MEMBER OF THE 
CHAMBER FACES A CHOICE.  
WHETHER TO DO WHAT THE 
CONSTITUTION DEMANDS AND THE 
EVIDENCE REQUIRES OR TO 
TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE 
PRESIDENT'S GRAVE 
MISCONDUCT.  
A BLIND EYE TO THE OVERWHELMING 
EVIDENCE OF HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS.  
TO MY 
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE, I SAY THIS.  
IT IS NOT ABOUT MAKING HISTORY. 
IT IS ABOUT HOLDING 
A WHILE THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE IN THE WAY THE 
FRAMERS INTENDED.  
THIS IS THE TIME TO PUT OUR 
COUNTRY OVER YOUR POLITICAL 
PARTY.  
DO NOT SEEK 
SAFETY IN THE HIGH GRASS OF A 
VOTE AGAINST THESE 
ARTICLES.  
WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.  
SHOW THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE YOUR DEVOTION TO YOUR 
COUNTRY IS MORE 
POWERFUL THAN YOUR LOYALTY TO 
YOUR POLITICAL PARTY.  
UNITED WE CAN DEFEND OUR 
DEMOCRACY FROM ALL ENEMIES 
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.  
DIVIDED WE RISK LOSING OUR 
DEMOCRACY.  
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT 
THE 
EVIDENCE.  
IT WILL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE 
ANSWER.  
THE 
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES 
MUST BE IMPEACHED.  
REMEMBER THE FACTS.  
HE TRIED TO CHEAT.  
HE GOT 
CAUGHT.  
HE CONFESSED AND THEN HE'S 
DROPPED THE 
INVESTIGATION INTO HIS 
MISCONDUCT.  
FOR OUR 
DEMOCRACY, FOR OUR CONSTITUTION 
AND FOR THE PEOPLE 
YOU REPRESENT AND FOR ALL WHO 
WILL INHERIT OUR 
COUNTRY FROM US, I PRAY THAT 
YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT 
THING.  
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER.  
AT THIS POINT, IT GIVES 
ME PLEASURE TO YIELD A MINUTE 
AND I HAVE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA MR. 
ROGERS. 
>>  I RISE TODAY IN COMPLETE 
AND TOTAL SUPPORT OF 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.  
THE MATTER BEFORE THE HOUSE 
TODAY 
IS BASED SOLELY ON THE 
FUNDAMENTAL HATRED OF OUR 
PRESIDENTS.  
IT IS A SHAM AND A WITCH HUNT 
AND A 
COUP AGAINST THE DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.  
A SAD DAY FOR THE NATION WHEN 
ONE 
POLITICAL PARTY, ALONG WITH THE 
COHORTS IN A DEEP 
STATE AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA 
TRY TO HIJACK THE 
CONSTITUTION FOR THE DEMOCRAT 
MAJORITY HAS 
IRRESPONSIBLY TURNED THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS INTO A 
POLITICAL WEAPON.  
SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS 
REFUSED TO DO WHEN OUR BASE IS 
CALLING FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA. 
IT IS WELL PAST 
TIME FOR THE HOUSE TO MOVE 
BEYOND THE HOAX AND PUT 
THE NATION FIRST.  
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP IS DOING.  
THE UNITED STATES HAS RECORD 
LOW ON 
EMPLOYMENT, HISTORIC 
PERFORMANCE IN THE STOCK 
MARKET.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS REWRITING 
FILLED TRADE 
DEALS OF THE PAST TO PUT 
AMERICA FIRST.  
HE IS 
REBUILDING OUR MILITARY.  
HE HELPED CREATE THE SPACE 
FOR US AND THE LIST GOES ON.  
I AM FOR MY COLLEAGUES 
TO END THIS SPECTACLE NOW.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. 
NADLER. 
>>  MR. SPEAKER, I'M HEARING A 
LOT FROM MY 
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE EXCEPT THE 
DEFENSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
CONDUCT WHICH IS 
INDEFENSIBLE.  
I KNOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 
FLORIDA. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
>>  SOME SAY THIS IMPEACHMENT 
IS ABOUT EIGHT LINES 
IN A CALL TRANSCRIPT BUT THERE 
IS SO MUCH MORE.  
THIS WAS ABOUT A SCHEME THAT 
LASTED MONTHS AND 
INVOLVE DOZENS OF TRUMP 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS.  
LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.  
LOOK AT THE DIRECT EVIDENCE.  
TEXT MESSAGES, E-MAILS, CALLS 
AND MEETINGS.  
WAY 
BACK INMATE.  
THE PRESIDENT TOLD HIS TEAM, 
TALK TO 
RUDY GIULIANI.  
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, NO 
WHITE 
HOUSE MEETING, UNLESS UKRAINE 
HELPED HIM IN THE 2020 
ELECTION.  
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND SAID THERE 
WAS A 
PREREQUISITE OF INVESTIGATIONS 
INTO THE BIDENS AND 
AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 
INVESTIGATIONS WAS A 
DELIVERABLE.  
AMBASSADOR VOLKER SAID THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THING FOR THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO DO 
WAS TO COMMIT TO AN 
INVESTIGATION OF THE BIDENS.  
JUST BEFORE THE JULY 25TH CALL, 
VOLKER TOLD THE 
UKRAINIANS THAT ASSUMING 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY  --  WE 
WILL NAIL DOWN A DATE.  
IT KEPT COMING.  
MORE 
E-MAILS AND MORE CALLS.  
ALL WITH THE SAME MESSAGE.  
IF UKRAINE DID NOT ANNOUNCE AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO 
THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL 
RIVAL, THEY WOULD NOT GET 
THE WHITE HOUSE MEETING THEY 
HAD BEEN PROMISED AND 
WOULD NOT GET THE AID THEY 
NEEDED IN THE WAR AGAINST 
RUSSIA.  
AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL POWER 
COMES FROM THE 
PEOPLE THROUGH ELECTIONS AND 
THE CONSTITUTION 
REQUIRES THAT WE WERE 
PROTECTING THOSE ELECTIONS.  
BUT WHEN THE PRESIDENT ABUSED 
HIS POWER TO SOLICIT 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, HE WAS 
CHEATING AMERICAN 
VOTERS BEFORE THEY EVEN HAD A 
CHANCE TO VOTE.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS FORCE 
US TO PROTECT OUR 
ELECTIONS AND THE CONSTITUTION. 
I URGE MY CALLING 
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, 
SUPPORT THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND REMIND THE 
WORLD THAT IN AMERICA, NO 
ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>>  I REMIND THE BODY THAT 
THERE IS NO PRESSURE.  
NO CONDITIONALITY.  
AND THEY GOT THE MONEY.  
I YIELD 
A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE GYM 
AND FROM FLORIDA. 
>>  I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO 
THIS POLITICAL EFFORT 
TO REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM 
OFFICE.  
I'M NOT 
SURPRISED THIS DAY HAS COME BUT 
I AM DISAPPOINTED.  
DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IS ONE OF 
THE MOST 
CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS THAT WE 
CAN MAKE IN THIS 
BODY.  AND THIS IMPEACHMENT IS 
BASED PURELY ON 
PARTISAN MOTIVES.  
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID WE 
SHOULDN'T GO DOWN THIS PATH 
UNLESS THERE WAS 
SOMETHING COMPELLING, 
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN 
BECAUSE OF HOW DIVISIVE IT 
WOULD BE.  
AND IT IS 
CLEAR THAT THE MAJORITY HAS HAD 
LASER FOCUS ON ONE 
THING FOR THREE YEARS.  
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT 
PICK THE MAJORITY HAS FAILED TO 
DELIVER FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
THEY FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET ON 
TIME AND FAILED TO PASS 
SPENDING BILLS ON TIME AND 
FAILED TO DELIVER BIPARTISAN 
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL 
ACTUALLY HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES 
OF AMERICANS.  
BUT 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE THROUGH 
THIS SAD CHARADE FOR 
WHAT IT IS, AN ATTEMPT TO UNDO 
THE 2016 ELECTION 
BASED ON HEARSAY AND OPINION 
AND NOT FACT.  
THE 
TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL SHOWED 
NO CONDITIONS WERE 
PLACED ON THE AID.  
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ZELENSKY 
SAID THERE WAS NO PRESSURE AND 
UKRAINE'S RECEIVED 
THE AID WITHOUT ANY ACTIONS.  
THE CONSTITUTION IS 
CLEAR.  
THE PRESIDENT MAY ONLY BE 
IMPEACHED FOR 
COMMITTING TREASON, BRIBERY OR 
OTHER HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS.  
NOWHERE DOES IT ARGUE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED 
TREASON, OR ANY CRIME UNDER 
THE LAW.  
THIS IS NOT OVERWHELMING.  
IT IS NOT 
COMPELLING.  
IT IS NOT BIPARTISAN.  
BUT THE SPEAKER 
WAS RIGHT IN ONE WAY.  
THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIVISIVE 
AND HAS LOWERED THE BAR FOR 
WHAT FUTURE PRESIDENTS 
WILL FACE.  
I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE ARTICLE 
BEFORE US 
TODAY AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL 
FINALLY MOVE PAST THIS 
NIGHTMARE AND GET TO WORK TO 
DELIVER RESULTS FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE.  
I YIELD BACK. 
>>  THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.  
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.  
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK 
RECOGNIZED. 
>>  THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK 
ADVANTAGE OF UKRAINE'S 
VULNERABILITY AND ABUSE THE 
POWERS OF HIS OFFICE TO 
PRESSURE UKRAINE TO HELP HIS 
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.  
THIS IS THE HIGHEST OF HIGH 
CRIMES AND PRESIDENT TRUMP MUST 
BE HELD TO ACCOUNT.  
I KNOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED WOMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>>  GENTLEMAN RECOGNIZED. 
>>  THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING.  
AS A MEMBER 
OF HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, 
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE 
DANGERS THAT FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
RESENT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.  
AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, 
IT IS MY SWORN DUTY TO ENSURE 
THAT OUR NATION IS 
SECURE FROM ALL THREATS FOREIGN 
AND DOMESTIC.  
CONGRESS HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
JOB TO INVESTIGATE 
ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT BY 
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, 
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES 
PRESIDENT.  
THE 
CONSTITUTION IS THE HIGHEST LAW 
OF THE LAND, 
CREATING A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND 
BALANCES TO PREVENT 
THE CREATION OF THE KING.  
AND CONGRESS IS A COEQUAL 
BRANCH OF THE NATION'S 
GOVERNMENT, EQUAL WITH THE 
PRESIDENCY, WITH DUTIES GIVEN 
TO US BY THE FRAMERS.  
THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY AND I DO 
NOT TAKE IMPEACHMENT 
LIGHTLY.  
YET, I AM HERE TO DO MY JOB AS 
A MEMBER OF 
CONGRESS.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
. 
>> AND TODAY I PRAY FOR GOD FOR 
HIS GUIDANCE IN 
UNITING OUR GREAT NATION AND 
WITH THAT, THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK I 
YIELD. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN WILL BE 
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A 
TRANSLATION OF YOUR REMARKS. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
DO YOU RESERVE? 
>> RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. COLLINS IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH 
MY CHAIRMAN. 
FACTS ARE NOT UNDISPUTED. 
IN FACT THEY'RE VERY MUCH 
DISPUTED BY THE 
WITNESSES THAT TESTIFY AND I 
YIELD A MINUTE AND A 
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU FOR YIELDING. 
MR. SPEAKER I RISE TODAY IN 
OPPOSITION TO THE 
DEMOCRAT SHAM PROCESS WHICH 
MAKES A MOCKERY OF THE 
RULES OF THE HOUSE AND 
DANGEROUS TO THIS COUNTRY. 
SINCE DAY ONE THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE MADE IT CLEAR 
THEY WANTED TO MOVE TOWARDS 
IMPEACHMENT WELL BEFORE 
ANY OF THE ACCUSATIONS TOOK 
PLACE. 
WHAT DEMOCRATS UNFORTUNATELY 
DON'T RECOGNIZE IS 
THE DAMAGE THAT THIS WILL CAUSE 
FOR OUR POLITICAL 
INSTITUTIONS AND AMERICA'S 
TRUST FOR YEARS TO COME. 
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE 
CONCERNED THAT SPEAKER 
PELOSI DOESN'T TRUST OUR 
CITIZENS TO LET THEM DECIDE 
WHO SHOULD LEAD OUR GREAT 
COUNTRY. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS ISN'T 
FOCUSED ON 
STRENGTHENING AND PROTECTING 
OUR POLITICAL 
FOUNDATIONS BUT RATHER SHAPING 
PUBLIC OPINION. 
I ASK YOU IS IT WORTH THAT? 
NOT ONLY IS THE PROCESS 
ALARMING BUT IT'S WASTING 
TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND VALUABLE 
TIME THAT ELECTED 
OFFICIALS COULD BE USING TO 
MOVE OUR COUNTRY 
FORWARD. 
THAT INCLUDES SECURING OUR 
BORDERS, ADDRESSING 
STUDENT LOAN DEBT OR BRINGING 
DOWN THE COST OF 
HEALTHCARE AND PRESCRIPTION 
DRUGS. 
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES 
WHILE CONSIDERING 
THESE ARTICLES TO ASK 
THEMSELVES WHETHER THIS IS 
TRULY BEING DONE FOR THE GOOD 
OF THE COUNTRY. 
THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER AND I 
YIELD BACK. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, 
MR. NADLER. 
. 
>> I WOULD REMIND THE GENTLEMAN 
THAT AFTER 
RECOVERING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 
IN GOTTEN GAINS THE 
MUELLER INVESTIGATION WAS 
ACTUALLY A NET PLUS FOR 
THE TAXPAYERS. 
I NOW RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM COLORADO  
MR. FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN NADLER 
AND SPEAKER PELOSI 
FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MORAL 
COURAGE. 
TODAY THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES IS DEBATING TO 
VOTE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
FOR ONLY THE THIRD 
TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY. 
UNFORTUNATELY PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HAS LEFT US NO 
CHOICE. 
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT 
THE PRESIDENT 
ABUSED THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE 
AND INVITED A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
ELECTIONS. 
IN SO DOING, HE UNDER MINED THE 
SANKTY OF OF THE 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS UPON 
WHICH OUR REPUBLIC 
RESTS. 
MAKING MATTERS WORSE OVER THE 
PAST SEVERAL MONTHS 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS 
ADMINISTRATION HAVE DONE 
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT 
CONGRESS FROM 
UNCOVERING THE TRUTH. 
LET US BE CLEAR IN THE HISTORY 
OF OUR REPUBLIC, NO 
PRESIDENT HAS EVER OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS LIKE THIS 
BEFORE. 
DURING THE WATER GATE 
INVESTIGATION AS MY 
COLLEAGUES WELL KNOW, PRESIDENT 
NIXON'S CHIEF OF 
STAFF TESTIFIED BEFORE 
CONGRESS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CHIEF OF 
STAFF REFUSED. 
PRESIDENT NIXON'S COUNSEL 
TESTIFIED. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REFUSED. 
WHITE HOUSE AIDS CLOSE TO 
PRESIDENT NIXON 
TESTIFIED. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP REFUSED TO 
ALLOW ANY AID WHO MAY 
HAVE KNOWLEDGE RELEVANT TO THIS 
INVESTIGATION TO 
TESTIFY SIMPLY PUT HIS 
ADMINISTRATION HAS ENGAGED IN 
A WHOLESALE OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS AND THAT IS 
EXACTLY WHY WE'RE CONSIDERING 
NOT JUST ONE BUT TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BEFORE 
THE HOUSE TODAY. 
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY HAS A 
RESPONSIBILITY TO 
UP HOLD OUR CONSTITUTION TO 
DEFEND OUR REPUBLIC AND 
WHEN NECESSARY TO HOLD THE 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
ACCOUNTABLE. 
AND WE ARE EXERCISING THAT 
RESPONSIBILITY TODAY. 
SO WITH THAT AND THEREFORE I 
WILL VOTE YES ON BOTH 
ARTICLES BECAUSE IT IS WHAT THE 
CONSTITUTION 
REQUIRES. 
>> GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS 
EXPIRED. 
>> WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I NEVER THOUGHT A DEPARTMENT OF 
JUSTICE 
INVESTIGATION WAS USED AS A 
MONEY REVENUE PLOT BUT I 
GUESS ONE THING IS TRUE IT WAS 
A LOSER FOR THE 
MINORITY IN A NET PROFIT 
SITUATION. 
FOR THAT I YIELD TO MR. 
NEWHOUSE A MINUTE AND A 
HALF. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, THE PEOPLE'S 
HOUSE SHOULD BE BETTER 
THAN THIS. 
WE SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS. 
DURING A MEMBER'S REMARKS IN 
THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE'S IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS HE STATED I QUO 
TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HOW 
DO YOU WANT TO BE 
REMEMBERED DURING THIS WATER 
SHED MOMENT IN OUR 
NATION'S HISTORY. 
WELL, MR. SPEAKER, IT WON'T BE 
WATCHING SPORTS ON 
A LAPTOP DURING OFFICIAL 
JUDICIARY PROCEEDINGS TO 
IMPEACH A SITTING PRESIDENT. 
IT WON'T BE REFERRING TO OUR 
PRESIDENT CALLING FOR 
HIS IMPEACHMENT JUST HOURS 
AFTER BEING SWORN INTO 
CONGRESS. 
IT WON'T BE USING THE 
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ONCE 
RESPECTED INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE TO DISTORT THE 
PRESIDENT'S WORDS IN ORDER TO 
MISLEAD THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE AND IT CERTAINLY WON'T 
BE USING THE MOST 
SERIOUS AND SOLEMN POWERS OF 
CONGRESS TO OVER TURN A 
LEGITIMATE NATIONAL ELECTION 
FOR POLITICAL EXCEED 
YENCY. 
NO MR. SPEAKER, MY FELLOW 
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES 
AND I WON'T BE REMEMBERED IN 
HISTORY FOR DOING ANY 
OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW 
THIS IS FAR TOO 
GRAVE A MATTER FOR SUB VERSION 
SUCH AS THESE OF OUR 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. 
WE SHOULD ALL BE BETTER THAN 
THIS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
>> MR. SPEAKER MAY I INQUIRE 
HOW MUCH TIME REMAINS 
ON BOTH SIDES?
>> MR. NADLER YOU ARE ADVISED 
THAT YOU HAVE 156 AND 
THREE QUARTER MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS 
157 MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
DIVIDE THAT BY 60. 
. 
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLE LADY. 
>> RECOGNIZED. 
>> OUR COUNTRY FACES A GRAVE 
TRAGEDY AND MOMENT P OF 
TRUTH. 
WE HAVE WITNESSED THE STATE'S 
ABUSE HIS PUBLIC 
OFFICE FOR PERSONAL POLITICAL 
GAIN AND INVITE 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO INTERFERE 
IN OUR ELECTIONS 
PUTTING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
GOVERNMENT OF, FOR AND 
BY THE PEOPLE AT GREAT RISK. 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING 
AND CLEARLY SHOWS 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL 
CONTINUE TO ABUSE HIS 
OFFICE AND OBSTRUCT CONGRESS IF 
LEFT UNCHECKED. 
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE 
CONDUCTED A ROBUST 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
PRESIDENT'S MISCONDUCT. 
MEMBERS INTERVIEWED 12 
WITNESSES IN PUBLIC 
HEARINGS TOTALING OVER 30 
HOURS, CONDUCTED 17 
DEPOSITIONS TOTALING OVER 100 
HOURS, EXAMINED TEXT 
MESSAGES AND E-MAILS, REVIEWED 
THE PRESIDENT'S OWN 
WORDS AND ACTIONS AND PUBLISHED 
A 300 PAGE REPORT 
DETAILING THEIR FINDINGS. 
ALL OF THIS DESPITE THE FACT 
THAT UNDER THE 
PRESIDENT'S DIRECTION 12 
CURRENT AND FORMER 
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS 
REFUSED TO TESTIFY EVEN 
IGNORING SUBPOENAS AND 71 
DOCUMENT REQUESTS WERE 
DENIED. 
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THEN 
REVIEWED THE EVIDENCE 
AND CONCLUDED THAT TWO ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT WHICH 
I SUPPORT WERE WARRANTED. 
THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A CLEAR 
AND PRESENT DANGER TO OUR FREE 
AND FAIR ELECTIONS 
AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
THE MOST POWERFUL EVIDENCE OF 
THIS PATTERN HAS 
COME FROM THE PRESIDENT 
HIMSELF. 
IN 2016, WE HEARD HIM WHEN HE 
CALLED ON RUSSIA TO 
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS. 
HE SAID RUSSIA IF YOU ARE 
LISTENING HE THEN 
REPEATED THIS CALL FOR ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE ON THE 
JULY 25 CALL WITH THE UKRAINIAN 
PRESIDENT AND WE 
HEARD HIM AGAIN ON THE WHITE 
HOUSE LAWN FURTHER 
ADDING CHINA TO THAT MIX. 
I STAND READY TO PROTECT OUR 
SACRED REPUBLIC, 
SUPPORT THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND I PRAY 
THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THE 
COURAGE TO DO THE SAME. 
WE MUST UP HOLD OUR OATH OF 
OFFICE, DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR FRAGILE 
DEMOCRACY BECAUSE NO 
ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> THE GENTLE LADY YEEMEDS 
BACK. 
. 
>> I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM FLORIDA. 
>> RECOGNIZED. 
>> THANK YOU FOR YIELDING. 
MR. SPEAKER IN 2016 VLADIMIR 
PUTIN AND WAGING WAR 
ON OUR ELECTIONS WITH THE GOAL 
OF SO IN DISCORD AND 
DIVISION IN AMERICA. 
DO YOU THINK HE'S BEEN 
SUCCESSFUL? 
SOMEWHERE IN RUSSIA RIGHT NOW 
PUTIN IS LAUGHING AT 
US TODAY. 
THE MAJORITY IS GIVING HIM 
EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS. 
A DIVIDED AMERICA WITH A PURE 
PARTISAN POLITICS 
WITH NASTY POLITICAL RHETORIC 
AND AN ALL TIME HIGH. 
TO SOME ALREADY ACROSS THE 
AISLE ARE DISCREDITING 
THE RESULTS OF FUTURE 
ELECTIONS, ALREADY. 
IT SEEMS MANY AMERICANS FOR THE 
PAST THREE YEARS 
THE HOUSE MAJORITY HAS BEEN 
CARRYING OUT THE WISHING 
OF THE KREMLIN AND THE SAD PART 
IS THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE VOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR 
SHAM INVESTIGATIONS 
EVEN AFTER TODAY'S VOTE. 
IMPEACHING A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT AND A PURELY 
PARTISAN MANNER WITH NO CRIMES 
TO SHOW FOR IT NOT 
ONE ELEMENT OF A CRIME DEFINED 
DISGRACES THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
NOW IS THE TIME TO END THE 
PARTISAN POLITICS, COME 
TOGETHER AND PUT AMERICA FIRST. 
I URGE THIS BODY TO VOTE NO TO 
PARTISAN 
IMPEACHMENT. 
. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
>> RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES, MR. 
NADLER. 
>> MR. SPEAKER I NOW YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK MR. 
JEFFERIES. 
>> MR. JEFFERIES IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> GEORGE WASHINGTON IN HIS 
FAREWELL DRESS TO 
AMERICA COUNSELED AMERICA THAT 
THE CONSTITUTION IS 
ON BUILDING TREASM UPON ALL. 
IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT THAT WE 
PROCEED TODAY. 
DONALD TRUMP PRESSURED A 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO 
TARGET AN AMERICAN CITIZEN FOR 
POLITICAL GAIN AND AT 
THE SAME TIME WITHHELD WITHOUT 
JUSTIFICATION 
$391 MILLION IN MILITARY AID TO 
A VULNERABLE 
UKRAINE. 
AS PART OF A SCHEME TO SOLICIT 
FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN AN AMERICAN 
ELECTION. 
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. 
THAT IS UNCON SHOWNABLE, THAT 
IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
THERE ARE SOME WHO CYNICALLY 
ARGUE THAT THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF THIS PRESIDENT 
WILL FURTHER DIVIDE AN 
ALREADY FRACTURED UNION BUT 
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE 
BETWEEN DIVISION AND 
CLARIFICATION. 
SLAVERY ONCE DIVIDED THE NATION 
BUT EMANCIPATORS 
ROSE UP TO CLARIFY THAT ALL MEN 
ARE CREATED EQUALLY. 
SUFFRAGE ONCE DIVIDED THE 
NATION BUT WOMEN ROSE UP 
TO CLARIFY THAT ALL VOICES MUST 
BE HEARD IN OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
JIM CROWE ONCE DIVIDED THE 
NATION BUT CIVIL RIGHTS 
CHAMPIONS ROSE UP TO CLARIFY 
THAT ALL ARE ENTITLED 
TO EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE 
LAW. 
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 
DIVISION AND 
CLARIFICATION. 
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS 
STUNNING ABUSE OF POWER. 
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNDER 
MINING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
WE WILL HOLD THIS PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR 
CORRUPTIONING OUR DEMOCRACY. 
WE WILL IMPEACH DONALD JOHN 
TRUMP. 
WE WILL CLARIFY THAT IN AMERICA 
NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER I NOW 
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, NULLIFYING A 
NATIONAL ELECTION 
REQUIRES AN OVERWHELMING CASE 
OF HIGH CRIMES 
SUPPORTED BY INDISPUTABLE 
EVIDENCE THAT THE VAST 
MAJORITY OF THE NATION FINDS 
COMPELLING. 
NOW ARTICLE ONE'S A MADE UP 
CRIME CALLED ABUSE OF 
OFFICE. 
IT DOES NOT CHARGE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT BROKE ANY 
LAW BUT THAT CONGRESS DOESN'T 
LIKE THE WAY HE LAWFUL 
DISCHARGED THIS CONSTITUTIONAL 
DUTIES. 
THIS WOULD REDWEUS THE 
PRESIDENCY TO THAT OF A 
MINISTER DESTROYING THE 
SEPARATION OF POWERS AT THE 
HEART OF OUR CONSTITUTION. 
ARTICLE TWO IS ANOTHER MADE UP 
CRIME CALLED 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
IT MEANS THE PRESIDENT SOUGHT 
TO DEFEND HIS 
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND THOSE 
OF HIS OFFICE AND 
REMOVES THE JUDICIARY FROM OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND 
PLACES CONGRESS ALONE IN THE 
POSITION OF DEFINING 
THE LIMITS OF ITS OWN POWERS 
RELATIVE TO THE 
PRESIDENT. 
OUR BILL OF RIGHTS GUARANTEES 
EVERY AMERICAN THE 
RIGHT TO CONFRONT THEIR 
ACCUSER, TO CALL WITNESSES 
IN THEIR DEFENSE TO BE 
PROTECTED FROM HEARSAY AND TO 
DEFEND THESE RIGHTS IN COURT 
THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE 
TRAMPLED THEM ALL IN THEIR 
STAMPEDE TO IMPEACH. 
EVEN IN THIS KANGAROO COURT THE 
DEMOCRATS HAND 
PICKED WITNESSES PROVIDED NO 
FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE 
THE PRESIDENT LEAKED AID TO 
ACTION. 
IN FACT TWO WITNESSES PROVIDED 
FIRST HAND 
KNOWLEDGE THAT HE SPECIFICALLY 
ORDERED NO QUID PRO 
QUO. 
ANY CASE THE CHARGED NO ACTUAL 
CRIME AND OFFERED 
NO LEGALLY ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE 
WOULD BE LAUGHED OUT 
OF COURT IN A HEART BEAT. 
THAT'S THE CASE BEFORE US 
TODAY. 
IT WOULD REDEFINE THE GROUNDS 
FOR IMPEACHMENT IN 
SUCH A WAY THAT ENSURES IT WILL 
BECOME A CONSTANT 
PRESENCE IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE. 
NOW WE KNOW HOW RECKLESS THE 
DEMOCRATS OF RESIST 
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. 
THIS IS A STUNNING ABUSE OF 
POWER AND A SHAMELESS 
TRAIVE STEASM OF JUSTICE THAT 
WILL STAIN THE 
REPUTATIONS OF THOSE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATIONS TO 
COME. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
>> RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
MR. NADLER. 
>> ABUSE OF POWER WITH NO VAGUE 
OR WEAK NOTION HAD A 
VERY SPECIFIC MEANING THE USE 
OF OFFICIAL POWER TO 
OBTAIN AN IMPROPER PERSONAL 
BENEFIT WHILE IGNORING 
OR INJURING THE NATIONAL 
INTEREST. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED HIS 
OFFICE AND MUST BE 
REMOVED. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE MR. 
COHEN. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THANK YOU. 
MR. SPEAKER, THE UNITED STATES 
HAS BEEN A SPECIAL 
NATION, A CITY UPON A HILL. 
OUR VALUES ARE ENSHRINED IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION, 
LIBERTY EQUALITY AND 
OPPORTUNITY. 
WE ARE A SELF GOVERNING PEOPLE 
WHERE EVERY PERSON 
IS EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW. 
IN THE UNITED STATES WE DON'T 
HAVE A KING. 
WE CHOOSE OUR LEADERS. 
WE VOTE. 
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE 
FOUGHT AND SOME HAVE 
DIED TO SECURE THESE 
INALIENABLE RIGHTS. 
THE CONSTITUTION BEGINS WE THE 
PEOPLE OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
THAT'S US. 
IT'S NOT WE THE LEADERS OF 
RUSSIA OR UKRAINE OR 
CHINA OR WE THE DEMOCRATS OR WE 
THE REPUBLICANS. 
IT'S WE THE PEOPLE OF THE 
UNITED STATES AND ALL 
AMERICANS AND ONLY AMERICANS 
GET TO HAVE A SAY IN 
OUR ELECTIONS. 
DONALD TRUMP USED THE HIGH 
POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY 
TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN NATION TO 
THE PRIMARY 
POLITICAL OPPONENT. 
HE CORRUPTED OUR ELECTIONS AND 
COMPROMISED OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY SO THAT HE 
COULD KEEP POWER. 
NOT POWER FOR THE PEOPLE, POWER 
FOR HIMSELF. 
IN 2016 CANDIDATE TRUMP CALLED 
FOR FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE WHEN HE SAID 
RUSSIA IF YOU ARE 
LISTENING IN 2019 THE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP SOUGHT FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE WHEN HE NEEDED A 
FAVOR FROM UKRAINE TO 
INTERVENE IN THE 2020 
ELECTIONS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ATTACKED AND IS 
CONTINUING THREAT 
TO OUR SYSTEM OF FREE AND FAIR 
ELECTIONS. 
LIKE ALL OF YOU I TOOK AN OATH 
TO SUPPORT AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ABIDE 
BY THAT OATH AND 
STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
ABUSE OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
TO MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES 
OF THE AISLE I 
APPEAL TO YOUR PATRIOTISM AND 
EMPLIER YOU TO DEFEND 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. 
GOD SAVE THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK 
AND THE GENTLEMAN AND 
ALL MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
ADDRESS THEIR COMMENTS 
TO THE CHAIR. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER AND I 
DO BELIEVE 
MR. SPEAKER THAT OUR ELECTION 
SHOULD BE FREE AND 
FAIR. 
I DO BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL OF 
MY HEART BUT IT 
SEEMS THAT THIS IS BASED ON THE 
FACT THAT THE 
SPEAKER WHO SAID IT WILL BE 
DANGEROUS TO LEAVE IT TO 
THE VOTERS TO DETERMINE IF MR. 
TRUMP STAYS IN 
OFFICE. 
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
LOUISIANA  
MR. HIGGINS. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
. 
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER. 
I HAVE WITNESSED A TERROR 
WITHIN AND I RISE 
COMMITTED TO OPPOSE THE 
INSIDIOUS FORCES WHICH 
THREATEN OUR REPUBLIC. 
AMERICA IS BEING SEVERELY 
INJURED BY THIS BETRAYAL 
AND UNJUST AND WEAPONNIZED 
IMPEACHMENT BROUGHT UPON 
US BY THE SAME SOCIALIST WHO 
THREATEN UNBORN LIFE IN 
THE WOMB, FIRST AMENDMENT 
RIGHTS OF CONSERVATIVES, 
SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS OF 
EVERY AMERICAN 
PATRIOT AND WHO HAVE LONG AGO 
DETERMINED THAT THEY 
WOULD ORGANIZE AND CONSPIRE TO 
OVER THROW PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
WE DON'T FACE THIS HORROR 
BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME 
CONSTITUTIONALISTS. 
WE'RE NOT BEING DEVOURED FROM 
WITHIN BECAUSE OF 
SOME SURREAL ASSERTION OF THE 
SOCIALIST NEW FOUND 
LOVE FOR THE FLAG THEY TROT 
UPON. 
WE FACE THIS HORROR BECAUSE OF 
THIS MAP. 
THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS 
FEAR. 
THEY FEAR THE TRUE WITH WILL OF 
WE THE PEOPLE. 
THEY ARE DEEP ESTABLISHMENT 
D.C.   THEY FEAR, THEY CALL 
THIS REPUBLICAN MAP FLY OVER 
COUNTRY. 
THEY CALL US DEPLORABLES AND 
FEAR OUR FAITH AND 
STRENGTH AND UNITY. 
THEY FEAR OUR VOTE AND THEY 
FEAR OUR PRESIDENT. 
WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR 
NATION TO A CAREER 
ESTABLISHMENT D.C. POLITICIANS 
AND BUREAUCRATS. 
OUR REPUBLIC SHALL SURVIVE THIS 
THREAT FROM 
WITHIN. 
AMERICAN PATRIOTS SHALL 
PREVAIL. 
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
>> I RESERVE. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR. 
NADLER. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA MR. JOHNSON. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA MR. 
JOHNSON IS RECOGNIZED. 
. 
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER. 
I WAS NOT AMONG THOSE WHO 
SUPPORTED IMPEACHMENT 
BEFORE UKRAINE BUT I CALL FOR 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY 
BECAUSE OUR PRESIDENT IS AS WE 
SPEAK ABUSING HIS 
POWER AND PLACING HIMSELF ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO 
SABOTAGE THE 2020 
ELECTION IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT 
DANGER ON OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
WE THE PEOPLE KNOW THIS AND 
MORE AMERICANS SUPPORT 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY THAN AT ANY 
TIME SINCE RICHARD 
NIXON'S FINAL WEEKS IN OFFICE. 
WE KNOW THAT IT'S WRONG TO 
ENLIST THE HELP OF 
FOREIGNERS IN INTERFERING IN 
OUR ELECTIONS. 
WE KNOW IT'S WRONG TO CHEAT AND 
WE KNOW WHAT'S AT 
STAKE. 
IT'S NOT JUST THAT OUR 
ELECTIONS WERE ATTACKED. 
OUR ELECTIONS ARE UNDER ATTACK 
RIGHT NOW. 
THE VERY DAY THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE VOTED OUT 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WELCOMED 
RUDY GUILIANI BACK TO THE WHITE 
HOUSE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS STILL AT IT. 
HE'S DOUBLING DOWN. 
HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN WIN AN 
ELECTION FAIR AND 
SQUARE SO HE'S TRYING TO CHEAT 
TO IGNORE THESE 
CRIMES IS NOT JULSZ GIVING THE 
PRESIDENT A PASS. 
IT'S GIVING HIM A GREEN LIGHT. 
THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST ARE NOT 
ENDORSING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S PAST ACTIONS BUT HIS 
FUTURE ONES AS WELL. 
IF YOU THINK I EXAGGERATE IN 
WARNING THAT 
ELECTIONS CAN BE UNDER MINED I 
URGE YOU TO FIND A 
BLACK MAN OR WOMAN OF A CERTAIN 
AGE AND THEY'LL TELL 
YOU THE DANGER IS REAL AND 
THEY'LL TELL YOU OF BRAVE 
MARCHESE, PATE ROSS WILLING TO 
RISK FAR MORE THAP A 
POLITICAL CAREER WHO MARCHED 
AND STRUGGLED AND 
SOMETIMES DIED SO THAT WE COULD 
HAVE FAIR AND FREE 
ELECTIONS. 
WE'RE NOT ASKED TO POSSESS EVEN 
A FRACTION OF 
THEIR COURAGE. 
WE'RE SIMPLY CALLED UPON TODAY 
TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT 
AND I'M PROUD TO VOTE YES ON 
IMPEACHMENT AND WITH 
THAT I YIELD BACK. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I'M GLAD MY COLLEAGUE JUST 
MENTIONED GEORGIA 
BECAUSE IN 2014 THE ACTUAL 
VOTER PARTICIPATION AMONG 
MINORITIES, HISPANIC MALE AND 
FEMALE HAVE RISEN 
DOUBLE DIGITS. 
I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT GEORGIA 
IS DOING AND I'M 
GLAD HE CHOSE TO HIGHLIGHT IT. 
HE HIGHLIGHTED IT IN THE WRONG 
WAY. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND 
A HALF. 
>> BACK HOME PEOPLE REFERRED TO 
CAPITOL HILL AS A 
BUBBLE. 
THEY ARE RIGHT. 
IT'S AS IF WE ARE COMPLETELY 
DETACHED FROM WHAT'S 
GOING ON IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS 
AMERICA. 
MANY HERE DON'T HEAR OR LISTEN 
TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE 
SAYING AND MANY HERE AS WELL 
THINK THEY KNOW BETTER 
THAN THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. 
OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BENEFITING 
GREATLY FROM 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA A 
BOOMING ECONOMY, BETTER 
TRADE DEALS AND A STRNGER 
MILITARY. 
UNFORTUNATELY INSIDE THE HALLS 
OF CONGRESS 
DEMOCRATS OBSESSION WERE 
IMPEACHMENT IS ALL 
CONSUMING. 
IS THIS HOW WE CHOOSE TO 
REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF 
AMERICA BY NULLIFYING THE 
RESULTS OF 2016 ELECTION 
DISREGARDING THE WILL OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND 
DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER 
TO PREVENT THE 
PRESIDENT AND THIS CONGRESS 
FROM DOING THE JOB WE 
ELECTED TO DO? 
AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING 
MONTH TO MONTH 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 
DEMOCRATS HAVE DELIVERED TWO 
WEAK ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, 
ABUSE OF POWER? 
NOT ACCORDING TO UKRAINE. 
THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMED MANY 
TIMES THERE WAS NO 
ACTION TAKEN AND SIGNIFICANT 
MILITARY AID WAS 
DELIVERED WITHOUT ANYTHING IN 
RETURN. 
OF COURSE HIS WORDS HAVE BEEN 
CONVENIENTLY 
DISMISSED. 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
IS THIS THE NEW STANDARD? 
IF THIS IS THEN EVERY PRESIDENT 
SINCE JIMMY CARTER 
AND EVERY PRESIDENT MOVING 
FORWARD WOULD BE 
IMPEACHED. 
LET ME BE CLEAR IT IS AN HONOR 
TO SERVE IN THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES BUT TODAY I 
AM DISASTRAUGHT. 
DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH 
THE DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
WHICH WILL BE EQUALLY 
TROUBLING IS THIS HAS WIPED OUT 
THE TRUST OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE IN THE 
116TH CONGRESS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> I RESERVE. 
. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER PRESIDENT 
TRUMP SAID NO QUID PRO 
QUO AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE 
LERPED OF THE WHISTLE 
BLOWER COMPLAINT AND AFTER 
PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE 
ABOUT THE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN ON 
UKRAINE. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN LADY FROM 
CALIFORNIA MS. BASS. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THIS IS A SAD DAY IN U.S. 
HISTORY WHEN WE HAVE TO 
VOTE ON ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP 
HAS ABUSED THE POWER OF THE 
OFFICE AND PRESIDENCY IN 
HIS ATTEMPT TO CHEAT HIS WAY TO 
REELECTION. 
FACT ONE THE PRESIDENT ABUSED 
THE POUCHER OF HIS 
OFFICE BY ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE 
DOWN THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN OUR 
ALLY. 
TRUMP WANTED THE PRESIDENT OF 
UKRAINE TO DIG UP 
DIRT ON VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN 
BECAUSE HE SEES HIM AS 
THE BIGGEST THREAT TO HIS 
REELECTION. 
FACT TWO ANNOUNCING AN 
INVESTIGATION OF BIDEN 
HOPING THE MERE ANNOUNCEMENT 
WOULD CREATE DOUBT AND 
STRENGTHEN TRUMP'S HAND IN THE 
2020 ELECTION. 
FACT THREE, TRUMP OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS BY ENGAGING 
IN A CONGRESS UP. 
TRUMP HAS REFUSED TO COMPLY AND 
BLOCKED CURRENT 
AND PAST EMPLOYEES FROM 
TESTIFYING. 
CONGRESS IS A COULD EQUAL 
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AND 
ONE OF OUR CENTRAL ABILITIES IS 
TO PROVIDE OVER 
SITE. 
THE VERY CHECKS AND BALANCINGS 
THE FRAMERS BUILT 
INTO THE CONSTITUTION SO NO ONE 
UNCHECKED BRANCH BUT 
TO VOTE AND PASS ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED HIS 
POWER AND OBSTRUCTED 
THE ABILITY OF CONGRESS FROM 
PERFORMING OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY. 
THE URGENCY TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT IS BECAUSE THERE IS 
NO REASON TO BELIEVE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WON'T CONTINUE 
TO ABUSE THE POWER OF 
HIS OFFICE. 
NO REASON TO BELIEVE HE WON'T 
CONTINUE TO PUT HIS 
FOOT ON THE SCALE OF HIS 
REELECTION AND IN FACT HIS 
ATTORNEY JUST RETURNED FROM 
UKRAINE AND IN AN 
ARTICLE JUST RELEASED IN NEW 
YORKER MAGAZINE 
CONFESSES TO CONTINUING THE 
EFFORT TO INTERFERE IN 
THE ELECTION. 
IN MANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS 
WE WORRY ABOUT 
VOTER SUPPRESSION AND SCHEMES 
THAT PURGE LEGITIMATE 
VOTERS FROM PARTICIPATING IN 
THE ELECTION OR WE 
WORRY ABOUT RUSSIAN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTION. 
IT IS A SAD DAY IN AMERICA WHEN 
WE HAVE TO WORRY 
ABOUT THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
INTERFERING IN THE 
ELECTION IN ORDER TO SH 
REELECTED. 
ELECTIONS SHOULD BE DECIDED BY 
THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
I WILL VOTE FOR BOTH ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY 
THAT FULFILL MY OATH 
OF OFFICE. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER I 
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO 
UTAH MR. STEWART. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
TWO MINUTES. 
>>> I DISCOVERED SOMETHING 
RECENTLY AND IT'S 
SHOCKING I KNOW BUT IT TURNS 
OUT SOME POINT PEOPLE 
DON'T LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
THEY THINK HE'S LOUD, ARROGANT, 
SOMETIMES HE SAYS 
BAD WORDS AND SOMETIMES HE'S 
RUDE TO PEOPLE AND TO 
THEIR SENSITIVE NATURES THEY'VE 
BEEN OFFENDED. 
I GET THAT. 
I REALLY DO. 
LET'S BE CLEAR THIS VOTE THIS 
DAY HAS NOTHING TO 
DO WITH IT. 
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ABUSE 
OF POWER. 
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
THIS VOTE, THIS DAY IS ABOUT 
ONE THING AND ONE 
THING ONLY. 
THEY HATE THIS PRESIDENT. 
THEY HATE THOSE OF US WHO VOTED 
FOR HIM. 
THEY THINK WE'RE STUPID. 
THEY THINK WE MADE A MISTAKE. 
THEY THINK HILARY CLINTON 
SHOULD BE THE PRESIDENT 
AND THEY WANT TO FIX THAT. 
THAT'S WHAT THIS VOTE IS ABOUT. 
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY VOTE 
AND THROW IT IN THE 
TRASH. 
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY MY 
PRESIDENT AND 
DELEGITIMATIZE HIM SO HE CANNOT 
BE REELECTED. 
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. 
AND NOR THOSE WHO STARTED WITH 
THIS INVESTIGATION 
WHAT NONSENSE. 
YOU'VE BEEN TRIED TO IMPEACH 
THIS PRESIDENT SINCE 
BEFORE HE WAS SWORN INTO 
OFFICE. 
SOME OF YOU INTRODUCED ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT 
BEFORE HE WAS SWORN INTO 
OFFICE. 
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU'RE 
APPROACHING 
PRAYERFULLY AND MOURNFULLY AND 
SADLY, OH THE CHAOS, 
OH THE SADNESS. 
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE 
GLEEFUL ABOUT AND YOU'VE 
BEEN TRYING TO DO IT FOR THREE 
YEARS AND IT'S VERY 
CLEAR. 
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND 
GOOGLE VERY MUCH TO 
FIND OUT THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE 
TRUTH. 
I COULD GIVE YOU PAGES OF 
EXAMPLES OF THINGS YOU 
HAVE SAID FOR THREE YEARS ABOUT 
THIS PRESIDENT. 
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. 
AND IF YOU THINK THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IS SUCCESSFUL 
THE NEXT PRESIDENT I PROMISE 
YOU IS GOING TO BE 
IMPEACHED AND THE NEXT 
PRESIDENT AFTER THAT IF YOU 
SET THIS BAR AS BEING 
IMPEACHABLE, EVERY PRESIDENT 
IN OUR FUTURE WILL BE 
IMPEACHED. 
IT ERODES THE WAYS OUR FOUNDING 
FATHERS RECOGNIZE. 
THEY GOT IT RIGHT. 
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS 
OTHER THAN THAT SEVEN 
OF THE BELT BOX I LOOK FORWARD 
TO THAT DATE. 
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE. 
. 
>> MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO 
THE CHAIR. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> RESERVE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I WOULD 
REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT 
IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS IMPEACHED 
AND REMOVED THE NEW 
PRESIDENT WOULD BE MIKE PENCE 
NOT HILARY CLINTON. 
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLEMAN LADY FROM FLORIDA. 
. 
>> I'M SORRY TWO MINUTES? 
>> TWO MINUTES. 
>> GENTLEMAN LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> I DID NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE 
OF BEING BORN INTO 
THIS COUNTRY. 
MY MOTHER BROUGHT ME FROM ECK 
DOCTOR LOOKING FOR 
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY BUT 
THAT'S NOT MY STORY 
ALONE. 
SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN 
FLORIDA'S 26TH 
DISTRICT AND ALL OVER THE 
COUNTRY. 
EXPERIENCED CORRUPTION IN OUR 
COUNTRY OF BIRTH 
WHERE BRUTAL DICTATOR SHIPS 
HAVE CHOKED THEIR 
POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT THOSE IN 
POWER. 
THIS PRESIDENT ELECTED BY THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAS 
VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND 
VIOLATED THE RULE OF 
LAW. 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING 
THAT HE WITHHELD 
MILITARY AID APPROVED BY 
CONGRESS AND LEVERAGED A 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING TO EXTRACT 
A POLITICAL FAVOR 
FROM A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. 
THE PRESIDENT ACTIVELY SOUGHT 
FOREIGN ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE TO BENEFIT HIMSELF 
IT IS UNDEUNABLE HE 
PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT 
DANGER TO OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
AS AN IMMIGRANT I STILL GET 
CHILLS BECAUSE I FEEL 
SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THIS 
EXTRAORDINARY COUNTRY. 
THE GENIUS OF AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY LIES IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION AND THE DEDICATION 
TO THE RULE OF LAW. 
I WANT MY CHILDREN AND ALL OF 
OUR CHILDREN TO FEEL 
THE SAME WAY WHEN THEY GROW UP. 
HOWEVER IF WE SIT IDLY BY AS 
CRACKS BEGIN TO 
APPEAR OUR CHILDREN WILL BE IN 
THE SAME SITUATION 
LIKE SO MANY OF US EXPERIENCED 
WHEN WE LEFT 
COUNTRIES WHOSE LEADERS 
DESTROYED DEMOCRACY. 
WE IN CONGRESS MUST ABIDE BY 
OUR OATH TO DEFEND 
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
THAT IS MY DUTY AS A MEMBER OF 
THIS BODY. 
THAT IS MY DUTY AS A MOTHER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW YORK MR. KING. 
>> THANK YOU FOR YIELDING. 
MADAME SPEAKER I RISE TODAY IN 
STRONG OPPOSITION 
TO THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
AGAINST PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
AS CHAIRMAN NADLER RECALLS 
EXACTLY 21 YEARS AGO 
TODAY I SPOKE ON THIS FLOOR IN 
OPPOSITION TO THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT 
CLINTON. 
21 YEARS AGO TOMORROW I VOTED 
AGAINST ALL FOUR 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT CLINTON. 
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
AGAINST PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ARE AN ASSAULT ON THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT FOR A 
PHONE CALL FOR WHICH 
NO CRIME IS CHARGED NEVER MIND 
A HIGH CRIME AND 
ASSERTING HIS CONSTITUTIONAL 
PER YOGTIVES AS 
PRESIDENT IS ABUSE OF POWER BY 
CONGRESS SETS THE 
PRECEDENT OF WEAPONNIZING 
IMPEACHMENT TO UNDO THE 
SOLEMN DECISION OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
MADAME SPEAKER PRESIDENT TRUMP 
AND I GREW UP IN 
THE SAME BUREAU OF NEW YORK 
CITY AND TODAY I'M PROUD 
TO STAND AND URGE A NOTE VOTE 
ON THESE HORRIBLE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME AND STRONGLY 
URGE A NO VOTE. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
>> I'LL REVEREND. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD TWO AND A HALF 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLE 
LADY FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE 
PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF 
CONGRESS EACH TAKE AN OATH TO 
UP HOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION WHEN THE PRESIDENT 
ABUSES HIS 
PRESIDENTIAL POWER TO UP END 
THE SPHINGESSAL ORDER 
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LIVE 
UP TO OUR OATH OF 
OFFICE. 
WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH 
DIRECT EVIDENCE ABOUT 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS. 
THEY THREATEN OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND UNDER MINE 
THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEXT 
ELECTION. 
WE NOW VOTE ON ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT FOR ABUSE 
OF POWER AND CONTEMPT OF 
CONGRESS AS A RESULT OF 
THAT EVIDENCE. 
I'VE WORKED ON PRESIDENTIAL 
IMPEACHMENTS AS PART 
OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
TWICE BEVER. 
THIS THIRD TIME BRINGS ME NO 
JOY. 
PRESIDENT NIXON ATTEMPTED TO 
CORRUPT ELECTIONS. 
HIS AGENTS BROKE INTO THE 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY 
HEADQUARTERS TO GET A LEG UP ON 
THE ELECTION AND 
THEN JUST LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP 
HE TRIED TO COVER IT 
UP. 
THEN HE RESIGNED. 
THIS IS EVEN WORSE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT ONLY ABUSED 
HIS POWER TO HELP 
THE ELECTION HE USED THE 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO DO IT 
AND USED MILITARY AID PROVIDED 
TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS 
AS LEVERAGE SOLELY TO BENEFIT 
HIS OWN POLITICAL 
CAMPAIGN. 
GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD BE 
ASTONISHED SINCE HE 
WARNED AGAINST THE INSIDIOUS 
WHILES OF FOREIGN 
INFLUENCE. 
THE DIRECT EVIDENCE IS DAMMING 
AND HASN'T OFFERED 
ANY EVIDENCE TO THE COULD NOT 
TREASM. 
THESE ACTIONS CONSTITUTE 
GROUNDS FOR PRESIDENTIAL 
IMPEACHMENT. 
WHAT IS BEFORE US IS A SERIOUS 
ABUSE OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
THESE ABUSES STRIKE AT THE 
HEART OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
THE PRESIDENT'S 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF 
POWER, A 
HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR IS 
ON GOING. 
HE TOTALLY REFUSED TO PROVIDE 
ANY INFORMATION TO 
CONGRESS RELATED TO THE 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. 
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE 
THE TOOL OUR 
FOUNDERS GAVE US IN THE 
CONSTITUTION TO PRESERVE THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER. 
WE MUST IMPEACH AND I YIELD 
BACK. 
. 
>> I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM NORTH CAROLINA. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR A YEAR AND A 
HALF. 
>> THE WASHINGTON POST 
HEADLINED A STORY IMMEDIATELY 
TAKING OATH OF OFFICE STATING 
THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH HAS BEGUN. 
HOW ACCURATE THEY WERE. 
HERE WE ARE ALMOST THREE YEARS 
LATER AND WHAT WE 
ARE WIG TODAY IS A PARTISAN 
BASED IMPEACHMENT WITH 
NO FACTS THAT WARRANT IT. 
MANY SIDE TO TEST. 
NOT ALL BUT MANY. 
NOWHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION 
DOES IT SAY THAT 
PERSONAL DISCONTAIN IS GROUNDS 
FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
AT EVERY TURN THE CLAIMS HAVE 
TURNED OUT TO BE 
FALSE. 
EARLY ON IT WAS CLAIMED THERE 
WAS EVIDENCE OF 
RUSSIAN COLLUSION. 
THERE WAS NONE. 
WE WERE TOLD THE FBI DIDN'T 
ABUSE THE PROCESS HAS 
NOW BEEN PROVEN AND WE WOULD 
HEAR FROM A WHISTLE 
BLOWER OF A CALL BETWEEN THE 
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE. 
THEN WE FIND OUT THEY WEREN'T 
EVEN ON THE CALL. 
AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THE 
WHISTLE BLOWER IS 
THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF 
PERSONAL GAIN. 
AFTER READING THE TRANSCRIPT IT 
IS OBVIOUS THAT 
YOU HAVE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS 
THAT WOULDN'T EVEN 
STAND UP IN TRAFFIC COURT TO 
COME TO THAT 
CONCLUSION. 
INSTEAD THE FACTS OF RECORD 
DESTROY THEIR CASE. 
AND THOUGH THEY ALLEGED TREASON 
AND BRIBERY BY THE 
PRESIDENT THE ARTICLES WE ARE 
CONSIDERING TODAY ONLY 
MAKE VAGUE ACCUSATIONS OF ABUSE 
OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS BECAUSE 
THEY FOUND NO 
EVIDENCE OF TREASON OR BRIBERY 
OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR 
THAT MATTER. 
MR. SPEAKER TODAY IS A VERY SAD 
DAY. 
>> GENTLEMAN'S TIME IS EXPIRED. 
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
MORE DIVIDED THAN IT EVER HAS 
BEEN IN MY LIFE 
TIME. 
THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TRAMPLED BY 
THIS HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES AND BECAUSE OF 
THE ABUSES THE FBI 
AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MORE 
AMERICANS HAVE AN 
EVEN DIMMER VIEW OF VERY 
IMPORTANT AMERICAN  
INSTITUTIONS. 
THANKFULLY THE LENS OF HISTORY 
WILL ENSURE THE 
TRUTH IS TOLD AND WILL ENDURE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER ONE SPECIFIC 
CONCERN OF THE 
FRAMERS IS THE PRESIDENT WHO 
WOULD CORRUPT OUR 
ELECTIONS WHO WOULD ABUSE THE 
GREAT POWERS OF HIS 
OFFICE TO ENSURE HIS OWN 
REELECTION. 
THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS NOT 
AN EFFORT TO  OVER 
TURN AND VECTION. 
IT IS A REAFFIRMATION THAT IN 
THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA NO PERSON NOT EVEN THE 
PRESIDENT IS ABOVE 
THE LAW AND OUR DEMOCRACY 
CANNOT ALLOW A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT TO ABUSE THE 
POWER OF HIS OFFICE 
FOR PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN 
AND I NOW YIELD TWO 
AND A HALF MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN LADY FROM TEXAS, 
MS. JACKSON LEE. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO AND A HALF 
MINUTES. 
. 
>> I HATE NO WOMAN OR MAN TODAY 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
SHOULD RECEIVE CLARITY AND 
TRUTH. 
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE HIGHEST 
LAW OF THE LAND. 
THE PRESIDENT BREECHED AND 
VIOLATED THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA. 
THE PRESIDENT COMMITTED 
CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMES AND 
ARE IMPEACHABLE. 
IF THIS COUNTRY SHOULD EVER 
REACH THE POINT WHERE 
ANY MAN OR GROUP OF MAN BY 
FORCE OR THREAT OF FORCE 
COULD DEFY THE COMMANDS OF OUR 
COURT AND 
CONSTITUTION THEN NO LAW SHOULD 
STAND FREE FROM 
DOUBT AND NO CITIZEN SHOULD BE 
WOULD BE SAFE AND 
PLACING HIS PERSONAL POLITICAL 
INTEREST ABOVE THE 
NATIONAL INTEREST BY SCHEMING 
TO UKRAINE INTO 
INVESTIGATING A POLITICAL 
OPPONENT. 
BETRAYED WITH INTEREST BY 
WITHHOLDING TO A FRAGILE 
ALLY AGAINST A VERY STRONG FOE, 
RUSSIA. 
THIRD THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF 
THE SCHEME 
CONCOCTED BY THE PRESIDENT WAS 
TO ENLIST A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO HELP IN THE 2020 
ELECTION. 
THESE ACTS ARE CONSTITUTIONAL 
CRIMES AND ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
THE TRUTH IS THE PRESIDENT DID 
ASK FOR A FAVOR. 
THOSE WERE HIS OWN WORDS. 
IN THE JULY 25 CALL NO MENTION 
OF CHROMINGS ONLY 
THE MENTION OF THE BIDENS. 
THE PRESIDENT WAS ENGAGED IN 
WRONG DOING AND IS A 
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. 
HE HAS A PATTERN AND HIS 
BEHAVIOR REMAINS A 
CONTINUING THREAT TO AMERICAN'S 
NATIONAL SECURITY. 
THAT ABUSE OF POWER DOES 
VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION 
WHILE CORRUPTING AND CHEATING 
OUR AMERICAN 
DEMOCRACY. 
HE MUST TAKE CARE TO EXECUTE 
LAWS FAITHFULLY. 
THIS IS THE TRUTH. 
WHY DOES THE TRUTH MATTER? 
BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO THE 
FARMER AT HIS OR HER PLOW, 
IT MATTERS TO THE WAITRESS ON 
AN EARLY MORNING 
SHIFT, TO THE STEAL WORK AND 
MATTERS TO THE TEACHER 
IN A FIFTH GRADE CLASS AND A 
MOTHER KISSING OFF HER 
MILITARY RECRUIT GOING OFF TO 
WAR. 
THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE 
PRESERVED OUR LAWS MUST 
BE HONORED AND RESPECTED THE 
BLOODSHED AND SACRIFICE 
OF FELLOW AMERICANS CANNOT BE 
TRAMPLED ON OR 
REJECTED AND OUR ACTIONS OF THE 
VOTE TODAY MUST BE 
FOR NO PERSONAL GAIN OR 
GRANDEUR. 
THE BRIGHT LIGHT HADS BEEN 
DIMMED BECAUSE OF HIS 
ACTS. 
THE TRUTH IS NO LONGER FOR ALL. 
IT IS FOR ONE MAN, DONALD J 
TRUMP. 
HIS TRUTH, HIS WAY. 
WE MUST REJECT THAT ABUSE OF 
POWER BECAUSE THIS IS 
NOT AMERICA. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON SAID 
IMPEACHMENT WAS DESIGNED 
TO AND VIOLATION OF PUBLIC 
TRUST OF THE PRESIDENT 
HAS VIOLATED THE TRUST WE MUST 
IMPEACH DONALD TRUMP. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> TODAY THE HOUSE 
REPRESENTATIVES VOTES ON TWO 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
MEMBERS AND ALL AMERICANS MUST 
RECOGNIZE THE 
CONSTITUTION WAS INTENDED TO BE 
A SAFETY VALVE 
RARELY USED ONLY WHEN A 
PRESIDENT ACTS IN SUCH AN 
IMMORAL AND UNLAWFUL MANNER AS 
THREATENS THE BASIS 
OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
AS WE CAST VOTES ON THESE 
ARTICLES THE FUTURE TONE 
OF THIS HOUSE AND POLITICS IN 
THIS NATION MUST BE 
CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. 
THE ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER WE 
AGREE WITH OR LIKE THE 
PRESIDENT'S RHETORIC, POLITICAL 
TACTICS, USE OF 
TWITTER, POLICY CHOICES OR HIS 
POLITICAL RALLIES. 
ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS ALEXANDER 
HAMILTON WARNED OF 
THE RISK OF BECOMING--OF 
IMPEACHMENT BECOMING A 
SOLELY PARTISAN ACT. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND 
THESE ARTICLES 
CLEARLY DO NOT HEED THAT 
WARNING. 
THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE 
WEAPONNIZING IMPEACHMENT 
MAKING IT ANOTHER ELECTION 
TOOL. 
I'VE CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE 
EVIDENCE PRESENTED 
THROUGHOUT THE INQUIRY AND 
COULD NOT TREASM TO SOME 
CONSIDERED OUR HISTORY, 
FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND OUR 
FUTURE. 
IT IS CLEAR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
ACTIONS AS DESCRIBED 
IN THESE ARTICLES DO NOT 
CONSTITUTE TREASON, BRIBERY 
OR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS. 
YOU SIMPLY DON'T LIKE HIM. 
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THESE 
ARTICLES AND WILL 
HOPE SOME DAY WE RETURN TO 
SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I NOW YIELD 
TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA MR. 
RICHMOND. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
TWO MINUTES. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ON JANUARY 20, 
2017 RAISED TO PRESERVE, 
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
NOW WE MUST PRESERVE, PROTECT 
AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION FROM HIM. 
MADAME SPEAKER I RISE TODAY NOT 
TO EMBARRASS THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
BUT TO DEFEND OUR 
PRECIOUS DEMOCRACY. 
I SPEAK NOT BECAUSE I HATE THE 
PRESIDENT BUT 
BECAUSE I LOVE THE BODY, THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
I HEARD REPUBLICANS SAY WHY ARE 
WE RUSHING TO 
JUDGMENT? 
THIS IS NOT A RUSH TO JUDGMENT. 
IT'S A RUSH TO JUSTICE AND WE 
MUST NOT DELAY 
CORRUPTION IS CORROSIVE AND 
EATS AWAY LIKE ACID AND 
THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE 
TIME WE ALLOW FOR THIS 
PRESIDENT TO DO EREPARABLE HARM 
TO OUR COUNTRY AND 
DEMOCRACY. 
JUST LAST WEEK RUDY GUILIANI 
WAS BACK AT IT IN 
UKRAINE SO PLEASE DON'T TELL US 
TO WAIT BECAUSE THE 
CORRUPTION CONTINUES. 
THERE'S A FAMOUS QUOTE THAT 
SAYS POLITICIANS WORRY 
ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION STATES 
MEN WORRY ABOUT THE 
NEXT GENERATION. 
TODAY CALLS UPON US TO BE 
STATES MEN AND STATES 
WOMEN. 
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN AND 
INDEPENDENT OUR ELECTION 
IS UNDER ATTACK FROM WITHIN. 
SO TO MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, 
MANY OF WHOM SPEND 
A LIFE TIME TRYING TO BUILD A 
REPUTATION OF HONESTY 
AND COURAGE I BEG YOU DON'T 
THROW THAT AWAY FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
HE DOESN'T DESERVE IT NOR WILL 
HE APPRECIATE IT 
PAST THE NEXT TWEET OR NEXT 
WEEK. 
MY FEAR AND MY PREDICTION IS 
THAT HIS ACTIONS WILL 
CONTINUE. 
MADAME SPEAKER, DONALD TRUMP 
RECENTLY SAID I CAN 
DO ANYTHING I WANT. 
HE ALSO BRAGGED THAT HE COULD 
SHOOT SOMEONE ON 
FIFTH AVENUE AND GET AWAY WITH 
IT. 
WELL HE'S SHOOTING HOLES IN OUR 
CONSTITUTION ON 
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND OUR 
HOUSE, THE PEOPLE'S 
HOUSE MUST DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION FROM A DOMESTIC 
ENEMY TO THE RULE OF LAW. 
DONALD TRUMP. 
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT 
GENERATIONS TO COME TO BLAME 
ME FOR LETTING OUR DEMOCRACY 
DIE I THEREFORE RISE IN 
FAVOR OF IMPEACHING DONALD 
TRUMP. 
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
AT THIS POINT I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE 
GENTLEMAN. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I RISE TODAY IN STRONG 
OPPOSITION TO THIS 
POLITICAL CHER KOOL-AID THAT 
HAS TORMENTED OUR 
COUNTRY FOR THREE YEARS. 
IF THERE WAS ANY DOUBT THAT 
THIS IS 100% 
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED EARLIER 
THIS MONTH SPEAKER 
PELOSI ADMITTED THE IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS BEGAN TWO 
AND A HALF YEARS AGO. 
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN THE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
TRYING TO REMOVE OUR PRESIDENT 
FROM OFFICE SIBS THE 
DAY HE GOT ELECTED SIMPLY 
BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE 
OUTCOME THEY WANTED. 
ANOTHER ONE OF MY DEMOCRAT 
COLLEAGUES ADMITTED IN 
MAY THAT THE DRIVING FORCE 
BEHIND THEIR ACTIONS WAS 
IF WE DON'T IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT GET 
REELECTED. 
THIS WAS AN INVESTIGATION. 
A POLITICAL CRUSADE. 
IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT THE 
PREDETERMINED CONCLUSION 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS SPENT THE LAST 
SEVEN MONTHS STAGING 
WELL REHEARSED HEARINGS FOR THE 
CHARGES DROWN UP BY 
THEIR OWN FOCUS GROUPS, 
DEMOCRAT DONORS SERVED AS 
WITNESSES AND DEMOCRAT STAFF 
SERVED AS JUDGE AND 
JURY. 
DEMOCRATS STILL CAME UP WITH 
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. 
A WHILE AGO, THE SPEAKER SPOKE 
OF THE PLEDGE OF 
ALLEGIANCE. 
THE LAST PHRASE OF THE PLEDGE 
IS JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
JUSTICE WAS NOT SOMETHING 
AFFORDED TO THE 
PRESIDENT DURING THE 
INVESTIGATION. 
HE WAS DENIED DUE PROCESS 
SOMETHING SUPREME COURT 
SAID SHOULD BE AFFORDED IN ALL 
CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATIONS. 
THAT MAKES THIS PROCESS ILLEGAL 
AND ILL 
LEGITIMATE. 
WHAT A SHAME, WHAT A SHAM. 
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
. 
>> RESERVE. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I NOW YIELD 
TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLE LADY FROM TEXAS MS. 
GARCIA. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> I DIDN'T COME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT EVEN WHEN HE 
SEPARATED BABIES FROM THEIR 
PARENTS AT THE BORDER, EVEN 
WHEN HE TOOK MONEY FROM 
OUR TROOPS TO BUILD HIS WALL. 
NO I DIDN'T CALL FOR 
IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE I'M HERE 
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE 
LIVES OF MY 
CONSTITUENTS. 
YET HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE 
OF A CONSTITUTIONAL 
CRISIS AS A FORMER JUDGE I TOOK 
MY RESPONSIBILITY 
SERIOUSLY TO WEIGH THE EVIDENCE 
AND DETERMINE IF THE 
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS WERE 
IMPEACHABLE. 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE EVIDENCE IN 
THE INTELLIGENCE 
AND JUDICIARY REPORTS LEAVES US 
WITH NO CHOICE BUT 
TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
SO I STAND ON MY OATH THAT I 
HAVE SWORN TO THE 
CONSTITUTION AND TO THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND TODAY I 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND BY 
THEIR OATH TOO. 
THE FRAMERS OR THE CONSTITUTION 
INCLUDED 
IMPEACHMENT AS A SAFEGUARD 
AGAINST A CORRUPT 
PRESIDENT WHOSE MISCONDUCT 
COULD DESTROY THE VERY 
FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY. 
DONALD TRUMP ABUSED HIS POWER 
WHEN HE OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS AND ORDERED GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS NOT TO 
APPEAR BEFORE US. 
DONALD J TRUMP CORRUPTED OUR 
ELECTION WHEN HE 
ASKED A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO 
INTERFERE FOR HIS 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAINS. 
TODAY, SADLY, I ASKED MY 
COLLEAGUES WILL YOU PUT 
YOUR PARTY OVER OUR COUNTRY OR 
WILL YOU HELP SAVE 
OUR DEMOCRACY AND VOTE YES ON 
THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT BEFORE YOU. 
I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THANK YOU. 
>> GENTLE LADY YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I DO HAVE AN INQUIRY AS FOR 
THE TIME REMAINING 
FOR BOTH SIDES. 
. 
>> TWO HOURS 22.5 MINUTES FROM 
GEORGIA. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS TWO 
HOURS AND 27 AND A 
HALF MINUTES LEFT. 
. 
>> OKAY. 
THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
AT THIS POINT IT IS MY--I YIELD 
TO A MINUTE AND A 
HALF TO MR. KING. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER AND 
THANK YOU FOR 
YIELDING. 
I START OUT FIRST THAT THIS IS 
THE LARGEST MOST 
MASSIVE COVER UP OF SUCH A LIST 
OF CRIMES AGAINST 
OUR COUNTRY AND GOES SO FAR AS 
TO BRING IMPEACHMENT 
HEARINGS TO TRY TO COVER ALL OF 
THIS UP AND I WILL 
TAKE YOU BACK TO OCTOBER OF 
2015 WHEN BARACK OBAMA 
SAID HILARY CLINTON WOULD NEVER 
INTEND TO JEOPARDIZE 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND AGAIN 
THE NEXT MONTH PETER 
STRUCK WROTE THE STATEMENT THAT 
WAS DELIVERED BY 
JAMES COMEY AND THEY SPENT 
DEMOCRAT MONEY AND HILARY 
CLINTON MONEY IN RUSSIA TO PICK 
UP DIRT ON DONALD 
TRUMP AND THEN JOE BIDEN GOES 
TO UKRAINE AND MAKES A 
STATEMENT HERE'S A BILLION 
DOLLARS BUT YOU MUST DO 
WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO. 
YOU'RE ACCUSING DONALD TRUMP OF 
DOING THAT WHICH 
JOE BIDEN HAS CONFESSED TO 
DOING AND BY THE WAY, JOE 
BIDEN WAS NOT THE OPPONENT OF 
DONALD TRUMP. 
HE'S IN A 21 WAY PRIMARY FOR 
DEMOCRAT AND HE'S 
RUNNING THIRD IN THAT RACE. 
HIS OPPONENTS ARE THE OTHER 20 
DEMOCRATS. 
HOW WOULD ANYBODY DIG INTO THAT 
MESS AND DECIDE 
HE'S GOING TO GO OVER SEAS AND 
PULL SOMEONE TO ELECT 
THIS. 
YOU HAVE TO ASSIGN HIM A MOTIVE 
AND CREATE THE 
DOTS AND GO DOT TO DOT BUT THE 
REALITY IS IT WAS 
BIDEN THAT WAS DOING THE 
EXPOARGS OF THE POWER PLAY 
IN ORDER PROTECT HIS OWN SON 
AND IT WAS DONALD TRUMP 
THAT WAS FOLLOWING THE LAW THAT 
SAID YOU HAVE TO 
ENSURE THAT THERE'S NOT 
CORRUPTION HERE BEFORE THIS 
MONEY IS HANDED OVER AND BY THE 
WAY THERE WAS A 
VIOLENT WAR AND WE SENT 
BLANKETS AND MRES OVER THERE 
UNDER BARACK OBAMA SO I HEAR 
THIS FROM THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM GEORGIA MR. JOHNSON HE 
DOESN'T THINK HE CAN 
WEAR THE ELECTION FAIR AND 
SQUARE SO HE COULD CHEAT. 
NO IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND. 
YOUR NUMBER ONE PROPONENT OF 
IMPEACHMENT IS AL 
GREEN OF TEXAS AND HE SAID 
THOSE VERY SAME THINGS 
AND THEY BROUGHT THIS CASE 
NOVEMBER 9 THE DAY AFTER 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED. 
I YIELD BACK. 
I MEAN RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLE 
LADY FROM PENNSYLVANIA MS. 
DEAN. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WORDS 
MATTER. 
WE'VE HEARD MANY WORDS OVER THE 
COURSE OF THESE 
LAST WEEKS STILL WHAT STRIKES 
ME ARE THE WORDS THAT 
ARE MISSING FROM MY COLLEAGUES 
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE. 
A GAPING HOLE IN THIS 
CONVERSATION, THE WORDS THEY 
CANNOT OR WILL NOT MOUTH 
DEFENDING A PRESIDENT'S 
CONDUCT. 
CONDUCT THAT THREATENS OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER. 
AND SO SPEAKER I ASK WHEN IS IT 
EVER RIGHT FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO COERCE A FOREIGN 
POWER TO INTERFERE IN 
OUR ELECTIONS. 
WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO 
INTIMIDATE A FOREIGN LEADER 
INTO ANNOUNCING FALSE 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO A POLITICAL 
RIVAL? 
WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR THAT 
PRESIDENT TO WITHHOLD 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED 
AID TO THAT COUNTRY AT 
THE EXPENSE OF ITS NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND OUR VERY 
OWN? 
AND WHEN IS IT EVER RIGHT FOR A 
PRESIDENT TO BLOCK A 
COEQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT 
FROM INVESTIGATING THE 
SCHEME TO CHEAT AN ELECTION? 
THE ANSWER OF COURSE IS NEVER. 
BUT THAT WORD DOES NOT COME 
TRIPPINGLY FROM THE 
TONGUES OF THOSE WHO ARE MAKING 
THE CHOICE TO STAND 
BEHIND A MAN WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS 
NOT WORTHY OF YOUR 
TORTURED WORDS. 
BY OUR VOTE TODAY WE ARE 
SPEAKING TO FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS AND FUTURE 
GENERATIONS. 
WE ARE DECLARING THAT WE WILL 
NOT TOLERATE FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. 
AMERICANS ALONE WILL DETERMINE 
THE OUTCOME AND 
WHERRY NOT PERMIT A PRESIDENT 
TO ORDER THE COMPLETE 
DEFIANCE OF A CO EQUAL BRANCH 
OF GOVERNMENT AND IN 
THE END REGARDLESS OF THE 
OUTCOME OF THIS 
IMPEACHMENT THE PRESIDENT'S 
TENURE WILL END AND THIS 
BODY AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL 
BE LEFT WITH WHAT WE 
DID HERE TODAY. 
OURS IS A SOMBER GENERATIONAL 
DUTY ABOUT LOVE OF 
COUNTRY AND LIFTING OF 
CONSTITUTION TO THE GRAVEST 
PROTECTIONS BUT HIGHEST NULL 
SEPARATIONS A DEMOCRACY 
AND VOTING TO SAFEGUARD OUR 
CONSTITUTION, MINE IS 
CLEAR. 
I THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER AND 
YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN LADY YIDS BACK. 
. 
>> AS I REMINDED MANY TIMES 
WE'VE FOLLOWED THE 
PROCESS AND FOLLOWED THE FACTS 
AND I WILL REMIND IF 
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT 
ELECTIONS REMEMBER IT WAS THE 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHO SAID 
WE CAN'T TRUST THE 
VOTERS IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO 
LEAVE IT FOR THE VOTERS 
WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP NEXT YEAR. 
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLE LADY 
FROM ARIZONA. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
AS YOU ALL KNOW I SERVE ON BOTH 
THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE AND RULES COMMITTEE 
AND I HAVE LITERALLY 
SPENT HOURS, HOURS POURING OVER 
TESTIMONY, LOOKING 
AT DOCUMENTS, SITTING IN 
HEARINGS AND YOU KNOW THAT 
CONCLUSION I GOT FROM ALL OF 
THAT? 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A TOTAL 
JOKE AND A TOTAL SHAM. 
AND LET ME TELL YOU ONE OF THE 
REASONS WHY I THINK 
THAT. 
ALL OF THOSE WITNESSES, THE 17 
WITNESSES THAT THE 
DEMOCRATS BROUGHT FORWARD NOT 
ONE SINGLE ONE OF THEM 
WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED 
BRIBERY, TREASON, HIGH CRIMES 
OR MISDEMEANORS WHICH 
IS REQUIRED IN THE U.S. 
CONSTITUTION. 
AND AGAIN, 17 OUT OF 24 
DEMOCRAT MEMBERS ON 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED ON 
THIS FLOOR TO MOVE 
FORWARD ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BEFORE THE PHONE 
CALL. 
AND FIVE OUT OF NINE RULE 
COMMITTEE DEMOCRAT 
MEMBERS DID THE SAME THING. 
SO IF THE MAIN PART OF YOUR 
IMPEACHMENT IS THE 
CALL, WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT PRIOR TO THE 
CALL? 
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC AND OTHERS 
THAT FOR TWO YEARS ADAM SCHIFF 
CLAIMED HE HAD PROOF, 
PROOF THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD 
COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA. 
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE AND 
OVERNIGHT IT WAS 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE THEN 
QUID PRO QUO THEN 
BRIBERY THEN EXPOARGS AND THE 
LIST ZOE ON BUT NOT 
ONE OF THOSE IS LISTED IN THE 
ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
TO MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES, 
MADAME CHAIR, I SAY 
PLEASE STOP TEARING THE COUNTRY 
APART. 
STOP THIS SHAM AND I YIELD 
BACK. 
. 
>> RESERVE. 
. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN LADY IS 
DIRECT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
BEHAVIOR IS NOT NEW. 
HE HAS A PATTERN OF ENGAGING IN 
MISCONDUCT AND 
OBSTRUCTING ANY INVESTIGATION 
INTO THE MISCONDUCT TO 
COVER UP HIS ACTIONS. 
I NOW YIELD TO THE GENTLE LADY 
OF CALIFORNIA. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED. 
I ARISE THE SUPPORT OF TODAY'S 
IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS AND ASK CONSENT TO 
REVISE AND EXTEND MY 
REMARKS. 
>> WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION. 
>> ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM RVMENT. 
>> THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING. 
MADAME SPEAKER OUR NATION WAS 
FOUNDED ON CERTAIN 
PRINCIPALS. 
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE BY AND 
FOR THE PEOPLE THE 
SYSTEM OF THREE EQUAL EQUAL 
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT 
WILL ENSURE THE CHECKS 
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT 
PEOPLE AND EVERYONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
WE HAVE VOTED TO IMPEACH 
BECAUSE HE WAS 
FUNDAMENTALLY BROKE AND WITH 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN 
DOING SO WE ARE USING THE POWER 
OF THE FOUNDING 
FATHERS AND TRYING THE 
CONSTITUTION TO ADDRESS A 
PRESIDENT WHO HAS VIOLATED HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE. 
THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR AND THE 
FACTS ARE NOT IN 
QUESTION. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
CONSISTENTLY ENGAGED IN A 
PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR AND REFUSED 
TO TAKE 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS 
AND UNDER MINED THE 
CHECKS AND BALANCES WE RELY ON 
BY OBSTRUCTING 
CONGRESS AT EVERY TURN AND HAS 
ABUSED HIS POWER BY 
USING THE ELECTIONS UNDER 
MINING THE WORD OF THE 
PEOPLE. 
SO ON THIS DAY I WILL DO WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT HAS 
FAILED TO DO TO SUPPORT AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION 
AND I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR 
TODAY IS A SAD DAY IN OUR 
NATIONS HISTORY AS HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS ARE POISED TO APPROVE 
ON A STRICTLY PARTYLINE VOTE. 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
BASED ON WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL 
SCHOLAR JONATHAN TURLEY CALLED 
WAFER THIN EVIDENCE. 
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FOUNDING 
FATHERS INTENDED. 
THEY WANTED IMPEACHMENT TO BE 
RARE. 
THEY SET A HIGH BAR, HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, 
ALLEGED ABUSE OF POWER, THE 
FIRST ARTICLE, IS NOT A HIGH 
CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR. 
IN FACT, IT IS NOT EVEN A 
CRIME. 
AND SINCE THERE IS NO CONCISE 
LEGAL DEFINITION OF ABUSE OF 
POWER, THE MAJORITY POWER IN 
THE HOUSE COULD DESIGNATE 
NEARLY ANY DISAGREEMENT WITH 
THE PRESIDENT FROM NOW ON AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
THE SECOND ARTICLE, ALLEGED 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS, WILL 
PRODUCE A SIMILARLY DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT. 
ASSERTING EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, 
A PRACTICE THAT BEGAN WITH 
GEORGE WASHINGTON, IS NOT 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
RATHER, IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE 
ESSENTIAL CHECKS AND BALANCES 
CONTEMPLATED UNDER THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
HERE IS WHAT NEARLY EVERY 
GRADESCHOOL STUDENT IN AMERICA 
KNOWS, BUT APPARENTLY HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS DO NOT, IF CONGRESS 
DISAGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT, 
IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THE 
PRESIDENT, TAKE IT TO COURT. 
LET THE THIRD BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT DECIDE. 
THE HOUSE HAS NEVER, I REPEAT 
NEVER, APPROVED EITHER ABUSE OF 
POWER OR OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS AS AN ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
BUT THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE 
TODAY. 
TODAY HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE 
PURSUING A WACKY CONSTITUTIONAL 
THEORY UNDER WHICH ALL FOUR 
PRESIDENTS ON MOUNT RUSHMORE 
COULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED. 
IF ALL OF THIS SOUNDS ABSURD 
MATTA SPEAKER, IT IS BECAUSE IT 
IS. 
IN FACT, THE WHOLE PROCESS IS 
ABSURD AND HAS BEEN FROM THE 
OUTSET. 
BUT HERE IS WHAT IS NOT ABSURD, 
BUT RATHER, FRIGHTENING. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS TODAY ARE 
SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT 
UNDER WHICH NO FUTURE PRESIDENT 
WILL BE IMMUNE FROM 
IMPEACHMENT. 
AND IT WILL FOREVER NEGATIVELY 
TARNISHED THE HISTORY OF THIS 
HOUSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MATTA SPEAKER, THE 
PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT CONSTITUTED 
THE HIGHEST OF HIGH CRIMES 
AGAINST OUR COUNTRY. 
AN OFFENSE DOES NOT HAVE TO 
VIOLATE A CRIMINAL STATUTE TO 
BE IMPEACHABLE. 
THAT WAS CONFIRMED WITH 
PRESIDENT NIXON AND AGAIN WITH 
PRESIDENT CLINTON. 
THERE IS NO HIGHER CRIME THE 
FOR THE PRESIDENT TO USE THE 
POWER OF HIS OFFICE TO CORRUPT 
OUR ELECTIONS. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN. 
>> GENTLEMAN RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
THIS JULY, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
LOCKED $400 MILLION AND 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED AID 
THAT UKRAINE DESPERATELY NEEDED 
TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST 
RUSSIA. 
BECAUSE HE NEEDED UKRAINE TO DO 
HIM A FAVOR FIRST. 
HE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
UKRAINE TO LAUNCH A PUBLIC 
INVESTIGATION INTO A POLITICAL 
RIVAL, MILITARY AID AND OTHER 
BENEFITS WOULD ONLY COME AFTER. 
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT A SINGLE 
CALL OR SINGLE TRANSCRIPT, THIS 
IS ABOUT A PERFECT STORM, 
MONTHS OF ACTIVITY DIRECTLY 
ORDERED BY THE PRESIDENT TO 
SENIOR CABINET POLITICAL 
APPOINTEES, AN ORCHESTRATED 
PLAN DEMANDING A FORM POWER 
INTERFERE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP BETRAYED HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE. 
HE ABUSE THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE FOR PERSONAL AND 
POLITICAL GAIN AND HAS REFUSED 
TO COOPERATE WITH A WEEK WILL 
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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM KANSAS. 
>> I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION 
TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF A 
LEGITIMATELY ELECTED PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
ENOUGH. 
MATTA SPEAKER, FOR THE LOVE OF 
THIS COUNTRY, ENOUGH. 
ENOUGH OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
CIRCUS, ENOUGH OF THE SHAM 
WITCHHUNTS. 
I AM VOTING NO BECAUSE THE 
PRESIDENT HAS DONE NOTHING 
WRONG. 
THE ONLY THING THE PRESIDENT IS 
GUILTY OF IS DOING THE THINGS 
HE SAID HE WOULD DO. IN OF MY 
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES WERE ON US, 
THEY WOULD 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 GROUPS TERM THEY 
ARE USING TODAY IS THE PARTY ON 
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS AISLE. 
THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING THE WILL 
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THERE OBSTRUCTING THE VERY 
FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY. 
BY POLITICALLY WEAPONIZED 
IMPEACHMENT, THEY HAVE 
DANGEROUSLY SHATTERED PRECEDENT 
AND ABUSED OUR CONSTITUTION. 
THEY ALONE WILL BEAR THIS 
RESPONSIBILITY. 
MATTA SPEAKER, THEY WILL FAIL. 
AND IT IS NO WONDER THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE DON'T TRUST 
THIS BODY. 
IT IS PAST TIME WE BE DONE WITH 
THE CIRCUS AND GET TO THE WORK 
THAT MATTERS LIKE SECURING OUR 
BORDERS AND PASSING TRADE 
DEALS. 
I WILL VOTE NO AND ENCOURAGE 
THIS BODY TO MOVE ON FROM THIS 
HEARTBREAKING, DISGRACEFUL DAY 
TO DO THINGS THAT ACTUALLY 
MATTER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MATTA SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NORTH CAROLINA. 
>> GENTLEMAN RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE MOMENT 
OUR FOUNDERS ANTICIPATED IN 
ESTABLISHING THE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT HAS ARRIVED. 
THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED HIS 
POWER BY ASKING A VULNERABLE 
FOR 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 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THESE 
ABUSES. 
THESE ABUSES THREATEN THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS, 
THEY CORRUPT OUR DIPLOMACY AND 
UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY. 
WE SOMETIMES REGARD 
CONSTITUTIONAL CHECKS AND 
BALANCES AS THE INDESTRUCTIBLE 
UNDERPINNINGS OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
IN FACT, THEY ARE NOT FIXED OR 
INDESTRUCTIBLE. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED 
THIS BEYOND ALL DOUBT. 
IT IS UP TO THE CONGRESS, THE 
FIRST BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, TO 
APPLY THE REMEDY THAT THE 
CONSTITUTION PRESCRIBES BECAUSE 
THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY 
ARE REAL AND PRESENT. 
WITH THIS BOAT, WE AFFIRM THAT 
NO ONE, INCLUDING THE 
PRESIDENT, IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND HAVE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY. 
>> SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, IT HAS 
BEEN EXTREMELY TROUBLING TO SEE 
THE PARTISAN, DIVISIVE WAY IN 
WHICH DEMOCRATS HAVE PARED OUT 
THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. 
I GUESS WE SHOULDN'T BE 
SURPRISED, THOUGH. 
THEY PROMISED THEY WOULD UNSEAT 
THIS PRESIDENTS IS THE DAY HIS 
TOOK HIS OATH OF OFFICE. 
FROM THE START, THIS HAS BEEN A 
BASELESS ATTEMPT TO UNDO THE 
WILL OF 63 MILLION 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 THIS 
SEEN IN THE HOUSE IN RECENT 
MONTHS. 
THEY ARE APPALLED AT THE ACTION 
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 SETTING 
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 
IS CLEAR FOR ALL OF US TO SEE 
THROUGH THE NOW VERY WELL KNOWN 
TRANSCRIPT THIS RIGGED PROCESS 
SETS A CONCERNING PRESIDENT FOR 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE IS MOVING 
FORWARD. 
AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY OPPOSE 
THESE BASELESS ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MATTA SPEAKER I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
MANY HAVE LAMENTED THIS EFFORT 
IS NOT BIPARTISAN, BUT THAT IS 
ON MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES. 
REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT SOUGHT THE 
TRUTH. 
SOUGHT TO AVOID THE TRUTH. 
THEY HAVE DEMEANED AND INSULTED 
WITNESSES, PATRIOTS, WARRIORS, 
CAREER 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. 
INSTEAD THE PUBLIC AND LEADERS 
ANNOUNCED OF THIS WEEK THE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN SET THE 
RULES OF HIS OWN TRIAL, AND 
THERE WILL BE NO FACT 
WITNESSES. 
REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO SET THE 
TRUTH AND CONDEMNED THE ABUSE 
OF POWER WORK WITH US TO 
PREVENT THIS ONGOING BEHAVIOR 
IN THE FUTURE. 
AND THAT IS THE TRAGEDY OF 
TODAY'S EVENTS. 
IN OUR NATIONS 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM JORDAN. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO YIELD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> I THINK MY COLLEAGUE FROM 
GEORGIA AND FRIEND. 
MADAME SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN 
OPPOSITION NOT ONLY TO THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT, BUT 
HIS 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 A GOVERNMENT 
WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS COULD 
ACCUSE ANYONE OF ANY CRIME AT 
ANY TIME, EVEN WITHOUT 
COMPELLING EVIDENCE. 
THAT IS WHY THE FIFTH AND 14th 
AMENDMENTS ESTABLISHED A 
BEDROCK PRINCIPLE OF INNOCENT 
UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY BEYOND A 
REASONABLE DOUBT. 
BUT ON NOVEMBER 14, SPEAKER 
PELOSI INFORMED THE PRESIDENT 
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD PROVE HIS 
INNOCENCEWHEN SHE STATED MR. 
PRESIDENT, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING 
THAT SHOWS YOUR INNOCENCE, THAT 
HE SHOULD MAKE THAT KNOWN. 
THE CONSTITUTION ALSO 
GUARANTEES THAT THE ACCUSED CAN 
CALL WITNESSES TO TESTIFY ON 
THEIR BEHALF, BUT THE 
REPUBLICANS AND THE PRESIDENT 
WERE CONTINUALLY DENIED THAT 
RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. 
THE SIXTH AMENDMENT GUARANTEES 
THE RIGHT OF THE DEFENDANT TO 
FACE THEIR ACCUSER, BUT NOT 
ONLY HAVE THE DEMOCRATS 
PROHIBITIVE 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, 
PONTIUS PILATE GAVE JESUS THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO FACE HIS 
ACCUSERS. 
DURING THAT SHAM TRIAL, PONTIUS 
PILATE AFFORDED MORE RIGHTS TO 
JESUS THAN THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
AFFORDED THIS PRESIDENT IN THIS 
PROCESS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> THE PRESIDENT WAS GIVEN THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TESTIFY 
BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, 
TO QUESTION WITNESSES, HE 
DECLINED TO DO SO. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
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 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 
BY A PRESIDENT IS IMPEACHMENT. 
I DID NOT COME HERE TO CONGRESS 
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, BUT SADLY, THE 
PRESIDENTS MISCONDUCT IT LEAVES 
US NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN. 
MY GRANDDAUGHTER KAITLYN IS 
EIGHT YEARS OLD AND MY GRANDSON 
COLIN IS FOUR YEARS OLD. 
SOMEDAY, A LONG TIME FROM NOW, 
THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THIS 
DAY. 
THEY WILL ASK ABOUT THE TIME A 
PRESIDENT PUT HIMSELF ABOVE THE 
LAW, AND THEY WILL 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WAS SUPPOSEDLY GIVEN 
RIGHTS BY THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, BUT WHO WOULD HE ASK 
QUESTIONS OF? 
THREE LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS AND 
A STAFF MEMBER. 
NOT A LOT OF DUE PROCESS THERE. 
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
TEXAS. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WE ARE HERE 
TODAY BECAUSE HOUSE DEMOCRATS 
OF SPENT UPWARDS OF $30 MILLION 
IN THREE 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. 
PERHAPS THE GREATEST DENIAL OF 
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 AND 
VOTES OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA. 
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 AT STAKE 
HERE. 
MADAME 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I YIELD 
LIMITED TO THE GENTLE LADY FROM 
WASHINGTON. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
ARISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS 
RESOLUTION. 
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 LATELY. 
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 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 HOURS. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO JUST 
THAT AND DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THEY CAN MADAME SPEAKER. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I OPPOSE THIS IMPEACHMENT 
EFFORT WILL VOTE NO ON THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I REPRESENT THE FIFTH DISTRICT 
OF VIRGINIA, WHICH IS HOME TO 
SO MANY FOUNDING FATHERS WHOSE 
VISIONS SHAPED THE GREAT 
COUNTRY WE'RE 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 CANNOT ACCEPT 
THE 2016 ELECTION. 
IN STEAD OF WASTING THE 
TAXPAYERS TIME AND MONEY ON 
SPEECHES AND INVESTIGATIONS, WE 
COULD HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION 
TO ENTERPRISE MEDICAL BUILDING, 
ADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC 
REDUCE STUDENT DEBT AND SOLVE A 
LITANY OF OTHER ISSUES 
AMERICANS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT. 
TOMORROW WE MIGHT HAVE A VOTE 
ON THE USMCA, WHICH WE SHOULD 
HAVE PASSED MONTHS AGO HAVE NOT 
BEEN FOR THE DISTRACTIONS AND 
DELAYS FROM DEMOCRATS. 
DELAYS THAT MADE FARMERS 
SUFFER. 
VOTES LIKE THE ONES WE WILL 
TAKE TODAY, THE DECISIONS THAT 
LED UP TO TODAY'S FOLK, THE 
NATURE AND ENTIRE PROCESS OF 
THIS PROCEDURE REEKS OF 
BUREAUCRATS AND POLITICIANS 
THAT PUT POLITICS OVER PEOPLE. 
WAS NOT ELECTED TO TAKE 
POLITICAL VOTES AND ATTEMPT TO 
OVERTURN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I RAN FOR OFFICE TO SERVE MY 
HIS DECISIONS. 
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. 
WEAPONIZED MOTION IS NOT THE 
WAY TO SERVE THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA. 
TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO DO JUST 
THAT, THOMAS PAINE WROTE 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 FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I WOULD 
REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THE HOUSE 
IS PASSED OVER 400 BILLS, 275 
BIPARTISAN BILLS. 
DRIVING DOWN COST OF HEALTHCARE 
AND DISCUSSION TRUCKS, RAISING 
WAGES, REBUILDING 
INFRASTRUCTURE, TAKING ON 
CORRUPTION IN WASHINGTON. 
80% OF THESE BILLS ARE 
LANGUISHING ON SENATOR 
McCONNELL DESK. 
I NOW YIELD TO THE GENTLE LADY 
FROM OHIO. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I THINK THE 
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING. 
I WISH TO PLACE ON THE RECORD 
THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SWEAR 
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 AT THE KREMLIN. 
VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS COORDINATED 
MURDERS, ELECTION HACKING, 
PROPAGANDA COME OUT THE 
ENTRAPMENT OF WILLING FOOLS AND 
GREEDY UNDERLINGS WHO PUT THEIR 
OWN SELFISH INTERESTS OVER 
LIBERTY. 
PUTIN SEEKS TO THIS IT WILL 
DISARRAY AND DESTABILIZE 
DEMOCRACIES AND THE NATO 
ALLIANCE. 
AT HIS DIRECTION RUSSIA 
ILLEGALLY INVADED UKRAINE IN 
2014, AND AS UKRAINE DEFENSE OF 
THE EASTERN FLANK OF EUROPE, 
14,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED 
AT THE HAND OF PUTIN WITH OVER 
2 MILLION DISPLACED. 
RATHER THAN STAND UP TO PUTIN, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS MINIONS 
AIDED PUTIN, FIRST AND HASTING 
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE OF THE 
2016 ELECTIONS AND MORE 
RECENTLY WITHHOLDING VITAL 
MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE TO 
COERCE IN OUR 2020 ELECTIONS 
FOR MR. TRUMPS PERSONAL GAIN. 
>> TIME HAS EXPIRED. 
>> MIGHT I ADD BY SAYING ONWARD 
LIBERTY, VOTE FOR THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH 
CAROLINA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I RISE IN 
OPPOSITION TO THESE BASELESS 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IN THE 
UNPRECEDENTED PROCESS USED IN 
THIS EFFORT TO IMPEACH THE DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
IT IS A MOCKERY OF AMERICAN 
JUSTICE. 
IN 1788 ONE OF OUR FOUNDING 
FATHERS, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, 
WROTE IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS 
IN MANY CASES IMPEACHMENT WILL 
CONNECT ITSELF WITH THE PRE-
EXISTING FACTIONS, AND IN SUCH 
CASES THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE 
GREATEST DANGER THAT THE 
DECISION WILL BE REGULATED MORE 
BY THE COMPARABLE STRENGTH THE 
PARTIES, MAJORITY AND MINORITY, 
THEM BY REAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF 
INNOCENCE OR GUILT. 
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? 
IT MEANS 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 THREE YEARS, BUT THIS 
PRESIDENT HAVE NOT COMMITTED A 
CRIME. 
AS THE 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 HAS BEEN 
OBSTRUCTED 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 
NATIONS HISTORY. 
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HATE 
THIS PRESIDENT MORE THAN THEY 
LOVE THIS COUNTRY. 
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS PRAYER AND 
NOT THIS DESTRUCTIVE 
PARTISANSHIP. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME 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 AND THEN BLOCKS OF 
THIRD PARTIES FROM COMPLYING. 
EVEN AS HE PURSUES HIS OWN 
INTEREST IN COURT, HIS 
ADMINISTRATION SIMULTANEOUSLY 
ARGUES THAT CONGRESS IS BARRED 
FROM OBTAINING JUDICIAL 
ENFORCEMENT WHEN EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH OFFICIALS DISREGARD 
SUBPOENAS. 
SO WHEN CAN THE PRESIDENT BE 
HELD ACCOUNTABLE 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. 
>> THE GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, MY WORDS ARE 
MY ONLY REMEDY TODAY IN SPITE 
OF THE UPCOMING D.C. STATE HOLD 
VOTE WE EXPECT TO BE 
SUCCESSFUL. 
THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT OF 
COLUMBIA HAVE NO VOTE ON 
IMPEACHMENT OR 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 AN INTERN, TRUMPS 
IMPEACHMENT TURNS ON SABOTAGE 
OF NATIONAL SECURITY TO GET 
HIMSELF REELECTED. 
CLINTON REPENTED, TRUMP INSISTS 
THAT HE DID NOTHING WRONG. 
THAT IS A PROMISE TO CONTINUE 
HIS LONG PATTERN OF ABUSE OF 
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY 
RECOURSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
COLORADO. 
>> TODAY DEMOCRATS LOWER THE 
BAR FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
UNDER THE STANDARD THE 
PRESIDENT CAN BE IMPEACHED IN 
THE ABSENCE OF A CRIME, WITHOUT 
DUE PROCESS OR ASSERTING A 
LEGALLY CONSTITUTIONALLY 
RECOGNIZED PRIVILEGE. 
HISTORY SHOWS DEMOCRAT 
PRESIDENTS HAVE ABUSED POWER 
AND UNDERMINED DEMOCRACY AND 
ONE ELECTIONS BUT NOT BEEN 
IMPEACH. 
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT USED THE 
IRS TO TARGET HIS POLITICAL 
OPPONENTS. 
HIS SON LATER ADMITTED FDR USED 
THE IRS 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 THE GOLDWATER CAMPAIGN, 
SIGNING OFF ON WIRETAPPING HIS 
OPPONENT AND THE GOLDWATER 
AIRPLANE USING A C.I.A. 
SPY TO OBTAIN ADVANCED COPIES 
OF THE STRATEGIES AND SPEECHES. 
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA REFUSED 
TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO 
CONGRESS RELATED TO FAST AND 
FURIOUS. 
IS ON CONSTITUTIONAL 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 FISA 
COURT TO SPY ON TRUMP CAMPAIGN 
ASSOCIATES. 
DESPITE THESE CLEAR ABUSES OF 
POWER BY FDR, JFK, LBJ 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 IF ANY 
PRESIDENT COULD AVOID 
IMPEACHMENT WITH THE LOW 
STANDARD. 
HE SAID NO. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I WOULD 
REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THE 
PRESIDENT OBAMA PROVIDED 
THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF 
INFORMATION TO CONGRESSIONAL 
REQUESTS THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL 
HOLDER AND OTHERS TESTIFIED, 
UNLIKE NOW. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLELADY FROM ILLINOIS. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, TODAY IS A 
SOLEMN DAY IN AMERICA. 
A DAY THAT NONE OF US HOPED FOR 
WHEN WE CAME TO CONGRESS. 
BUT THE EVENTS OF TODAY ARE 
SOMETHING THAT EACH OF US SWORE 
WE WERE PREPARED TO EXECUTE IN 
DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL 
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 
THIS IS THE OATH THE BONDS THE 
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 116th 
CONGRESS AS OUR DEMOCRACY 
IMPLORES WE DEFEND HER. 
A CLEAR AND PRESENT THREAT TO 
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS WHAT 
BRINGS US HERE. 
THE ARCHITECT, A PRESIDENT WHO 
ASKS THAT A FOREIGN NATION 
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTION. 
THIS WAS THE GREATEST FEAR OF 
THE FOUNDING FATHERS. 
I CAST A SOLEMN VOTE FOR THE 
MANY INDIVIDUALS IN MY DISTRICT 
WHO ENTRUSTED ME TO BE THEIR 
VOICE IN CONGRESS. 
THEY ENTRUSTED ME TO UPHOLD OUR 
CONSTITUTION FOR THEM. 
I VOTE YES FOR SARAH IN 
CHICAGO, DOUG IN KANKAKEE, 
DIANE, YES FOR KATHY, CATHERINE 
AND JIMMY. THE FACTS ARE 
SIMPLE. 
THE PATH FORWARD IS CLEAR, 
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT AN OPTION, 
IT IS AN OBLIGATION BECAUSE NO 
ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
AT THIS TIME IT IS MY PRIVILEGE 
TO YIELD TO MINISTER THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER 
THANK YOU RANKING MEMBER 
COLLINS. 
IN THE NAVY WE HAD A SAYING, 
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT. 
I WILL GIVE YOU THE BOTTOM 
LINE. 
DEMOCRATS ARE TERRIFIED THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO WIN 
REELECTION. 
THEY CAN'T BEAT HIM ON THE 
MERITS, SO DEMOCRATS ARE CAVING 
TO THE FAR LEFT RADICAL BASE 
AND USING THE THOUGHTS AND 
FEELINGS AND ASSUMPTIONS OF 
SOME UNNAMED BUREAUCRATS RATHER 
THAN RELYING ON FACTS AND LAW 
TO IMPEACH A DULY ELECTED AND 
PRESIDENT. 
LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS 
NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICAL 
HIT JOB. 
I HAVE BEEN ON ALL SIDES OF THE 
COURTROOM. 
I WAS A PROSECUTOR THE NAVY, A 
DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN THE NAVY, A 
DISTRICT JUDGE IN MY HOMETOWN. 
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 PRIMA FACIE CASE 
HERE. 
I WOULD TELL YOU WHO I WOULD 
PROSECUTE, THOUGH. 
WOULD PROSECUTE ADAM SCHIFF FOR 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
WHY? 
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE USED 
HIS POSITION AS CHAIRMAN TO GET 
PHONE RECORDS OF RANKING MEMBER 
DEVIN NUNES. 
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE 
DUMPED OVER 8000 PAGES ON 
REPUBLICANS LESS THAN 48 HOURS 
BEFORE A HEARING? 
THAT IS THE ABUSE OF POWER. 
OBSTRUCTION? 
I WOULD PROSECUTE THE DEMOCRATS 
FOR OBSTRUCTION. 
ABOUT THE FACT THAT JUDICIARY 
DEMOCRATS VOTED DOWN MY REQUEST 
TO SUBPOENA THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT 
CHAIRMAN NADLER 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 I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER. 
ONCE AGAIN, I HEAR A LOT OF 
ATTACKS ON MEMBERS, DEMOCRATIC 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BUT NOT 
ONE SINGLE WORD OF SUBSTANTIVE 
DEFENSE OF THE PRESIDENT'S 
CONDUCT. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, EACH OF US 
HERE TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT 
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
NOT THE PRESIDENT, AND NOT A 
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 IS AN 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
THE NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST 
ABUSES PROMPTED OUR FOUNDERS TO 
GRANT THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT TO THIS HOUSE. 
THE DELICATE BALANCE OF POWER, 
THAT UNDERPINS OUR DEMOCRACY, 
IS THREATENED WHEN A PRESIDENT 
DISREGARDS THE CONSTITUTION BY 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESSES POWER TO 
COVER UP ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR. IN 
DOING THAT, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
VIOLATED HIS OATH. 
TODAY WE MUST PUT COUNTRY OVER 
PARTY. 
CONSCIENCE OVER COMPLICITY. 
TODAY WE MUST ASSERT NO ONE IS 
ABOVE THE LAW. 
TODAY WE ARE SUMMONED BY 
HISTORY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I REALLY 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 MEMBERS OF 
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT. 
NO PRESSURE, NO CONDITIONALITY, 
NOTHING WAS EVER DENIED WHEN 
THEY GOT THROUGH. 
ACTUALLY GOT THE MONEY HE NEVER 
DID ANYTHING FOR. 
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT. 
THAT IS A DISTRACTION THAT 
DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD A MINUTE AND 
A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
OHIO. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I'VE HEARD 
NUMEROUS COLLEAGUES SAY THEY 
DIDN'T RUN FOR CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
WILL MAYBE NOT ORIGINALLY, BUT 
UNFORTUNATELY, FROM THE MOMENT 
PROCEEDINGS BEGAN, AFTER THE 
FOURTH VOTE TO LAUNCH AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, TODAY'S 
VOTE WAS IT OF LITTLE. 
MANY OF THEM CAMPAIGNED ON IT. 
I LOVE THIS COUNTRY WITH A 
SOLDIERS 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 IS 
MADE AND KEPT OUR COUNTRY FREE. 
FOR MONTHS NOW, AMERICANS HAVE 
HEARD SPECULATION ABOUT THE 
PRESIDENTS 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 MISDEMEANR. 
WE HAVE A REPUBLIC, IF WE CAN 
KEEP IT, THIS IS DISGRACEFUL, 
DISHONEST PROCESS. 
A DISCREDIT TO THIS BODY INTO 
OUR NATION. 
MY URGE THE HOUSE TO DROP THESE 
DIVISIVE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND GET TO WORK FOR 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I YIELD. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, TELL ME HOW 
MUCH TIME BOTH SIDES HAVE LEFT 
PLEASE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS 
TWO HOURS AND TWO MINUTES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS TWO 
HOURS AND THREE MINUTES. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I YIELD 
LIMITED TO THE GENTLE LADY FROM 
NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE FACTS 
ARE CLEAR. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WITHHELD $400 MILLION IN 
MILITARY AID TO AN ALLY OF THE 
UNITED STATES AND ALSO HELD 
BACK A WHITE HOUSE MEETING TO 
COMPEL A FOREIGN NATION TO 
INVESTIGATE HIS POLITICAL 
OPPONENT. 
AT THE EXACT TIME, THE 
PRESIDENT WAS DOING THIS, 
UKRAINE WAS ENGAGED IN A BATTLE 
FOR ITS VERY EXISTENCE WITH ONE 
OF AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES, 
RUSSIA. 
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER 
TO PERSUADE A FOREIGN NATION TO 
DIG DIRT ON A POLITICAL 
OPPONENT. 
AND THAT IS THE TRUTH. 
THIS WAS, QUITE SIMPLY, A 
GEOPOLITICAL SHAKEDOWN. 
THE PRESIDENT THEN TRIED TO 
BLOCK CONGRESS FROM EXERCISING 
ITS CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED 
DUTY TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH. 
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TO DATE 
FACES A STARK CHOICE. 
IF WE CHOOSE TO TURN A BLIND 
EYE TO PUT POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY 
BEFORE THE CONSTITUTION, THEN 
WE ARE COMPLICIT IN THIS 
SUBVERSION OF DEMOCRACY. 
IF WE DO NOT HOLD THIS 
PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE, WE HAVE 
FAILED THE PEOPLE WHO SENT US 
HERE. 
WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR OWN OATH 
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. 
IN THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW. 
NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
ALABAMA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, AND THREE 
MONTHS WE HAVE GONE FROM 
RECEIVING AN UNSUBSTANTIATED, 
HEARSAY AND DISCREDITED 
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT TO THE 
PRODUCTION OF ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NOT SINCE ANDREW JOHNSON HAS A 
HOUSE ENGAGED IN SUCH A 
PARTISAN POLITICAL STUNT. 
FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS HAS 
BEEN A SHAM AND THIS HOUSE IS 
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 
REFUSE TO STAND FOR A, 
DEMOCRATS MOVED TO PUBLIC 
HEARINGS, BUT DENIED US 
QUESTIONS, DENIED AS WITNESSES, 
AND DENIED THE PRESIDENT ANY 
MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO 
DEFEND HIMSELF. 
WITH THIS COMPLETE ABUSE OF 
PROCESS, THE DEMOCRATIC 
MAJORITY HAS REDUCED 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 EXTORTION, NO CRIME AND NO 
ABUSE OF POWER, AND THEY DON'T 
EVEN ALLEGE A CRIME IN THEIR 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THE PRESIDENT DID NOT DO AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
THE DEALERS OF HUNTER BIDEN 
WERE SO ABOVEBOARD, YOU WOULD 
THINK THE MAJORITY WOULD BE 
JUST FINE LOOKING INTO THIS 
MATTER. 
YET AND THEY HAVEN'T MOVED MY 
RESOLUTION ASKING FOR AN 
INVESTIGATION, AND THE 
SUBPOENAS FOR HUNTER BIDEN HAVE 
ALL BEEN DENIED. 
HUNTER BIDEN DOESN'T GET A PASS 
BECAUSE HIS DAD WAS VICE 
PRESIDENT. 
I AM PROUD TO GO AGAINST THE 
CHARADE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY 
AND WILL PROBABLY VOTE NO 
TODAY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLE LADY FROM 
WISCONSIN. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE FACTS 
ARE ON CONTESTABLE, THE 
EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING. 
THE PRESIDENT GROSSLY MISUSED 
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AND 
OBSTRUCTIVE CONGRESS AND 
JUSTICE REQUIRES THIS 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I FEEL COMPELLED TO RESPOND TO 
THE FALSE NARRATIVE THE 
DMOCRATS ARE USING THIS 
PROCESS TO OVERTURN AN 
ELECTION. 
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 EXACT THING OUR FOUNDING 
FATHERS FEARED AND THE EXACT 
CIRCUMSTANCE FOR WHICH THEY 
DRAFTED THE IMPEACHMENT CLAUSE. 
OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR CONSTITUTION 
DESERVES STANDING UP FOR, NOT 
DONALD JOHN TRUMP. 
AND I WILL LEAVE MY COLLEAGUES 
WITH THIS LAST THOUGHT IS A 
DECIDE HOW TO CAST THIS IS 
FOUR. 
FOR WHAT SHALL A PROFIT OF MAN 
TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD ONLY TO 
LOSE HIS OWN SOUL. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FOR GEORGIA. 
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME 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 THEIR ABOUT TO GET AWAY 
WITH IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY 
HAVE THE VOTES. 
BUT THAT IS NOT HOW THIS 
PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. 
IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE DICTATED 
BY A THIN PARTISAN MAJORITY, 
NOR IS IT MEANT TO BE USED WHEN 
AN ELECTION IS JUST AROUND THE 
CORNER. 
NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER 
THAN OUR SPEAKER, WHO I HAVE 
GREAT RESPECT FOR AND I AGREE 
WITH THE COMMENTS SHE MADE ON 
MARCH 6 THAT JUST THIS YEAR 
IMPEACHMENT IS SO DIVISIVE TO 
THE COUNTRY THAT UNLESS THERE 
IS SOMETHING SO COMPELLING AND 
OVERWHELMING AND BIPARTISAN, I 
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO DOWN 
THAT PATH BECAUSE IT DIVIDES 
THE NATION, AND THAT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT HAS HAPPENED. 
AND WHEN WE WALK OUT OF HERE 
TONIGHT, WE ALL KNOW HOW THE 
RESULTS WILL GO. 
THE DEMOCRATS ARE VOTING FOR 
THIS, NOT ONE REPUBLIC IT IS 
BREAKING THIS IS NOT 
BIPARTISAN. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE 
DISGUSTED WITH THE UNITED 
STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, WE BRING SHAME 
UPON THIS BODY TODAY BY MOVING 
FORWARD THIS IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
THE FACTS IN THIS CASE ARE AS 
SIMPLE AS THEY ARE TRAGIC. 
WITNESS AFTER 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 UNDERMINED OUR 
OWN NATIONAL SECURITY. 
AND WHEN HE GOT CAUGHT, THE 
PRESIDENT 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, 
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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FOR GEORGIA. 
>> THE ONLY URGENT THREAT TO 
THIS BODY IS THE CLOCK AND THE 
CALENDAR, AND THE DESIRE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE WE 
GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. 
A MINUTE AND A HALF TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE. 
>> THEY CAN MATTER SPEAKER. 
TODAY IS A SAD DAY IN THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
SINCE DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED 
IN 2016, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ON 
A CRUSADE TO STOP HIM BY ANY 
MEANS. 
I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
ARE THE FAIREST PEOPLE ON THIS 
EARTH. 
THEY BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD BE 
TREATED EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW 
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR STATION YOU 
OCCUPY IN LIFE. 
RIDGE, FOR, PRESIDENT, FACTORY 
WORKER, FAIR. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ANYTHING 
BUT FAIR. 
FOR TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD 
THAT THEN CANDIDATE DONALD 
TRUMP COLLUDED WITH RUSSIANS TO 
INTERFERE WITH OUR ELECTIONS. 
TWO YEARS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 
DURING THE MUELLER 
INVESTIGATION, NO COLLUSION. 
YOU WOULD THINK AFTER BEING 
THAT WRONG DEMOCRATS WOULD 
FINALLY DECIDE TO WORK ON THE 
PROBLEMS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
SENT US HERE TO DO. 
YOU WOULD BE WRONG AGAIN. 
THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WITHHELD MONEY TO THE 
UKRAINIANS IN A QUID PRO QUO. 
NO, A BRIBERY, NO, ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
AGAINST WHATEVER POLES BEST TO 
GATHER INFORMATION ON A 
POLITICAL POTENTIAL RIVAL. 
HERE ARE FACTS ABOUT WHAT 
HAPPENED. 
FACTOR I, THE TRANSCRIPT OF 
JULY 25 PHONE CONVERSATION 
SHOWS NO PRESSURE. 
OCTOBER 2, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY 
DID NOT KNOW THE MONEY WAS 
WITHHELD. 
FACTOR 3, NO INVESTIGATION 
OCCURRED OR WAS ANNOUNCED. 
FACT NUMBER FOUR, THE MONEY WAS 
RELEASED SEPTEMBER 11, 2019. 
FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS. 
ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE 
AISLE SAID I AM CONCERNED THAT 
IF WE DON'T IMPEACH THIS 
PRESIDENT HE WILL GET 
REELECTED. 
THAT, MADAME SPEAKER, SAYS THAT 
ALL. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLE LADY FROM OREGON. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I TAKE SERIOUSLY MY OATH TO 
UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION, AND I DO NOT TAKE 
TODAY'S PROCEEDING SLIGHTLY. 
THE FOUNDING FATHERS INCLUDED 
THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IN 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 SINCE 1386, INTENDED 
TO COVER SITUATIONS WHERE AN 
OFFICIAL ABUSED HIS POWER AND 
INCLUDED A DISOBEYING 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 IS WRONG AND 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 ALSO AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
AND IN OUR COUNTRY NO ONE IS 
ABOVE THE LAW. 
THAT INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THIS WHEN I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 
>> I THINK THE GENTLEMAN. 
DECEMBER IS SUCH A GREAT MOTHER 
THERE SO MANY GREAT DATES IN 
DECEMBER. 
WE TALK ABOUT THE WONDERFUL 
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN 
DECEMBER OF THE PAST. 
THERE'S ALSO, IN ADDITION TO 
CHRISTMAS, THE BOSTON TEA PARTY 
TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER. 
BUT ALSO, ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 A 
HORRIFIC ACT HAPPENED IN THE 
UNITED STATES. 
ONE THAT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT 
SAID THIS IS A DATE THAT WILL 
LIVE IN INFAMY. 
TODAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019, 
ANOTHER DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN 
INFAMY. 
JUST BECAUSE YOU HATES THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
AND YOU CAN FIND NO OTHER 
REASON OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT 
YOU ARE SO BLINDED BY YOUR HATE 
THAT YOU CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT 
THAT YOU HAVE 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 THAT POLITICAL 
POWER IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT 
THAN PRINCIPLE. 
I WOULD URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE 
HOUSE TO VOTE NO ON IMPEACHMENT 
AND TO LOOK THEIR VOTERS IN THE 
EYE. 
LISTEN, LET ME TELL YOU, THE 
VOTERS WILL REMEMBER NEXT 
NOVEMBER WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS 
DECEMBER. 
THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME, A DATE 
THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY. 
THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> THE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
ADDRESS THE REMARKS TO THE 
CHAIR. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLE LADY 
FROM FLORIDA. 
>> IN 1787 AT THE CONCLUSION OF 
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS ASKED, DO 
WE HAVE A REPUBLIC OR MONARCHY? 
HE RESPONDED, A REPUBLIC IF YOU 
KEEP IT. 
MATTER SPEAKER, A REPUBLIC IS A 
FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE 
COUNTRY IS CONSIDERED 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 
GRANDCHILDREN. 
WE SHOULD DO NOTHING LESS. 
ONE DAY I WILL TELL MY GRANDSON 
THAT I STOOD UP FOR OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
I WILL VOTE YES TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FOR GEORGIA. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
40 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM WISCONSIN. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WHY WE 
ARE HERE. 
WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT HERE 
BECAUSE OF A MISQUOTED PHONE 
CALL IN JULY 2019. 
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 TWO DAYS BEFORE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN, BEFORE 
HE WAS SWORN IN. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS WAS 
INTRODUCING IMPEACHMENT 
RESOLUTIONS TWO YEARS AGO AND 
SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD BE 
IMPEACHED SO HE CAN'T GET 
REELECTED. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS NOT ABOUT 
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED ON A 
PHONE CALL. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS ABOUT WHAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE. 
THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO 
ARE APPREHENDED AND DON'T HAVE 
LEGAL AUTHORITY FELL FROM 
100,000 PEOPLE IN MAY TO UNDER 
5000 PEOPLE IN NOVEMBER. 
AND YOU HATE HIM FOR A. BEN 
COURSON THINGS LOW INCOME 
HOUSING SHOULD BE USED BY 
AMERICAN CITIZENS AND NOT 
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, 
AND YOU HATE HIM FOR IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT 
PEOPLE COMING HERE AND GOING ON 
WELFARE, AND YOU HATE HIM FOR 
IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS ABLE-
BODIED PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS TO 
TRY TO WORK, WHEN HE IS HATED 
FOR IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP RENEGOTIATED 
THAT RIPOFF TRADE AGREEMENT 
WITH MEXICO AND CANADA, AND IT 
WAS LED IN PLACE BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH AND PRESIDENT OBAMA, AND 
YOU HATE HIM FOR IT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIZE WITH LAW 
ENFORCEMENT INSTEAD OF 
CRIMINALS AND MURDERERS DROPPED 
1000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR, AND YOU 
HATE HIM FOR SIDING WITH THE 
POLICE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP LET'S CHRISTIAN 
ADOPTION AGENCIES TO CHOOSE WHO 
THEY WANT TO BE PARENTS, AND 
YOU DON'T LIKE HIM FOR THAT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WON'T LET 
FOREIGN AID GO TO AGENCIES THAT 
PERFORM ABORTIONS. 
YOU HATE HIM FOR THAT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S JUDGES STICK 
TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
HE IS DISLIKED FOR THAT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS KEEPING HIS 
CAMPAIGN PROMISES, AND YOU HATE 
HIM FOR THAT. 
I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY 
TIME. 
>> MEMBERS ARE ONCE AGAIN 
REMINDED TO KEEP THE REMARKS TO 
THE CHAIR. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER. 
WE DO NOT HATE PRESIDENT TRUMP, 
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WILL CONTINUE TO THREATEN 
THE NATION 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 
OPPONENTS. 
THE PRESIDENT STEADFASTLY 
INSISTED HE DID NOTHING WRONG 
AND IS FREE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN. 
THAT THREATENS OUR NEXT 
ELECTION AS WELL AS OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, THE PEOPLES 
HOUSES VESTED BY THE 
CONSTITUTION WITH THE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT ABOUT THE POWER OF 
THE PRESIDENCY. 
WITHOUT THIS ESSENTIAL DUTY, 
THE PRESIDENT COULD EXPLOIT HIS 
SECRET OFFICE WITHOUT ANY 
REGARD FOR THE LAW. 
ON JANUARY 3, 2019 EVERY MEMBER 
OF THE HOUSE SWORE AN OATH TO 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND 
THIS WEEK WE ARE BEING ASKED TO 
DO JUST THAT. 
WHEN ALLEGATIONS AROSE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT TRY TO COERCE A 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO HELP 
UNDERMINE THE 2020 ELECTION, 
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. 
THAT 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. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO MY 
FRIEND FROM FLORIDA. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS MY 
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE AND REITERATE 
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S 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 AND 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 OPPOSING PARTY. 
IT IS IN REGARDS TO THIS 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS THAT GEORGE 
WASHINGTON FOREWARNED US AS A 
NATION AT THIS MOMENT IN 
HISTORY. 
WHEN POLITICAL PARTIES MAY NOW 
AND THEN POPULAR AND, THERE 
LIKELY IN THE COURSE OF TIME 
AND THINGS TO BECOME POTENT 
ENGINES BUT WHICH CUNNING, 
AMBITIOUS AND UNPRINCIPLED MEN 
AND WOMEN WILL BE UNABLE TO 
SUBVERT THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE 
TO 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELD BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, JOHN ADAMS 
WARNED IN A LETTER TO THOMAS 
JEFFERSON THAT THESE RISKS ARE 
UNAVOIDABLE IN MY SOMETIMES 
OVERLAP. 
"YOU ARE APPREHENSIVE OF 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, INTRIGUE 
AND INFLUENCE. 
SO OF MY. 
AS LONG AS OFTEN AS ELECTIONS 
HAVE BECOME OF THE DANGER OF 
FOREIGN INFLUENCE RECURS." 
BY NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLE LADY FROM MICHIGAN. 
>> MADAME 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 INFLUENCE OUR 2020 
ELECTION. 
IN THE PROCESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
JEOPARDIZED OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND WITHHELD VITAL 
MILITARY ASSISTANCE, ATTEMPTED 
-- INTENDED TO PREVENT 
AGGRESSION. 
HOWEVER, AS OUR COMMITTEES, 
INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT 
WHICH I SAID ON IN WHICH I AM A 
MEMBER, SOUGHT TO INTERVIEW 
ADDITIONAL WITNESSES AND OBTAIN 
DOCUMENTS, THE PRESIDENT 
ORDERED FROM THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE THAT THE EXECUTIVE 
BRANCH NOT PARTICIPATE IN 
OBSTRUCTION -- AND OBSTRUCTED 
THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. 
ARTICLE 1 PROVIDES THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE SOLE 
POWER OF IMPEACHMENT AS WELL AS 
THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT 
OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH. 
WHAT DID HE HAVE TO HIDE? 
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 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
VIRGINIA. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
TODAY IS A SAD DAY FOR THIS 
BODY FOR THE VOTERS WHO SENT ME 
HERE LAST NOVEMBER AND FOR OUR 
NATION. 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CAUTIONED 
WHEN ASKED WHAT HE HAD GIVEN 
US, A REPUBLIC IF YOU CAN KEEP 
IT. 
TODAY WE TAKE A STEP FURTHER 
TOWARD LOSING THE REPUBLIC OUR 
FOUNDING FATHERS ENVISIONED BY 
ENGAGING ACTIVITY THEY 
SPECIFICALLY WARNED AGAINST, 
THE MISUSE OF THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT FOR ONE PARTIES 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
OUR CONSTITUTION IS THE VERY 
FOUNDATION OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
IT'S ASSURANCE OF SELF-
DETERMINATION IS BEEN THE 
SHINING BEACON BY WHICH OUR 
NATION HAS CHARTERED ITS COURSE 
OVER THE LAST TWO 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, BRAVERY AND 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 NOR WE 
THE CONGRESS. 
THE CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR, IT 
IS ONLY WHEN WE SEEK CLEAR 
PROOF OF THE IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE AS OUTLINED IN ARTICLE 
2 SECTION 4, TREAT THE, 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, IF WE 
THINK THEY NOT ENLIGHTENED 
ENOUGH TO EXERCISE THE CONTROL 
WITH 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. 
HUMAN HISTORY LOOKS BACK ON THE 
SHAMEFUL PERIOD FOR THIS HOUSE, 
WILL JUDGE IT FOR WHAT IT TRULY 
IS, THE UGLY HIJACKING BY THE 
MAJORITY OF OUR CONSTITUTION 
AND THE POWERS IT SO SOLEMNLY 
ENTRUSTED TO US TO ENGAGE IN A 
BLATANTLY POLITICAL PROCESS 
DESIGNED TO FINALLY ACHIEVE 
WHAT THEY COULD NOT ACHIEVE THE 
BALLOT BOX. 
THE REMOVAL OF A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT. 
COMPELLED BY MY SWORN DUTY TO 
UPHOLD THIS CONSTITUTION AND 
FOR THE PEOPLE, I VOTE NO ON 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, YIELD 
LIMITED TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, AS WE TAKE 
THE SOLEMN, NECESSARY STEP OF 
IMPEACHING PRESIDENT TRUMP, MY 
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE 
UP THEIR MINDS. 
WE CAN'T PERSUADE THEM TO DO 
THE RIGHT THING. 
SO I WILL ADDRESS MY REMARKS TO 
THE FUTURE. 
TODAY'S VOTE WILL BE JUDGED BY 
FUTURE GENERATIONS COME 
INCLUDING MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN, 
EIGHT ABBY AND NATHAN, MAYBE 
GRANDKIDS. 
HISTORIANS WILL STUDY WHAT 
MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESSDID 
WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY WAS TESTED 
LIKE NEVER BEFORE BY A 
PRESIDENT WHO PUT PERSONAL 
INTERESTS ABOVE COUNTRY, WHO 
COMPROMISE NATIONAL SECURITY TO 
CHEAT HIS WAY TO REELECTION AND 
WHEN CAUGHT, NOT ONLY LIED AND 
REFUSE TO ADMIT WRONGDOING, BUT 
FLOUTED CONGRESSES AUTHORITY. 
EVEN CALLED THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
IMPEACHMENT MECHANISM 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL. 
HISTORIANS WILL MARVEL HOW 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. 
THE MADAME SPEAKER, FOR FUTURE 
GENERATIONS, OUR CHILDREN, THE 
JUDGMENT A HISTORY, LET ME BE 
CLEAR, I STAND WITH OUR 
CONSTITUTION, WITH THE RULE OF 
LAW IN OUR DEMOCRACY, I WILL BE 
VOTING YES TO IMPEACH DONALD J 
TRUMP. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND HALF. 
>> THANK YOU GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING ME TIME. 
TODAY'S VOTE TO IMPEACH THE 
DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES IS TRULY 
HISTORIC. 
HOWEVER, ITS 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 DESIRE OF 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXECUTED A 
DELIBERATE AND ORCHESTRATED 
PLAN TO OVERTURN A PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION. 
WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN 
HISTORY THAT A PARTY PARADED 
OUT THEIR IVY LEAGUE ACADEMICS 
TO EXPLAIN TO 31 STATES AND 
ALMOST 63 MILLION PEOPLE THAT 
THEIR VOICE SHOULD NOT BE HEARD 
AND WHY THEIR VOTES SHOULD BE 
COUNTED. 
I PRAY FOR OUR NATION EVERYDAY, 
BUT TODAY I AM 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 A DEAD-END. 
DONALD J TRUMP IS OUR 
PRESIDENT, CHOSEN BY THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE, FAIR AND 
SQUARE. 
AS A SAY IN TEXAS, IT IS 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. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I WOULD 
REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT THE 
IMPEACHMENT CLAUSE IS PLACED IN 
THE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR FORM OF 
GOVERNMENT AGAINST A PRESIDENT 
WHO WOULD SUBVERT OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTIES AND 
BETWEEN ELECTIONS. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM 
TEXAS. 
>> AND STILL I RISE MADAME 
SPEAKER. 
I RISE BECAUSE I LOVE MY 
COUNTRY. 
AND MADAME SPEAKER, SHELL ANY 
MAN BE BEYOND JUSTICE, THIS IS 
THE QUESTION POSED IN 1787 BY 
GEORGE MASON AT THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 
SHOULD ANY MAN BE BEYOND 
JSTICE? 
MADAME SPEAKER, IF THIS 
PRESIDENT IS ALLOWED TO THWART 
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 OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I ALSO REMIND MY GERMAN THAT 
THE IMPEACHMENT WAS NOT TO BE 
USED BETWEEN ELECTION CYCLES TO 
DEFEAT A SITTING PRESIDENT WHO 
YOU THINK WILL BE REELECTED. 
WITHOUT A YIELD LIMITED TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME 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 AN 
ABUSE OF THE IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS AND WOULD SUBVERT THE 
VOTES OF 63 MILLION AMERICANS. 
JUST BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT'S 
OPPONENTS THAT ARE AFRAID HE 
WILL WIN REELECTION IS NO 
EXCUSE FOR WEAPONIZED 
IMPEACHMENT. 
NO PRESIDENT IN 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  
>> YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLE LADY. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I LEARN SO MUCH EVERY SINGLE 
DAY FROM MY RESIDENCE AT HOME. 
COMMON SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING 
OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG 
CENTERED ON 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 
AGAINST OUR COUNTRY IS NOT AN 
OPTION. 
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE 
FUTURE OF OUR NATION AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY FROM CORRUPTION, 
ABUSE OF POWER, CRIMINAL 
COVERUPS, AND BRIBERY. 
AND THIS, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS 
VOTE IS ALSO FOR MY SONS 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. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> I RISE TODAY 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 PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE DO NOT 
LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE THEY  
PROUDLY BOAST IT ABOUT THEIR 
INTENTION TO IMPEACH OUR 
PRESIDENT BEFORE HE WAS EVEN 
SWORN INTO OFFICE. 
OUT OF DISDAIN FOR THE 
PRESIDENT AND FOR THOSE OF US 
WHO 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, IN SOUTHWESTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA KNOW THE TRUTH. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THE 
TRUTH. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT CIRCUS HAS 
NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE FACTS. 
THIS PROCESS HAS ALWAYS 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 DUALLY 
ELECT PRESIDENT FOR THE SAKE OF 
OUR NATION. 
JOIN WITH ME AND VOTE "NO" ON 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THANK YOU. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, ALL WE KEEP 
HEARING FROM THE OTHER SIDE ARE 
TAXING 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 NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE  
GENTLE LADY FROM MASSACHUSETTS, 
MISS PRESLEY. 
>> ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER A RISE TODAY 
TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY. 
TODAY WE TAKE A STAND AGAINST 
CORRUPTION AND ABUSES OF POWER. 
WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY IS 
NOT ONLY PATRIOTIC, IT IS  
UNIQUELY AMERICAN. 
AMERICA IS A STORY OF ORDINARY 
PEOPLE CONFRONTING ABUSES OF 
POWER WITH THE 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 EYED. 
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 TRUTH. 
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 J. TRUMP AND I 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE 
SAME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
AGAIN, MY CHAIRMAN HE DOESN'T 
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGMENT IT, WHEN 
YOU HAVE NOTHING BUT A PROCESS 
THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY AMUCK, 
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS  BUT 
-- LET'S DO IT ONE MORE  TIME. 
NO PRESSURE BY EITHER MR. TRUMP 
OR MR. ZELENSKY. 
WHAT HORRIFYS ME ZELENSKY SAID 
THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. 
DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING HIM A  
LIAR. 
THAT'S DEPLORABLE. 
NO CONDITIONALITY IN THE 
TRANSCRIPT. 
FIVE MEETINGS PROVE THAT, ALL 
HIGH LEVEL -- TWO MEETINGS WERE 
AFTER THE UKRAINIANS KNEW OF 
THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR AID 
BEING HELD. 
THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE 
FOUR TRUTHS AND THE FIVE FACTS. 
AFTER NOTHING DONE TO GET THE 
MONEY, THEY GOT THE MONEY. 
THAT'S THE FACTS. 
THAT'S WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO 
DEAL WITH. 
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY. 
LET'S CONTINUE TO SEE HOW THE 
SHAM WAS PERPETRATED. 
THAT'S WHAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS 
ARE TALKING ABOUT. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD A MINUTE AND 
A HALF FROM THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MICHIGAN, MR. BERGMAN. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> 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 REPRESENTATIVES. 
TODAY IS THE CULMINATION OF THE 
DEMOCRATS' THREE YEAR LONG 
QUEST TO DELEGITIMIZE THE 
PRESIDENT. 
THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS 
SINCE NOVEMBER 2016 AND 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 WILLFULLY 
TRAMPLING ON DECADES OF 
BIPARTISAN PRECEDENT. 
NO DUE PROCESS, CLOSED DOOR 
DEPOSITIONS EVEN THOUGH NOTHING 
IN AN INVESTIGATION WAS 
CLASSIFIED AND LEAKING ONLY 
DETAILS THAT FIT THEIR  
NARRATIVE. 
IF THIS ISN'T PARTISAN 
POLITICS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. 
HOLDING OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 
ACCOUNTABLE IS A JOB I TAKE 
EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. 
BUT 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. 
MICHIGAN'S 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 
AROUND THE COUNTRY KEEP MORE OF 
THEIR HARD EARNED CURRENCY, NOT 
TO IMPEACH OUR DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT. 
I VOTE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE 
AGAINST THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLE LADY 
FROM -- 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> IT IS WITH A SOLEMN SENSE OF 
DUTY THAT I RISE TODAY IN 
SUPPORT OF IMPEACHMENT. 
FOR HIS ABUSE OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS, I WANT 
TO SAY 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 OF POWER TO ASK A 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE 
IN OUR ELECTIONS. 
WHEN HE ASKED A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT FOR A PERSONAL FAVOR 
TO DIG UP DIRT ON HIS POLITICAL 
OPPONENT SO HE COULD CHEAT. 
THE PRESIDENT GOT CAUGHT. 
AND THEN HE TRIED TO COVER IT  
UP. 
TODAY WE SAY NO MORE. 
TODAY WE SAY WE WILL NOT ALLOW 
THIS PRESIDENT TO ABUSE HIS 
POWER AND ENDANGER OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
I STAND TO SAY NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW, NOT EVEN THIS  
PRESIDENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PERRY. 
>> SINCE BEFORE INAUGURATION 
THE PRESS AND MEMBERS OF THIS 
CONGRESS HAVE BEEN FOR 
IMPEACHMENT, MEMBERS REFUSE TO 
ATTEND THE INAUGURATION, THEY 
CALLED FOR IMPEACHMENT, THEY 
VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, THEY 
VOTED FOR IMPEACHMENT CREATING 
AND MANUFACTURING EVIDENCE. 
RECALL AND VOTES OF NO 
CONFIDENCE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN 
OUR CONSTITUTION FOR A REASON. 
OUR SYSTEM DEMANDS EVIDENCE OF 
HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
SUCH EVIDENCE EXISTED THERE 
WOULD BE AN AGREEMENT IN THIS 
CHAMBER BUT THERE IS NOT. 
THERE IS NOT AN AGREEMENT 
BECAUSE THERE IS NOT EVIDENCE. 
MADISON AND HAMILTON WARNED US 
THIS MIGHT HAPPEN THAT 
IMPEACHMENT WOULD VEER TOWARD 
POLITICAL FACTIONS AND THAT'S 
WHAT THIS IS. 
THIS'S 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 THE POLITICAL 
SCORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO 
RESOLVE AT THE BALLOT BOX. 
MADAM SPEAKER, THEY HOPE IF 
THEY REPEAT THEM OVER AND OVER 
AND STAY ON MESSAGE, YOU WILL 
BELIEVE THEIR CHARGES. 
REPEATING THINGS THAT AREN'T 
TRUE DOES NOT MAKE THEM TRUE. 
THE CALL RECORD BETWEEN THE TWO 
PRESIDENTS IS CLEAR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INTERESTED 
IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF 
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
HE ASKED THE UKRAINIANS TO WORK 
WITH OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL. 
THE UKRAINIANS WERE ALREADY 
GETTING THE MILITARY HARDWARE 
AND THEY GOT THE ASSISTANCE 
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 WEREN'T SO SAD IT WOULD 
BE LAUGHABLE, MADAM SPEAKER. 
MY COLLEAGUES ARE NOT DRIVEN BY 
A QUEST FOR FACTS OR TRUTH. 
THEY ARE DRIVEN BY THEIR 
PARTISAN ANIMUS AND A 
TIMETABLE. 
THESE ARE THE RECKLESS AND 
IRRESPONSIBLE ACT OF THE 
ELITIST IN THE SWAMP AND THEY 
UNDERLINE THE FABRIC OF OUR 
REPUBLIC. 
I URGE A NO VOTE AND I YIELD. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD 
REMIND THE GENTLEMAN THAT THERE 
WAS IN FACT EXTENSIVE DIRECT 
EVIDENCE INCLUDING THE 
PRESIDENT'S OWN WORDS AND 
ACTIONS WHICH IS CORROBORATED 
AND SUPPORTED BY INDIRECT AND 
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. 
THE RECORD LEAVES THE FOLLOWING 
KEY FACTS INDISPUTABLE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PERSONAL 
LAWYER, RUDY GIULIANI PUSHED 
UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE VICE 
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND A DEBUNK 
CONSPIRACY ABOUT THE 2016 
ELECTIONS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DIRECTED U.S. 
OFFICIALS AND PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY HIMSELF TO WORK WITH  
MR. GIULIANI TO FULFILL HIS 
DEMANDS. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHHELD 
CRITICAL MILITARY AID FOR 
UKRAINE. 
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP STONEWALLED 
CONGRESS INVESTIGATION TO COVER 
UP HIS MISCONDUCT. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS,  MR. 
CASTEN. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER THIS SHOULD 
NOT BE A PARTISAN VOTE. 
THIS IS A VOTE ABOUT AMERICA, 
IT'S A VOTE ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY 
AND OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
WE ALL TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT 
THE CONSTITUTION AGAINST ALL 
ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC 
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WHAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WAS WRONG. 
WE ALL KNOW IT'S WRONG WITH 
WITHHOLD FOREIGN AID FOR 
POLITICAL FAVOR. 
WE KNOW IT'S WRONG TO IGNORE 
CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENAS. 
AND WE KNOW IT'S WRONG TO 
DEFAULT TO SILLY PARTISAN 
PROCESS ARGUMENTS RATHER THAN 
TO RISE AND DEFEND THIS 
BEAUTIFUL BUT ALL TOO FRAGILE 
DEMOCRACY. 
WHEN THOSE IN ELECTED POWER 
ABUSE THEIR POSITION FOR 
PERSONAL ADVANTAGE IT'S ON US 
TO SOMBERLY UPHOLD AND DEFEND 
THE RESPONSIBILITY THE FOUNDERS 
BESTOWED ON US, PARAPHRASING 
HIM SLIGHTLY WHEN ONE PARTY 
WOULD INFLAME PARTISANSHIP 
RATHER THAN LET THE NATION 
SURVIVE, I'M PROUD TO BE THE 
PARTY THAT WOULD ACCEPT 
PARTISANSHIP THAN LET THE 
NATION PERISH. 
IT IS CLEAR BECAUSE WE MUST 
IMPEACH. 
WHEN YOU VOTE IN A FEW HOURS, 
DON'T VOTE YOUR PARTY. 
VOTE YOUR CHARACTER. 
THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE 
JUDGED AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE 
ALL GOING TO BE JUDGED. 
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER I AM GOING TO 
ASK FOR A TIME CHECK FOR BOTH. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA HAS 
AN HOUR AND 44 1/2 MINUTES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK HAS AN 
HOUR AND 47 1/2 MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM COLORADO, MR. TIPTON. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE IN 
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. 
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS PROCESS 
DID NOT BEGIN WITH 
WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT. 
IN FACT, IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS 
BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE 
PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED. 
THE THEATRICS, POLITICAL 
POSTURING HAVE INSURED THAT 
THIS BODY IS NOT ACTUALLY 
PURSUING TO PRESERVE CHECKS AND 
BALANCES, RATHER THIS PROCESS 
ECHOES THE CALLS BY SOME THAT 
REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE 2016 
ELECTION  RESULTS. 
NEITHER OF THE ARTICLES 
RECEIVING A VOTE JUSTIFY THE 
REMOVAL OF THE PRESIDENT FROM 
OFFICE. 
THE FIRST ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT 
THE PRESIDENT PRESSURED FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST 
IN AN UPCOMING ELECTION. 
UKRAINE RECEIVED ITS AID 
WITHOUT A PREARRANGED 
AGREEMENT. 
THIS IS UNSUBSTANTIATED. 
SECOND ARTICLE IS PREMISED ON 
THE OBSTRUCTION WHEN THE WHITE 
HOUSE IGNORED SUBPOENAS ISSUED 
BY THE HOUSE. 
OUR FEDERAL COURTS ARE THE 
ULTIMATE ARBITERS OF THESE 
DECISIONS. 
IN FACT PREVIOUS ADD 
ADMINISTRATIONS, REPUBLICAN AND 
DEMOCRAT BOTH HAVE DEALT WITH 
THESE USUALS AND CLAIMED 
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE. 
MR. SPEAKER, MADAM SPEAKER, THE 
ARTICLES THAT ARE BEFORE THIS 
HOUSE ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED. 
I INTEND TO VOTE NO ON THESE 
ARTICLES AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE 
MY COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO DO 
THE SAME. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM ARIZONA, MR. GALLEGO. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I WILL 
VOTE TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT 
DONALD TRUMP FOR ABUSE OF POWER 
AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
THOSE STILL -- DESPERATELY 
GRASPING AT STRAWS. 
TO THOSE STILL UNWILLING TO 
SEARCH THEIR SOULS ASK YOURSELF 
WOULD YOU SUPPORT A DEMOCRATIC 
PRESIDENT USING TAXPAYER 
DOLLARS TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE A 
REPUBLICAN POLITICAL OPPONENT 
BASED ON FALSE RUSSIAN 
CONSPIRACY THEORIES? 
OF COURSE NOT. 
THAT'S ABSURD. 
ANY PRESIDENT WHO DOES THAT HAS 
ABUSED THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY FOR PERSONAL GAIN 
AND UNDERMINED OUR MOST SACRED 
TRADITION, OUR ELECTIONS. 
IN A FEW HOURS EVERY MEMBER 
WILL MAKE A CHOICE. 
WILL YOU FALL INTO AGE OLD 
POLITICAL TRAP WHILE THINKING 
BLIND PARTISANSHIP IS ALL THAT 
MATTERS? 
WILL YOU VOTE TO DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR DEMOCRACY 
SO THAT THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND 
EVERY FUTURE PRESIDENT WILL 
KNOW THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW 
AND WILL BE 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
I NEED TO YIELD A MINUTE AND A 
HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEBRASKA, MR. SMITH. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> 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 ONLY HAPPENED TWICE IN OUR 
COUNTRY'S 243 YEAR HISTORY, YET 
TODAY FR HIGHLY POLITICAL 
PURPOSES THE HOUSE MAJORITY IS 
TRYING TO REMOVE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP FROM OFFICE BASED ON 
SECONDHAND INDIRECT ACCOUNTS. 
THE THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
OFFER NO EVIDENCE AVENUE I 
CRIME BUT INSTEAD PURPOSEFULLY 
BROAD TO FIT THE MAJORITY'S 
NARRATIVE. 
LESS THAN ONE YEAR UNTIL THE 
NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WE 
ARE BEING ASKED TO OVERRIDE THE 
CHOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THIS LOPSIDED AND HYPER 
PARTISAN BIASED IMPEACHMENT 
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 A 
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS FOR MANY 
YEARS TO COME. 
INSTEAD OF UNNECESSARILY 
DIVIDING OUR COUNTRY AS WE ARE 
SEEING TODAY, WE SHOULD BE 
LOOKING AT WAYS TO BRING OUR 
COUNTRY TOGETHER. 
THANK YOU. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S ACTIONS ARE BOTH  
IMPEACHABLE AND CRIMINAL. 
ALTHOUGH THE VIOLATION OF THE 
FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTE IS 
NEITHER NECESSARY OR SUFFICIENT 
TO JUSTIFY IMPEACHMENT, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CONDUCT 
VIOLATED THE FEDERAL 
ANTIBRIBERY STATUTE VERY 
CLEARLY. 
I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA,  MR. 
BEYER. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> I THANK THE CHAIRMAN. 
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY I VOTE TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR 
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION 
OF CONGRESS. 
I DON'T HATE THE PRESIDENT BUT 
I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND 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 THAT THE VOTES 
I CAST TODAY WILL STAND THE 
TEST OF TIME. 
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 
2016 ELECTIONS. 
I'M SO DISAPPOINTED THAT MY 
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS APPROVE THE 
PRESIDENT'S ABUSES OF POWER AND 
SOLICITATION OF FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS. 
THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF 
THE WILLFUL SUSPENSION OF 
DISBELIEF. 
THEY KNOW IN THEIR HEARTS WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE IS 
DEEPLY WRONG. 
THEY KNOW THEY WOULD VOTE 
WITHOUT HESITATION TO IMPEACH A 
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHO HAD 
DONE THESE THINGS. 
I REMIND ALL AMERICANS THE 
PRESIDENT DID NOT REBUT THE 
FACTS, THE MANY, MANY FACTS 
WHICH HAVE LED TO THE 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
FOR THE SAKE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR COUNTRY 
MUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT. 
>> GENTLEMA FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I WAS AMAZED BY WHAT THE 
CHAIRMAN JUST SAID IF IT WAS 
OBVIOUSLY THAT HE VIOLATED THE 
BRIBERY STATUTE CLEARLY WHY 
DIDN'T WE ADD IT AS AN ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT? 
THE REASON WHY, IT DIDN'T. 
WITH THAT I YIELD TO THE 
GENTLEMAN. 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> ARTICLE 2, SECTION 4 OF 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 
ACCEPT 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 
WRONGDOING. 
AS A FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 
I AM DISMAYED THAT THE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE SUBMITTED 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
A SITTING PRESIDENT USING 
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT 
FAILS TO OFFER PROOF OF AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
ADDITIONALLY THE CHARGES LEVIED 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IN THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT LACK 
HISTORICAL PRECEDENT AND ARE 
MOTIVATED BY PURE POLITICAL 
REASON. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
PASSES THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT, THE DEMOCRATS WILL 
HAVE SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT 
BY DOING AMERICA'S VOTES FOR 
PRESIDENT BECAUSE A SINGLE 
PARTY DISAGREED WITH THE 2016 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO 
ON THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. THOMPSON. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I FIND NO 
PLEASURE COMING TO THE FLOOR 
TODAY TO CONSIDER IMPEACHMENT. 
I RAN FOR CONGRESS TO REPRESENT 
MY COMMUNITY AND SERVE THE 
COUNTRY I LOVE. 
AS A COMBAT VETERAN HAVING 
SERVED EIGHT YEARS ON THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, I 
UNDERSTAND THE THREAT THAT 
FOREIGN ACTORS CAN PLAY IN OUR 
ELECTIONS. 
EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL MUST 
DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO  
PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY. 
NO ONE SHOULD INVITE A FOREIGN 
COUNTRY TO INTERFERE WITH OUR 
MOST SACRED ACT OF VOTING. 
IT WAS ABUSE OF POWER BY THE 
PRESIDENT TO ASK A FOREIGN 
NATION TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
ELECTION TO BENEFIT HIS 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL INTEREST 
AND TO CONDITION BIPARTISAN 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED AID ON 
THAT INTERFERENCE. 
UNCHECKED, THESE ACTIONS COULD 
LEAD US DOWN A PATH THAT WILL  
UNRAVEL THE FABRIC OF OUR  
NATION. 
I AM SADDENED WE ARE HERE 
TODAY, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF 
DEFENDING OUR MAKING, I WILL 
VOTE FOR THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK TO BALANCE MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
THIS TIME A YIELD A MINUTE AND 
A HALF TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM  
TEXAS, MR. ROY. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> MR. SPEAKER, OUR FOUNDERS 
INTENTIONALLY -- RATHER WE 
DEMAND FROM CONGRESS EVIDENCE 
OF HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS. 
WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE FREE TO 
DISLIKE THE PRESIDENT, AND 
WHILE THEY MAY REASONABLY VIEW 
THE INFAMOUS PHONE CALL AND 
NEGOTIATIONS AS UKRAINIANS AS 
SOMETHING PERFECT THEY ARE NOT 
FREE TO IMPEACH SOMETHING LESS 
THAN A HIGH CRIME AND 
MISDEMEANOR. 
IN JUST OVER 10 MONTHS, THOUGH, 
THE PEOPLE ARE FREE TO DECIDE 
AND WE SHOULD LET THEM. 
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON 
US, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE PRESS GALLONRIES ARE FULL, 
OUR FLOOR IS PULLED WITH  
MEMBERS. 
WHEN WILL WE GIVE THE WORLD 
SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS. 
MY COLLEAGUES QUITE ELOQUENT 
ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION THEY 
FOUND UNDER MOTHBALLS. 
WHERE IS RESPECT FOR THE 
CONSTITUTION WHEN THE PEOPLE'S 
HOUSE DAILY REFUSES TO DO ITS 
ACTUAL JOB. 
TODAY IN MEXICO A YOUNG GIRL 
WILL BE ABUSED WHILE BEING 
TRAFFICKED TOWARD OUR OPEN 
BORDERS. 
WHILE SOME HERE YELL KIDS IN 
CAGES -- TODAY IN NEW YORK A 
YOUNG MOTHER WILL BE COERCED 
INTO ABORTION BY TAXPAYER 
FUNDED PLANNED PARENTHOOD. 
TODAY ACROSS AMERICA DIABETICS 
WILL STRUGGLE TO AFFORD INSULIN 
DUE TO A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 
RAVAGED BY GOVERNMENT AND 
INSURANCE BUREAUCRATS EMPOWERED 
IN THE FALSE NAME OF COVERAGE 
AND TODAY OUR CHILDREN INHERIT 
$100 MILLION OF DEBT AN HOUR, 
BORROWED IN THE FALSE NAME OF 
WHAT GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE. 
THIS CONDUCT BY CONGRESS 
FAILING TO DO ITS JOBS THAT 
SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND ONE 
MIGHT ASK IF AMERICA WOULD BE 
BETTER OFF TAKING THE FIRST 435 
NAMES OUT OF THE PHONE BOOK TO 
REPRESENT US IN THE UNITED 
DISPLAY HERE TODAY. 
TODAY IS NOT A DARK DAY BECAUSE 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THIS. 
AMERICA IS GREAT. 
WASHINGTON IS BROKEN. 
AND WE ARE TAKING OUR COUNTRY 
BACK. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE DISTINGUISHED 
GENTLE LADY FROM CALIFORNIA, 
MISS MATSUI. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> I RISE TODAY 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 
INCLUDING MY GRANDKIDS. 
THE FACTS BEFORE US ARE CRYSTAL 
CLEAR. 
WE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM 17 
BRAVE PATRIOTS WHO VALUE OUR 
DEMOCRACY AND THE CONSTITUTION. 
THEY TESTIFIED THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP THREATENED TO WITHHOLD 
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROVED MONEY 
IN EXCHANGE FOR DIRT ON A 
POLITICAL RIVAL. 
AND WORSE, THAT HE CONTINUES TO 
INVITE FOREIGN POWERS TO 
VIOLATE OUR SOVEREIGNTY EVEN 
TODAY. 
ON ITS FACE, THESE ARE  
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES THAT 
REPRESENT A CLEAR AND PRESENT 
DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY. 
THAT'S 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 A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
THE GEORGIA FROM PENNSYLVANIA 
MR. SMUCKER. 
>> 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 THEIR 
GOVERNMENT, THE PRIMARY TOOL 
THE CONSTITUTION GIVES THEM TO 
MAKE A CHANGE IS THEIR VOTE. 
AND ON NOVEMBER 8th, 2016, 
AMERICANS FROM EVERY PART OF 
THIS NATION PACKED THE POLLS TO 
ELECT DONALD J. TRUMP TO BE THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
THE COUNTRY WANTED A DISRUPTER, 
A FIGHTER, A DEAL MAKER, 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 
POLITICO ARTICLE HEADLINE READ, 
COULD TRUMP BE IMPEACHED 
SHORTLY AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE? 
SO HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
PLANNING FOR THIS DAY SINCE 
JANUARY 2017. 
IT'S 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. 
AGAIN I ASK, HOW MUCH IS THE 
TRUST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
WORTH? 
BECAUSE AFTER THE VOTE TODAY, 
FOR WHAT YOU THINK IS A SHORT-
TERM PARTISAN GAIN, YOU CAN BE 
SURE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
WILL HAVE LOST THEIR TRUST IN 
OUR INSTITUTION -- 
>> GENTLEMAN'S TIME EXPIRED. 
>> THEY 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 NOW YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. GARAMENDI. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
IMPEACHING A PRESIDENT IS -- 
UNITED STATES CONGRESS CAN 
MAKE. 
IT'S NOT AN ACTION THAT I OR MY 
FELLOW HOUSE COLLEAGUES 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 PERSONNEL 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 CAREFULLY 
ANALYZE ALL ISSUES BEFORE ME. 
I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF BOTH 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
I YIELD A -- 
>> RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER ON STAND 
BEFORE YOU TODAY A DISAPPOINTED 
MAN. 
I AM DISAPPOINTED IN A BROKEN 
AND PARTISAN PROCESS THAT HAS 
CONSUMED THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS. 
WE WERE TOLD THIS INVESTIGATION 
WAS GOING TO BE BIPARTISAN AND 
TRANSPARENT. 
INSTEAD, THE PROCEEDINGS WERE 
HELD IN SECRET BEHIND CLOSED 
DOORS WITH NO ATTEMPT AT A FAIR 
HEARING. 
ALL THIS WAS DONE DELIBERATELY 
IN AN EFFORT TO UNDO THE 
RESULTS OF THE 2016 ELECTION. 
MADAM SPEAKER, MY CONSTITUENTS 
IN FLORIDA WANT TO SEE US GET 
TO WORK. 
THEY WANT US -- THEY ARE 
COUNTING ON US TO ACTUALLY FIX 
THE SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING, 
TO LOWER THE COST OF 
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 
INSTEAD WE ARE HERE A WEEK 
BEFORE CHRISTMAS VOTING TO 
IMPEACH THE LEGITIMATE 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
WE HAVE WASTED ALMOST A YEAR ON 
THIS PROCESS WHILE HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS CHOSE POLITICAL 
THEATER OVER SERVING THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THIS SHAMEFUL VOTE TO IMPEACH 
OUR PRESIDENT WOULD BE A 
LASTING STAIN ON OUR HOUSE AND 
I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO 
VOTE NO. 
I YIELD. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN 
FROM OREGON -- 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> I THANK THE GENTLEMAN. 
IT'S CLEAR CUT, THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES HAS 
VIOLATED HIS OATH OF OFFICE AND 
BETRAYED THE CONSTITUTION AND 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
HE ADMITTED TO SOLICITING 
ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN LEADER 
FEAR IN THE U.S. ELECTION AND 
AID HIS POLITICAL REELECTION 
CAMPAIGN. 
THAT'S A VIOLATION OF THE LAW. 
VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION 
AND A BETRAYAL OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE AND AN IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE. 
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE ALSO 
DEMONSTRATES A PRESIDENT -- 
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BLACKMAIL 
THE YOUNG, NEW PRESIDENT OF 
UKRAINE, UNDER ATTACK FROM 
RUSSIA. 
NOW, THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA 
SAYS UKRAINE DIDN'T FEEL ANY 
PRESSURE. 
THEY ARE BEING INVADED BY  
RUSSIA. 
VLADIMIR PUTIN, YOU KNOW,  
TRUMP'S FRIEND. 
AND HE WITHHELD THAT AID UNTIL 
THE WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT CAME 
OUT, THEN THE AID WAS RELEASED. 
IT WASN'T RELEASED FOR ANY GOOD 
PURPOSE. 
CONGRESS VOTED FOR THAT AID. 
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BILL. 
THAT IS ANOTHER IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE AND THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE HAVE PUT TOGETHER 
EXTENSIVE DOCUMENT WHICH SHOWS 
THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF 
NUMEROUS OTHER FEDERAL CRIMES 
INCLUDING BRIBERY AND WIRE  
FRAUD. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS 
THREATEN THE CONTINUATION OF 
OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. 
I AM PROUDLY VOTING FOR 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I AM GLAD TO KNOW THAT MR. 
TRUMP WAS GIVING THEM LETHAL 
AID, ACTUALLY SOMETHING TO 
FIGHT BACK WITH, NOT WHAT WAS 
PREVIOUSLY GIVEN TO THEM. 
AND THERE WAS NO PRESSURE PUT 
ON HIM. 
YOUR WHOLE CASE SORT OF 
DESTROYS IF YOU'RE COERCING 
SOMEBODY IF THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE FELT. 
WE DON'T SEEM TO GET THAT PART 
ON THIS FLOOR TODAY. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE 1/2. 
>> TODAY IT 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 AGAINST 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. 
EARLIER THIS YEAR, SPEAKER 
PELOSI SAID 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. 
NONE OF THOSE STANDARDS HAVE 
BEEN MET. 
NONE. 
THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS WERE 
SCRIPTED, SUBSTANCE-FREE, MADE 
FOR TV SHOW. 
THEY WOULD BE COMEDY IF 
IMPEACHMENT WEREN'T SO SERIOUS 
AND GRAVE. 
WITNESSES DENIED AWARENESS OF 
AN IMPEACHABLE DEFENSE. 
AND BECAUSE THE MAJORITY HAS 
FAILED TO MAKE THE CASE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT, THERE IS 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 
MESSAGE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
HAVE REJECTED IT. 
I WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT SHAM. 
LET'S 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. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,  MR. 
GONZALEZ. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> I RISE ON A SAD DAY FOR 
AMERICA, SAD DAY FOR TEXAS AND 
A VERY SAD DAY FOR THE PEOPLE I 
REPRESENT. 
I AM NOT GLEEFUL FOR TODAY. 
I CAME TO CONGRESS TO LOWER THE 
COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, 
FIGHT FOR A DEBT-FREE EDUCATION 
AND IMPROVE THE COST OF SPECIAL 
NEEDS CHILDREN, OUR SENIORS AND 
OUR VETERANS. 
I DID NOT COME TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A SITTING PRESIDENT. 
BUT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN NO  
CHOICE. 
HE HAS ERODED THE FOUNDATIONS 
OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND USED THE 
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY FOR 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN. 
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS FEARED 
THAT ONE DAY THE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY WAS STRETCHED BEYOND 
ITS LIMITS, THUS, THEY 
ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION 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 CHEAP FLOWER IN BAD WEATHER 
WATCHING OUR DEMOCRACY CRUMBLE 
AND ROCK FROM WITHIN. 
THAT IS NOT THE AMERICA THE 
WORLD KNOWS AND LOVES AND IT'S 
CERTAINLY NOT THE AMERICA WE 
WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE OUR 
FUTURE GENERATIONS INHERIT. 
AND THAT IS 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. 
>> 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 OF 
BUNGLING FOREIGN POLICY 
DECISIONS BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD 
EVIDENCE BEYOND A REASONABLE 
DOUBT OF BRIBERY OR EXTORTION. 
ALLEGATIONS OF THESE TWO CRIMES 
AREN'T 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'S 
INTEGRITY. 
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 HAS 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 
SIMPLE FACT THAT WAY MORE 
UNITES OUR COUNTRY THAN DIVIDES 
US. 
TOMORROW CAN WE START FOCUSING 
ON THAT? 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GETLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS,  
MR. DAVIS. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. 
THIS IS INDEED A SAD DAY FOR 
OUR COUNTRY. 
THIS IS INDEED A SAD DAY FOR 
AMERICA. 
BUT IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS A SAD DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY 
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
DEFIED OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR 
RULES, OUR REQUIREMENTS AND OUR 
EXPECTATIONS. 
IT IS CLEARLY 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 15th AT MALCOLM X 
COLLEGE IN CHICAGO, SOMEONE 
ASKED A 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. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY 
FRIEND FROM TEXAS, MR. GOMER. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
TWO MINUTES. 
>> 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 IT WAS A PREDICTION. 
IT WAS A PROMISE. 
AND NOW IT'S PLAYING OUT. 
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING DONE 
HERE. 
AND FOR THOSE THAT SAY WE DON'T 
ADDRESS THE DEFENSES OF FACT, 
HERE YOU GO. 
THE IMPEACHMENT SERVES TWO 
PURPOSES. 
NUMBER 1, STOP THE 
INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND 
UKRAINE INTO THE CORRUPTION OF 
UKRAINE INTERFERENCE INTO U.S. 
ELECTION IN 2016. 
YOU SAID THIS WAS ABOUT, OH, 
THIS TERRIBLE RUSSIA COLLUSION, 
OH, THEN THAT FELL THROUGH. 
IT'S ABOUT EMOLUMENTS, BRIBERY, 
EXTORTION. 
IT'S CHANGED. 
BUT ONE THING HASN'T CHANGED 
AND THAT IS THE INTENT TO 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT. 
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. 
BUT LET'S BE HONEST. 
THE PRESIDENT TURNING HIS BACK 
ON UKRAINE, THAT HAPPENED IN 
2009 BECAUSE IN 2008 UKRAINE 
INVADED GEORGIA. 
WHAT HAPPENED? 
BUSH PUT SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA TO 
TEAM THEM A LESSON. 
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT? 
WELL, IN MARCH OF 2009 HILLARY 
CLINTON WAS SENT OVER TO RUSSIA 
WITH A RESET BUTTON TO SAY BUSH 
OVERREACTED. 
WE ARE OKAY THAT YOU INVADED 
GEORGIA. 
IT WAS A GREEN LIGHT TO RUSSIA 
TO INVADE UKRAINE AND WHAT DO 
YOU DO? 
YOU SEND BLANKETS AND MREs AND 
EAT AND BE WARM WHILE THE 
RUSSIANS ARE KILLING THEM. 
THAT IS WHAT THE OBAMA 
ADMINISTRATION DID. 
THIS IS A TRAVIS   TRAVIS TY. 
THIS COUNTRY'S END IS NOW  
INSIDE. 
I HOPE I DON'T LIVE TO SEE IT. 
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. 
I YIELD BACK. ú>> I CAN'T FROM  
>> 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. 
HIGGINS. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK 
IS RECOGNIZED -- THE HOUSE WILL 
COME TO ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS 
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 
>> RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA. 
>> 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 ABUSE 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 WAS AFRAID HE COULD NOT WIN 
HONORABLY, FAIRLY OR FREELY. 
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE OPENED AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY 
INVESTIGATION AND I 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 AN ABUSE OF 
POWER AND A FEDERAL CRIME. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
>>> GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH 
DAKOTA. 
>> I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR. 
BILL ROCKIS. 
>> THANK YOU, I WANTED TO THANK 
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO 
HAVE TOLD HONORABLY AND DEFENSE 
OF THE CONSTITUTION THE RULE OF 
LAW UNDER DIFFICULT 
CIRCUMSTANCES, MADAM SPEAKER. 
IT'S A DARN SHAME THAT WE HAVE 
FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS 
POSITION TODAY. 
EVERY TIME I STEP INTO THIS 
CHAMBER, I AM HUMBLED TO BE 
SERVING IN THE GREATEST 
LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE HISTORY 
OF THE WORLD. 
HOWEVER, IT'S DEEPLY 
DISAPPOINTING THAT THE HYPER 
PARTISANSHIP THAT HAS GRIPPED 
THIS COUNTRY HAS MADE ITS WAY 
INTO THIS CHAMBER. 
I PRIDE MYSELF OF BEING A 
CONSENSUS BUILDER WHO WORKS 
ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THINGS 
DONE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE MATTER 
OF IMPEACHMENT, I HAVE NO DOUBT 
THAT THE ENTIRE PROCESS HAS 
BEEN POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. 
THERE'S 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 WHEEL OF 
THE PEOPLE BY REMOVING A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
IT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE THAT 
SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. 
BUT WE ARE A GREAT NATION AND 
WE WILL SURVIVE THIS INDIGNITY. 
LET'S PUT THIS UGLY CHAPTER 
BEHIND US, MADAM SPEAKER AND 
GET TO WORK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI, 
MR. THOMPSON. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 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 A WITCH HUNT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST OPPOSES 
IT. 
NO ONE 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, 
BETRAYED THE CONSTITUTION AND 
UNDERMINED THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS. 
THOSE WHO 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 HE IS SAYING. 
>> GENTLEMAN'S TIME IS EXPIRED. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> I YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA,  MR. 
BARRY. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
1 1/2 MINUTES. 
 MADAM S
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I TOTALITY OF 
THIS PROCESS IS JUST ANOTHER 
REMINDER THAT MY COLLEAGUES 
ACROSS THE AISLE ARE MORE  
FOCUSED ON POLITICS THAN 
POLICY. 
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. 
THOSE 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. 
>> I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON,  MR. 
BLUMENAUER. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU. 
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR 
COMMITTEES, THE LEADERSHIP OF 
THE SPEAKER, WE FOUND  
OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TRUMP 
INVITED FOREIGN INTERESTS TO 
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS FOR 
HIS PERSONAL GAIN. 
AND HE THEN TOOK UNPRECEDENTED 
EFFORTS TO COVER IT UP, 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS. 
I AM PROUD OF THE COURAGE OF 
NEW MEMBERS TO DO THEIR DUTY SO 
THAT 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 AN AGREEMENT ON 
PROCESS AND WITNESSES FROM 
McCONNELL SO THAT THE NEXT 
STAGE WILL BE OPEN AND FAIR SO 
THAT DONALD TRUMP WILL 
ULTIMATELY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
>> GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD 1 1/2 
MINUTES TO MY FRIEND FROM 
OKLAHOMA, MR. HERN. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
1 1/2 MINUTES. 
>> PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGAN 
NOVEMBER 13th, LESS THAN A 
MONTH LATER SPEAKER PELOSI 
ANNOUNCED ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT ON DECEMBER 5th, 
SAYING THAT THE INVESTIGATION 
HAD REVEALED ENOUGH INFORMATION 
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH  
IMPEACHMENT. 
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT. 
22 DAY INVESTIGATION, SIX OF 
THOSE DAYS WERE WEEKENDS WHERE 
HEARINGS WEREN'T HAPPENING AND 
THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN SESSION. 
SEVEN OF THE DAYS WERE WEEKENDS 
THAT THE HOUSE WAS IN RECESS, 
INCLUDING THE WEEK OF 
THANKSGIVING. 
TWO OF THOSE DAYS WERE IN 
FLYING DAYS WHERE CONGRESS 
DOESN'T HOLD HEARINGS SO OUT OF 
THE 22 DAYS JUST SEVEN DAYS, 
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 THIS SEVEN 
DAY INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED 
ZERO FACTS IN SUPPORT OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I SPENT EVERY MINUTE I HAD IN 
THERE AS AN OBSERVER OF THESE 
HEARINGS AND ALL I LEARNED IS 
THAT IF YOU HATE SOMEONE SO 
STRONGLY AND ENOUGH PEOPLE 
AGREE WITH YOU, THAT'S GROUND 
ENOUGH TO BE IMPEACHED. 
WE ASK FOR 12 HOURS OF DEBATE. 
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME 
ALLOTTED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 
IMPEACHMENT. 
12 HOURS OF DEBATE FOR POSSIBLY 
THE BIGGEST VOTE I WILL CAST IN 
MY TENURE AS REPRESENTATIVE. 
ISN'T ASKING TOO MUCH BUT NO 
THEY WANT TO GET OUT HERE 
BEFORE CHRISTMAS. 
SO IT'S OKAY TO RUSH THROUGH 
THE PROCESS. 
I AM ASHAMED TO BE A PART OF 
THIS TODAY EVEN AS HE VOTE 
AGAINST HE IMPEACHMENT. 
MY CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING 
EVERY DAY MAD SAYING WE SHOULD 
BE ASHAMED THIS HISTORIC 
CHAMBER HAS FALLEN SO LOW TO 
ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO 
HAPPEN. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS 
I MAY CONSUME. 
>> GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> MY FRIEND THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
GEORGIA HAS A TAG LINE ABOUT 
THE CLOCK ON THE CALENDAR. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE CLOCK AND 
THE CALENDAR. 
IT IS ABOUT CORRUPTION AND THE 
CONSTITUTION, IT IS ABOUT A 
PRESIDENT WHO ABUSES POWER TO 
COERCE 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 AND WHEN 
THOSE THREE PILLARS FALL, THE 
ENTIRE DEFENSE OF THE PRESIDENT 
COLLAPSES. 
FIRST THEY CLAIM THERE WAS NO 
QUID PRO QUO. 
WELL, THE EVIDENCE IS  
UNDISPUTED. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP CONDITIONED A 
WHITE HOUSE VISIT AND MILITARY 
AID ON PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S 
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 
INVESTIGATIONS. 
AMBASSADOR WILLIAM TAYLOR WROTE 
AT THE TIME, QUOTE, I THINK 
IT'S CRAZY TO WITHHOLD SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE FOR HELP WITH A 
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, CLOSED  
QUOTE. 
REPORTER ASKED WHITE HOUSE 
CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY IF 
THERE HAD BEEN A QUID PRO QUO 
HERE AND HE REPLIED, WE DO THAT 
ALL THE TIME, GET OVER IT. 
THE PRESIDENT REFUSED TO HELP 
OUR ALLY UNTIL HE GOT A 
PERSONAL POLITICAL FAVOR AND SO 
THE FIRST DEFENSE FALLS. 
SECOND, THE MINORITY CLAIMS 
THAT THE UKRAINIANS DIDN'T KNOW 
ABOUT THE HOLD. 
THE EVIDENCE AGAIN IS  
UNDISPUTED. 
UKRAINE KNEW ABOUT THE HOLD ON 
THE MILITARY ASSISTANCE WITHIN 
HOURS OF THE PRESIDENT'S  JULY 
25th CALL. 
LAURA COOPER OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE TESTIFIED UNDER OATH 
AND ON JULY 25th THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT SENT TWO E-MAILS TO 
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
NOTIFYING THEM THAT UKRAINIAN 
OFFICIALS WERE ASKING WHERE IS 
THE AID? 
UKRAINIANS UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY 
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS 
ASKING. 
HE WANTED A PERSONAL POLITICAL 
FAVOR BEFORE THE AID WAS 
RELEASED. 
AND SO THE SECOND DEFENSE 
CALLS. 
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 ON  SEPTEMBER 
9th. 
THE HOLD ON THE AID WAS LIFTED 
ON SEPTEMBER 11th. 
THIS IS NOT EVIDENCE OF 
INNOCENCE. 
IT IS EVIDENCE OF CULPABILITY. 
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING 
AND WHEN HE GOT CAUGHT, HE DID 
EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO 
PREVENT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
FROM LEARNING THE TRUTH ABOUT 
HIS ACTIONS BY DEFINING 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 CALENDAR, BUT TO FIGHT 
AGAINST CORRUPTION AND FOR 
CONTINUED SELF-GOVERNMENT BY 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY  
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD JUST 
POINT OUT THAT TO BELIEVE 
EVERYTHING THAT WAS JUST SAID 
YOU HAVE TO ALSO BELIEVE THAT 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IS A 
PATHOLOGICAL LIAR AND WITH THAT 
I WOULD YIELD 1 1/2 MINUTES TO 
MY FRIEND FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, 
MR. DUNCAN. 
>> THANK YOU. 
WE ARE NOT DEBATING IMPEACHMENT 
OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT TODAY. 
YOUR MINDS ARE ALREADY MADE UP. 
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HAS HAD A 
VERDICT IMPEACHMENT LOOKING FOR 
A CRIME SINCE THE INAUGURATION. 
"THE WASHINGTON POST" RAN THE 
HEADLINE THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
BEGUN, JUST 19 MINUTES AFTER 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TOOK OATH OF 
OFFICE. 
19 MINUTES. 
FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN FROM 
MICHIGAN TOLD A GROUP OF 
SUPPORTERS WE ARE GOING TO 
IMPEACH THE MOTHER BLANK 
SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS SWORN IN. 
EVEN SPEAKER 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, CONJECTURE AND 
OPINION. 
YOU KNOW WHAT? 
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A SPEEDING 
TICKET IN THIS COUNTRY BASED ON 
HEARSAY. 
BUT YET WE ARE GOING TO IMPEACH 
AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT BASED ON 
JUST THAT. 
WHERE ARE THE CRIMES OF -- 
POLICY DISAGREEMENTS. 
CONGRESS TOLD THE 
ADMINISTRATION TO WITHHOLD AID 
TO UKRAINE UNTIL THEY GOT THEIR 
ACT TOGETHER, ADDRESSED 
CORRUPTION,  STRAIGHTENED OUT. 
THAT WAS IN MULTIPLE NDDAs 
VOTED ON BY BOTH PARTIES IN 
THIS CHAMBER. 
IN THE SIMPLIST TERMS WE ARE 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT FOR 
SOMETHING WE TOLD HIM TO DO. 
GIVE ME A BREAK. 
WE HAVE WASTED PRECIOUS TIME WE 
ARE GIVEN TO SERVE THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
WHILE HE HELD SECRET HEARINGS 
AND DEPOSITIONS BEHIND CLOSED 
DOORS IN CHAIRMAN SCHIFF'S 
CHAMBER OF SECRETS BUT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT 
SENSE OF FAIRNESS. 
THEY SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY IN THIS 
PROCESS. 
IMPEACHMENT BASED ON HEARSAY 
AND OPINION. 
NOT FACTS. 
SAD DAY IN THIS CHAMBER. 
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> REMINDED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
>> I WOULD NOW INFORM YOU THAT 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, 
MR. SCHIFF, THE CHAIR OF THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW 
SERVE AS MY DES- 98. 
>> DOES THE GENTLEMAN YIELD TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA? 
>> HE'S MY DESIGNEE. 
>> DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA YIELD TO HIMSELF? 
>> YES, MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD 
TO MYSELF AS MUCH AS AS I MAY 
CONSUME. 
>> RECOGNIZED. 
>> I THANK HIM FOR THE 
EXTRAORDINARY JOB HE HAS DONE 
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE AND THROUGHOUT THESE 
DIFFICULT PROCEEDINGS. 
MY COLLEAGUES, MY FELLOW 
AMERICANS, I RISE 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 
TALENTS HAVING THE ADVANTAGE OF 
MILITARY HABITS, DESPOTIC IN 
HIS ORDINARY DEMEANOR, WHICH 
SUCH A MAN IS SEEN TO MOUTH A 
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 BRINGING IT 
UNDER SUSPICION, TO FLATTER AND 
FALL IN WITH ALL THE NONSENSE 
OF THE ZELLETTS OF THE DAY, IT 
MAY JUSTLY BE SUSPECTED THAT 
HIS OBJECT IS TO THROW THINGS 
INTO CONFUSION 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 -- THE FRAMERS CRAFTED A 
CONSTITUTION THAT CONTEMPLATED 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR THE 
HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND BUT 
ALSO AFFORDED THE CONGRESS WITH 
THE POWER TO REMOVE A PRESIDENT 
WHO ABUSED OF POWERS OF HIS 
OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN, WHO 
COMPROMISED THE PRESIDENT TRUST 
BY BETRAYING OUR NATION'S 
SECURITY OR WHO SOUGHT TO 
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM 
BY SEEKING FOREIGN INTERVENTION 
IN THE CONDUCT OF OUR 
ELECTIONS. 
I WOULD SAY THAT THE $14 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 
-- HAVINGWON FREEDOM FROM A 
KING, THE DRAFTERS OF OUR 
CONSTITUTION DESIGNED A 
GOVERNMENT IN WHICH AMBITION 
WAS MADE TO CHECK AMBITION. 
IN WHICH NO BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT WOULD PREDOMINATE 
OVER ANOTHER AND NO MAN WOULD 
BE ALLOWED TO BE ABOVE THE LAW 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, 
ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT, SINCE 
WITH WHOM WITH THE DANGER BE 
GREATER THAN WITH THE OFFICER 
CHARGED WITH BEING OUR 
COMMANDER IN CHIEF? 
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 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL 
RIVAL, JOE BIDEN. 
WITH THE HOPES OF DEFEATING  
MR. BIDEN IN A 2020 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND 
ENHANCING HIS OWN PROSPECTS FOR 
REELECTION. 
HE DIDN'T EVEN NEED THE 
INVESTIGATION TO BE UNDERTAKEN, 
JUST SIMPLY ANNOUNCED TO THE 
PRESIDENT. 
THE SMEAR OF HIS OPPONENT, THE 
SMEAR OF HIS OPPONENT WOULD BE 
ENOUGH. 
TO EFFECTUATE THIS SCHEME 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WITHHELD TWO 
OFFICIALS ACTS OF VITAL 
IMPORTANCE TO A NATION AT WAR 
WITH OUR ADVERSARY VLADIMIR 
PUTIN'S 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 
HUNDREDSOF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS 
OF MILITARY AID APPROVED BY 
THIS CONGRESS TO COERCE UKRAINE 
INTO DOING HIS ELECTORAL DIRTY 
WORK. 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WAS LLING 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 WASN'T THE FIRST 
TIME. 
AS A CANDIDATE IN 2016, DONALD 
TRUMP INVITED RUSSIAN 
INTERFERENCE IN HIS 
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SAYING AT 
A CAMPAIGN RALLY, RUSSIA, IF 
YOU'RE  LISTENING, I HOPE 
YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND THE 30,000 
E-MAILS THAT ARE MISSING, A 
CLEAR INVITATION TO HACK 
HILLARY CLINTON'S E-MAILS. 
JUST FIVE HOURS LATER RUSSIAN 
GOVERNMENT HACKERS TRIED TO DO 
EXACTLY THAT. 
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AN IMMENSE 
RUSSIAN HACKING AND DUMPING 
OPERATION AND A 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 EFFORT TO 
INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
DIDN'T DETER DONALD TRUMP. 
IT EMPOWERED HIM. 
THE DAY AFTER SPECIAL COUNSEL 
ROBERT MUELLER TESTIFIED BEFORE 
CONGRESS BEFORE RUSSIA'S 
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 CHEAP 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 ROBERT MUELLER 
TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS AND 
PRESIDENT TRUMP THOUGHT HE WAS 
FINALLY IN THE CLEAR,  JULY 
25th, THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP GOT ON THE PHONE WITH 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT AND IN THE 
CONTEXT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT 
MILITARY SUPPORT FOR THAT 
EMBATTLED NATION THAT THE 
PRESIDENT HAD RECENTLY FROZEN 
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 25th. 
AND THEN WE COME TO JULY 26th. 
THE DAY GORDON SONDLAND CALLED 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ON HIS CELL 
PHONE FROM A RESTAURANT IN 
UKRAINE. 
GORDON SONDLAND, NOT SOME 
ANONYMOUS, NEVER TRUMPER BUT A 
MILLION DOLLAR DONOR TO THE 
PRESIDENT'S INAUGURATION AND 
HIS HANDPICKED AMBASSADOR TO 
THE EUROPEAN UNION, WHAT DOES 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASK SONDLAND 
THE DAY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED SONDLAND 
SO HE IS GOING TO DO THE 
INVESTIGATION? 
AND THE ANSWER WAS CLEAR. 
SONDLAND ASSURED TRUMP THAT THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT WAS GOING 
TO DO IT. 
AND THAT HE WOULD DO ANYTHING 
YOU ASKED HIM TO. 
IF THAT WASN'T TELLING ENOUGH, 
MY COLLEAGUES, IN A 
CONVERSATION THAT FOLLOWED AN 
AMERICAN DIPLOMAT DINING WITH 
SONDLAND ASKED IF IT WAS TRUE 
THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DIDN'T 
GIVE A BLANK ABOUT UKRAINE, 
SONDLAND AGREED SAYING THE 
PRESIDENT.ONLY CARED ABOUT BIG 
STUFF. 
THE DIPLOMAT SAID THE BIG STUFF 
WAS A WAR WITH RUSSIA. 
SONDLAND REPLIED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT ONLY CARED ABOUT BIG 
STUFF THAT BENEFITED HIM 
PERSONALLY, LIKE THEBIDEN 
INVESTIGATION MR. GILUIANI WAS 
PUSHING. 
IN THAT SHORT CONVERSATION, WE 
LEARNED EVERYTHING WE NEED TO 
KNOW ABOUT THE 45th PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT UKRAINE 
OR THE IMPACT ON OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
ALTHOUGHALL THAT MATTERS TO 
THIS PRESIDENT IS WHAT AFFECTS 
HIM PERSONALLY. 
AN INVESTIGATION INTO HIS 
POLITICAL RIVAL AND A CHANCE TO 
CHEAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION. 
AS THE PROFESSOR TESTIFIED 
BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 
TWO WEEKS AGO, IF WHAT WE ARE 
TALKING ABOUT IS NOT 
IMPEACHABLE, THEN NOTHING IS 
IMPEACHABLE. 
EVEN AS THIS BODY UNCOVERED THE 
FACTS OF THIS UKRAINE SCHEME, 
EVEN AS WE OPENED AN 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. 
EVEN AS WE GATHERED OUR 
EVIDENCE, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CONTINUED TO SEEK FOREIGN HELP 
IN OUR NEXT ELECTION. 
HE SAID ON THE WHITE HOUSE 
LAWN, IF THEY ARE BEING HONEST 
ABOUT IT THEY WOULD START A 
MAJOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
BIDENS. 
IT IS A VERY SIMPLE ANSWER. 
HE MADE IT CLEAR IT IS AN OPEN 
INVITATION TO OTHER COUNTRIES 
SAYING CHINA SHOULD START AN 
INVESTIGATION. 
 TRUMP SENT HIS CHIEF  
OF STAFF TO THE WHITE HOUSE 
PODIUM AND HE TOLD THE WORLD  
THAT OF COURSE THEY HAD LINKED  
AID TO INVESTIGATIONS.
AND THAT WE SHOULD JUST GET OVER
IT. 
AND EVEN AS THESE
EVEN AS THESE ARTICLES MADE 
THEIR WAY TO THIS HOUSE FLOOR, 
THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL 
ATTORNEY CONTINUED PURSUING 
THESE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS ON 
BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT, THE 
PRESIDENT. 
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS MEN PLOT 
ON. 
THE DANGER PERSIST. 
THE RISK IS REAL. 
OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT PERIL. 
WE ARE NOT WITHOUT A REMEDY 
PRESCRIBED BY THE FOUNDERS FOR 
JUST THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. 
MPEACHMENT. 
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WILL WE 
USE IT? 
OR HAVE WE FALLEN PREY TO 
ANOTHER EVIL THE FOUNDERS 
FOREWARNED. 
THE ELEVATION OF PARTY OVER 
COUNTRY. 
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES APPEARED 
TO HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE TO 
PROTECT THE PRESIDENT. 
TO ENABLE HIM TO BE ABOVE THE 
LAW AND TO EMPOWER THIS 
PRESIDENT TO CHEAT AGAIN AS 
LONG AS IT IS IN THE SERVICE OF 
THEIR PARTY AND THEIR POWER. 
THEY MADE THEIR CHOICE DESPITE 
THIS PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE 
HOUSE STONE WALLING EVERY 
SUBPOENA, EVERY REQUEST FOR 
WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY FROM 
THIS COEQUAL BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT. 
THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE 
KNOWING THAT TO ALLOW THIS 
PRESIDENT TO OBSTRUCT CONGRESS 
AND EMPOWER HIM AND ANY OTHER 
PRESIDENT THAT FOLLOWS TO BE AS 
CORRUPT AS NEGATIVE OR AS 
ABUSIVE OF THE POWER TO 
PRESIDENCY AS THEY CHOSE. 
THEY HAVE MADE THEIR CHOICE. 
I BELIEVE THEY WILL RULE THE 
DAY THEY DID. 
WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS SWORN IN 
ON JANUARY 20, 2017. 
HE REPEATED THESE WORDS. 
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR I WILL 
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE 
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES AND WILL TO THE BEST OF 
MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT 
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
HAS HE LIVED UP TO THAT SACRED 
OBLIGATION? 
HAS HE HONORED HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE? 
HAS HE PRESERVED, PROTECTED AND 
DEFENDED THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES? 
THE EVIDENCE PROVIDES THE 
SIMPLE YET TRAGIC ANSWER, HE 
HAS NOT. 
IN AMERICA NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW. 
DONALD J. TRUMP SACRIFICED OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY IN AN EFFORT 
TO CHEAT IN THE NEXT ELECTION. 
AND FOR THAT AND HIS CONTINUED 
EFFORTS TO SEEK FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
HE MUST BE IMPEACHED. 
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> MADAME CHAIR. 
IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU HER 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF IT WOULD BE 
NICE TO HAVE YOU OR THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER PRESENT IN THE 
JUDICIARY OR OVERSIGHT 
HEARINGS. 
WE ARE CONTINUING TO NEGLECT 
THE FOUR KEY FACTS. 
THE TRANSCRIPT IS OUT. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN READ 
IT. 
THERE IS NO AID DISCUSSED ON 
THAT CALL. 
THE TWO PRINCIPLE ON THAT CALL, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY SAID THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE. 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SCREAMED 
FROM THE ROOFTOPS THAT THERE 
WAS NO PRESSURE, NO BRIBERY, NO 
QUID PRO QUO. 
THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT GOT 
THE MONEY AND DIDN'T KNOW THE 
AID WAS BEING PAUSED AND NO 
INVESTIGATION WAS ANNOUNCED AND 
NO MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT 
TOOK PLACE AND IT WAS RELEASED. 
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
>> WITH THAT, I WILL YIELD A 
MINUTE AND A HALF OF MY TIME. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I COME FROM A 
STATE THAT RAISES CORN AND 
COTTON AND DEMOCRATS. 
YOUR ELOQUENCE NEITHER 
CONVINCES NOR SATISFIED ME. 
I'M FROM THE SHOW-ME STATE. 
YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME. 
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU ALL 
HAVE SHOWN SO FAR IS THAT YOU 
ARE ABOUT TO IMPEACH A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT WHO HAS DONE 
NOTHING WRONG. 
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT IMPEACHING 
THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEY ARE 
SCARED OF OUR REPUBLIC OR HE 
HAS COMMITTED A CRIME. 
THEY ARE IMPEACHING HIM BECAUSE 
THEY FEAR THE PRESIDENT'S 
POLICIES. 
HOW WELL THEY ARE WORKING FOR 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
MOST OF ALL, THEY FEAR THE 
ELECTION BECAUSE THEY KNOW. 
THIS KIND OF RHETORIC IS 
DISGUSTING. 
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT A POLITICAL 
WEAPON. 
ANY MEMBER WHO VOTES FOR 
IMPEACHMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED 
TODAY. 
YOU CANNOT UNDO THE RESULTS OF 
THE 2016 ELECTION SIMPLY 
BECAUSE YOUR FLAWED CANDIDATE 
DID NOT WIN. 
THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T. 
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, 
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED TO THE 
LOWEST POINT IN GENERATIONS. 
WE ARE SEEING BETTER TRADE 
AGREEMENTS WITH OUR TRADING 
PARTNERS AND RECORD NUMBERS OF 
TAXES AND REGULATIONS THAT 
STIFLED ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS 
BEEN ROLLED BACK THANKS TO 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP 
AND COMMITMENT. 
WE COULD NOT BE SURPRISED. 
DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>> WE'LL YIELD HIM 15 SECONDS. 
>> THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED. 
DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT IN FIVE OF OUR 
LAST SIX REPUBLICAN 
PARTICIPANTS. 
THEY ARE THE PARTY OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
>> YIELD BACK. 
ONCE AGAIN, MEMBERS ARE 
ADMONISHED TO ADDRESS THEIR 
REMARKS TO THE CHAIR. 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAME SPEAKER. 
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO MR. WALL WELL. 
>> DONALD TRUMP IS USING THE 
PRESIDENCY TO PUT HIS OWN 
PERSONAL GAIN ABOVE OUR 
NATIONAL INTERESTS. 
NOT A SINGLE FACT IN THIS CASE 
IS SERIOUSLY IN DISPUTE. 
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES WHO SENT 
HIS PERSONAL LAWYER TO UKRAINE 
TO INVESTIGATE HIS POLITICAL 
RIVAL? 
WHO FIRED AN AMBASSADOR WHO 
STOOD IN HIS WAY? 
WHO CONDITIONED A WHITE HOUSE 
MEETING ON INVESTIGATIONS THAT 
ONLY PERSONALLY BENEFITED HIM 
AND NOT THE NATIONAL INTEREST? 
WHO CUT OFF MILITARY AID TO AN 
ALLY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED 
IT. 
WHO PRESSURED PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY TO CONDUCT THOSE 
INVESTIGATIONS? 
WHO STOOD ON THE WHITE HOUSE 
LAWN AND ASKED NOT ONLY UKRAINE 
TO INVESTIGATE HIS RIVAL, BUT 
ALSO CHINA. 
WHO HAS BURIED EVIDENCE AND 
BLOCKED WITNESSE FROM 
TESTIFYING? 
WHO IS STILL, TODAY, SENDING 
HIS PERSONAL LAWYER TO UKRAINE 
TO DIG UP DIRT AND RIG AN 
ELECTION. 
THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE 
QUESTIONS IS PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
THIS IS A CRIME SPREE IN 
PROGRESS. 
WE KNOW HOW TO STOP IT. 
OUR CIVIL SERVANTS USED THEIR 
COURAGE TO STAND UP AROUND THE 
WORLD TO EXTINGUISH CORRUPTION 
AROUND THE WOULD AND AT THE 
WHITE HOUSE. 
MY COLLEAGUES ARGUE NO HARM NO 
FOUL. 
UKRAINE GOT THE AID. 
WRONG. 
TRUMP CHEATED. 
PATRIOTS CAUGHT HIM. 
THEN UKRAINE GOT THE AID. 
STANDING UPTURNS OUT WORKS. 
NOW IS TIME TO SUMMON THE 
COURAGE OF THE PATRIOTS. 
IF THEY CAN RISK THEIR CAREERS 
AND LIVES TO DO THE RIGHT 
THING, CAN MY COLLEAGUES ALSO 
DO THE SAME? 
AFTER ALL, MORE IS ON THE LINE 
THAN MILITARY AID TO AN ALLY. 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY IS AT 
STAKE. 
STAND UP FOR THAT. 
OUR ELECTION INTEGRITY IS AT 
STAKE. 
STAND UP FOR THAT. 
OUR CONSTITUTION IS AT STAKE. 
STAND UP FOR THAT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER MAY I INQUIRE 
TO THE TIME ON EACH SIDE. 
>> THE GENTLEMEN HAS ONE HOUR 
23 AND A FOURTH MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS 
ONE HOUR AND 18 MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
>> I APPRECIATE THE DETAIL. 
WITH THAT I YIELD ONE AND A 
HALF MINUTES TO GENTLEMEN FROM 
OHIO. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE AND A HALF MINUTES. 
>> A MADAME SPEAKER. 
THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA. 
THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT SHAM 
SEEKS TO DISENFRANCHISE 63 
MILLION AMERICAN VOTERS. 
I WANT TO USE MY TIME TO CALL 
ON THIS CHAMBER, FOR MEMBERS TO 
RISE AND OBSERVE A MOMENT OF 
SILENT REFLECTION. 
TO GIVE EVERY MEMBER HERE THE 
CHANCE TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT 
AND REMEMBER THE VOICES OF THE 
63 MILLION AMERICAN VOTERS THE 
DEMOCRATS, TODAY, ARE WANTING 
TO SILENCE. 
MR. JOHNSON: MADAM SPEAKER, 
DISENFRANCHISING 63 MILLION 
VOTERS GIVES ME
MADAME SPEAKER DISENFRANCHISING 
63 MILLION VOTERS GIVE MESS 63 
MILLION REASONS TO VOTE NO. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE 
SAME. 
>> GENTLEMEN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER IT IS MY 
PLEASURE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLE WOMAN FROM 
ALABAMA. 
>> GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES.. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER IT IS WITH A 
HEAVY HEART THAT I RISE TODAY 
IN SUPPORT OF THE IMPEACHMENT 
OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
TO BE CLEAR, I DID NOT RUN FOR 
CONGRESS TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT. 
I CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY ON 
BEHALF OF THE HARDWORKING 
PEOPLE OF ALABAMA'S 7th 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 
THE FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED. 
THE TRUTH IS CLEAR. 
AND I HAVE BEEN LEFT NO OTHER 
CHOICE. 
AS A MEMBER OF THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE, I SAT IN SHOCK IN 
AWE AS WITNESS AFTER WITNESS 
CAME FORWARD. 
THEIR STORIES PAINTING A CLEAR 
PICTURE OF THE PRESIDENT'S 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
THEY TESTIFIED THAT THE 
PRESIDENT HAD DIRECT ORDERS TO 
WITHHOLD VITAL MILITARY AID FOR 
UKRAINE. 
AND A WHITE HOUSE VISIT IN 
EXCHANGE FOR AN INVESTIGATION 
INTO THE BIDENS. 
TODAY, ALL THE MILITARY AID HAS 
NOT BEEN RELEASED. 
AND THERE STILL HAS BEEN NO 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING. 
THE BOTTOM LINE IS CLEAR. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDANGERED OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE 
ESSENCE OF OUR DEMOCRACY FOR 
HIS OWN PERSONAL POLITICAL 
GAIN. 
THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SOUGHT TO 
COVER IT UP BY SUBVERTING THE 
OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OF 
CONGRESS. 
I PRESIDENTIAL ABUSE OF POWER 
IS LEFT UNCHECKED WE ALL BECOME 
ACCOMPLICES WHEN HE DOES IT 
AGAIN. 
THIS CAN NOT BECOME THE NEW 
NORMAL. 
NOT ON OUR WATCH. 
WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
INDEFENSIBLE ACTIONS SET IN 
MOTION THIS EVENT, MY VOTE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY IS NOT ABOUT 
THE PRESIDENT. 
IT IS ABOUT MY OATH TO DEFEND 
AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I UPHOLD 
AND HONOR THE SACRED TRUST THAT 
MY CONSTITUENTS GAVE ME. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP BETRAYED HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE. 
LET US NOT BETRAY OURS. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> I'M BACK. 
>> OH, FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I NOTICED CHANGES SINCE WE 
LEFTISM NOTICE I HAVE A NEW 
MANAGER ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHO, 
AS I CAME BACK IN FROM GIVING A 
QUICK BITE GAVE AN ELOQUENT 
DEFENSE OF HIS SIDE OF THE 
STORY WE WERE TELLING. 
I WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD THAT 
SAME DEFENSE BEFORE THE 
JUDICIARY TO ASK QUESTIONS. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> THANK YOU. 
MADAME SPEAKER, TODAY WILL BE 
REMEMBERED AS A STAIN ON OUR 
REPUBLIC. 
THESE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS 
ARE NOT BASED UPON FACTS, 
EVIDENCE, REASON OR ANY 
INAPPROPRIATE AND IMPEACHABLE 
ACTIONS BY OUR PRESIDENT. 
INSTEAD, THE ACTIONS BEING 
TAKEN BY THOSE FAVORING 
IMPEACHMENT ARE A PRODUCT OF 
THEIR DISDAIN FOR PRESIDENT 
TRUMP, HIS AMERICA FIRST 
AGENDA, PARTICULARLY DISTAINTED 
BY THE OTHER PARTY FOR THE 63 
MILLION AMERICANS THAT 
ELECTIONED HIM AS PRESIDENT. 
AGAIN, THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT ARE NOT BASED ON 
ANY FACTS BUT RATHER ON 
HEARSAY, PRESUMPTIONS, INNUENDO 
AND FEELINGS. 
FEELINGS BY DEMOCRATS AND 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS WHO WANTED 
PRESIDENT TRUMP REMOVED FROM 
OFFICE SINCE THE DAY HE WAS 
ELECTED. 
DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, I 
URGE ALL MEMBERS TO OPPOSE BOTH 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS UNCLEAR WHO WILL JUDGE 
THOSE VOTING FOR IMPEACHMENT 
TODAY MORE HARSHLY, HISTORY OR 
VOTERS. 
SO, I WANT DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY TO KNOW THAT 
I'LL BE PRAYING FOR THEM FROM 
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. 
THE 23rd CHAPTER VERSE 34. 
AND JESUS SAID, FATHER, FORGIVE 
THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT 
THEY DO. 
THANK YOU. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, MY 
COLLEAGUES HAVE REFERRED TO 
PATRIOTIC AMERICANS WHO 
TESTIFIED BEFORE THE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AS 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
I WANT TO DO REMIND PEOPLE WHO 
THOSE CAREER BUREAUCRATS ARE. 
THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE AMBASSADOR 
BILL TAYLOR WHO SERVED THIS 
COUNTRY FOR DECADES. 
GRADUATED TOP IN HIS CLASS AT 
WEST POINT. 
SERVED DURING VIETNAM IN 
COMBAT. 
EARNED A BRONZE STAR. 
THEY ARE PEOPLE LIKE ALEXANDER 
VINDMAN SERVED IN IRAQ. 
PEOPLE LIKE MARIE YOVANOVITCH, 
SERVED IN DANGEROUS PLACES ALL 
OVER THE WORLD. 
ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED OF 
ALL OF OUR FOREIGN SERVICE 
OFFICERS. 
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE MY 
COLLEAGUES WOULD LABEL AS 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
WHY? 
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE COURAGE 
TO DO THEIR LAWFUL DUTY TO 
ANSWER A SUBPOENA AND COME AND 
TESTIFY. 
FOR THIS, THEY ARE CALLED 
CAREER BUREAUCRATS. 
WE SHOULD HAVE MORE CAREER 
BUREAUCRATS OF THAT CALIBER. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RISE WITH A 
HEAVY HEART. 
THE TWO MOST DIFFICULT VOTES 
ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS EVER HAS 
TO CAST IS TO VOTE TO GO TO WAR 
OR TO IMPEACH. 
TODAYLY VOTE FOR THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
OTHER THE LAST FEW MONTHS I 
LISTENED TO MY CONSTITUENTS. 
I WEIGHED THE AVAILABLE 
INFORMATION TO DETERMINE 
WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT 
COMMITTED WRONGDOING. 
THERE ARE DISTURBING FACTS, 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT'S OWN 
WORDS. 
HIS AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN 
UNION TESTIFIED THERE WAS A 
QUID PRO QUO TO WITHHOLD AID TO 
UKRAINE FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF 
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND 
EVERYONE WAS IN THE LOOP. 
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN 
BOLTON SAID HE WANTED NOTHING 
TO DO WITH THIS DRUG DEAL. 
THE PRESIDENT SAID CHINA AND 
UKRAINE SHOULD INVESTIGATE MR. 
BIDEN. 
I HAVE NOT MADE THIS DECISION 
LIGHTLY. 
BUT I MUST UPHOLD MY OATH OF 
OFFICE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE 
PRESIDENT FAILED TO UPHOLD HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE. 
THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY AND MY 
BELIEF IN THE CONSTITUTION OF 
THE UNITED STATES AND OUR OWN 
NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS 
HAVE LEAD ME TO THIS VOTE. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
IT IS INTERESTING TO SAY AND I 
APPRECIATE ANYBODY WHO WILL 
SAME CHAIRMAN WHO SPOKE 
ELOQUENTLY WOULD HAVE TO 
DISMISS ALMOST ANYTHING BY MR. 
VOLKER OR MR. MORRISON. 
AT LEAST THEY HAD THE ABILITY 
AND THE WILLINGNESS TO COME AND 
TESTIFY. 
UNLIKE THE CHAIRMAN WHO WROTE A 
REPORT TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY 
AND DIDN'T. 
WITH THAT, I YIELD A MINUTE AND 
A HALF TO GENTLEMEN LADY. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RISE TODAY 
IN OPPOSITION TO THE 
POLITICALLY DRIVEN ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT THAT HAVE BEEN 
BROUGHT BEFORE THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES TODAY. 
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO 
ACCEPT THE VOTER'S CHOICE TO 
ELECT PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
THEY USED ANY AND ALL MEANS 
NECESSARY TO REMOVE HIM FROM 
OFFICE. 
MY VOTE TODAY IS NOT ONLY 
AGAINST ILL LEGITIMATE 
IMPEACHMENT OF OUR PRESIDENT 
WHICH BEGAN, NOT WITH FACTS BUT 
A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING A 
MOCKERY OF DUE PROCESS AND THE 
RULE OF LAW. 
THIS WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE IN 
THE SENATE SO ALL DEMOCRATS 
ACCOMPLISHED IS POSTPONING THE 
WORK OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO 
SENT THEIR ELECTED PEOPLE TO 
DO. 
THEY ARE PUTTING PARTISAN 
POLITICS ABOVE THE ISSUES 
AMERICA IS FACING TODAY. 
IT IS TIME DEMOCRATS STOP 
PLAYING PARTISAN GAMES THAT 
HURT HARD-WORKING TAXPAYERS. 
IT IS TIME FOR THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE TO BE CONGRESS PRIORITY 
AGAIN. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I AM MORE THAN DELIGHTED TO 
REFER TO THE AMBASSADOR VOLKER 
AND MR. MORRISON. 
AMBASSADOR VOLKER ACKNOWLEDGED 
HE SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED WHEN 
THEY WERE CALLING FOR 
INVESTIGATIONS OF BURISMA IT 
MEANT THE BIDENS AND TO ASK A 
FOREIGN LEADER TO INVESTIGATE A 
POLITICAL RIVAL WAS WRONG. 
HAPPY TO REFER TO MR. MORRISON 
WHO WENT TO THE NATIONAL 
SECURIT COUNSEL LAWYER AFTER 
HE LISTENED TO THE CALL. 
HE TESTIFIED HE WAS INFORMED BY 
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WANTED ZELENSKY IN A 
PUBLIC BOX. 
HE WANTED HIM TO BE FORCED TO 
GO TO THE MIKE AND ANNOUNCE 
THESE SHAM INVESTIGATIONS. 
HAPPY TO REFER TO THEIR 
TESTIMONY. 
NOW HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN WOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
REPRESENTATIVE SPEAR. 
>> GENTLEMEN LADY RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU. 
MY FATHER FLED NAZI GERMANY FOR 
AMERICA BECAUSE HE SAW WHAT 
HAPPENED WHEN THE SPOT BECAME 
UNTETHERED. 
HE FLED BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN 
DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW AND 
THE RIGHT TO VOTE. 
BEFORE HE DIED HE ASKED TO BE 
BURIED IN A SIMPLE PINE BOX 
WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG TO 
SYMBOLIZE HIS LOVE OF THIS 
COUNTRY. 
TODAY WE ARE CALLED UPON TO DO 
OUR DUTY OUT OF LOVE OF 
COUNTRY. 
WE MUST JUDGE HIM AS WE JUDGE 
FELLOW CITIZENS ON THE FACTS 
AND LAW. 
THE PRESIDENT'S NORTH STAR IS 
RUSSIA, NOT THE CONSTITUTION. 
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE 
PRESIDENT DELAYED AID TO 
UKRAINE, OR ALLY, AS THEY WERE 
UNDER ATTACK BY RUSSIA. 
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE 
PRESIDENT WITHHELD A MEETING 
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AT THE 
WHITE HOUSE GIVING RUSSIA THE 
UPPER HAND IN PEACE 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH UKRAINE. 
THERE IS NO QUESTION PRESIDENT 
TRUMP PROMOTED THE RUSSIAN HOAX 
THAT UKRAINE ATTACKED OUR 
ELECTION IN 2016. 
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A LIE. 
A RUSSIAN LIE. 
THE ONLY QUESTION IS HIS 
MOTIVE. 
THE FACT IS HIS CONDUCT AND 
CRIMES ARE REPREHENSIBLE AND 
UNQUESTIONABLE IMPEACHABLE. 
WHEN I VOTE TODAY, MY FATHER'S 
LEGACY IS DEEP WITHIN ME. 
MY FATHER LOVED AMERICA. 
I LOVE AMERICA. 
THAT IS WHY I WILL VOTE TO 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I SEE HOW THIS IS PLAYING OUT. 
INSTEAD OF TESTIFYING FOR EIGHT 
HOURS AND ANSWERING ALL 
QUESTIONS WE'LL DO IT IN POT 
SHOTS. 
AGAIN, LET'S TALK ABOUT MR. 
VOLKER. 
HE NEVER TESTIFIED THAT ANYONE 
WANTED TO INVESTIGATE VICE 
PRESIDENT BIDEN. 
WHAT HE DID TESTIFY TO THAT IS 
UKRAINIAN WAS DOING BAD THINGS 
TO PLACE HUNT BIDEN ON THE 
BOARD OF BURISMA TO DO 
ANYTHING. 
HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THIS 
IN AN ACTUAL HEARING. 
NOT HERE! 
THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. 
THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN 
WANTING. 
WE'LL PLAY THIS OUT AS LONG AS 
THEY WANT TO. 
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF 
THEY HAD A CASE TO MAKE IT IN 
THE PROPER SETTING INSTEAD OF 
NOT COMING AND NOT TESTIFYING. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO 
GENTLEMEN FROM TEXAS. 
>> THANK YOU. 
IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR 
THE SOCIALIST LEFT DEMOCRATS 
THAT HAD A NEWFOUND MEANING OF 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
WOULD THAT NOT AFFORD UNBORN 
BABIES THE RIGHT OF LIFE. 
JOHNSON VIOLATED LAW CONGRESS 
PASSED OVER HIS VETO. úNIXON WA 
WATERGATE. 
CLINTON LIED TO A FEDERAL GRAND 
JURY. 
CRIMES. 
ALL INSTANCES OF CRIMES. 
NOW SOMES THE SOCIALIST LEANING 
GROUP READING THE PRESIDENT'S 
MIND, KNOW WHAT HIS INTENT WAS 
AND DICTATING TO US AND THE 
WITNESSES IN THE HEARINGS WHAT 
HIS MINDSET WAS. 
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HE HAD THE 
RIGHT TO BE IN CHARGE OF 
FOREIGN POLICY. 
WE HEARD AMBASSADORS AND YES, 
WE HEARD CAREER BUREAUCRATS, 
CAREER DIPLOMATS, WHATEVER YOU 
WANT TO CALL THEM. 
THEY GET TO RIDE THE BUS. 
THEY DON'T GET TO DRIVE THE 
BUS. 
THE PRESIDENT IS IN CHARGE OF 
FOREIGN POLICY. 
THEY SAID THE PRESIDENT HAD THE 
AUDACITY TO USE HIS JUDGMENT ON 
FOREIGN POLICY INSTEAD OF 
THEIRS. 
OPINIONS. 
SUBPOSITIONS, INDEED. 
THE VERY SWAMP HE IS DRAINING 
IS OBJECTING. 
WHO KNEW? 
WHO KNEW? 
TODAY, NOW DURING THE EARLIER 
RULE DEBATE COMES THE FLOOR 
MANAGER FROM THE OTHER SIDE 
CITING NOT FACTS AND WITNESSES 
BUT NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, CNN, 
U.S.A. 
OPINIONS, EDITORIALS. 
UNBELIEVABLE! 
AMERICANS ARE WATCHING. 
THE 
>> I WILL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES 
THAT VOLKER SAID THE ATTACKS ON 
JOE BIDEN WERE MYRTLES. 
PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA, MR. 
LEWIS FOR TWO MINUTES. 
 
 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
UTES.
MR. LEWIS: MADAM SPEAKER, I 
WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR 
YIELDING.
I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMEN 
FOR YIELDING. 
MADAME SPEAKER I RISE WITH A 
HEAVY HEART TO SUPPORT THIS 
RESOLUTION. 
WHEN WE CAME TO WASHINGTON IN 
1961 TO GO ON A FREEDOM RIDE, 
WE CHOSE THAT DAY WHEN WE CAME 
HERE ON AUGUST 28, 1963 FOR THE 
MARCH ON WASHINGTON. 
IT WAS JOYFUL. 
 6,  
1965 FOR THE SIGNING OF THE 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT, WE WERE  
EXCITED, HOPEFUL. 
WE MET PRESIDENT LYNDON 
JOHNSON.
BUT TODAY, THIS DAY, WE DIDN'T  
TODAY, THIS DAY, WE DIDN'T ASK 
FOR THIS. 
THIS IS A SAD DAY. 
IT IS NOT A DAY OF JOY. 
OUR NATION IS FOUNDED ON THE 
PRINCIPLE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE 
KINGS WE HAVE PRESIDENTS. 
AND THE CONSTITUTION IS OUR 
COMPASS. 
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS 
NOT RIGHT, NOT JUST, NOT FAIR, 
YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO 
DO SOMETHING. 
OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN 
WILL ASK US WHAT DID YOU DO? 
WHAT DID YOU SAY? 
FOR SOME, THIS VOTE MAY BE 
HARD. 
BUT WE HAVE A MISSION AND A 
MANDATE TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE 
OF HISTORY. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU, I ALWAYS LIKE TO 
BE POLITE. 
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMEN FROM 
CALIFORNIA CONFIRMING 
EVERYTHING I SAID. 
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES 
TO GENTLEMEN FROM OHIO. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, SINCE 2016 
AMERICA HAS SEEN A PATTERN OF 
FAILED AND DISPROVEN ATTACKS 
AND ALLEGATIONS AGAINST 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
TODAY IS THE FOURTH IMPEACHMENT 
RELATED VOTE SINCE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP TOOK OFFICE. 
IT IS YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO 
REACH THEIR PREDETERMINED 
CONCLUSION OF IMPEACHMENT ON A 
CONCLUSION BUILT ON POLITICAL 
BIAS, ACCUSATIONS AND INNUENDO. 
THESE FALSE ALLEGATIONS REVEAL 
A POLITICAL OBSESSION DISGUISED 
AS A RIGHTEOUS OVERSIGHT. 
WHEN THEY DIDN'T WIN AT THE 
BALLOT BOX, SPECIAL COUNSEL 
ROBERT MUELLER HAD TO WASTE 
TIME AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO 
PROVE FALSE. 
DEMOCRATS CREATED A MADE FOR TV 
SET OF HEARINGS COMPLETE WITH 
WITNESS AUDITIONS HELD IN THE 
BASEMENT OF THE CAPITOL. 
DESPITE ALL THEIR EFFORTS, THE 
CHARGES THE HOUSE CONSIDERS 
TODAY LACK EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT 
THEM. 
THERE WASN'T ONE WITNESS THAT 
SAID A CRIME OR IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED. 
I REMEMBER MY COLLEAGUES NO 
CRIME, NO IMPEACHABLE DEFENSE. 
THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD DEFENSE 
IF YOU ASK ME. 
I WILL WORK TO FURTHER REVEAL 
THE TRUTHS AND FURTHER REVEAL 
THE ABUSES OF POWER THAT 
DEMOCRATS PAID FOR AND ENACTED 
DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
ABUSES OF POWER FROM THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE AISLE WITHIN THIS 
BODY AND WITHIN OUR FBI. 
AMERICANS DESERVE THE TRUTH. 
ALL IN ALL, HISTORY WILL 
REMEMBER TODAY AS THE POLITICAL 
IMPEACHMENT THAT SET THE 
PRECEDENT FOR PRESIDENT'S TO BE 
IMPEACHED EVERY TIME THERE IS A 
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. 
I OPPOSE THE ARTICLES BEFORE US 
TODAY. 
I YIELD BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE 
AND THEIR SUPERIOR 
IMAGINATIONS. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM ILLINOIS, MR. 
QUIGLEY FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU. 
INDEED WE ARE HERE TODAY 
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES ABUSED HIS POWER 
AND BETRAYED HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE. 
HE LAID SEEDS TO THE FOUNDATION 
OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. 
THESE ACTIONS POSE A DIRECT 
THREAT TO FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS 
OF THE UPCOMING 2020 ELECTION. 
THE VERY DAY AFTER ROBERT 
MUELLER TESTIFIED RUSSIAN 
ATTACKED THE 2016 ELECTION, THE 
PRESIDENT PICKED UP THE PHONE 
AND MADE HIS NOW INFAMOUS JULY 
25th  CALL TO UKRAINIAN 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY ASKING THE 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO DO US A 
FAVOR AND ANNOUNCED 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIS 
POLITICAL RIVAL JOE BIDEN. 
WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THE 
PRESIDENT DID NOT EXPECT 
UKRAINE TO OPEN THE 
INVESTIGATIONS. 
HE WANTED THEM ANNOUNCED SO HE 
COULD SMEAR HIS RIVAL. 
RATHER THAN TRUSTING WHO SHOULD 
HOLD THE WHITE HOUSE HE SOUGHT 
THE AID OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY TO 
TIP THE SCALES IN FAVOR GUN. 
AFTER RUSSIAN'S INTERFERENCE, A 
DARK CLOUD HUNG OVER THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
INSTEAD OF LEADING THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE OUT FROM UNDER THE 
CLOUD, THE PRESIDENT PERCEIVED 
LACK OF CONSEQUENCES ATTEMPTED 
TO PRESSURE ZELENSKY TO 
INTERFERE IN THE 2020 ELECTION. 
AFTER A COURAGEOUS 
WHISTLEBLOWER CAME FORWARD AND 
WARNED CONGRESS OF THE PUBLIC 
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEME, 
THE PRESIDENT STOOD ON THE 
WHITE HOUSE LAWN IN FRONT OF TV 
CAMERAS BROADCASTING AROUND THE 
WORLD AND CALLED FOR CHINA TO 
INTERFERE, TOO. 
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ASKED WHY 
NOT WAIT? 
WHY ARE WE PROCEEDING? 
THAT IS VERY SIMPLE. 
NOTHING COULD BE MORE URGENT. 
WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF THE 
2020 ELECTION. 
CONGRESS HAS ULTIMATE 
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR 
RIGHT TO VOTE. 
TO DEFEND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS AND FULFILL OUR DUTY 
TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM COLORADO. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, ANYONE 
WATCHING THIS IMPEACHMENT SOUND 
FURY SIGNIFYING NOTHING SHOULD 
LOOK OUT FOR THREE 
MISREPUTATIONS. 
ONE, TRUMP ENDANGERED NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
NO, THE 55 DAY DELAY DID NOT 
STOP THE UKRAINIAN FROM 
DEFENDING THEMSELVES. 
TRUMP GAVE THEM AID, WHICH 
OBAMA NEVER DID. 
TWO, TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE 
LAW. 
NO ONE IS BUT WHY DON'T THE 
DEMOCRATS TELL US WHAT LAW HE 
BROKE? 
THEY CAN'T SO HE DIDN'T BREAK 
ANY. 
DEMOCRATS RESORTED TO ABUSE OF 
POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
JUSTICE. 
THREE, THE EVIDENCE IS NOT IN 
DISPUTE. 
NO, THE EVIDENCE IS IN DISPUTE. 
FOR EVERY STATEMENT DEMOCRATS 
CHERRY PICK TO INDICT TRUMP 
MANY MORE STATEMENTS BACK UP 
THE PRESIDENT. 
THIS IS NOTHING BUT A PARTISAN 
PLOY BY DEMOCRATS TO OVERTURN 
AN ELECTION. 
THIS CHARADE WILL FAIL AND THE 
SENATE WILL EXONERATE TRUMP AND 
EVERYONE KNOWS IT. 
>> GENTLEMEN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM TEXAS MR. CASTRO 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU. 
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, THE 
EVIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT'S 
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION 
OF CONGRESS IS UNCONTESTED. 
LET'S OUTLINE A FEW KEY EVENTS 
INVOLVING THE $400 MILLION IN 
MILITARY AID HELD UP BY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DESPITE 
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE. 
THE SUMMER OF 2019 WAS A SUMMER 
OF SHAME AT THE WHITE HOUSE. 
ON JULY 3rd, THE WHITE HOUSE 
FIRST BLOCKED SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE MONEY FOR UKRAINE 
WITH NO EXPLANATION. 
ON JULY 10th GORDON SONDLAND 
ANNOUNCES THEY'LL GET THE AID 
AFTER ANNOUNCING AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S POLITICAL RIVAL. 
PRESIDENTIAL ORDER. 
AND JUST ONE DAY AFTER ROBERT 
MUELLER'S TESTIMONY BEFORE  
CONGRESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKES 
THE NOW-INFAMOUS PHONE CALL TO  
ZELENSKY, ASKING HIM TO 
INVESTIGATE THE BIDENS. 
THEN, THINGS START TO FALL  
APART.
SEE, 
THE WHITE HOUSE LEARNS THAT A 
WHISTLEBLOWER HAS REPORTED 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PHONE CALL 
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN A 
COMPLAINT. 
ON SEPTEMBER 9th, CONGRESS 
STARTS TO INVESTIGATE THE 
PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS. 
THEN THE JIG SUPPORT. 
SEPTEMBER 11th THE AID IS 
RELEASED WITHOUT EXPLANATION 
OVER TWO MONTHS LATER. 
WHEN YOU READ THE CALL 
TRANSCRIPT AND FOLLOW THE 
TIMELINE, GUILTY IS GUILTY. 
NOTHING CHANGED DURING THAT 
TIME REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S 
SUPPOSED CONCERNS OVER 
CORRUPTION. 
LET'S BE CLEAR. 
MILITARY AID WAS RELEASED 
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT GOT 
CAUGHT. 
GETTING CAUGHT DOESN'T GET YOU 
OFF THE HOOK. 
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES IS 
ATTEMPTED MURDER A CRIME? 
IS ATTEMPTED ROBBERY A CRIME? 
IS ATTEMPTED EXTORTION AND 
BRIBERY BY A PRESIDENT A CRIME? 
YES, IT IS. 
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS IF 
WE'LL FIND THE MORAL COURAGE TO 
STAND UP FOR OUR COUNTRY AND 
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD A MINUTE 
AND A HALF TO THE GENTLEMEN 
FROM ALABAMA. 
MR. PALMER. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I ARISE IN 
OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
TODAY IS A DAY I NEVER DREAMED 
I WOULD SEE. 
TODAY MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES 
SEEK TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION BY 
FORCING A VOTE THAT WILL 
FOREVER BE A STAIN ON THIS 
CONGRESS. 
THEY ARE NOT JUST VOTING TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
MY COLLEAGUES ARE VOTING TO 
IMPEACH THE JUDGMENT OF EVERY 
PERSON WHO VOTED FOR HIM AND 
THE PROCESS WHICH ELECT A 
PRESIDENT AND BY WHICH WE'LL 
GOVERN OR NATION. 
BASED ON THEIR CORRUPT 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ANY 
COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED 
WITH HOW RUSSIA CONDUCTS 
POLITICAL TRIALS. 
ONDUCTS 
POLITICAL TRIALS. 
 CRIME,
 NO DUE 
PROCESS, NO JUSTICE.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE FAILED TO  
SHOW ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR THE  
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND EVIDENCE
THEY MADE IT UP.
THEY CONDUCTED MOST HEARINGS IN 
SECRET. 
INSTRUCTED WITNESSES NOT TO 
ANSWER REPUBLICAN MEMBER'S
THEY DENIED REPUBLICANS OUR 
RIGHT TO CALL WITNESSES MAKING 
IT CLEAR THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS 
FROM THE BEGINNING POLITICAL. 
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT 
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. 
TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, DEMOCRAT 
AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, THIS DAY 
WILL SURELY HAVE CONSEQUENCES 
AS WELL. 
AS WE DESCEND INTO MORE 
DISRESPECT, DISTRUST AND 
CONTEMPT THAT WILL BE 
DESTRUCTIVE OF THIS CHAMBER AND 
I FEAR OUR REPUBLIC. 
 
 VOTE NO ON
IMPEACHMENT I HAVE YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SCHIFF: I
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THANK THE SPEAKER. 
VERY QUICKLY MY COLLEAGUES MADE 
REFERENCE TO SOME SECRET 
PROCEEDINGS IN SOME DARK 
CHAMBER. 
THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL 
DEPOSITIONS. 
I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WHEN 
THEY WERE IN THE MAJORITY THEY 
CONDUCTED DEPOSITIONS. 
THEY WERE DIFFERENT IN THIS 
RESPECT, IN THE DEPOSITIONS WE 
CONDUCTED OVER A HUNDRED 
MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO 
PARTICIPATE. 
THAT IS HOW SECRET THEY WERE. 
WE REVEALED THE TRANSCRIPTS OF 
THE DEPOSITIONS. 
THE REPETITION OF THIS 
FALSEHOOD DOES NOT MAKE IT 
TRUE. 
IT ONLY MAKES THE FALSEHOOD 
THAT MUCH MORE DELIBERATE. 
WITH THAT I'M PLEASE TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMEN FROM 
MICHIGAN. 
>> GENTLEMEN IT IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAME SPEAKER. 
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I COME TO THIS FLOOR NOT AS A 
DEMOCRAT, NOT AS A REPUBLICAN 
BUT AS AN AMERICAN WHO CARES 
DEEPLY ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, 
RULE OF LAW AND RIGHTS OF 
PEOPLE. 
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT ABOUT POLICY 
DISAGREEMENTS OR INEFFECTIVE 
GOVERNANCE. 
IMPEACHMENT IS ABOUT 
MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF 
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY. 
AND ENSURING EXECUTIVE POWER IS 
DIRECTED TOWARD PROPER ENDS IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. 
THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS THE 
HOUSE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
AND THE SENATE THE SOLE POWER 
TO TRY ALL IMPEACHMENTS. 
WE IN THE HOUSE ARE EMPOWERED 
TO CHARGE IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT. 
THE CONSTITUTION
DESCRIBES CUB AS HIGH CRIMES 
AND MISDEMEANORS. 
WE NEED NOT RELY ON ANOTHER 
BRANCH OR BODY TO ENDORSE OUR 
DETERMINATIONS. 
WE HAVE THE SOLE POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS QUOTE 
ARE THOSE OFFENSES WHICH 
PROCEED FOR THE MISCONDUCT OF 
PUBLIC MEN, IN OTHER WORDS FROM 
THE ABUSE OR VIOLATION OF SOME 
PUBLIC TRUST. 
THEY ARE OF A NATURE, WITH 
PECULIAR PROPRIETY BE NOMINATED 
POLITICAL TO THE SOCIETY 
ITSELF. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ABUSED OF 
VIOLATED THE PUBLIC TRUST BY 
USING HIS HIGH OFFICE TO 
SOLICIT THE AID OF A FOREIGN 
POWER. 
NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE 
UNITED STATES BUT INSTEAD FOR 
HIS PERSONAL AND POLITICAL 
GAIN. 
HIS ACTIONS REFLECTING 
PRECISELY THE TYPE OF CONDUCT 
THE FRAMERS OF THE 
 IMPEACH AN
 -- 
IMPEACHMENT AND IT IS OUR DUTY  
TO IMPEACH HIM. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
MR. COLLINS: UNDOUBTEDLY HOUSE  
RESOLUTION 660 DOESN'T MATTER TO
THE MAJORITY AND THE MANAGER OF 
THIS BILL BECAUSE THE INSPECTOR 
GENERAL TRANSCRIPT HAS NOT BEEN 
RELEASE.
THERE WERE DOCUMENTS NOT  
TRANSFERRED AND WE'RE NOT SURE  
WE WERE WE GOT EVERYTHING WE  
WERE SUPPOSED TO GET IN THE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
WHEN YOU WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT 
AND OPEN YOU HOLD IT IN THE SCIF
AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. 
I YIELD THOUGH GENTLEMAN. 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
>> THIS IMPEACHMENT DID NOT 
START WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
IT S
. 
>> THIS IMPEACHMENT STARTED 19 
MINUTES AFTER THE PRESIDENT 
TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE. 
19 MINUTES AFTER THE 
INAUGURATION THE "WASHINGTON 
POST" POSTED THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
BEGUN. 
FIRST DAY OF CONGRESS ON DAY 
ONE, DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF MY 
CLASS CALLED FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT 
LONG BEFORE THE CALL TO 
UKRAINE. 
THEN THE RUSSIA COLLUSION HOAX 
THEN OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE 
THEN BRIBERY THEN QUID PRO QUO. 
NONE OF WHICH ARE IN THE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WOULD 
POWER IS A HIGH CRIME OR 
MISDEMEANOR. 
IT IS NOT. 
IT IS AN OPINION. 
UNLIKE PRESIDENTS NIXON AND 
CLINTON WHO WERE TRIED FOR 
ACTUAL CRIMES THIS PRESIDENT IS 
IMPEACHED ON VAGUE PHRASES THAT 
APPEAR NOWHERE IN THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
THE SECOND ARTICLE DOESN'T 
EXIST AS A BASIS OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THEY ARE IMPEACHING A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT ON A BI-
PARTISAN BASIS. 
THIS HOUSE IS IMPEACHING A 
PRESIDENT OVER A PHONE CALL TO 
ANOTHER WORLD LEADER. 
A FEW LINES IN A PHONE 
TRANSCRIPT THAT HAVE BEEN 
MISREPRESENTED BY THE MAJORITY. 
THE PROCESS THAT ENSUED WAS 
ANYTHING BUT OPEN, TRANSPARENT, 
BIPARTISAN OR EQUITABLE. 
THE DEMOCRATS RAN A PARTISAN 
INVESTIGATION, REFUSING RIGHTS 
OF THE MINORITY. 
REFUSING THE PRESIDENT'S 
COUNSEL TO CALL WITNESSES. 
REFUSING TO ALLOW THE 
PRESIDENT'S COUNSEL TO CROSS-
EXAMINATION FACT WITNESSES AND 
REFUSING A MINORITY HEARING 
DAY. 
THE MAJORITY WAVES AROUND A 
REPORT DRAFTED THAT THE 
DEMOCRATIC STAFF CONTINUE 
CONDUCTED AS A CONTINUE. 
THEY PULLED OUT PROCESSORS WHO 
GAVE THEM LICENSE TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT. 
THE ONLY ABUSE OF POWER HERE IS 
THE DEMOCRATIC-LED CONGRESS. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> SPEAKER, I'M PROUD TO-YEAR-
OLD ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMEN 
FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> THANK YOU. 
WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD I 
JOINED THE UNITED STATES NAVY 
AND TOOK THE OATH TO SUPPORT 
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION FOR 
THE FIRST TIME. 
I TOOK THAT OATH AGAIN THIS 
YEAR AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS. 
EVERY DAY I WORK HARD TO LIVE 
BY THAT OATH AND GIVE THE 39th 
DISTRICT THE REPRESENTATION IT 
DESERVES. 
I HAVE MAINTAINED IMPEACHMENTIS 
A SERIOUS UNDERTAKING. 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT AND HIS 
INTERACTIONS WITH UKRAINE WERE 
FIRST REPORTED I FELT IT WAS 
CONGRESS' DUTY TO INVESTIGATE 
AND FIND OUT THE TRUTH. 
NOW THE FACTS ARE BEFORE 
CONGRESS. 
THE PRESIDENT DESTROYED HIS 
OATH TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION BY UNDERMINING THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION. 
HE ASKED A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT 
TO INVESTIGATE A POLITICAL 
RIVAL AND ENDANGERED OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY BY 
WITHHOLDING MILITARY AID TO AN 
ALLY. 
IT IS NOT ABOUT PERSONAL 
POLITICS. 
IT IS ABOUT UPHOLDING AN OATH 
TO PUT OUR COUNTRY UNDER 
CONSTITUTION FIRST. 
I WILL VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD 
WITH THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE 
PRESIDENT. 
I HOPE ALL MY COLLEAGUES WILL 
JOIN ME AND STAND UP TO THIS 
ADMINISTRATION IN DEFENSE OF 
OUR COUNTRY AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I YIELD A MINUTE AND HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMEN FROM TENNESSEE. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> GOING BACK TO THREE YEARS 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS SWORN 
INTO OFFICE WE SEEN SOME 
MEMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE PLEDGING AND 
PROMISING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
PRIOR TO THE START OF THIS 
INQUIRY SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI 
CLAIMED IT MUST BE BIPARTISAN 
AND OVERWHELMING. 
WE KNOW THE PROCESS HAS BEEN 
FAST, FAULTY AND FLAWED. 
WHAT WE WITNESSED SINCE 
SEPTEMBER 24th  WHEN THE 
INQUIRY WAS ANNOUNCED IS THAT 
THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE SEEN IS 
NOT COMPELLING. 
IT IS NOT OVERWHELMING. 
THE PROCESS IS UNQUESTIONABLY 
NOT BIPARTISAN. 
I AM VIEWING THIS THROUGH THE 
LENS OF A FORMER UNITED STATES 
ATTORNEY. 
AS WE TAKE THIS VOTE, HERE'S 
THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
THERE WAS NO BRIBERY. 
THERE WAS NO EXTORTION. 
THERE WAS NO QUID PRO QUO. 
THERE WERE NO HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS COMMITTED BY THE 
PRESIDENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLEMEN 
WHEN QUESTIONED. 
IT WAS JUST SILENCE. 
THEN THE WITNESSES ALWAYS 
TESTIFIED THEY HEARD THIS FROM 
SO AND SO AND SO. 
WHEN THE DEMOCRATS BROUGHT 
THEIR STAR WITNESS IN, 
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND, HE SAID I 
PRESUMED THE AID WAS HELD UP. 
I PRESUMED? 
TESTIMONY WAS ALL HEARSAY AND 
ASSUMPTIONS. 
NOW IT IS ABUSE OF POWER WITH 
NO UNDERLYING CRIME, WHICH IS 
OPINION. 
ABUSE OF POWER TO THE DEMOCRATS 
IS THEY DON'T LIKE HIS POLICIES 
OR HE TREATED A A REPORTER 
HARSHLY. 
THERE ARE THREE COEQUAL 
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. 
WHEN THE BRANCHES HAVE AN 
IMPASSE, THAT IS WHEN THE 
JUDICIARY BRANCH INTERVENES. 
THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T DO THAT. 
EVERY PRESIDENT, INCLUDING
GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE 
BEEN IMPEACHED. 
THERE IS NO CRIME. 
THERE IS NO VICTIM. 
NO WITNESSES THAT WITNESSED 
ANYTHING. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE RULE OF 
LAW. 
IT IS POLITICS AT ITS WORSE. 
IT IS DISGRACEFUL. 
IT IS TIME TO END THE CHARADE. 
I WILL VOTE NO ON THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> HAPPY TO REMIND MY 
COLLEAGUES OF AMBASSADOR 
SONDLAND'S TESTIMONY. 
HE POSED THE QUESTION WAS THERE 
A QUID PRO QUO? 
THE ANSWER IS YES. 
WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A QUID 
PRO QUO INVOLVING MILITARY AID 
HE SAID IT WAS AS CLEAR AS TWO 
PLUS TWO EQUALS FOUR. 
>> GENTLEMEN LADY RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> IT IS MY ADULT SON WHOM I 
WILL ALWAYS CREDIT FOR MY 
DECISION LAST JUNE TO SUPPORT 
AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. 
IT HAD NEVER BEEN MY GOAL TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT. 
HE REMINDED ME OF THE OATH I 
HAVE TAKEN 11 TIMES NOW TO 
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
HE SAID MOM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT 
POLITICS. 
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTY. 
AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST MY 
ARGUMENTS HE SAID THIS HAS 
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FINAL 
OUTCOME. 
IT IS ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT 
THING. 
EVEN IF OTHERS DON'T. 
HE MADE ME SEE IT WAS ABOUT MY 
LEGACY. 
MY MODEST PLACE IN HISTORY. 
I WANT TO THANK YOU MY SON FOR 
HELPING ME DO THE RIGHT THING 
TODAY. 
TO VOTE TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
DONALD TRUMP, BECAUSE NO 
AMERICAN IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GERONTOFROM GEORGIA. 
>> MR. SONDLAND SAID HE DIDN'T 
HAVE ANY DISTRICT EVIDENCE. 
HE PRESUMED THAT WAS DONE. 
WE ARE BACK TO PRESUMPTIONS 
AGAIN. 
>> ON MARCH 11 THE SPEAKER OF 
THE HOUSE SAID IMPEACHMENT IS 
SO DIVISIVE TO THE COUNTRY 
UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING 
BIPARTISAN, I DON'T THINK WE 
SHOULD GO DOWN THAT PATH 
BECAUSE IT DIVIDES THE COUNTRY. 
I THINK MOST AMERICANS WOULD 
AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT 
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS THOUGHTFUL 
AND REASONABLE. 
HERE WE ARE TODAY TO VOTE ON 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
HOW DID THE MAJORITY PARTY DO 
MEETING OBJECTIVES SET FORTH BY 
THE SPEAKER. 
FIRST, THE ONLY COMPELLING 
ATTRIBUTE ABOUT THAT SHAM IS 
THE LENGTHS THE MAJORITY HAS 
GONE TO APPEASE THE RADICAL 
SOCIALIST PEOPLE OF THEIR 
PARTY. 
THE ONLY OVERWHELMING FEATURE 
IS DISREGARD OF FAIRNESS FROM 
THE MAJORITY. 
THE ONLY BIPARTISAN ACTIVITY 
WILL BE THE VOTES AGAINST THESE 
FLIMSY ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I WANT TO DEMAND THE HOUSE GET 
BACK TO WORKING ON PRIORITIES 
THE HARDWORKING AMERICANS WANT 
THE MOST. 
>> PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM MARYLAND. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I SPENT 12 
YEARS ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE. 
MY BIPARTISAN COOPERATION WITH 
REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN WAS WIDELY 
RECOGNIZED. 
WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL 
SECURITY THERE IS NO ROOM FOR 
BIPARTISAN POLITICS. 
ALL 17 WITNESSES, MOSTLY TRUMP 
APPOINTEES TOLD THE SAME STORY. 
EACH TESTIFYING OUR COMMANDER 
IN CHIEF JEOPARDIZED AMERICAN 
NATIONAL SECURITY FOR THE SAKE 
OF HIS REELECTION. 
HE HELD HOSTAGE MILITARY. 
HE WILLFULLY OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS' PRESCRIBED 
IMPEACHMENT POWER. 
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS I 
RESISTED CAUSE TO BEGIN 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS. 
I RESENT THOSE SAYING THIS IS 
ABOUT REVERSING THE ELECTION. 
THIS IS ABOUT UPHOLDING OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
ALLOWING THIS CONDUCT TO GO 
UNQUESTIONED SETS A DANGEROUS 
PRECEDENT AND PERMANENTLY 
DAMAGES OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS ARE A 
CLEAR THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY. 
WE MUST UPHOLD OUR OATH OF 
OFFICE AND SUPPORT THESE 
ARTICLES. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I YIELD A MINUTE AND HALF TO 
THE GENTLEMEN FROM MICHIGAN. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> THANK YOU, MADAME SPEAKER. 
I RISE TODAY IN STRONG 
OPPOSITION TO THESE BASELESS 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS NEVER 
INTENDED IMPEACHMENT TO HAVE A 
ONE-SIDED POLITICAL WEAPON. 
SADLY, THE MAJORITY REDUCED 
THIS SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL 
ACTION TO TAKE DOWN PRESIDENT 
TRUMP. 
HISTORY WILL NOT BE KIND TO THE 
VOTE TODAY. 
IT WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A 
RUSHED PROCESS THAT LACKS 
CREDIBILITY OR TRANSPARENCY 
WITH A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME 
THAT PUTS A PREMIUM ON 
POLITICAL THEATER INSTEAD OF 
FACTS. 
BY ANY OBJECTIVE STANDARD, THE 
DEMOCRATS IMPEACHMENT CASE IS 
THE THINNEST IMAGINABLE. 
THERE IS NO IMPEACHMENT OFFENSE 
BEFORE US TODAY. 
IT IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL 
SHAM. 
I CLOSE NOT BY QUOTING A 
PRESIDENT FROM THE PAST BUT 
RATHER FROM THE DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 
TO MY DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES, 
THROUGH YOU, MADAME SPEAKER, 
YOU ARE THE ONES INTERFERING IN 
AMERICA'S ELECTION. 
YOU ARE THE ONES SUBVERTING 
AMERICA'S DEMOCRACY. 
YOU ARE THE ONES OBSTRUCTING 
JUSTICE. 
YOU ARE THE ONES BRINGING PAIN 
AND SUFFERING TO OUR REPUBLIC 
FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH PERSONAL, 
POLITICAL AND PARTISAN GAIN. 
THESE ARE HARD WORDS, I KNOW. 
THAT IS THE SAD REALITY OF THIS 
PROCESS. 
I WILL PROUDLY VOTE NO TODAY. 
A VOTE THAT DEFENDS OUR 
PRESIDENT AND PRESERVES THE 
PILLARS OF OUR NATION'S 
DEMOCRACY AND NOW I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLEMEN FROM ARIZONA FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> GENTLEMEN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF 
IMPEACHMENT TODAY. 
THE FACTS ARE IRREFUTABLE. 
THE ON GOING OBSTRUCTION AND 
COVER UP IS SHAMEFUL. 
MY PARENTS CAME HERE AS 
IMMIGRANTS. 
I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A NATION 
THAT PROVIDED A BETTER FUTURE 
FOR MY SISTERS AND I. 
A STORY LIKE MINE IS ONLY MADE 
POSSIBLE BY A NATION THAT 
UPHOLDS THE RULE OF LAW AND 
TRULY LIVES OUT THE VALUES 
INSHRINED IN OUR DOWNTOWN 
TUESDAY. 
DAUGHTERS AND FIVE
ND
. 
BECAUSE OF THIS LIVING LEGACY 
AND THE LEGACY I INTEND TO PASS 
ON TO MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY GOAL 
TODAY IS ROOTED IN PROTECTING 
THEIR FUTURE. 
THE UNDERPINNINGS FOR 
IMPEACHMENT ARE REAL AND
IMPEACHMENT IS REAL AND 
HISTORIC. 
TRUMP DIVERTED THE RULE OF LAW, 
ABUSED HIS POWER AND ENGAGED IN 
A COVER UP. 
NO AMOUNT OF MISDIRECTION, LIES 
AND CRIES BY TRUMP AND OTHERS 
CAN NOT UNDO THE ABUSE OF POWER 
AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS 
THAT REMAINS CLEAR AND PRESENT. 
THE PRESIDENT LEAVES US NO 
CHOICE BUT TO VOTE TO IMPEACH 
SO WE CAN CORRECT THE DAMAGE IT 
HAS ALREADY DONE. 
I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF 
IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP AS 
A SERIOUS, URGENT AND NECESSARY 
ONE. 
>> I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM TEXAS. 
>> 21 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK I 
SPOKE HERE ON IMPEACHMENT. 
IN THIS, SADLY, HISTORY WILL 
NOT TREAT DEMOCRATS WELL. 
THEY'LL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED 
AS THE SENATOR JOE McCARTHY'S 
OF OUR TIME, SO BLINDED BY 
THEIR HATRED OF PRESIDENT TRUMP 
THEY ABANDONED AMERICAN RIGHTS 
OF DUE PROCESS, FAIRNESS AND 
DECENCY. 
REMINISCENT OF McCARTHY, THEY 
ASSAULTED THE CONSTITUTION, 
TOOK EMPLOYEE IN SECRET 
HEARINGS, BLOCKED EVIDENCE AND 
SWITCHED CHARGES. 
THEY CHOSE ABUSE OF POWER 
BECAUSE THEY PRACTICE IT SO 
WELL. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED NO
CRIME OR IMPEACHABLE DEFENSE. 
NONE. 
WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THIS DAY IN 
SHAME BECAUSE TRUMP HATERS ARE 
WILLING TO PLUNGE AMERICA INTO 
DARKNESS FOR RAW, POLITICAL 
GAME. 
THIS BETRAYS THE NATION, THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
I VOTE NO. 
>> GENTLEMEN YIELDS BACK. 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLEMEN FROM TEXAS FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> TYRANY RARELY APPEARS FULL 
BORN. 
OUR NATION'S FOUNDERS SOUGHT TO 
PROTECT US FROM TYRANY WITH A 
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
NOW ALONG COMES A PRESIDENT WHO 
SAYS HE IS CONSTITUTIONAL 
EMPOWERED TO DO WHATEVER HE 
WANTS. 
THAT HE CAN NEITHER BE 
PROSECUTE OR INVESTIGATED FOR 
A CRIME. 
HE CAN TOTALLY IGNORE ANY 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING OF WHICH 
HE DISAPPROVES. 
THESE ARE THE CLAIMS OF A WANT 
TO BE TYRANT. 
TO ADVANCE TYRANY, HE ADOPTS AN 
OPEN BORDER POLICY. 
. 
 COME IN TO OUR  
UNTRY AND INTRUDE IN OUR
COUNTRY IF THE PRESIDENT 
CONTINUES DEMANDING MORE 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE WE WILL 
NEVER HAVE TRULY FREE ELECTIONS 
AND WE WILL NOT BE FREE. 
WE ACT TODAY RECOGNIZING THE 
SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY TO 
SAFEGUARD OUR RESPONSIBILITY 
AND CONSTITUTION. 
WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT 
STANDS, NOT TO ONE MAN WHO 
WOULD BE KING.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> BEFORE CALL MY NEXT SPEAKER 
CAN I GET A TIME CHECK ?  
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA 
HAS ONE HOUR 3 1/4 MINUTES 
REMAINING. 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
HAS 57 1/4 MINUTES REMAINING.  
>> ONE HOUR 3 1/4 MINUTES. 
THANK YOU. 
FOR THAT I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE 
TO THE GENTLEMAN, ONE MINUTE 
AND A HALF.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE AND A HALF.  
>> THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND FROM 
GEORGIA AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
GREAT WORK IN DEALING WITH SAID 
THE IN OUR COUNTRY. 
TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME IN OUR 
NATIONS HISTORY A PRESIDENT 
WILL BE IMPEACHED. 
THIS WILL BE, HOWEVER THE FIRST 
TIME IMPEACHMENT HAS BEEN 
ENTIRELY PARTISAN AND WITHOUT 
MERIT. 
THIS CHARADE IS NOT BECAUSE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BECAUSE A 
HIGH CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR BUT 
BECAUSE ONE POLITICAL PARTY 
DOESN'T LIKE HIM OR HIS 
POLICIES OF AMERICA FIRST. 
THE FACTS ARE, WE HAVE A 
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS ARE AT WAR WITH THE 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH. 
FACT NUMBER 2, THEY HAVE BEEN 
PLANNING FOR -ELECTION. 
HE USED THE ENORMOUS WEIGHT OF  
THE PRESIDENCY AND AMERICAN 
FOREIGN POLICY TO PUSH A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO SMEAR A POLITICAL 
RIVAL.
AND HE GOT CAUGHT.
WHY IS THIS CONDUCT SO SERIOUS? 
WHY HAS THE PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR
PUSHED THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES TO EXERCISE ONE 
OF ITS MOST CONSEQUENTIAL 
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
CORRUPTING AN AMERICAN ELECTION
, PARTICULARLY IN CAHOOTS WITH 
A FOREIGN POWER MEANS 
CORRUPTING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. 
AIR ELECTIONS ARE AT THE HEART 
OF OUR DEMOCRACY. 
THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT MAKES 
OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT GREAT. 
OUR REPUBLIC. 
IF WE CAN KEEP IT AS BENJAMIN 
FRANKLIN ONCE SAID, IF OUR 
ELECTIONS AREN'T FAIR IN OUR 
REPUBLIC CANNOT STAND. 
ANYONE WHO TRIES TO FIX AN 
ELECTION IS TAKING AWAY THE 
POWER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO 
CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS. 
IF IT HAPPENS AT ANY LEVEL OF 
GOVERNMENT IT'S TOXIC TO OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
IN THIS CAME FROM THE HIGHEST 
LEVEL. 
IN THIS CASE IT'S EVEN MORE 
SERIOUS. 
BECAUSE WHAT WAS THE PRESIDENT 
WILLING TO GIVE UP FOR THIS 
ADVANTAGE? 
WHAT PRICE WAS HE WILLING TO 
PAY? 
THE PRICE WAS OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY.
 IN A 
WAR AGAINST RUSSIA WHEN
 
PRESSURED A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT  
TO INTERFERE IN OUR ELECTIONS 
AGAIN.
HE SACRIFICED OUR SECURITY. 
HE SHOOK THE FAITH OF OUR LOYAL 
ALLY. 
HE PLAYED INTO THE HANDS OF 
VLADIMIR PUTIN. 
HE WEAKENED OUR COUNTRY ALL 
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HELP
HIS RE-ELECTION BID.
ONLY THE PRESIDENT HAS THAT 
POWER.
TO CORRUPT OUR FOREIGN POLICY 
FOR POLITICAL GAIN. 
AND THE MOMENT HE CHOSE TO DO 
SO, THE MOMENT HE UNDERMINED OUR
SECURITY IN HIS SCHEME TO 
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY, WHETHER
HE SUCCEEDED OR NOT AND THANK 
GOD HE DID NOT, AT THAT MOMENT  
IT BECAME AN ABUSE OF POWER AND 
A PRESIDENT WHO ABUSES HIS POWER
FOR PERSONAL GAIN IS EXACTLY  
WHAT THE FRAMERS FEARED.
IT'S WHY IMPEACHMENT IS IN THE  
CONSTITUTION. 
WE NEED TO PASS THESE ARTICLES. 
THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS HAVE  
LEFT US NO CHOICE.
HE CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO 
UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY AND TEAR
APART THE FABRIC THAT HOLDS OUR 
COUNTRY TOGETHER SO
I WILL VOTE FOR IMPEACHMENT AND 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> GENTLEMA FROM GEORGIA.  
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
FLORIDA.  
>> TWO MINUTES. 
GERMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO 
MINUTES.  
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE 
UKRAINE, IT IS ABOUT POWER. 
DONALD TRUMP HAS AND HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS WANT IT. 
WITH NO CRIME, NO VICTIM, NO 
EVIDENCE, NO PROOF, NO AGENDA 
FOR AMERICA THIS IMPEACHMENT 
CHARADE MARCHES ON FOLLOWING 
THE RULES AND ADHERING TO NO 
SENSE OF HONOR. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AREN'T 
FOOLED BY DIRTY TRICKS. 
VOTERS WILL NEVER FORGET THE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED 
INTO IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE HIM AND 
THEY DON'T LIKE US. 
THOSE WHO VOTE YES ON TODAY'S 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT MUST 
CARRY THE HEAVY BURDEN OF SHAME 
AND GUILT FOR AS LONG AS THEY 
SERVE IN CONGRESS. 
WHICH WON'T BE LONG BECAUSE THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER 
IN NOVEMBER. 
DEMOCRATS WOULD RATHER TRIP THE 
PRESIDENT JUST TO SEE HIM 
STUMBLE AND SEE AMERICA 
SUCCEED. 
THEY WOULD RATHER IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT THEN WORK TOGETHER 
FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR 
COUNTRY AND CITIZENS. 
DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE WON THE 
HOUSE IN 2018 BUT THEY HAVEN'T 
FORGIVEN DONALD TRUMP FOR 
HAVING THE AUDACITY TO WIN THE 
PRESIDENCY. 
AND THEY HAVEN'T FORGIVEN YOU, 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FOR VOTING 
FOR HIM. 
THE DATE BEFORE SHE WAS SWORN 
INTO CONGRESS ONE MEMBER OF THE 
BODY SAID SHE PROMISED TO PEACH 
THE MOTHER F. THE IMPEACHMENT 
WAS PLOTTED AND PLANNED BEFORE 
THE INK WAS DRY ON HIS 
CERTIFICATE AND POSSIBLY BEFORE 
SOME DEMOCRATS COULD POINT TO 
THE UKRAINE ON THE MAP. 
IN SEEKING THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP THE 
DEMOCRAT FROM NEW YORK THAT HE 
WAS THE STRONGEST MEMBER TO 
LEAD A POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT. 
DEMOCRATS MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN 
WHY THEY WERE GOING TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT BUT THEY KNEW IT 
WAS AN INEVITABILITY. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A SLAP IN 
THE FACE TO THE MILLIONS OF 
AMERICAN WHO VOTED FOR 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
THE SAME AMERICANS DEMOCRATS IN 
WASHINGTON HAVE MARKED AS 
SMELLY WALMART SHOPPERS AND 
DEPLORABLE'S. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT ISN'T 
LEGITIMATE. 
IT IS THE LOGICAL LEFT 
INSURANCE POLICY. 
WE HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY 
TOO. 
IT'S THE NEXT ELECTION AND WE 
INTEND TO WIN IT. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM VERMONT FOR TWO MINUTES.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WE THE 
PEOPLE HAVE A COMMON TIE THAT 
BINDS US TOGETHER. 
NOW AS A HAS SINCE THE FOUNDING 
OF OUR COUNTRY. 
IT IS OUR SHARED RESPECT FOR 
THE CONSTITUTON OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
LET US ALL STEP BACK FROM THE 
MOMENT TO RECALL THAT OUR 
COUNTRIES INCEPTION 243 YEARS 
AGO, THE CONCEPT OF A 
DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNING RULE 
WAS A BREATHTAKING AND 
IDEALISTIC ASPIRATION. 
AND WHEN THE 13 AMERICAN 
COLONIES BOLDLY REJECTED THE 
RULE DASH MONARCH, OUR FUNDERS 
FOUNDERS WERE DETERMINED TO 
RULE INSTEAD WITH THE CONSENT 
OF THE GOVERNED. 
ENSURING THIS NOBLE EXPERIMENT 
ENDURED THROUGH THE AGES WAS AN 
ENORMOUS EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE. 
IT WAS MET WITH THE ADOPTION OF 
THE CONSTITUTION IN 1788. 
AT ITS HEART ARE TWO BEDROCK 
PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SERVED AS 
TOUCHSTONES FOR OUR COUNTRY 
EVER SINCE. 
FIRST, IT ESTABLISHED AMERICA 
AS A NATION OF LAWS WHERE NO 
PERSON IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
SECOND, IT ESTABLISHED THE 
CONCEPT OF A SEPARATION OF 
POWERS WHERE THREE COEQUAL 
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT WOULD 
CHECK EACH OTHER. 
LESS POWER BE CONCENTRATED IN 
ONE AT THE EXPENSE OF LIBERTY 
TO ALL. 
MADAME SPEAKER, WOULD PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ABUSE THE POWER OF HIS 
OFFICE BY SOLICITING FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE IN THE UPCOMING 
ELECTION FOR HIS PERSONAL 
BENEFIT HE WILLFULLY INFRINGED 
UPON THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO 
DECIDE WHO WILL LEAD OUR NATION 
AND IN DOING SO HE PLACED 
HIMSELF ABOVE THE LAW AND IN 
VIOLATION OF HIS OATH. 
AND WHEN HE DENOUNCED DENIED 
AND DEFIED THE CLEAR AUTHORITY 
OF CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE HIS 
CONDUCT, HE REPUDIATED OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTION OF 
CHECKS AND BALANCES AND FURTHER 
VIOLATED HIS OATH TO PRESERVE, 
PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT IS FOR THESE REASONS I WILL 
CAST MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF 
IMPEACHING PRESIDENT DONALD 
JOHN TRUMP. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.  
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. 
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS 
THE AISLE HAVE SAID WHERE ARE 
THE FACTS? 
AS IF WE HAVE THE BURDEN OF 
PROOF. IT IS YOUR BURDEN OF 
PROOF, MADAM CHAIR. 
THE DEMOCRATS BURDEN OF PROOF. 
BUT THE FACTS ARE UNCHANGED. 
UKRAINE RECEIVED AID THAT THEY 
WERE PROMISED AND APPROPRIATED 
FOR. 
THE AIDE WAS LAWFULLY 
DISPERSED. 
IN FACT, IT WAS DISPERSED 
WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT SITE SET 
BY THIS CONGRESS. 
IF YOU WANTED IT SENT TO THEM 
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2019, YOU 
SHOULD'VE PUT THAT IN THE 
LEGISLATION. 
YOU DID NOT. 
UKRAINE'S GIVE NOTHING IN 
RETURN. 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAID HE 
FELT NO PRESSURE, COERCION OR 
DURESS OR CONDITIONALITY. 
WHAT CHANGED? 
ON THE DAY THE AIDE WAS 
RELEASED, TWO ANTICORRUPTION 
MEASURES WERE SIGNED INTO LAW 
BY THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.  
DEMOCRATS MANUFACTURED THE SHAM 
AND THEN ARGUED REFUSING TO 
COOPERATE IS IMPEACHABLE. 
THE SUPREME COURT IS CURRENTLY 
CONSIDERING THE EXTENT OF 
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE WHEN 
FIGHTING DUBIOUS SUBPOENAS. 
BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING THEIR 
PROCESS TO COURT, OR WAITING 
FOR THE COURT TO RULE ON THE 
CASE, THE DEMOCRATS CHOSE TO 
PRESS FORWARD BECAUSE SIMPLY 
THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT
, WE DON'T HAVE TIME THEY SAY. 
BUT FAILING TO DO SO IS AN 
ABUSE OF POWER OF THIS 
INSTITUTION THAT WILL HAVE 
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR 
REPUBLIC. 
WHEN THE OTHER SIDE CLAIMS THEY 
PROCEED WITH SOBERNESS, I AM 
BEMUSED BY MEDIA REPORTS THAT 
INDICATE THEY HAVE BEEN 
ADMONISHED NOT TO DO A JIG 
TODAY WHEN THEY WIN THE VOTE 
WHICH WE KNOW THEY WILL. 
I AM STRUCK THAT SOLIDITY OF 
PROCESS SHOULDN'T NEED TO HAVE 
AN ADMONITION AGAINST LEVITY. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN PARTISAN, 
VINDICTIVE, DISHONEST. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT DEMOCRATS HAVE 
LIED ABOUT THE JULY 25 CALL, 
MET SECRETLY WITH THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER, HELD SOVIET 
STYLE HEARINGS BEHIND CLOSED 
DOORS, WHERE THE COMMITTEE OF 
JURISDICTION COULD NOT ATTEND. 
BROCK BLOCKED THE COUNSEL, IT 
HAS BEEN A SHAM FROM START TO 
FINISH AND I YIELD BACK.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> I RECOGNIZE UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
IN FAVOR OF ARTICLES 
IMPEACHMENT.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE CONGRESSMAN FROM INDIANA. 
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
TWO MINUTES.  
>> THANK YOU JAREN THANK YOU 
MADAME SPEAKER. 
MADAME SPEAKER, AS WE CONTINUE 
AND CONSIDER THIS HISTORIC 
IMPEACHMENT VOTE, LET'S BE 
CLEAR, THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS 
SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZE NOT ONLY 
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY BUT 
THE SECURITY OF OUR CLOSEST 
ALLIES. 
HIS ACTIONS THREATEN THE GOALS 
OF THE NATO ALLIANCE, YOU SEE, 
UKRAINE IS A NATION WORKING 
HARD TO MAKE ITS DEMOCRACY 
STRONGER. 
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, UKRAINE IS 
ON THE FRONT LINES OF RUSSIAN 
AGGRESSION. 
THANKFULLY, U.S. MILITARY AID 
HELPS UKRAINE DEFEND ITSELF 
AGAINST RUSSIA, AND INTEGRATE 
ITSELF INTO THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITY. 
WHEN OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE 
STRONGER, AMERICA STRONGER. 
WE ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO 
PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND PUT A 
STOP TO TYRANNY. 
BUT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, 
STRENGTHENING THIS VALUABLE 
NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVE, 
MADAME SPEAKER, WAS NOT AS 
IMPORTANT AS SMEARING A 
POLITICAL RIVAL. 
MADAME SPEAKER, WE KNOW HE HELD 
NEARLY $400 MILLION OF AID TO 
UKRAINE UNTIL PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY AGREED TO HELP HIM DIG 
UP DIRT  ON HIS 20/20 OPPONENT. 
THIS AID WAS APPROVED BY 
CONGRESS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS HURT 
DIPLOMACY AND UNDERMINED THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR NATION'S 
PROMISES TO OUR ALLIES. 
WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR LEADERS 
TO TRADE AWAY OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. WE CANNOT ALLOW 
RUSSIA'S CONTINUED THREATS TO 
DEMOCRACY GO UNANSWERED. 
AND WE MUST NOT ALLOW OUR OWN 
PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES
TO GET AWAY WITH BREAKING HIS 
OWN OATH OF OFFICE. 
MADAME SPEAKER, THAT IS WHY WE 
TAKE THE SOLEMN NECESSARY VOTE 
TO IMPEACH. 
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 1.5 MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 1.5 MINUTES.  
>> THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR OUR 
COUNTRY, ONE THAT OUR 
FOREFATHERS WARNED US AGAINST. 
WE WATCHED THIS ILLEGITIMATE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS WHILE 
MAKING A MOCKERY OF OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE CONDUCTED 
THE MOST POLARIZING IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY. 
AND THE MEN AND WOMEN I 
REPRESENT ARE TIRED OF THIS 
DEMOCRAT RUN HOUSE PUTTING 
POLITICAL GAMES ABOVE OUR 
NATIONAL INTEREST. 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HELD SECRET 
MEETINGS WITHOUT IMPORTANT 
DOCUMENTS DELIBERATELY PRESENTED
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND 
DID NOT GIVE DUE PROCESS TO THE 
PRESIDENT. 
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS UNFAIR 
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT 
MORE OUT OF CONGRESS. 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT ARE 
NOT BASED ON FACTS, BUT INSTEAD 
ARE ENTIRELY POLITICALLY 
MOTIVATED. 
THE TRUTH IS THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE PUT ON PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY, THE TRANSCRIPTS 
CONFIRMED THERE WAS NO 
CONDITIONALITY.  
THIS INQUIRY HAS BEEN RIGGED 
FROM THE START, LACK OF 
FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND 
TRUTH. 
IT HAS BEEN A WASTE OF TAXPAYER 
DOLLARS AND IS BASED OFF THE 
OPINION OF AN UNNAMED 
WHISTLEBLOWER AND HEARSAY. 
THE ACCUSATIONS IN TODAY'S 
PROCEEDINGS DO NOT ALIGN WITH 
THE FACTS. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS OUT 
OF STEP WITH EXISTING PRESIDENT 
FOR PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDINGS. 
AND IS NOT A PROCESS I WILL 
SUPPORT. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PUT THE 
COUNTRY FIRST AND VOTE IN 
OPPOSITION TO THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THANK YOU, MADAME SPEAKER, I 
YIELD BACK.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.  
>> IT IS MY PLEASURE TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW YORK.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN 
SUPPORT OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE 
POWER OF HIS OFFICE FOR HIS OWN 
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GAIN AT 
THE EXPENSE OF OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
PRESIDENT TRUMPS WHOLESALE 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS IS 
UNPRECEDENTED, INDISPUTABLE, 
AND IMPEACHABLE. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST 
PRESIDENT IN HISTORY TO OPENLY 
AND COMPLETELY DEFY ALL ASPECTS 
OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. 
IN AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP HIS 
ABUSE OF POWER HE ORDERED THE 
ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOT TO 
PARTICIPATE IN THE INQUIRY AND 
DIRECTED IT TO DEFY LAWFUL 
SUBPOENAS FROM CONGRESS. 
AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM I FIND 
THIS OBSTRUCTION PARTICULARLY 
OFFENSIVE. 
EVEN PRESIDENT NIXON ACCEPTED 
CONGRESS AS IMPEACHMENT 
AUTHORITY AND ALLOWED HIS AIDES 
AND ADVISORS TO PRODUCE THE 
DOCUMENTS TO CONGRESS. 
AND PRESIDENT NIXON ALLOWED 
CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF TO 
TESTIFY IN BOTH THE HOUSE 
IMPEACHMENT AND SENATE 
WATERGATE INVESTIGATIONS, 
INCLUDING HIS CHIEF OF STAFF 
AND WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL. 
BY CONTRAST, PRESIDENT TRUMP, 
WITHOUT ANY LEGAL BASIS, 
DIRECTED CURRENT AND FORMER 
OFFICIALS NOT TO COOPERATE WITH 
THE HOUSES INQUIRY WHICH 
RESULTED IN NINE ADMINISTRATION 
OFFICIALS DEFYING SUBPOENAS FOR 
TESTIMONY AND IN RESPONSE TO THE
HOUSE INQUIRY PRESIDENT TRUMP 
REFUSED TO TURN OVER EVEN ONE 
SINGLE, NOT ONE SINGLE, 
DOCUMENT. 
TO CONGRESS IN RESPONSE TO 
LAWFUL SUBPOENAS. 
PUT SIMPLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
ACTIONS ARE EVEN WORSE THAN 
NIXON'S. 
LET ME REPEAT. 
RESIDENT TRUMPS ACTIONS OR EVEN 
WORSE THAN NIXON'S. 
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS 
ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES THAT SPREAD OUT 
POWER BETWEEN THE BRANCHES OF 
GOVERNMENT. 
THEY DECIDED NO ONE WOULD BE A 
KING. 
THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT. 
AND THEY GAVE THE 
RESPONSIBILITY OF IMPEACHMENT 
SOLELY TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. 
WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP DEFIES OUR 
SUBPOENAS AND OBSTRUCTS ARE 
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HE SEEKS TO 
PLACE HIMSELF ABOVE THE 
CONSTITUTION AND ABOVE THE LAW. 
WE CANNOT LET THAT STAND. 
AND IF WE DO, THEN THAT IS THE 
END OF CONGRESS AS A COEQUAL 
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. 
AND WE HAVE ALLOWED PRESIDENT 
TRUMP TO ELEVATE HIMSELF ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
IS OUR SOLEMN DUTY UNDER THE 
CONSTITUTION TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS BLATANT 
ABUSE OF POWER AND HIS 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> MR. SPEAKER, YEARS FROM NOW 
HISTORY BOOKS WILL TELL OF THE 
STATE, IT WILL TELL OF A PURELY 
PARTISAN EFFORT TO REMOVE THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
AN EFFORT NOT BUILT ON A HIGH 
CRIME OR MISDEMEANOR, NOT ON A 
PROCESS IN KEEPING WITH THE 
HIGH AMERICAN STANDARD OF DUE 
PROCESS AND EQUAL TREATMENT, 
THIS EFFORT IS ROOTED ONLY IN 
THE GOVERNING PARTIES HATRED OF 
THE MAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
MEMBERS OF THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE PURSUE THIS MOMENT 
SINCE 2016. 
THEY ARE CONSUMED BY IT. 
EARLIER IN THIS DEBATE ONE OF 
OUR COLLEAGUES REFERRED TO OUR 
PRESIDENT AS A DOMESTIC ENEMY. 
OUR FUNDERS WARNED US ABOUT 
THIS DAY, THAT IS WHY OUR 
NATION HAS ENTRUSTED THE FUTURE 
OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE OUTCOME 
OF ELECTIONS, BUT THE WILL OF A 
PARTY FILLED WITH CONTEMPT FOR 
A DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT. 
MY HOPE IS WHEN THE HISTORIANS 
WRITE ABOUT THIS DATE IT IS NOT 
WRITTEN IN THE CONTEXT OF A 
NATION THAT LOST ITS WAY BUT 
BECAUSE IT'S ELECTED MEMBERS 
CHOSE HATEFUL PARTNERSHIP OVER 
THE SACRED OATH THAT HAS 
PROTECTED THIS REPUBLIC SINCE 
ITS FOUNDING. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA 
RESERVED. 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> SPEAKER, AND PROUD TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW JERSEY FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> MR. SPEAKER, IN AMERICA WHEN 
WE CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR 
ENROLL OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL 
WE DO NOT EXPECT A GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIAL TO SAY TO US, I NEED 
YOU TO DO US A FAVOR THOUGH. 
WHY WOULD WE TOLERATE A 
PRESIDENT USING HIS AWESOME 
POWER TO MAKE FOREIGN POLICY 
WHEN THE SAFETY OF OUR COUNTRY 
IS AT STAKE. 
NOT FOR THE PEOPLE BUT FOR 
HIMSELF? 
I WILL AND VOTE TO IMPEACH TODAY
BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID 
THAT WE SHOULD DOWN A COUNTRY 
TO INVESTIGATE HIS RIVAL. 
IF WE FAIL TO SAY THIS IS WRONG 
THAN ANY PRESIDENT WILL BE FREE 
TO ASK A FOREIGN POWER, BE IT 
RUSSIA, CHINA OR IRAN TO HELP 
HIM HURT HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES 
AT HOME. 
AND EVERY FOREIGN TYRANT AND 
KLEPTOCRATIC WILL KNOW THAT 
AMERICA'S FOREIGN-POLICY CAN BE 
BOUGHT DOING OUR PRESIDENT A 
POLITICAL FAVOR. 
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR HIGHEST 
DUTY IS TO PROTECT AMERICA, 
THEN SEARCH YOUR CONSCIENCE AND 
ASK, DO YOU WANT OUR FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS TO BEHAVE AS THIS 
ONE HAS DONE? 
DO NOT WHISPER IN THE SHADOWS 
OF THE CAPITAL THAT YOU 
DISAPPROVE AND THEN DEFEND THAT 
CONDUCT HERE TODAY. 
DO YOUR DUTY, KEEP YOUR OATH, 
DEFEND YOUR COUNTRY.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS 
EXPIRED.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA 
RESERVE. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD ONE 
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
SOUTH CAROLINA.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED.  
>> THANK YOU MR. SPEAKER. 
OVER ONE MONTH AGO ON NOVEMBER 
14 I SPOKE ON THE IMPEACHMENT 
HOAX WHAT IS TRUE THEN IS STILL 
TRUE TODAY. 
AFTER OVER A MONTH OF SECRET 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 
ADMINISTRATION, DEMOCRATS HAVE 
DECIDED TO OPEN THESE 
CONTROLLED HEARINGS TO THE 
PUBLIC. 
THIS CONTINUES THE DECEPTION BY 
DEMOCRATS TO MISLEAD THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND IT'S 
INSULTING. 
NO REPUBLICAN WITNESSES, NO 
COUNSEL BY THE PRESIDENT TO 
PARTICIPATE IN FULL EXONERATION 
BY COURAGEOUS PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY OF UKRAINE. 
IT IS SAID INSTEAD OF FUNDING 
OUR MILITARY  THROUGH THE ACT 
PASSED LAST WEEK OR THE US-
MEXICO CAN THE AGREEMENT CREATE 
JOBS, THE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE 
HAVING WASTED $30 MILLION OF 
TAXPAYER MONEY ON THE RUSSIAN 
HOAX NOW PROCEEDING WITH THE 
UKRAINIAN HOAX. 
THIS PARTISAN WITCHHUNT DIVERTS 
ATTENTION FROM THE PRESIDENTS 
SUCCESSES. 
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS 
AT A RECORD LOW. 
THERE IS RECORD JOB CREATION. 
AND THE STOCK MARKET AGAIN 
TODAY IS THRIVING SHOWING THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP KEEPS HIS 
PROMISES. 
IN CONCLUSION, GOD BLESS OUR 
TROOPS AND WE WILL NEVER GET 
THE TIMBER 11th AND THE GLOBAL 
WAR ON TERRORISM.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
. 
>>  AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA FOR 
ONE MINUTE.  
>> MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE HERE AT 
THIS MOMENT IN OUR NATIONS 
HISTORY BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT 
ABUSE THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE. 
FOR GOVERNMENT TO INTRUDE IN 
OUR DEMOCRACY AND ENGAGE IN THE 
INSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS TO 
COVERED UP. 
OUR CREDIBILITY IN THE GLOBAL 
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, 
OUR CHARACTER AND MOTIVATIONS A 
QUESTION. 
WE KNOW WHERE THE PRESIDENTS 
TRUE LOYALTIES LIE. 
MET WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, NOT 
WITH HER ALLIES, BUT WITH OUR 
ADVERSARIES IN HIMSELF. 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ONCE SAID, 
NEARLY ALL MEN CAN STAND 
ADVERSITY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO 
TEST A MAN'S CHARACTER, GIVE 
HIM POWER. 
DONALD TRUMP HAS FAILED THIS 
TEST. 
AND NOW OUR TEST IS WHETHER WE 
WILL BE A CHECK ON THE POWER. 
THEREFORE WE MUST HOLD ANYONE 
TO ACCOUNT REGARDLESS OF PARTY 
OR POLITICS WHO SETS FIRE TO 
THE VERY INSTITUTIONS THAT 
DEFINE OUR NATION AND OUR 
VALUES. 
AND WITH THIS IN MIND, I WILL 
VOTE YES TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
IS RECOGNIZED. 
>>  I YIELD 1.5 MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA.  
>> I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION 
TO THE PROCESS INTO THE 
RESOLUTION. 
WHEN CONGRESS SEES FIT TO 
EXAMINE ITS SOLEMN POWER OF 
IMPEACHMENT, IT IS IMPERATIVE 
THAT IT DOES SO IN GENUINE 
PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, FAIRLY, 
TRANSPARENTLY AND OBJECTIVELY. 
ANYTHING LESS IS UNACCEPTABLE. 
THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT HAS 
FALLEN FAR SHORT OF THAT. 
SADLY, ALEXANDER HAMILTON'S 
PRODUCTION IN FEDERALIST NUMBER 
65 HAS COME TRUE. 
WHERE HE WARNED THAT IN MANY 
CASES IT WILL CONNECT ITSELF 
WITH THE PRE-EXISTING FACTIONS 
AND WILL ENLIST OTHER 
ANIMOSITIES, INFLUENCE AND 
INTEREST ON ONE SIDE OR THE 
OTHER. 
AND IN SUCH CASES THERE WILL 
ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST DANGER 
THAT THE DECISION WILL BE 
REGULATED MORE BY THE 
COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF PARTIES 
THAN BY THE REAL DEMONSTRATIONS 
OF INNOCENCE OR GUILT. 
AFTER YEARS OF INVESTIGATIONS, 
HEARINGS AND MILLIONS OF 
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, DEMOCRATS 
FOUND NO PROOF THAT THE 
PRESIDENT COMMITTED A CRIME. 
NO PROOF AT THE VAGUE 
ACCUSATIONS IN THESE ARTICLES 
CLEARLY REFLECT, A BASIC 
PREREQUISITE FOR IMPEACHMENT, 
IMPEACHING FOR HIGH CRIMES AND 
MISDEMEANORS IS A CHARGE OF AN 
ACTUAL CRIME WAS COMMITTED. 
THESE EMPTY BASELESS ARTICLES 
EXPOSE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
WHAT THIS IS. 
A DESPERATE PART IS AN ATTEMPT 
TO AVENGE THE LAWS OF THE 
DEMOCRATS PREFERRED CANDIDATE 
IN 2016. 
WE MUST RESPECT AMERICAN VOTERS 
AND REJECT THESE ARTICLES.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
.  
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
RECOGNIZED. 
>> A QUICK FACT CHECK  BEFORE 
YIELD. 
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE AISLE CLAIM THAT NO 
REPUBLICAN WITNESSES WERE 
ALLOWED TO TESTIFY. THAT IS OF 
COURSE NOT CORRECT. 
IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, 
THREE WITNESSES TESTIFIED. 
THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR. 
THAT THEY INCRIMINATED THE 
PRESIDENT DID NOT MAKE THEM ANY 
LESS REQUESTED. 
I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS 
FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> TODAY I REFLECT ON THE 
IMPERATIVES OF TWO SONS OF 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
JOHN ADAMS WHO IN ONE SENTENCE 
CAPTURED THE VERY FOUNDATION OF 
OUR COUNTRY SAYING, "WE ARE A 
GOVERNMENT OF LAWS, NOT MEN." 
TRANSLATION, NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
AND JOHN F. KENNEDY WHO IN HIS 
ICONIC ADDRESS CAUTIONED ANYONE 
OF US HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE 
WOULD BE JUDGED BY THE HIGH 
COURT OF HISTORY ON WHETHER WE 
WERE TRULY MEN OR WOMEN OF 
COURAGE. WITH THE COURAGE TO 
STAND UP TO ONE'S ENEMIES AND 
THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AS WELL 
TO ONE'S ASSOCIATES. 
THE COURAGE TO RESIST PUBLIC 
PRESSURE AS WELL AS PRIVATE 
GREED. 
AND ON WHETHER WE ARE TRULY MEN 
OR WOMEN OF INTEGRITY WHO NEVER 
RUN OUT OF THE PRINCIPLES IN 
WHICH YOU BELIEVE AND WHO 
NEITHER FINANCIAL GAIN OR 
POLITICAL AMBITION COULD EVER 
DIFFER FROM THE FULFILLMENT OF 
OUR SACRED TRUST. 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS 
DIFFERENT AND DISDAINFUL OF 
THIS SACRED TRUST CONSPIRED TO 
EXTRACT PERSONAL BENEFIT FROM 
HIS OFFICE. 
HE DISHONORED HIS OATH. 
I REFUSE TO ABANDON MINE. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH 
DAKOTA.  
>> THANK YOU. 
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT 
QUICKLY THAT THE ONLY 
REPUBLICAN WITNESSES ALLOWED IN 
THE INTELLIGENCE HEARINGS WERE 
ON A DEMOCRATS PREAPPROVED 
LIST. 
WITH THAT I YIELD 1.5 MINUTES 
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 1.5 MINUTES.  
>> I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS 
PARTISAN SHAM OF AN IMPEACHMENT 
RESOLUTION THAT IS RIPPING OUR 
COUNTRY APART. 
EVEN BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN 
ATTACKED BY NEVER ENDING 
BARRAGE OF LIES AND CORRUPTION 
AND DECEIT AND THE LIBERAL 
POLITICAL INCLUDING JAMES COMEY,
HILLARY CLINTON AND IMPEACHMENT 
ZEALOTS IN THIS CONGRESS. 
DEMOCRATS COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA 
AND UKRAINE TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
2016 ELECTION BY PRODUCING THE 
NOW FAMOUS FAKE DOSSIER. NOW 
THEY ACCUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP OF 
COLLUDING WITH A FOREIGN POWER. 
WHAT A JOKE. 
THEY ABUSE THEIR OFFICE TO 
ILLEGALLY WIRETAP AND SPY ON 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN. 
NOW THEY ACCUSE HIM OF ABUSING 
HIS OFFICE. 
WHAT A JOKE. 
THEY STRUCTURE THESE 
PROCEEDINGS TO DENY THE 
PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS IN 
CONGRESS A FAIR HEARING, THEN 
THEY ACCUSE THE PRESIDENT OF 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS. 
LOOK IN THE MIRROR, FOLKS. 
THE REACTION OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE THAT THIS IS CONTRIVED 
AND CORRUPT WAS ENTIRELY 
PREDICTABLE AND IS ENTIRELY 
CORRECT. 
THE POLLS HAVE TURNED AGAINST 
THEM AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE 
DESPERATE TO STOP THE BLEEDING. 
THAT IS WHY WE ARE CRAMMING 
THIS VOTE IN TODAY JUST BEFORE 
LEAVING TO DISPOSE OF 
IMPEACHMENT AS QUICKLY AND 
PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE. 
THE ACTIONS OF DEMOCRATS ARE A 
STAIN ON THIS CHAMBER. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME 
IN FIGHTING AGAINST THIS 
SHAMEFUL ABUSE OF POWER AND 
VOTE NO ON THE SHAM OF 
IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION. 
THANK YOU I YIELD BACK.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
. 
>>  I DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE TO 
DO A FACT CHECK SO QUICKLY BUT 
THERE WAS NO PREAPPROVED 
WITNESS LIST. 
AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK. 
ONE MINUTE.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> THE DECISION TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
IS OF ENORMOUS MAGNITUDE AND 
UTMOST SIGNIFICANCE. 
THERE ARE FEW ISSUES THAT SO 
DEEPLY REFLECT THE PART OF THE 
CONSTITUTION AND AMERICAN 
SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. 
AS A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, I HAVE SPENT 
YEARS TRYING TO PROMOTE 
AMERICAN VALUES OF DEMOCRACY IN 
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD 
INCLUDING EASTERN EUROPE. 
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SO STEEPED 
IN UKRAINIAN ISSUES FOR SO 
LONG, I KNOW HOW DAMAGING 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS WERE. 
WITH THE PRESIDENTS DAMAGES, IT 
DOES NOT END THERE. 
HE HAS CONSISTENTLY OBSTRUCTED 
AT EVERY TURN OF THIS 
INVESTIGATION. 
THIS NATION'S FOUNDING FATHERS 
FOUGHT TO AND UNACCOUNTABLE 
RULE. 
WE DID NOT FREE OURSELVES FROM 
A KING TO TURN THE PRESIDENT 
INTO A MONARCH. 
BUT THE CAMERA OF HISTORY IS 
ROLLING. 
AND I WILL CAST MY VOTE 
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES 
OF DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW 
AND OUR CONSTITUTION FOR THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
J TRUMP. 
I DO SO BECAUSE I CANNOT LOOK 
MY GRANDDAUGHTER OR ANY MEMBER 
OF FUTURE GENERATIONS IN THE 
EYE HAVING CONDONED ACTIONS 
THAT UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC 
SYSTEM. 
I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO DO 
THE SAME, MAY GOD BLESS.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEBRASKA.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> I STRONGLY IMPOSE THIS 
IMPEACHMENT. 
NOLA WAS BROKEN, NO HIGH CRIMES 
OR MISDEMEANORS, NO IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSES. 
UKRAINE HAS RECEIVED AID ONE 
WEEK PRIOR TO THE REQUIREMENT. 
A PREVIOUSLY REJECTED  BY THE 
ADMINISTRATION BEFORE IT. 
THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION AND 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY CITY 
RECEIVED NO PRESSURE FROM THE 
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. 
SIMPLY PUT THERE WAS NO  QUID 
PRO QUO NO CRIME.  
ONLY THE THE MAJORITY TO STAND 
FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THAT IS 
NOT AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE. 
IF A MAJORITY DOESN'T TRUST THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE, TOO MANY HAVE 
SAID THE IMPEACHMENT, SO THE 
PRESIDENT IS NOT REELECTED IN 
2020. 
THAT IS SHAMEFUL. 
TODAY'S VOTE SETS A NEW 
PRECEDENT, IN THE FUTURE THE 
MAJORITY WILL USE IMPEACHMENT 
AS A TACTIC TO MOVE PRESIDENT 
SIMPLY BASED ON PARTISANSHIP. 
OUR FOUNDERS FEARED THIS AND I 
STRONGLY OPPOSE IT. 
I WANT MY STATEMENT TO BE IN 
THE RECORD FOR THE END OF TIME 
TO SHOW I WAS ON THE SIDE OF 
THE CONSTITUTION OPPOSING THE 
MAJORITY TAKING DOWN A DULY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT WHO COMMITTED 
NO CRIME. 
AND I DEFENDED THE TRUTH. 
ADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> MY COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO 
MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT 
UKRAINIANS GOT THE MONEY. 
YES, THE PRESIDENT.COPY GOT THE 
MONEY. 
NO HARM, NO FOUL. 
IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SAYING IF 
YOU'RE PULLED OVER BY A COP AND 
YOU ATTEMPT TO BRIBE THE COP 
AND THE COP DOESN'T TAKE THE 
MONEY BUT ARREST YOU, WHERE IS 
THE CRIME IN THAT? 
I DIDN'T GET THE MONEY. 
THIS IS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES 
WOULD HAVE YOU ACCEPT. 
THIS IS WHAT MY COLLEAGUES 
WOULD HAVE YOU ACCEPT. 
THAT BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT GOT 
CAUGHT IN THE ACT, WE MUST LOOK 
THE OTHER WAY. 
OF COURSE THAT IS NOT THE WAY 
THE LAW WORKS. 
THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE 
CONSTITUTION WORKS. 
THAT IS NOT THE WAY OUR OATH OF 
OFFICE WORKS. 
OUR OATH OF OFFICE REQUIRES US 
TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT THAT 
ABUSES HIS POWER WHETHER HE 
GETS AWAY WITH IT OR HE GETS 
CAUGHT. 
AND IN THIS CASE, HE GOT CAUGHT.
I'M NOW PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY FOR 
ONE MINUTE.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RISE TODAY, 
A TIME OF GRAVE CONCERN FOR ALL 
AMERICANS. 
THIS PAST WEEKEND I JOINED A 
BIPARTISAN DELEGATION TRAVELING 
TO BELGIAN, LUXEMBOURG, FOR THE 
75th ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF 
THE BULGE. 
A BATTLE THAT OVER 19,000 
AMERICANS GAVE THEIR LIVES. 
TODAY WE ARE CALLED TO PRESERVE 
THAT DEMOCRACY. 
THAT THEY SO BRAVELY DEFENDED. 
OVER TWO YEARS AGO I WAS ONE OF 
THE FIRST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
TO VOTE TO ADVANCE THE INQUIRY. 
SINCE THEN, I'VE WITHHELD FINAL 
JUDGMENT AS I REVIEW THE FACTS 
AND HEARD THE TESTIMONY. 
I BELIEVE THERE IS OVERWHELMING 
EVIDENCE WELL BEYOND REASONABLE 
DOUBT THAT PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP IS GUILTY IN BOTH 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. ABUSE 
OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
THEREFORE, I WILL UPHOLD MY 
OATH TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED 
STATES IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT. 
IT IS OUR SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY 
TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT 
AND GIVEN THEIR LIVES. 
TO UPHOLD THE TRUTH, IN AMERICA,
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
. 
>> I LOVE THIS, POTSHOT WILL 
YOU CAN. 
REMEMBER  QUID PRO QUO,  IT 
DIDN'T WORK OUT SO WELL YOU HAD 
TO TEST IT. 
FOCUS GROUPS DIDN'T LIKE IT. 
SO WE THROW IT IN HERE. 
A BRIBE. 
IT'S ALL IN THE REPORT. 
IF THEY ACTUALLY HAD A CRIME IT 
WOULD BE IN THE ARTICLE. 
GUESS WHAT, HE DOESN'T HAVE IT, 
HE CAN'T PUT IT IN THERE. 
IT'S ALL FLUFF AND CIRCUMSTANCE 
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET TO THE 
PRESIDENT AND THAT'S WHAT'S 
KILLING THEM. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE AND A HALF MINUTE. 
>>  DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN 
OBSESSED WITH IMPEACHING 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE HE WAS 
ELECTED. 
HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WIN. 
HOW COULD THE VOTERS SUPPORT 
HIM THEY ASK? 
AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE TOLD THE 
ONLY WAY THE SPEAKER WOULD MOVE 
FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT WAS IF 
THE CASE WAS COMPELLING, 
OVERWHELMING. 
AND BIPARTISAN. 
YET THE CASE FOR IMPEACHMENT 
THAT HAS BEEN RUSHED FORWARD BY 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS IS ANYTHING BUT 
THAT. 
TO BE CLEAR, NEITHER OF THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT PROVE 
ANY WRONGDOING OR AN 
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE AS ACTUALLY 
TAKEN PLACE. 
INSTEAD HOUSE DEMOCRATS CASE 
REST SOLELY ON HEARSAY 
TESTIMONY AND PRESUMPTIONS FROM 
CHERRY PICKED WITNESSES. 
THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION 
EVER INTENDED IMPEACHMENT TO BE 
USED AS A TOOL TO SETTLE 
POLITICAL AND POLICY 
DIFFERENCES. 
THAT IS WHAT ELECTIONS ARE FOR. 
THIS IS A SAD AND DANGEROUS 
MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY AS 
IMPEACHMENT IS BEING USED TO 
UNDO THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE IN SILENCE THE VOICES OF 
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN THE 
PROCESS. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WOULD BE 
ASHAMED. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO 
ON THIS PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT 
SHAM AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>>  I NOW YIELD ONE MINUTE TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.   
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
YEARS AGO I TOOK MY FIRST OATH 
TO THE COUNTRY, WENT TO WAR AND 
FOUGHT ALONGSIDE OUR NATION'S 
FINEST MEN AND WOMEN. 
SOME OF THEM GAVE THEIR LIVES 
FOR OUR NATION. 
NOT A DAY HAS PASSED THE DON'T 
REFLECT ON THOSE SACRIFICES. 
I LEARNED DURING THAT TIME THAT 
OUR NATION IS BUILT ON 
SACRIFICE. 
WE HAVE OVERCOME CHALLENGING 
TIMES BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE 
DECIDED TO PUT ASIDE THEIR 
PERSONAL INTERESTS, THEIR 
LIVELIHOODS AND EVEN GIVE THEIR 
LIVES TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR A 
NATION. 
OUR FOUNDERS CREATED A SYSTEM 
TO ENSURE WE WOULD HAVE NO 
KINGS OR DICTATORS. 
A SYSTEM THAT INVESTED POWER IN 
THE PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT NO 
MAN OR WOMAN IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
GENERATION AFTER GENERATION 
THIS SYSTEM HAS SURVIVED 
BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT FOR 
IT. 
TODAY IS OUR TURN. 
THE PRESIDENTS ABUSE OF POWER 
AND SCORN FOR CONSTITUTIONAL 
CHECKS AND BALANCES IS 
UNPRECEDENTED. 
UNLESS WE STAND UP AGAINST 
THESE AUSES WE WILL SET THE 
COUNTRY ON A DANGEROUS NEW 
COURSE. 
MY OATH, MY LOVE, OF OUR 
COUNTRY, AND MY DUTY TO HONOR 
THE SACRIFICES WHO CAME BEFORE 
US REQUIRED ME TO ACT. 
TO MY COLLEAGUES, IT IS TIME TO 
PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL AND 
CLINICAL INTERESTS AND HONOR 
THOSE OF COME BEFORE US. 
THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER, I 
YIELD BACK.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER I 
YIELD 30 SECONDS, 35 SECONDS TO 
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> THE DEMOCRATS NEW DEFINITION 
FOR EVIDENCE IS ALLEGATIONS, 
ALLEGATIONS BASED ON HEARSAY I 
MIGHT ADD, SO THEY HURLED 
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT AND THEN SAY TO HIM, 
IT'S NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO 
PROVE GUILT, BUT THE PRESIDENTS 
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVE 
INNOCENCE. 
THIS IS BEEN A SHAM AN ACT OF 
INJUSTICE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT 
AND 93 MILLION AMERICANS WHO 
VOTED FOR HIM. 
ALTHOUGH THE PROCESS WAS RIGGED 
FROM THE BEGINNING DEMOCRATS 
NEVER PRODUCED A SINGLE TRUE 
PIECE OF EVIDENCE. 
IT IS TIME FOR US TO STOP THIS 
HOAX AND VOTE AGAINST THESE 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
. 
>> I'M PROUD TO  RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.  
>> FOR WHAT PERIOD OF TIME?  
>> FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.  
>> ADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY 
IN SUPPORT OF OUR CONSTITUTION. 
IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY 
MEMBERS IN HARM'S WAY WHO DEFEND
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
IN SUPPORT OF GOLDSTAR FAMILIES 
WHO KEEP FAITH THAT THEIR LOVED 
ONES SACRIFICE WAS JUSTIFIED. 
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE 
OATH I FIRST TOOK AT 17 UPON 
ENTERING THE NAVAL ACADEMY. 
TOOK FIVE MORE TIMES IN MY 20 
YEAR NAVY CAREER. 
AND OATH THAT COMFORTED ME IN 
THE YEARS I SPENT WAY FOR MY 
FAMILY DEPLOYED AROUND THE 
GLOBE. 
AND OATH THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO 
REMAIN VIGILANT ON THE BRIDGE 
OF THE SHIP AT NIGHT. AND OATH 
THAT STRENGTHENED ME WHEN IN 
COMMAND AS I SET MY FELLOW 
SAILORS INTO HARM'S WAY. 
AND TODAY, AND OATH THAT GIVES 
ME RESOLVE. 
RESOLVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, 
AND NOT WHAT IS POLITICALLY 
EXPEDIENT. 
RESOLVE TO STAND WITH THE 
PRESIDENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE 
LAST WEEK AND RESOLVE TO STAND 
UP TO THE PRESIDENT IN THIS 
HOUSE TODAY. 
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE THE 
SAME STRENGTH IN THE SAME 
RESOLVE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.   
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER..   
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 35 SECONDS.  
>> WHEN EMOTIONS SUPERSEDE THE 
FACTS THE CONCLUSION IS 
CATACLYSMIC. 
TODAY WE WRAP UP NOT A THREE-
MONTH PROCESS BUT A THREE-YEAR 
PROCESS DEMOCRATS DISTAIN SO 
MUCH HAS LED TO THE ABUSE OF 
THIS HOUSE. 
THESE ARE THE SAME DEMOCRATS 
WHO PROMISED AMERICA THEY SAW 
EVIDENCE OF RUSSIAN COLLUSION. 
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TRUST 
THEM? 
THEY DON'T. 
A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE 
CONDEMNED THIS PROCESS AND THAT 
IS WHAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS SETTING 
THE RULES AND THEN BENDING AND 
BREAKING THE RULES TO FIT THEIR 
NARRATIVE. 
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SEE 
THE CIRCUS FOR WHAT IT IS. 
I WONDER HOW MANY MORE WILL 
JOIN THEM. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RISE TODAY 
TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION AND 
OUR DEMOCRACY BY VOTING FOR THE 
TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THE WORDS OF OUR SACRED OATH 
DEFINE OUR DUTY AND THOSE WORDS 
MUST BE KEPT. 
OUR FOUNDERS PRIMAL FEAR WAS 
THAT POWERFUL MEMBERS OF OUR 
GOVERNMENT WOULD BECOME IN 
HAMILTON'S WORDS, MERCENARY 
INSTRUMENTS OF FOREIGN 
CORRUPTION. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ABUSED THE 
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY BY 
IGNORING AND INJURING NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND OTHER VITAL 
NATIONAL INTERESTS TO OBTAIN AN 
IMPROPER PERSONAL BENEFIT. 
HE ALSO BETRAYED OUR NATION BY 
ABUSING HIS HIGH OFFICE TO 
ENLIST A FOREIGN POWER IN 
CORRUPTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS.
ARTICLE 2, I AGREE WITH BECAUSE 
IT DETAILS THE OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT BY 
DIRECTING UNPRECEDENTED 
CATEGORICAL AND INDISCRIMINATE 
DEFIANCE OF SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY 
THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND ABUSED THE POWERS OF THE 
PRESIDENCY IN A MANNER 
SUBVERSIVE TO THE CONSTITUTION. 
I BELIEVE THE CONSTITUTION IS 
THE SOUL OF OUR NATION AND BY 
DEFENDING IT WE ARE SAYING, WE 
WILL NOT BE SOULLESS.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 35 SECONDS .  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 35 SECONDS.  
>> DON'T BE FOOLED. 
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT IMPEACHING 
THE PRESIDENT TO PROTECT 
NATIONAL SECURITY. 
DEMOCRATS ARE IMPEACHING THE 
PRESIDENT FOR FOLLOWING A LAW 
THAT THEY THEMSELVES VOTED FOR. 
NO LESS THAN FIVE TIMES IN THE 
LAST SIX YEARS BIPARTISAN 
CONGRESS IS IMPOSED ON THE 
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AN AFFIRMATIVE 
DUTY TO ENSURE THE GOVERNMENT 
OF UKRAINE WAS COUNTERING 
CORRUPTION. 
AND FOR GOOD REASON. 
UKRAINE IS THE THIRD MOST 
CORRUPT NATION ON EARTH. 
SO ONLY THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO 
TEMPORARILY PAUSE SECURITY 
ASSISTANCE, HE HAD A MANDATE TO 
DO IT AND AS A RESULT PRESIDENT 
ZELENSKY'S GOVERNMENT MADE 
HISTORIC ANTICORRUPTION REFORMS 
MAKING IT A MORE RELIABLE  ALLY 
COUNTERING RUSSIAN AGGRESSION 
FAR FROM COMPROMISING NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
BUT THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME IS 
EXPIRED.  
>> IMPOSES IMPEACHMENT.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER MY COLLEAGUES 
WOULD HAVE THE COUNTRY BELIEVE 
THAT THE PRESIDENT HELD UP THE 
AID TO UKRAINE BECAUSE IT WAS 
CONCERNED ABOUT CORRUPTION. 
OF COURSE THERE IS NOT A SHRED 
OF EVIDENCE FOR THAT. 
ALL THE NATIONAL SECURITY 
EXPERTS ACROSS ALL THE 
DEPARTMENS TESTIFIED THAT 
UKRAINE MET THE CRITERIA TO 
RECEIVE THE AID. 
SO WHAT WAS THE REAL MOTIVATION?
ONE THING IS TELLING. 
2017 THE PRESIDENT HAD NO 
PROBLEM WITH A TO UKRAINE. 
RAISED NO ISSUE OF CORRUPTION. 
IN 2018 HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH 
YOU LOOK AT IT MILITARY AID TO 
UKRAINE. 
WHAT CHANGED IN 2019? 
JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WAS 
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. 
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN DONALD 
TRUMP HELD UP THE AID FOR 
UKRAINE. 
AS AMBASSADOR SONDLAND 
TESTIFIED, THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T 
CARE ABOUT UKRAINE, ALL HE 
CARED ABOUT WAS THE BIG STUFF 
THAT AFFECTED HIM PERSONALLY, 
INVESTIGATION OF THE BIDENS 
THAT GIULIANI WAS PUSHING. 
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLE LADY FROM VIRGINIA. 
>> THE GENTLEWOAN IS 
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.   
>> I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF 
HOUSE RESOLUTION 755. 
AS A CIA CASE OFFICER USED TO 
MEET WITH FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO 
WERE PROVIDING VITAL 
INTELLIGENCE TO HELP INFORM OUR 
HARDEST NATIONAL SECURITY 
DECISIONS AND KEEP OUR COUNTRY 
SAFE. 
THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM COUNTRIES
WHERE LEADERS ABUSE THEIR POWER 
AND DEFY THE RULE OF LAW, WRIST 
IMPRISONMENT AND OFTEN VERY 
LIVES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE 
UNITED STATES WITH INFORMATION 
TO HELP US, TO INFORM US. 
WHY? 
IT WAS THEIR BELIEF IN THE 
UNITED STATES, THEIR BELIEF IN 
OUR COUNTRY, THE LONGEST 
STANDING DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.
OUR COUNTRY, A BEACON OF HOPE 
IN THE WORLD. 
A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC FOUNDED 
ON A DOCUMENT AND THE BELIEF IN 
THE RULE OF LAW AND A BELIEF IN 
ITS PEOPLE. 
TODAY I AM PROUD TO SERVE IN 
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE REVISITING 
MY HOMETOWN AND AGAIN SERVING 
OUR COUNTRY, THAT BEACON OF 
HOPE IN THE WORLD. 
AND TODAY, ESPECIALLY TODAY, I 
REFLECT ON THE FOUNDING 
DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE SET US 
APART IN THE WORLD, LEADING 
PEOPLE ACROSS GENERATIONS AND 
ACROSS THE WORLD TO RISK 
EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THEIR 
BELIEF IN OUR GREAT NATION. 
TODAY ESPECIALLY TODAY, I 
AFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO 
UPHOLDING AND PROTECTING THE 
CONSTITUTION, THE RULE OF LAW 
DEFINES AND THE PEOPLE IT 
GOVERNS. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 35  SECONDS.  
>> TODAY MANY OF MY DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES WILL BE MAKING 
HISTORY. 
UNFORTUNATELY FOR SUPPORTING 
THE FIRST EVER COMPLETELY 
PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT OF A 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
MR. SPEAKER, I AM DEEPLY 
DISTURBED HISTORY WILL INDEED 
BE MADE TODAY IN THIS HALLOWED 
CHAMBER. 
BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. 
NOT FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY, AND 
HATRED FOR A POLITICAL FOE. 
NOT TO PURSUE JUSTICE BUT TO 
PUNISH A POLITICAL ADVERSARY. 
NOT TO SEEK TRUTH, TO SEIZE 
POLITICAL POWER. FOR THE LOVE 
OF COUNTRY I URGE MY COLLEAGUES 
TO OPPOSE THIS DISASTROUS LEGAL 
RUSE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA. 
THREE MINUTES.  
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.  
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 
UNFORTUNATELY THE RULES OF 
DEBATE WON'T ALLOW ME TO CITE 
ALL OF THE REASONS WHY THIS 
RESIDENT SHOULD BE IMPEACHED. 
THERE ARE MANY. 
HOWEVER, MADAME SPEAKER AND 
MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE, TO QUOTE 
THE LATE MY ANGELOU, WHEN 
SOMEONE SHOWS YOU WHO THEY ARE, 
BELIEVE THEM THE FIRST TIME. 
THIS DAY WAS NOT INEVITABLE, 
BUT IT WAS PREDICTABLE BECAUSE 
THIS PRESIDENT HAS SHOWN HIMSELF
TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO BELIEVE 
THAT HE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
AND HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR OUR 
CONSTITUTION OR OUR DEMOCRACY. 
BASED ON ALL THAT WE KNOW ABOUT 
DONALD TRUMP, WE COULD'VE 
PREDICTED HE WOULD HAVE ABUSED 
THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT BY 
CORRUPTLY SOLICITING THE 
GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE AND THE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY TO 
PUBLICLY  ANNOUNCE 
INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIS 
POLITICAL OPPONENT, FOR VICE 
PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN. 
THIS INCLUDES EVIDENCE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WITHHELD $391 MILLION 
OF TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT CONGRESS 
APPROPRIATED THE PURPOSE OF 
PROVIDING VITAL MILITARY AND 
SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE 
TO OPPOSE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. 
ANOTHER BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER. 
OUR INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED 
THAT THIS PRESIDENT ADVANCED A 
DISCREDITED THEORY PROMOTED BY 
RUSSIA ALLEGING THAT UKRAINE, 
RATHER THAN RUSSIA, INTERFERED 
IN THE 2016 UNITED STATES 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 
FOR CORRUPT PURPOSES IN PURSUIT 
OF PERSONAL CLINICAL BENEFIT. 
NEVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY 
HAVE WE EXPERIENCED A PRESIDENT 
WHO HAS SO CLEARLY CONDUCTED 
HIMSELF IN A MANNER OFFENSIVE 
TO AND SUBVERSIVE OF THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
AND DIRECTED HIS CABINET 
MEMBERS, EXECUTIVE RANCH AGENCY 
AND OTHER WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS 
TO DEFY LAWFUL SUBPOENAS 
CONGRESS. 
WAS HE ATTEMPTING TO HIDE 
WRONGDOING? 
IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION THAT 
THIS PRESIDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED 
THAT HE WILL REMAIN A THREAT TO 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE 
CONSTITUTION IF ALLOWED TO 
REMAIN IN OFFICE. 
AND HAS ACTED IN A MANNER 
GROSSLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH SAID 
GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW. 
BECAUSE AT EVERY TURN, HE HAS 
SHOWN US WHO HE IS. IT IS NO 
SECRET THAT THIS PRESIDENT 
COULD'VE BEEN IMPEACHED A LONG 
TIME AGO. 
TODAY, WE STAND HERE WITH AN 
IRREFUTABLE CASE AND 
INDISPUTABLE SET OF FACTS THAT 
THIS PRESIDENT ABSOLUTELY 
ABUSED HIS POWER AND OBSTRUCTED 
CONGRESS. 
ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO 
WOULD'VE BEEN CAUGHT CONDUCTING 
THEMSELVES IN THE WAY THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS WOULD HAVE BEEN 
PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT 
OF THE LAW. 
IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT ANY MEMBERS 
OF THIS HOUSE ARE WILLING TO 
DISREGARD THE CONSTITUTION, 
TURN A BLIND EYE TO HARD FACTS 
AND IGNORE A CONFESSION FROM 
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. 
HISTORY WILL REMEMBER THOSE WHO 
ARE WILLING TO SPEAK TRUTH OF 
POWER. 
YES I CALL FOR TRUMPS 
IMPEACHMENT THOROUGHLY. 
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY. 
ARE FOREMOTHERS AND FOREFATHERS 
SHARED SHED THEIR BLOOD TO 
BUILD THIS DEMOCRACY. 
I REFUSE TO HAVE IT UNDERMINED. 
I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. 
I AM PROUD IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS
JUSTICE WILL HAVE BEEN SERVED 
IN AMERICA AND DONALD TRUMP 
WILL HAVE BEEN -- 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.   
I YIELD 35 SECONDS.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WHAT IS 
SHAMEFUL IS THAT SPEAKER PELOSI 
HAS ALLOWED THIS DEMOCRATIC 
WITCHHUNT TO MOVE FORWARD. 
SHE IS THE ONE WHO WAS ABUSED 
HER POWER AND WE SHOULD BE 
DEBATING HER REMOVAL FROM THE 
HOUSE. 
REAGAN SAID THE TROUBLE WITH 
OUR LIBERAL FRIENDS IS NOT THAT 
THEY ARE IGNORANT, IT'S JUST 
THAT THEY KNOW SO MUCH THAT 
ISN'T SO. 
DEMOCRAT EXTREME PARTISANSHIP 
WILL SET A DANGEROUS PRESIDENT 
PRECEDENT FOR THIS NATION. 
AND MARK MY WORDS MADAME 
SPEAKER, THIS SINISTER ATTEMPT 
TO REMOVE HIS LAWFUL PRESIDENT 
WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLE LADY 
FROM NEVADA. 
UNIT WAS CONSENT REQUEST.  
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
ENTER MY STATEMENT INTO THE 
RECORD SUPPORTING THE 
IMPEACHMENT DONALD TRUMP.  
>> ORDERED.  
>> AND NOW RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT FOR 
TWO MINUTES.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I RISE TODAY IN ANGER AND HOPE. 
I AM ANGRY THAT PRESIDENT 
DONALD TRUMP HAS TREATED HIS 
OATH IN OFFICE SO 
DISRESPECTFULLY THAT NOW WE 
MUST HOL A NEW ACCOUNT. 
THE TRUTH IS CLEAR TO ANYONE 
NOT DELIBERATELY LOOKING AWAY, 
THE PRESIDENT WITHHELD MILITARY 
AID AT A WHITE HOUSE MEETING 
UNLESS AND UNTIL A VULNERABLE 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED A 
NAKEDLY POLITICAL 
INVESTIGATION. 
IT DIDN'T MATTER IF UKRAINIANS 
UNCOVERED ANY WRONGDOING. 
THE MERE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN 
INVESTIGATION DAMAGES POLITICAL 
OPPONENT. 
MR. TRUMP DIDN'T CARE ABOUT 
STOPPING CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE. 
NEVER MENTIONED THE WORD 
CORRUPTION ONCE IN THE INFAMOUS 
JULY 25 CALL. 
IT WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE 
UKRAINIAN CORRUPTION. 
IT WAS AN ATTEMPT BY DONALD 
TRUMP TO AIM UKRAINIAN 
CORRUPTION STRAIGHT AT THE 
HEART OF THE PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION OF 2020. 
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS THIS WHICH 
IS WHY HE IS NOT GIVEN THIS 
CONGRESS A SINGLE EMAIL, PHONE 
RECORD OR DOCUMENT. 
%-ú 
MAN WITH NOTHING TO HIDE. 
IT IS SIMPLY AN UNDENIABLY 
CONTEMPT OF THIS CONGRESS. 
WHAT WHAT MAKES THIS 
IMPEACHMENT ESSENTIAL IS THAT 
THE PRESIDENTS ABUSE OF POWER 
HAS NOT STOPPED. 
AS WE SPEAK HE CONTINUES TO 
URGE FOR INTERFERENCE IN OUR 
DEMOCRACY. 
BESIEGING CHINA TO INVESTIGATE 
THE BIDENS. 
SENDING RUDY GIULIANI OVERSEAS 
TO CHASE RUSSIAN CONSPIRACY 
THEORIES. 
THIS MORNING THE PRESIDENT 
TWEETED "I DID NOTHING WRONG." 
ALL CAPS. 
HE BELIEVES IT. 
HE SEES NOTHING WRONG WITH 
INVITING RUSSIAN, UKRAINIAN OR 
CHINESE INTERFERENCE INTO OUR 
ELECTION. 
HE DID IT. 
HE CONTINUES TO DO IT. 
AND HE SEES NOTHING WRONG WITH 
IT. 
HE WILL WAKE UP TOMORROW AND DO 
IT AGAIN IF WE DON'T STOP HIM 
TODAY. 
THEREIN LIES OUR HOPE. I AM 
PROUD TODAY TO ANSWER THE CALL 
TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE 
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND 
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE 
SAME. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
FOR THINGS I DON'T UNDERSTAND I 
HAVE TO YIELD 32nd TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI.  
>> I AM SADDENED TODAY I SPENT 
TWO DISMISSES DEFENDING OUR 
COUNTRY OVERSEAS AND I GET A 
MEASLY 30 SECONDS TO SPEAK IN 
THIS PROCESS. 
OUR PRESIDENT MADE A CALM PAIN 
PROMISE TO DRAIN THE SWAMP AND 
THERE ARE THOSE TODAY RELYING 
ON SWAMP CREATURES WORDS TO 
PRESERVE THIS ONE. 
HOW DO YOU SUPPRESS THE VOTES 
IN AN ELECTORAL LANDSLIDE? YOU 
KEEP REPORTING THE SAME LIES. 
THE GREATEST FICTION EVER 
SPOKEN HERE TODAY, YOU DON'T 
LIKE THE FAX REWRITE THEM IN A 
PARODY AND REPEAT. 
IF THE FACTS ARE SO CLEAR AND 
INDISPUTABLE WHY ARE THE 
MINORITY BEGGING FOR MORE 
WITNESSES? 
YOU CAN'T DISCREDIT SOMETHING 
THAT NEVER HAPPENED. 
I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES DEVOTE NO 
TO THIS SHAM. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS. 
TWO MINUTES. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  TWO MINUTES.  
>> AND NEVER RAN FOR CONGRESS 
EXPECTING TO IMPEACH ANYBODY. 
LET ALONE THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
HOWEVER GIVEN THE FACTS, HERE 
WE ARE. 
WHILE SOME QUESTIONS REMAIN 
UNANSWERED, TWO KEY FACTS ARE 
CLEAR AND COMPEL ME TO SUPPORT 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
FIRST, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
ATTEMPTED TO PRESSURE A FOREIGN 
GOVERNMENT TO HELP HIS 
REELECTION CAMPAIGN. 
AND SECOND, THE PRESIDENT USED 
THE POWERS OF HIS OFFICE AGAIN 
TO OBSTRUCT A CONGRESSIONAL 
INVESTIGATION INTO THAT 
WRONGDOING. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS FALSELY 
CLAIMED HE HAS BEEN DENIED THE 
CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. 
BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE IS 
PREVENTING THE TESTIMONY OF 
WITNESSES WITH DIRECT KNOWLEDGE 
OF THE EVENTS UNDER 
INVESTIGATION. 
IF THE PRESIDENT WERE INNOCENT 
AS HE CLAIMS, SURELY THESE 
WITNESSES WOULD BE ABLE TO 
TESTIFY TO THAT. 
IF THERE HAD BEEN NO QUID PRO 
QUO  THESE WITNESSES COULD SAY 
THAT. 
IF EIGHT UKRAINE WERE NOT 
INTENTIONALLY DELAYED TO 
UKRAINE FOR IMPROPER PURPOSES, 
THEY COULD TESTIFY TO THAT 
ALSO. 
RATHER THAN GIVING THESE 
WITNESSES A CHANCE TO SPEAK THE 
PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED THEM. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE DEFENSE 
DEPARTMENT. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS SILENCED 
WITNESSES AT THE WHITE HOUSE. 
HE EVEN SILENCED MICK MULVANEY 
WHO UTTERED AT A PRESS 
CONFERENCE THAT THERE WAS A 
QUID PRO QUO  AND GET OVER IT. 
I CHOOSING TO BLOCK THIS 
TESTIMONY, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT 
PROVING HIS INNOCENCE. 
HE IS JUST PROVING HE IS AFRAID 
OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. 
AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, THE 
TRUTH WILL COME TO LIGHT AND IT 
HAS. 
IT IS OUR DUTY TO ACT ON IT. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>>> 20 4/32.  
>> TODAY I RISE IN STRONG 
OPPOSITION TO THIS PARTISAN 
IMPEACHMENT SPECTACLE THAT JUST 
SEEKS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S OPPONENTS 
FAILED TO DO AT THE BALLOT BOX 
IN 2016. 
OUR VOTES TODAY ARE MERELY 
FORMALIZING THE DECISION MY 
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 
THE AISLE REACHED THREE YEARS 
AGO. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN AN 
EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR COUNTRY. 
AN INSULT TO OUR CONSTITUTION 
AND A DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL 
WORK WE SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHING 
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF 
TENNESSEE SIX DISTRICT IN 
STRONGLY SUPPORTING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP AND I WILL VOTE AGAINST 
--  
>> YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>>  I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME.  
>> GENTLEMAN RESERVES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  30 SECONDS.  
>> IN HER OWN WORDS SPEAKER 
PELOSI SAID IMPEACHMENT MUST BE 
COMPELLING, OVERWHELMING AND 
BIPARTISAN. 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT 
BEING CONSIDERE TODAY BY THE 
HOUSE FAIL TO MEET SPEAKER 
PELOSI'S OWN STANDARDS. 
PROCESS MATTERS, FOLKS. 
PRESENTING A GOOD CHUNK OF 
GERALD FORD'S OLD DISTRICT AND 
BEING A STAFFER DURING THE 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION I HAVE 
AN INTIMATE UNDERSTANDING OF 
THE EFFECTS OF IMPEACHMENT ON 
THIS NATION. 
I'M STUNNED TO SEE MY 
COLLEAGUES WHITEWATER BILL 
CLINTON'S COOPERATION WITH THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
IT IS NOT EXACTLY WAS GOING ON. 
THIS IS THE MOST AND PARTISAN 
INPATIENT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR 
NATIONS HISTORY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.  
>> IT HAS BEEN CLEAR FROM THE 
BEGINNING THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROCEEDING HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT 
AN HONEST SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. 
IF IT WERE, OUR DEMOCRATIC 
FRIENDS WOULD NOT HAVE PULLED 
TO SEE CHARGES. 
REPEATING IT DOES NOT MAKE IT 
MORE TRUE. 
WHEN ONE PRODUCES A COMMITTEE 
REPORT WITH FABRICATED FINDINGS 
BASED ON NO FACT WITNESSES AND 
THEN QUOTE FROM IT LIKE IT'S 
AUTHORITATIVE IT IS NO MORE 
VALID THAN HAVING TO CAMPAIGN 
FOR ENTITY TO CREATE A 
FRAUDULENT DOSSIER SELLING TO 
SPY ON A CAMPAIGN. 
THIS HAS BEEN THE VERDICT IN 
SEARCH OF A CRIME.  
>> THE GENTLEMEN'S TIME IS 
EXPIRED. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> 30 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMEN 
FROM INDIANA'S.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IN A DAY HEAVY AND VERBAL 
DEBATE I CHOOSE TO USE MY TIME 
TO ENUMERATE IN DETAIL EVERY 
HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR 
COMMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
I WILL DO SO NOW. 
 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE  
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HASICS PYRED.
>> THE GENTLEMEN'S TIME IS 
EXPIRED.  
>> YIELD BACK 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  30 SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM TENNESSEE.  
>> 30 SECONDS.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, IN MY 30 
SECONDS MY HEART ACHES FOR OUR 
GREAT REPUBLIC TODAY. 
I IMPLORE MY DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES IN THIS HOUSE, 
PUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, WE ARE 
AMERICANS. 
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE. 
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT 
PROCEDURE. 
SETTLE OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
CLINICALLY. 
WE OWE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
GREAT DUTY TO COME TOGETHER. 
DON'T GIVE THE SENATE THE 
VICTORY LAP. 
GIVE THE HOUSE THE VICTORY LAP, 
VOTE NO TO IMPEACH. 
WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
THEY WANT SO DEARLY FOR US TO 
COME TOGETHER FOR OUR GREAT 
REPUBLIC. 
AND THINK OUR GREAT PRESIDENT. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
ADDRESS THE REMARKS TO THE 
CHAIR.  
>> I CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> WILL WE CATCH OUR BREATH CAN 
YOU GIVE US THE TIME?  
>> 43 MINUTES. GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA HAS 29 MINUTES. 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, EMMA GREEN 
BERET AND PROUD VETERAN. 
BUT THIS PROCESS DOES NOT MAKE 
ME PROUD. 
I FOUGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD 
FROM AFRICA TO AFGHANISTAN AND 
HAVE SEEN IT FAIR AND MORE 
TRANSPARENT PROCESSES THAN 
THIS. 
SINCE DEMOCRATS LOST THE 
ELECTION IN 2016 THEY HAVE BEEN 
FOCUSED ON IMPEACHING THIS 
PRESIDENT. 
MEANWHILE WE HAVE NOT SOLVED 
THE PROBLEMS AMERICA ENTRUSTED 
US TO SOLVE. 
IMMIGRATION, HEALTHCARE, 
INFRASTRUCTURE. 
NOTHING IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
CALL RISES TO THE LEVEL OF HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. 
I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST 
IMPEACHMENT. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
CONTINUES TO RESERVE?  
>> YES, MADAME SPEAKER. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS.  
>> I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION 
TO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HAVE 
BEEN LEARNING TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE HE TOOK 
OFFICE. 
AFTER MONTHS OF WASTING HOUSE 
TIME ON PARTISAN INVESTIGATIONS 
THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO 
PRODUCE EVIDENCE PRESIDENT 
TRUMP COMMITTED A CRIME. 
I WILL VOTE NO ON TODAY'S 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK 
TO THE BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF 
KENTUCKY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK FOR TWO 
MINUTES.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE FACTS 
AND EVIDENCE ESTABLISH BEHIND 
VENTURE THAT THE PRESIDENT USE 
THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE FOR 
PERSONAL GAIN AND SOUGHT TO 
COVER UP HIS CONDUCT BY 
OBSTRUCTING CONGRESS. 
WHAT WE DO GOES TO THE HEART OF 
THE OATH WE TAKE TO DEFEND AND 
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION. 
THESE ACTIONS ARE AS NECESSARY 
AS THEY ARE HEARTBREAKING. 
IT IS THE PRESIDENT, NOT ANY 
MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE WHO HAS 
BROUGHT US TO THE SAD PLACE. 
HIS ACTIONS ECHO IN THIS 
CHAMBER. 
AND LIKE EIGHT TIN CAN TIED TO 
HIS LEG, WILL RATTLE BEHIND HIM 
THROUGH THE PAGES OF HISTORY. 
FOR THE FINAL ANALYSIS, NONE OF 
US WILL ESCAPE THE TRUTH. 
IT WILL COME FOR US ALL IN THIS 
WORLD FOR THE NEXT. 
WHAT IS THE TRUTH? 
THE PRESIDENT USED TAXPAYER 
MONEY AND OFFICIAL ASKED TO 
PRESSURE FOR GOVERNMENT TO HELP 
HIM WIN FOR GOVERNMENT BY 
ELECTION BY SLANDERING AN 
OPPONENT. 
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS TRUE? 
BECAUSE BRAVE AMERICANS, 
SOLDIERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS 
CAN FORWARD TO REVEAL THE 
PRESIDENTS MISCONDUCT. 
AND THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO 
UNDERTAKE AN UNPRECEDENTED 
COVER-UP TO OBSTRUCT INCENTIVES 
IN CONGRESS. 
HE WITHHOLDS ACCESS TO 
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS BELONGING 
TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD 
FURTHER ESTABLISH HIS 
MENTALITY. 
HE BLOCKS ADVISORS AND 
ASSOCIATES FROM TESTIFYING 
BEFORE THE PUBLIC TO CONCEAL 
THE WRONGS THEY WITNESSED.
'S ACTIONS ARE UNWORTHY OF THE 
PRESIDENCY. 
TODAY RIGHT AND WRONG AND 
WHETHER WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. 
TODAY WE HOLD THE PRESIDENT 
ACCOUNTABLE. 
IF WE FAILED TO DO SO, FUTURE 
PRESIDENTS WOULD SEE CORRUPTION 
AS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. 
AND THEIR OUR DEMOCRACY GOES TO 
DIE. 
WE INHERIT THIS REPUBLIC FROM 
OUR ANCESTORS AND WE BORROW IT 
FROM OUR CHILDREN. 
WITH HUMILITY WE PRAY THAT THE 
HISTORY OF THIS DATE WILL GUIDE 
US TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR 
NATION. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.   
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 
30 SECONDS.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
WE HAVE NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF 
THIS COUNTRY SEEN A PRESIDENCY 
LIKE THIS ONE. 
ONCE THE PRESIDENT WAS SWORN 
IN, 19 MINUTES LATER WASHINGTON 
POST SAYS IMPEACHMENT BEGINS 
TODAY. 
BANK OF AMERICA, STARBUCKS, 
SUPPORTED HILLARY CLINTON, BOTH 
HAD WINDOWS BROKEN BECAUSE 
PEOPLE WERE UPSET HE WAS 
ELECTED PRESIDENT. 
HE HAS HAD HIS HELD HEAD HELD 
UNDERWATER FOR NEARLY 3 YEARS. 
LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT EVER. 
HIGH STOCK MARKET EVER. 
LOWEST ON EMPLOYMENT IN YEARS.  
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME.  
>> I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEBRASK.  
>> 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED SINCE THE 
BEGINNING OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY 
A PREDETERMINED GUILTY VERDICT. 
IT IS UNFAIR, WRONG, NOW EVERY 
FUTURE PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR 
REPUBLICAN WILL HAVE TO WORRY 
THAT THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS 
WILL BE DRIVEN AS A BLUNT FORCE 
POLITICAL INSTRUMENT. 
IT HAS BEEN SAID THE STATE IS 
SAD. 
IT IS NOT SAD, IT'S 
REGRETTABLE. 
AT THE STABLE AND SHORTLY. 
THE HOUSES HAD IT'S CATHARTIC 
MOMENT. 
TOMORROW WILL BEGIN A NEW DAY 
LET'S GET BACK TO WORK. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA  
>>  I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS. 
>> READY, FIRE HIM.  
HERE ARE MADE UP ARTICLES TO 
FIT AN EVER SHRINKING 
IMPEACHMENT FOOTHOLD. 
GEORGE WASHINGTON COULD BE 
IMPEACHED UNDER THIS CRITERIA. 
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THEY ARE 
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY WITH THESE 
HYSTERICAL MEETUP CHARGES. 
WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE WE ARE 
REPUBLIC NOT A DEMOCRACY IS A 
KEEP INSISTING. 
NO ONE CAME TO CONGRESS. 
SOME OF COME TO IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
FROM IMPEACHMENT, BECAUSE THE 
CANDIDATE LOST IN 2016. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CHOSE TO 
LEAD US INTO PROSPERITY NOT A 
SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT. 
WE WILL SURVIVE THIS DAY BUT I 
CALL ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO 
SEE THROUGH THIS SHAM.  
>> WE RESERVE THE BALANCE OF 
OUR TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> SOUTH DAKOTA.  
>> I AM VOTING NO. 
IMPEACHMENT IS NOT IN THE BEST 
INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY. 
IN FACT IT IS ONLY DEEPENED THE 
PARTISAN DIVIDE THAT TRULY 
PLAGUES THIS COUNTRY. 
WHEN THE SUNSHINE COMES UP 
TOMORROW, I PRAY WITH ALL MY 
HEART THAT THE ANGER AND THE 
DIVISION IN THIS CHAMBER WILL 
GIVE WAY TO AN HONORABLE MISS 
AND A PRODUCTIVITY. 
AND A TIME OF WORKING TOGETHER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER GET 
IN LINE FOR LANDING. 
30 SECONDS GENTLEMAN FROM 
ALABAMA.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS. 
>> THANK YOU. 
MADAM CHAIR, TODAY IT DULY 
ELECTED HIM PRESIDENT IS BEING 
IMPEACHED BY THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES BY THE 
DEMOCRATS COMPELLED BY 
PARTISANSHIP AND NOT THE FACTS. 
I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I PLAN TO 
CAST MY VOTE AGAINST BOTH 
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THIS IS NOT, IT'S NOT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER, IT 
IS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER 
SIDE OF THE YARD POWER IT'S MY 
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ABUSING ONE 
OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS IN 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
TWISTING THE CONSTITUTION TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT.
>> WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THIS TIME WE 
YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS.   
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WEBSTER 
DICTIONARY DEFINES A STAR 
CHAMBER AS CHARACTERIZED BY 
SECRECY AND OFTEN BEING 
IRRESPONSIBLY ARBITRARILY AND 
OPPRESSIVE. 
IT'S SAD MY DEMOCRAT FRIENDS 
HAVE TURNED THIS CHAMBER, THE 
PEOPLE'S CAMBER INTO THE STAR 
CHAMBER OF THE PEOPLE. 
ONE GREAT EXAMPLE, THE MOST 
IMPORTANT THING WE COULD DO IS 
MEMBERS IS DECLARE WAR. 
THE NEXT IS TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT. 
WE ARE HOPING REPUBLICANS CAN 
STAND UP AND VOTE, SAY THE VOTE 
LOUDLY. 
I YIELD BACK. 
THIS IS A SHAM. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  30 SECONDS.  
>> THANK YOU. 
WHILE THIS INSTITUTION SHOULD 
ENSURE THE LAWS FAITHFULLY 
EXECUTED BY THE BRANCH, THIS 
EXERCISE IS SHOWING ITSELF TO BE
EPILATION OF THE OVERSIGHT 
POWERS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
MY COLLEAGUES WHO'VE PLACED 
POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY AT OF 
MODERATION WERE CLEAR THIS THEY 
WILL FOREVER CHANGE THIS 
INSTITUTION. 
IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE THIS 
BODY UTILIZES THE MOST SEVERE 
OF ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POLES TO 
CONTINUALLY PUT THE 
OPPOSITIONAL PARTY ON TRIAL. 
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO YIELD 
ONE MINUTE TO THE AND FOR 
MARYLAND. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.    
>> MADAME SPEAKER, AND I WAS 
COMMISSIONED A SECOND 
LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES 
ARMY I SWORE AN OATH TO SUPPORT 
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. 
I HAVE DONE SO 13 TIMES IN MY 
35 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE. 
THAT OATH MEANS EVERYTHING. 
TO SERVE AND FIGHT FOR OUR 
COUNTRY, PROTECT AND PROMOTE 
OUR VALUES. 
IT RESIDENT TRUMP TO TRADE HIS 
OATH. 
HE ABUSED HIS POWER. 
THE IMMENSE POWER OF THE 
PRESIDENCY. 
HE THREATENED OUR ELECTIONS FOR 
INVITING FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. 
HE CHOSE INVESTIGATING A 
POLITICAL RIVAL OVER DEFENDING 
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
SO TODAY WE MUST USE OUR POWER. 
THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER ENDOWED 
BY OUR CONSTITUTION AND AND 
TRUSTED BY THE PEOPLE. 
THE POWER TO IMPEACH. 
MUST HOLD RESIDENT TRUMP 
ACCOUNTABLE OR ELSE WE WILL BE 
COMPLICIT IN UNDERMINING OUR 
DEMOCRACY, OUR SECURITY AND OUR 
DIGNITY. 
HIS CONDUCT DEMONSTRATES HIS 
UNFITNESS TO SERVE AS COMMANDER 
IN CHIEF AND WARRANTS REMOVAL 
FROM OFFICE. 
THE OATH I TOOK AS A MEMBER OF 
CONGRESS IS THE SAME I TOOK AS 
A SOLDIER. 
AN OATH THAT REMINDS ME, VALUES 
MATTER. 
DUTY, HONOR AND THE RULE OF LAW 
MATTER. 
TO KEEP MY OATH TO THE PEOPLE I 
SERVE IN THE COUNTRY I LOVE, 
TODAY I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
I YIELD BACK.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  30 SECONDS.  
>> I HAVE SAID THIS PROCESS, 
IMPEACHMENT SHOULD BE THE 
NUCLEAR OPTION RESERVED FOR THE 
MOST TREASONOUS ACTIVITY IN THE 
MOST SERIOUS ACTIVITY. 
CLEARLY THE HAS NOT BEEN MET 
HERE. 
AS I REVIEWED THE FACTS AND 
EVIDENCE OF THE FORMER FEDERAL 
PROSECUTOR I'VE READ THE 
TRANSCRIPT, WATCH THE HEARINGS, 
WATCHED THE WHISTLEBLOWER. 
THAT HAS NOT BEEN MET. 
THIS DUE PROCESS AND 
TRANSPARENCY. 
WE SHOULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT 
DOING THIS. 
THIS IS A TRAVESTY. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF OUR 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  30 SECONDS.  
>> IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE FEW 
AMERICANS THAT ARE GOING TO BE 
WATCHING THIS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT 
THE OUTCOME IS, THEY ARE 
WONDERING WHY ARE WE TRYING TO 
NEGATE THE VOTE OF 63 MILLION 
AMERICANS INSTEAD OF TALKING 
ABOUT THE THINGS AMERICANS CARE 
ABOUT. 
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE, THE 
HIGH COST OF HEALTHCARE, 
SECURING OUR BORDERS. 
KEEPING OUR ECONOMY GOING. 
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD 
BE TALKING ABOUT. 
NO NO, INSTEAD WE ARE GOING TO 
PASS THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT 
AND THEN GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS 
VACATION INSTEAD OF DOING THE 
JOB OF AMERICA. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS. 
>> AS A POLITICAL NEWCOMER 
BEFORE THIS, AND JUST LIKE 
PLEASANT  -- PRESIDENT TRUMP 
PERHAPS LIKE ME HE WAS NACVE TO 
THINK THAT THIS HOUSE, IN THE 
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, EVERYONE WAS 
TRUE AND JUST. 
IT'S NOT THE CASE. 
DEMOCRATS WORKED SADDENED BY 
THIS DATE, THEY WEREN'T WAITING 
FOR THE EVIDENCE. 
THIS WAS ALWAYS ABOUT POLITICS. 
BECAUSE THEY LOATHE THE 
PRESIDENT. 
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T PLAY BY THEIR 
BELTWAY RULES. 
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN. 
THE FACT IS KANSAS IS BETTER, 
THE U.S. IS BETTER IN THE WORLD 
IS BETTER BECAUSE OF DONALD 
TRUMP. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  30 SECONDS.  
>> MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE 
OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN 
CLAMORING FOR THIS DAY SINCE 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS ELECTED. 
REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE ELECTION 
RESULTS AND LATER THE FINDINGS 
OF THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION 
HAVE BROUGHT FORTH ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT THAT ARE NEGATED BY 
TWO SIMPLE FACTS. 
NAMELY THE MILITARY AID TO 
UKRAINE WAS PROVIDED. 
AND NO INVESTIGATION WAS EVER 
STARTED. 
THE REAL OFFENSE WAS THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WON THE ELECTION AND 
THEIR FEAR IS HE WILL WIN AGAIN 
DESPITE THEIR EFFORTS. 
I WILL VOTE AGAINST THE PERSON 
EFFORT TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION. 
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, I CONTINUE 
TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  DIRTY SECONDS.  
>> I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION 
FOR IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DONALD 
TRUMP. 
THIS IS BASED ON HEARSAY MADE 
BIPARTISAN WITNESS AND CLOSE 
DOORS. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A SHAM, 
MADAME SPEAKER AND HAS DIVIDED 
THIS COUNTRY. 
PROCESS WASTED TIME ON THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IT WOULD'VE BEEN 
BETTER USED ON ADDRESSING 
ISSUES FACING AMERICAN LIKE 
SECURING THE SOUTHERN BORDER, 
OPIOID EPIDEMIC OR ESTABLISHING 
A MANDATED BUDGET. 
NOW AMERICAN WORKERS HAVE TO 
WAIT UNTIL THE CITY TRIAL TO 
PASS YOU McA THAT THE PRESIDENT 
AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN 
WORKING ON FOR A YEAR. 
I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE PAST 
CHRIS DECIDED TO GO DOWN. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
.  
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>> I YIELD  30 SECONDS TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS. 
>> THANK YOU.  
IT'S OBVIOUS TODAY IS AN 
INTENSE HATRED FROM THE 
DEMOCRATS OF DEMOCRAT -- 
PRESIDENT ULTRA. 
WHY DO THEY HATE THE MAN SO 
MUCH? 
MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE OUT-OF-
CONTROL GOVERNMENT GONE WILD. 
THE ABUSES BY THE FBI, THE 
ABUSES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. 
MANY OF THESE, THE PREVIOUS 
ADMINISTRATION THEY'RE TRYING 
TO COVER UP. 
IT IS SAD. 
THIS IS A SHAMEFUL ACT, WE ARE 
DOING TODAY, SHAME ON THE 
DEMOCRATS SHAME ON THEM FOR 
PURSUING THIS. 
I ASK EVERYONE TO VOTE NO AND 
TAKE NOTICE OF WHO VOTES FOR 
THESE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> I YIELD 30 SECONDS. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR 30 SECONDS. 
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER.  
THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR AMERICA. 
WE KNOW THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A 
SHAM. 
THEY KNOW THIS IMPEACHMENT IS A 
SHAM. 
THEY KNOW WE KNOW THIS 
IMPEACHMENT IS A SHAM AND THEY 
KNOW MOST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
KNOW THIS IS A SHAMEFUL SHAM. 
WE KNOW IT BEGAN THE MOMENT THE 
PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED, LONG 
BEFORE HE HAD A TELEPHONE CALL 
WITH ANY FOREIGN LEADERS. 
WE HAVE HEARD THE NUMEROUS 
QUOTATIONS FROM THEM THAT 
VALIDATE THOSE POINTS. 
AND YET THEY PERSIST IN TRYING 
TO OVERTURN THE DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA'S ELECTION.  
>> THE GENTLEMEN'S TIME HAS 
EXPIRED. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> SPEAKER, I HEARD SOME OF MY 
COLLEAGUES IN A ROW AND IT'S 
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW VERY FEW 
OF THEM WANT TO ADDRESS ANY OF 
THE FACTS OF THE PRESIDENT 
MISCONDUCT. 
NOR DO THEY WISH TO DEFEND, OR 
APPARENTLY I HAVE STRUCK A 
NERVE, NOR DO THEY WISH TO 
DEFEND A PRESIDENT WOULD EXTORT 
AN ALLY WITHHOLDING MILITARY AID
.
N'T SAY IS THAT 
THIS PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS  
ETHICAL.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY WAS THAT  
THIS PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS  
LEGAL.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY WAS THIS  
PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT WAS 
CONSTITUTIONAL. 
WHAT THEY CAN'T SAY IS THIS 
PRESIDENT HAS UPHELD HIS OATH OF
OFFICE. 
NO, THEY CAN'T SAY THAT.
ALL THEY CAN SAY IS, WE DON'T 
LIKE THE PROCESS. 
OR OUR COLLEAGUES ARE JUST TOO  
HAPPY TO IMPEACH. 
OR, OR IT'S OVERTURNING THE WILL
OF THE PUBLIC WHEN IT'S A 
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. 
INTERESTINGLY MY COLLEAGUES WHO 
SUPPORTED THE IMPEACHMENT OF  
BILL CLINTON DID NOT THINK IT 
WAS OVERTURNING THE WILL OF THE 
PEOPLE. 
APPARENTLY THIS IMPEACHMENT 
PROVISION ONLY OVERTURNS THE  
WILL OF THE PEOPLE IF IT'S A  
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. 
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM MORE  
CREDIT THAN THAT. 
WHAT IS THE DISTINCTION HERE IS 
THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CONDUCT. 
THIS REMEDY WAS PUT IN THE  
CONSTITUTION FOR A REASON.
IT'S NOT AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL  
REMEDY. 
IT IS PART OF THE CONSTITUTION. 
THE ONLY WAY
THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONCEIVE 
OF THIS REMEDY AS BEING 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS IF YOU 
BELIEVE AS THE PRESIDENT DOES 
THAT HE IS THE STATE. 
THAT ANYTHING THAT OPPOSES HIM, 
OPPOSES THE STATE IS BY 
DEFINITION ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL. 
BUT THAT OF COURSE IS NONSENSE. 
BUT IT'S MORE THAN NONSENSE, IT 
IS DANGEROUS NONSENSE. 
MADAME SPEAKER, I AM PROUD TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
WASHINGTON FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.    
>> MADAME SPEAKER THE PEOPLE OF 
WASHINGTON'S EIGHTH DISTRICT 
SENT ME TO CONGRESS TO FIGHT 
FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND MAKE 
THOUGHTFUL EVIDENCE-BASED 
DECISIONS. 
I DID NOT HIM TO CONGRESS TO 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT. 
BUT EVIDENCE IS EVIDENCE. 
AND A BALANCE OF POWER IS 
FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. 
ON MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, LIKE 
EVERYONE ELSE HERE, I TOOK AN 
OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION 
AND PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. 
HISTORY WILL JUDGE THIS MOMENT. 
EVEN ALL THE FACTS BEFORE US, 
IF IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY 
REMEDY, I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  I'M SURE DID STRIKE A 
CHORD, HE SHOWED UP AND HEARD 
THE ARGUMENT. 
WE HAVE BEAT THE FAXBACK ALL 
THE TIME. 
IT'S THE MAJORITY SIDE THE HAD 
TO RUN THROUGH THIS. 
THE CLOCK AND CALENDAR ARE 
KILLING HIM BECAUSE HIS 
ARGUMENT SO FALLING FLAT. 
TO SPEAK OF EVIDENCE, WE LOOKED 
TO THE EVIDENCE AND IT DOESN'T 
FIT ANYTHING. 
BY THE WAY IF HE HAD EXTORTION, 
PUTTING ARTICLES, HE CAN'T 
BECAUSE HE CAN'T MAKE THE CASE. 
HE CAN ONLY COME TO THE MIC 
WHEN HE CAN BE QUESTIONED AND 
TALK ABOUT IT. 
THAT'S THE CORE THAT HAS BEEN 
STRUCK. 
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH DAKOTA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MS. 
>> ONCE PRESIDENT WAS SWORN IN  
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WERE 
INTRODUCED ULTIMATELY. 
ALL OF THAT BELOW ARE BEFORE 
JULY 25 PHONE CALL. 
ALSO DURING THAT TIME THE 
RUSSIA CONSPIRACY HOAX WAS 
EXPOSED. 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGES 
WERE ABANDONED AFTER THE ROBERT 
MUELLER HEARINGS FELL FLAT. 
AFTER TWO YEARS, 19 LAWYERS, 40 
AGENTS AND 500 WARRANTS AND 17 
LIVES IN A FISA WARRANT 
APPLICATION HAD NOTHING TO SHOW 
FOR IT. 
UNDETERRED BY THE FACTS THE 
BEAT MARCHED ON. 
HERE WE ARE TODAY. 
WE HAVE NO QUID PRO QUO, NO 
BRIBERY, NO EXTORTION, NO  
CRIMES ALLEGED IN THE ARTICLES 
AT ALL. 
BUT DON'T WORRY BECAUSE WE HAVE 
A BRAND-NEW 632 REPORT ALLEGING 
ALL KINDS OF THINGS. 
SOME FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
THIS ISN'T EIGHT SOMBER SOLEMN 
PROCESS, THIS IS A POLITICAL 
DRIVE-BY. 
THEY JUST WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
GONE. 
BUT THIS NEVER ENDING MARCH 
TOWARD OVERTURNING THE 2016 
ELECTION HAS CONSEQUENCES. 
BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING 63 
MILLION VOTERS YOU DON'T 
RESPECT THEIR VOTE. 
VOTERS IN STATES LIKE MINE WHO 
NOT THAT LONG AGO USED TO SEND 
IT DEMOCRATS TO THIS CHAMBER, 
BUT RECENTLY HAVE FOUND NO HOME 
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 
WHO FEEL THEIR VALUES HAVE BEEN 
REPLACED BY EIGHT LIBERAL 
ELITIST AGENDA WHO FEEL THAT 
PARTISAN POINTS ARE MORE 
IMPORTANT THAN PRACTICAL 
SOLUTIONS. 
THE NEVER ENDING IMPEACHMENT 
QUEST IS A CONSTANT REMINDER TO 
THEM THAT YOU DON'T TRUST THEIR 
JUDGMENT, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND 
THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND YOU 
COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THE 
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEM. 
IS A CHAIRMAN HAS SO OMINOUSLY 
STATED, IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT 
REMOVING A PRESIDENT FROM 
OFFICE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS 
OVERTURNING THE RESULTS OF THE 
LAST ELECTION. 
THEY WERE SERIOUS. 
THEY SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS 
TALKING ABOUT IT, UNWILLING TO 
ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF 2016. 
I WONDER IF MY COLLEAGUES 
RECOGNIZE THE IRONY THAT THERE 
IMPEACHMENT VENDETTA IS THE 
GREATEST IN ELECTION 
INTERFERENCE OF ALL. 
AND IT WAS HOMEGROWN RIGHT HERE 
IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS. 
WITH THAT I YIELD.  
>> NUMBERS ARE REMINDED TO 
ADDRESS THEIR MARKS REMARKS TO 
THE CHAIR. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> WE RESERVE THE BALANCE OF 
OUR TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> THANK YOU. 
AT THIS TIME I YIELD THREE 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW YORK.  
>> 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR THREE MINUTES. 
>> THIS IMPEACHMENT IS AN 
EMBARRASSMENT FOR HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS.  
THEY CLAIM THEIR CASE IS 
UNCONTESTED. 
RELYING ON PRESUMPTIONS, 
HEARSAY AND 3% OF THE STORY 
TRYING TO CONNECT DOTS THAT ARE 
ACTUALLY CONNECTED. 
SOME INCONVENIENT TRUTHS, 
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY DIDN'T KNOW 
THERE WAS A HOLD ON EGG  AID 
UNTIL AUGUST 29. 
AID GETS RELEASED AND UKRAINE 
DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO 
GET IT RELEASED.  
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY  SAYS NO 
DEMAND, NO 12, NO PRESSURE. 
DEMOCRATS WANT THE PUBLIC TO 
IGNORE THE OTHER 97% OF THE 
STORY. 
SEE, DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. 
SENATE DEMOCRATS WANT NEW 
WITNESSES TO SHOW WHY THERE WAS 
A HOLD ON AID.  
ON REQUEST, IF YOU THINK YOU 
HAVE PROVEN YOUR CASE. 
AT THE HEART OF THIS DEBATE TWO 
INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING 
DISCUSSED BETWEEN COUNTRIES. 
DEMOCRATS AND ALLIES WANT THE 
PUBLIC TO BELIEVE IT IS ALL JUST
úDEBUNK THE UKRAINIANS 
INTERFERED IN THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
THEY WANT YOU TO IGNORE COMMENTS
THAT ORIGINS OF THE STEEL 
DOSSIER, THE BLACK LEDGER AND 
MORE. 
THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS IS 
THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ARE 
SMARTER THE DEMOCRATS ARE 
HITTING THEM CREDIT FOR. 
NEXT THE DEMOCRATS CLAIM 
REPUBLICANS ARE ARGUING IT WAS 
UKRAINE AND NOT RUSSIA THAT 
WANTED TO INTERFERE AND WAS 
INTERFERING WITH THE 2016 
ELECTION. 
THAT IS NOT WHAT REPUBLICANS 
ARE SAYING. 
OF COURSE WE HAVE THE BIDEN 
ISSUE OF A CORRUPT UKRAINIAN 
ENERGY COMPANY RUN BY A CORRUPT 
UKRAINIAN OLIGARCH HIRING 
HUNTER BIDEN AT $50,000 PER 
MONTH WITH NO ENERGY EXPERIENCE 
AND NO UKRAINE EXPERIENCE 
SOLELY BECAUSE HE IS VICE 
PRESIDENT BIDEN SON. 
THE COMPANY WANTED TO HIRE 
HUNTER BIDEN BECAUSE THEY 
WANTED TO CURRY FAVOR. 
THERE WAS THIS ONGOING 
CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION. 
ENTER JOE BIDEN. 
HE GETS THAT PROSECUTOR FIRED 
FOR THE LOSS OF $1 BILLION. 
DEMOCRATS BELIEVE BIDEN SHOULD 
BE IMMUNE FROM SCRUTINY. 
I DISAGREE. 
NEVER AGAIN SHOULD THAT 
CONFLICT OF INTEREST HAPPEN. 
AND OUR GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE 
WORKING TOGETHER TO GET TO THE 
BOTTOM OF ALL OF THIS. 
THIS IS BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER 
ON THE PROCESS. 
FROM GETTING A FEDERAL WORKER 
TO FILE A WHISTLEBLOWER 
COMPLAINT TO ADAM SHIFTS VERSION
OF THE CALL. 
HE WAS PROSECUTOR, JUDGE JURY 
AND WITNESS COAST COACH. 
EVERYDAY HE LOVED GETTING 
AMERICA DRUNK ON HIS FAVORITE 
COCKTAIL. 
CHERRY PICKING LEAKS, 
WITHHOLDING KEY FACTS AND 
MISSTATING EVIDENCE. 
IN DEFINITIONS AND PUBLIC 
HEARINGS THE COUNSEL WAS NOT 
INVITED TO ATTEND OR CROSS-
EXAMINE WITNESSES. 
REPUBLICANS WERE ALLOWED TO 
CALL WITNESSES LIKE HUNTER 
BIDEN, JOE BIDEN AND OTHERS. 
THEN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY DEBACLE
WHERE ADAM SCHIFF COULDN'T SHOW 
TO PRESENT HIS REPORTS. 
HE HAD TO HAVE A STAFFER REPORT 
FOR HIM. 
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS RIPPING OUR 
COUNTRY IN HALF. 
IS FATALLY FLAWED IN THE 
PROCESS, THE SUBSTANCE, 
INTENTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> I THINK THE SPEAKER. 
WE CONTINUE TO RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> MADAME SPEAKER I YIELD THREE 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NORTH CAROLINA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR THREE MINUTES.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
TODAY AS WE SIT HERE DEBATING 
IMPEACHMENT, THEY ALL WANT TO 
TALK ABOUT, IT'S THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
IT'S ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 
THE LAST 30 DAYS I'VE HEARD 
MORE ABOUT HAMILTON FOR MY 
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES AND UNTIL 
THEN THE CLOSEST I EVER CAME TO 
HAMILTON WAS A $10 BILL. 
ALL OF A SUDDEN WHAT WE HAVE IS 
THESE STRICT CONSTITUTIONALISTS 
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. 
LISTEN, THIS IS NOTHING TO DO 
WITH THE CONSTITUTION. 
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 
ANYTHING BUT RAW POLITICS. 
THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE 
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE THE GOT 
SEVEN PINOCCHIO'S FOR NOT 
TELLING THE TRUTH. 
NO ONE ON THE SIDE OF THE AISLE 
GOT THAT DURING THIS 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS MADAME 
SPEAKER. 
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO 
UNDERSTAND TWO KEY FACTS. 
THE DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL SET 
THEIR OWN RULES OF EVIDENCE. 
THEY SAID WHAT WE NEED TO DO 
FOR IMPEACHMENT IS TO HAVE 
COMPELLING EVIDENCE AND 
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
WELL, THEY DON'T HAVE EITHER OF 
THOSE TWO THINGS. 
FAILED THE RULES LIMITED 
THEMSELVES. 
WE HAVE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY OF 
UKRAINE SING THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE.  
WE HAVE THE NUMBER 2 GUY IN 
UKRAINE SAYING THERE WAS NO 
PRESSURE. 
WE HAVE THE NUMBER 3 GUY IN 
UKRAINE SING NO PRESSURE. 
HESE ARE THE SUPPOSE IT 
VICTIMS OF THESE ALLEGED 
CRIMES. 
AND YET HERE WE ARE, SUPPOSEDLY 
HAVING THIS COMPELLING EVIDENCE 
OF FACTS WHEN THE BEST WITNESS 
THEY HAVE, THE VERY BEST 
WITNESS THEY HAD HAD TO CHANGE 
HIS TESTIMONY TWICE. 
THEY MENTION HIM 611 TIMES AND 
ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY HE SAID 
I PRESUME THAT IS WHAT THE 
PRESIDENT MEANT. 
I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE NOT 
FACTS HERE TO SUPPORT IT, BUT 
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN 
THAT, MADAME SPEAKER, IS THIS. 
BECAUSE HERE WE ARE TODAY, WE 
HAVE BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO 
IMPEACHMENT. 
NOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 
MY COLLEAGUES OPPOSITE WANT THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO THINK THIS 
IS A SAD AND SOMBER DAY. 
THIS IS A SAD DAY, A SAD DAY 
FOR THIS INSTITUTION BECAUSE WE 
HAVE LOWERED THE BAR TO IMPEACH 
A PRESIDENT THAT CONTINUES TO 
GIVE US AN ECONOMY THAT NOT 
ONLY IS GROWING, BUT GROWING AT 
LEVELS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN 
THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. 
WHEN WE LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT AT 
A LEVEL THAT IS TRULY 
REMARKABLE, THEY WANT TO 
IMPEACH. 
BUT IT'S ANOTHER SAD DAY 
BECAUSE NOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING 
IS TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE 
THAT 233 DEMOCRATS DESERVE TO 
DECIDE WHO THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES SHOULD BE AND 
DISENFRANCHISE 63 MILLION 
VOTERS. 
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, WHEN 
THE HISTORY OF THIS IMPEACHMENT 
IS WRITTEN, IT WILL BE SAID 
THAT MIGHT WASHINGTON DEMOCRAT 
FRIENDS COULDN'T RING 
THEMSELVES TO WORK WITH DONALD 
TRUMP SO THEY CONSOLE 
THEMSELVES INSTEAD BY SILENCING 
THE WILL OF THOSE WHO DID, THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM CALIFORNIA FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  ONE MINUTE.  
>> ROBERT MUELLER LAYS OUT 
FACTS FROM 2017 THE CONSTITUTE 
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE BUT SAYS 
THE PRESIDENT CANNOT BE 
INDICTED, ONLY CONGRESS CAN 
APPLY THE LAW ON THOSE FACTS. 
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING 
ABOUT IMPEACHMENT SINCE THOSE 
FACTS EMERGED IN 2017. 
OF COURSE TODAY WE FOCUS ON 
MORE RECENT CRIMES. 
SO WHY DID WE TALK OF 
IMPEACHMENT BACK WHEN A 
REPUBLICAN LED CONGRESS WOULD 
NOT ACT? 
WHY DO WE IMPEACH TODAY WHEN A 
REPUBLICAN LED SENATE IS 
UNLIKELY TO ACT? 
FIRST, BECAUSE IT IS OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY, NO MATTER 
WHAT THE POLITICAL 
CONSEQUENCES. 
SECOND, BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST 
EFFECTIVE TOOL TO CHASE AND 
RESTRAIN A PRESIDENT WHO IS NOT 
NATURALLY CONSTRAINED BY THE 
RULE OF LAW. 
I WOULD NOTE THE PRESIDENTS 
ATTEMPT TO EXTORT UKRAINE WAS 
SECRETIVE. 
FAR DIFFERENT FROM HIS MODUS 
OPERANDI OF 2017. 
WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT HIGH 
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS THIS 
PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE BOLDLY 
COMMITTED HAD NO ONE BEEN 
TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT THAN. 
HAD HE FELT IMMUNE FROM 
IMPEACHMENT. 
TODAY WE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE 
PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  IT BE NICE IF THEY HAD 
ACTUALLY THOUGHT THOSE WERE BAD 
ENOUGH TO PUT IN THE ARTICLES. 
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR THREE MINUTES. 
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, YOU KNOW 
WHO DOESN'T THINK THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE PRESENTED ENOUGH TESTIMONY 
TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP? 
IT'S THE DEMOCRATS. 
IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN THE 
HOUSE OF THE CLARITY OF THE AND 
EVERYTHING NEEDED. 
THEY HAVE ALL THE TESTIMONY AND 
EVIDENCE TO IMPEACH RIGHT NOW. 
BUT DOWN THE HALL DEMOCRATS IN 
THE SENATE ARE SAYING THE 
OPPOSITE. 
THEY ARE COMPLAINING. 
THEY NEED MORE EVIDENCE AND 
TESTIMONY BECAUSE SENATE 
DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT HOUSE 
DEMOCRATS HAVE BUILT THEM A 
HOUSE OF CARDS IMPEACHMENT. 
AND IMPEACHMENT BUILT BY THE 
SAME DEMOCRATS WHO CALLED 
AMERICA, TRUST US, RESIDENT 
TRUMP COMMITTED TREASON, HE IS 
A RUSSIAN AGENT AND WE HAVE 
EVIDENCE. 
WHICH OF COURSE PROVED TO BE 
FALSE TO QUOTE THE FAVORITE 
CATCHPHRASE OF ONE MEMBER OF 
THIS HOUSE, THEY GOT CAUGHT. 
ALONG THE WAY THE SAME 
DEMOCRATS SAID TRUST US. 
THE LAWS OF COURT WERE ABUSED 
BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION 
USING OBAMA RESEARCH AND 
MINISTRATION DOSSIER AGAINST 
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
AGAIN, TOTALLY FALSE AND THEY 
GOT CAUGHT. 
AND WHEN DEMOCRATS STARTED THIS 
LATEST IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY THEY 
SAID, TRUST US. 
WE HAVE NOT YET SPOKEN TO THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER. 
AGAIN, TOTALLY FALSE AND THEY 
GOT CAUGHT. 
SADLY MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES 
HAVE PLACED THEIR OWN 
CREDIBILITY IN THE HANDS OF 
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO HAVE NO 
CREDIBILITY LEFT. 
MEMBERS THAT NO ONE TRUSTS 
BECAUSE THEY KEEP ADDING CAUGHT 
BETRAYING AMERICA. 
BUT UNLESS A BOLT OF COURAGE 
AND INTEGRITY STRIKES OUTSIDE 
OF ROOM IN THE NEXT HOUR, 
HISTORY WILL REFLECT DONALD 
TRUMP IS THE THIRD PRESIDENT TO 
BE IMPEACHED. 
HISTORY MAY ALSO SHORTLY REFLECT
HE WILL BE THE FIRST PRESIDENT 
TO BE REELECTED AFTER BEING 
WRONGFULLY IMPEACHED. 
IF THAT HAPPENS DEMOCRATS WON'T 
BE ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND A 
PRETEND VENEER OF CARING ABOUT 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
HISTORY WILL RECORD THE 
DEMOCRATS LEGACY OF A BETRAYAL 
OF THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE THE 
FOUNDERS MEANT FOR IMPEACHMENT 
TO BE USED FOR ACTIONS SO 
EXTRAORDINARY AND RARE IT'S 
HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 2.5 
CENTURIES. 
IT WASN'T MEANT FOR 
CONGRATULATORY PHONE CALLS WITH 
THERE IS NO CRIME ALLEGED. 
NO VICTIM. 
AND WHERE THE DEMOCRATS 
THEMSELVES COULDN'T EVEN DECIDE 
WHAT TO ACCUSE THE PRESIDENT OF 
DOING WRONG. 
BEFORE ENDING UP WITH THIS 
EMBARRASSMENT OF A GRAB BAG OF 
ABUSE OF POWER ARTICLE. 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS, TO 
EVEN ALLEGE IT IS AN ADMISSION 
OF CONSTITUTIONAL ILLITERACY. 
THE FOUNDERS HAD A TERM FOR 
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS CALL 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
THE FOUNDERS CALLED IT THE 
SEPARATION OF POWERS. 
THE FUNNY THING ABOUT 
OBSTRUCTION, EVERY TIME 
DEMOCRATS GET CAUGHT TRYING TO 
FRAME THE PRESIDENT FOR A CRIME 
HE DIDN'T COMMIT, THEY BY 
ACCUSING HIM OF TRYING TO 
OBSTRUCT FROM IT. 
THE FOUNDERS FEARED IMPEACHMENT 
WOULD COME BY THE PARTY THE HAD 
THE MOST THOSE. 
TODAY DEMOCRATS ARE THE 
FOUNDERS WORST NIGHTMARE. 
I THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE 
PROBABLY WISHING THEY COULD 
IMPEACH THE DEMOCRATS. TO THEM 
I SAY, YOU CAN, NEXT NOVEMBER. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> I THINK WHEN THE HISTORY OF 
THIS TIME IS WRITTEN, IT WILL 
RECORD THAT WHEN MY COLLEAGUES 
FOUND THAT THEY LACKED THE 
COURAGE TO STAND UP TO THIS 
UNETHICAL PRESIDENT, THEY 
CONSOLE THEMSELVES BY ATTACKING 
THOSE WHO DID. 
I NOW RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM CALIFORNIA FOR UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN'S REQUEST.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER INTO 
THE RECORD MY REMARKS 
SUPPORTING THE IMPEACHMENT OF 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.  
>> I REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
FOR THE GENTLE LADY OF NEW YORK.
FOR HER REQUEST.  
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS RICK 
RECOGNIZE.  
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
NTER INTO THE RECORD MY 
REMARKS SUPPORTING MY VOTE FOR 
THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.
>> MADAME SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLE LADY FROM CALIFORNIA 
FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.  
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> I ASK CONSENT TO ENTER INTO 
THE RECORD MY REMARKS 
SUPPORTING THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DONALD 
TRUMP.  
>> SO ORDERED.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THE GENTLE 
LADY FROM OHIO FOR UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST.  
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED.  
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
ENTER INTO THE RECORD MY 
REMARKS SUPPORTING THE 
IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD 
TRUMP.  
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO 
ORDERED.  
>> SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLE LADY FROM VIRGINIA FOR 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST.  
ú>> THE GENTLE LADY IS RECOGNIZD
.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER INTO 
THE RECORD MY REMARKS 
SUPPORTING IMPEACHMENT OF 
DONALD TRUMP.  
>> AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NE JERSEY FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR ONE MINUTE.   
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WE ARE HERE 
TODAY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF 
SO MANY TO CAST ASIDE NARROW 
AMBITION, TO CONFRONT A THREAT 
STANDING BEFORE US. 
OFTEN THE CHANCE TO INVESTIGATE 
THIS GOVERNMENT TOGETHER, THE 
PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY 
STONEWALLED AND OBSTRUCTED. WE 
ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY 
CHOOSE COMFORT OVER COURAGE. 
THIS IS THE ONGOING TRAGEDY OF 
OUR AGE. 
AND IT IS ONGOING. 
THE MATTER IS NOW SOLELY IN OUR 
HANDS. 
AND BELONGS TO US AND US ALONE. 
THE BUCK HAS STOPPED. 
MANY HAVE INVOKED JUDGMENT OF 
HISTORY AS AN ANECDOTE TO THIS 
THREAT. 
BUT THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IS 
HERE TODAY. 
NOT TOMORROW. 
WE NEED NOT, IT MUST NOT AWAIT 
THE VERDICT OF TIME FOR DONALD 
TRUMP'S ABUSE OF POWER AND 
OBSTRUCTION. 
CAN OFFER THAT VERDICT RIGHT 
NOW AND WE ARE.  
>> 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  THREE MINUTES.  
>> THE DEMOCRATS FORGOT TWO KEY 
THINGS. 
THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE FACTS AND 
FAIRNESS. 
FOUR FAX WILL NEVER CHANGE. 
WE HAVE THE CALL TRANSCRIPT, NO 
QUID PRO QUO. 
WE HAVE THE TWO GUYS ON THE 
CALL WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID  
THERE WAS NO PRESSURE, NO 
PUSHING, WE HAVE THE FACT THAT 
UKRAINE DIDN'T KNOW AID WAS 
HELD UP AT THE TIME OF THE CALL 
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY UKRAINE 
TOOK NO ACTION, NO ANNOUNCEMENT 
OF INVESTIGATION TO GET THE AID 
RELEASED. 
BUT DEMOCRATS DON'T CARE.  
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FACTS 
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE 
PROCESS. 
NO SUBPOENAED POWERFUL 
REPUBLICANS, DURING THE 
DEPOSITIONS REPUBLICANS WERE 
PREVENTED FROM GETTING THEIR 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED BUT 
DEMOCRATS EVERYONE OF THEIR 
QUESTIONS. 
THE WITNESS RESPONDED TO 
EVERYONE OF THEIRS BUT NOT 
REPUBLICANS. 
THE CHAIR WOULD LET THEM. 
AND OF COURSE THE ANONYMOUS 
WHISTLEBLOWER WITH NO FIRSTHAND 
KNOWLEDGE BY THIS AGAINST THE 
PRESIDENT WORKED FOR JOE BIDEN 
WAS NEVER COMPELLED TO TESTIFY. 
THE GUY WHO STARTED IT ALL. 
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DRIVING 
THESE GUYS CRAZY BECAUSE HE'S 
GETTING THINGS DONE. 
HE'S DOING WHAT HE SAID HE WAS 
GOING TO DO. 
IS HAVING REGULATIONS REDUCED, 
UNEMPLOYMENT AT ITS LOWEST 
LEVEL, THE ECONOMY GROWING. 
OR SUCH AND KEVIN ON THE RECORD.
AND A NEW NAFTA AGREEMENT 
COMING TOMORROW. 
BUT GUESS WHAT, WHEN YOU DRAIN 
THE SWAMP THE SWAMP FIGHTS 
BACK. 
AND THEY STARTED ATTACKING THE 
PRESIDENT BEFORE THE ELECTION 
EVEN. 
JULY 31st, 2016 THEY OPENED THE 
RUSH INSTIGATION. 
THE FBI TOOK THE DOSSIER THEY 
ALREADY KNEW WAS FALSE, THEY 
TOOK IT TO THE COURT, LIED TO 
THE COURT 17 TIMES. 
THREE DAYS AGO, ON NATIONAL 
TELEVISION EVEN JAMES COMEY HAD 
TO ADMIT THE FBI WAS WRONG. 
AND YESTERDAY, ONE DAY AGO, THE 
COURT SINCE THE FBI A LETTER 
AND SAYS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER 
WHEN IT COMES TO THE 
APPLICATION PROCESS. 
THINK ABOUT THIS. 
THINK ABOUT THIS. 
THE ATTACK STARTED THEN AND 
CONTINUED UNTIL TODAY. 
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT 
SOMETHING. 
OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SAID, THE 
PFIZER PROCESS WAS FINE, THE 
RUSH INVESTIGATION WAS FINE, 
THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL RAN THE 
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS, THAT SAME 
INDIVIDUAL STAFF MET WITH THE 
WHISTLEBLOWER. 
THE ONLY GUY IN CONGRESS WHO 
KNOWS WHO THE WHISTLEBLOWER IS 
FOR SURE AND THAT SAME 
INDIVIDUAL RELEASED THE PHONE 
RECORDS OF THE PRESIDENT'S 
PERSONAL ATTORNEY, THE PRESIDENT
OF A MEMBER OF THE PRESS AND OF 
A REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE 
UNITED STATES CONGRESS. 
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN UNFAIR, 
IT HAS BEEN DANGEROUS, AND IT'S 
BEEN HARMFUL TO OUR COUNTRY. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED 
THE WILL OF THE MEGAN PEOPLE. 
NANCY PELOSI MADE THAT CLEAR 
FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN SHE CALLED 
THE PRESIDENT AN IMPOSTER. 
THE WILL OF WE THE PEOPLE, THE 
63 MILLION FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR 
THIS GUY, MADE HIM PRESIDENT IN 
AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE LANDSLIDE, 
THEY HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THAT 
FACT. 
WE ARE LESS THAN 11 MONTHS AWAY 
FROM THE ELECTION. 
AT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE 
WHO SHOULD BE PRESIDENT. 
LET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMEN FROM ILLINOIS FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  ONE MINUTE.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I RISE TO 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND 
SUPPORT THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED THE POWER 
OF HIS OFFICE BY CORRUPTLY 
PUTTING HIS OWN POLITICAL 
INTEREST HEAD OF OUR NATION'S 
SECURITY. 
HE BLOCK TO CONGRESSIONALLY 
AUTHORIZED AID TO UKRAINE TO 
LAUNCH A PHONY INVESTIGATION 
INTO A RIVAL. 
IN THE MONTHS SINCE HE IS WAGED 
A CAMPAIGN OF ABSOLUTE 
DESTRUCTION AGAINST CONGRESS'S 
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY 
ORDERING OFFICIAL TO DEFY 
SUBPOENAS AND REFUSING TO 
PRODUCE A SINGLE DOCUMENT. 
MADAME SPEAKER, I TAKE NO JOY 
IN TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT VOTE OR 
THAT THE PRESIDENTS ACTIONS 
DEMAND THIS RESPONSE. 
THIS IS A SAD MOMENT FOR OUR 
NATION. 
ONLY TWICE BEFORE HAS THE HOUSE 
VOTED TO IMPEACH A PRESIDENT. 
AND NEVER BEFORE AND 
ACCUSATIONS OF COMPROMISING OUR 
NATION'S SECURITY. 
HOPE IN THE SENATE PROSECUTION 
AND DEFENSE CAN CALL AND CROSS-
EXAMINE WITNESSES AND THE 
SENATORS WILL HEAR THE EVIDENCE 
AND MAKE THEIR DECISIONS 
WITHOUT PRESIDENT PREJUDICE OR 
PREJUDGMENT. 
THIS IS A SOLEMN MOMENT. 
BUT OUR SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR 
TIMES LIKE THESE AND I HAVE 
FAITH THAT OUR CONSTITUTION 
WILL GUIDE US ON THE PATH 
AHEAD. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.    
>> I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR THREE MINUTES. 
>>  IS THE DEMOCRATS ADMIT, 
THEIR ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE 
PRESIDENT BEGAN ON TRUMP'S 
INAUGURATION DAY. 
THE DEMOCRATS SEMIOFFICIAL 
MOUTHPIECE WASHINGTON POST 
DECLARED THE CAMPAIGN TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS 
BEGUN. 
FOR YEARS THE DEMOCRATS TRIED 
TO EXPEL THE PRESIDENT WITH THE 
PREPOSTEROUS ACCUSATION THAT HE 
WAS A RUSSIAN AGENT. 
IS DETAILED BY HORWITZ, 
DISHONEST INTELLIGENCE 
OFFICIALS USED FAKE ALLEGATIONS 
SPREAD BY THE DEMOCRATS TO GAIN 
APPROVAL OF A SPYING OPERATIN 
AGAINST THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. 
IS A FALSELY ACCUSED THE TRUMP 
CAMPAIGN OF COLLUDING WITH 
RUSSIANS, THE DEMOCRATS 
THEMSELVES LOOTED WITH 
RUSSIANS. 
TO MANUFACTURE THESE 
ALLEGATIONS IN THE INFAMOUS 
STEEL DOSSIER. 
THEY TRIED TO GET PICTURES OF 
TRUMP FROM RUSSIAN PRANKSTERS. 
THE DEMOCRATS HAD EVERYTHING 
GOING FOR THEM, INVESTIGATIONS 
RUN BY TRUMP HATERS. 
AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MEDIA 
CHEERLEADERS. 
AND A GALAXY OF LEFT WING 
INTEREST GROUPS AMPLIFYING THE 
RIDICULOUS MESSAGE. 
AND YET EVEN WITH ALL THOSE 
WEAPONS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, THE 
RUSSIA CONSPIRACY THEORY 
COLLAPSED. 
SO THEY QUICKLY CONCOCTED PLAN 
B. THE UKRAINE HOAX WAS BASED 
ON A SUPPOSEDLY WHISTLEBLOWER 
CONCLUDED BEFORE HAND WITH THE 
DEMOCRATS. 
THE DEMOCRATS THEN PREVENTED 
CONGRESS FROM INTERVENING 
INTERVIEWING THE WHISTLEBLOWER 
WHILE CONDUCTING IS OUR SECRET 
DEPOSITIONS AND SELECTIVELY 
LEAKING TESTIMONY TO DISCREDIT 
MEDIA HACKS. 
THE DEMOCRATS SHOWCASED THE MOST
USEFUL WITNESSES IN PUBLIC 
HEARINGS. 
BUT SOMEHOW REDUCED SUPPORT FOR 
IMPEACHMENT. 
IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE A COUP 
ATTEMPT BORING. 
THE DEMOCRATS FOUND A WAY. 
AS IT TURNS OUT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE DON'T THINK A ROUTINE 
PHONE CALL IS A GOOD BASIS FOR 
OUSTING A PRESIDENT. 
THE DEMOCRATS PUT FORTH EVER-
CHANGING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST 
THE PRESIDENT INCLUDING 
CAMPAIGN-FINANCE VIOLATION, 
QUID PRO QUO,  BRIBERY, 
EXTORTION. 
EVENTUALLY THEY ENDED UP WITH 
THE RIDICULOUS CHARGES WE 
CONSIDER TODAY. 
ABUSE OF POWER AND UTTERLY 
MEANINGLESS TERM, AND 
OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS. 
WHEN HE IS PRONOUNCED GUILTY 
SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WON'T 
COOPERATE WITH THEIR PLAN TO 
RAILROAD HIM. 
THE ONLY THING PRESIDENT TRUMP 
IS GUILTY OF IS BEATING HILLARY 
CLINTON. 
THE DEMOCRATS REFUSED TO ACCEPT 
THAT LOSS AND NOW THEY ARE 
INDICATING THEY WILL CONTINUE 
IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS EVEN AFTER 
THIS FAILS IN THE U.S. SENATE. 
ADAM SPEAKER, AFTER ALL THEIR 
DECEIT PHONY INVESTIGATIONS, 
AGENDA CRISES AND MANUFACTURED 
OUTRAGE, THE DEMOCRATS NEED A 
LONG PERIOD OF REHABILITATION. 
THEY MUST LEARN HOW TO DO 
SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE FOR THE 
AMERICAN PEOPLE INSTEAD OF 
RIPPING THE COUNTRY APART. 
IN THEIR LUST FOR POWER. 
WITHOUT A YIELD BACK THE 
BALANCE OF MY TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I THINK THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS REMARKS IT'S 
MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM THE JUICE IT'S 
FOR THREE MINUTES. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR THREE MINUTES.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
IS DEEPLY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE 
HAVE TO UNDERTAKE THIS 
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING THAT 
UNFOLDS THIS EVENING. 
BUT THE PART WE PLAY IN THIS 
PROCESS IS NOT OPTIONAL. 
AMONG OTHER THINGS IS THE 
INTELLIGENCE AND JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEES HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY 
DOCUMENTED THE PRESIDENT HAS 
ABUSED HIS AUTHORITY AND INDEED 
OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE. 
HE THREATENED TO WITHHOLD 
CONGRESSIONALLY PERMITTED 
TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM AN ALLY 
UNDER ATTACK FROM RUSSIA UNLESS 
THEY AGREE TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
ELECTION ON HIS BEHALF. 
HE HAS EXPRESSED NO REMORSE AND 
HE CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT 
HIS BEHAVIOR WAS "PERFECT." 
WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY OBSTRUCTING
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT AND 
SUBPOENAS BLOCKING MEMBERS OF 
HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR 
PROVIDING TRUTHFUL TESTIMONY TO 
INVESTIGATORS.'S ACTIONS ARE SO 
FAR BEYOND THAT THEY HAVE LEFT 
US WITH NO REMAINING RECOURSE 
EXCEPT IMPEACHMENT, AND SO WE 
SHALL IMPEACH. 
BECAUSE IS DRASTIC AND 
UNWELCOME AS THIS STEP IS, OUR 
COUNTRY FACES GREATER LONG-TERM 
RISK IF WE FAILED TO RESPOND. 
WE CANNOT EXCUSE A PRESIDENT 
WHO FEELS ENTITLED TO DISREGARD 
AND BREAK THE LAW WITH 
IMPUNIT. 
WE ARE A NATION BUILT ON THE 
RULE OF LAW, NOT A LOT OF 
RULERS. 
THE FRAMERS GAVE US THEIR BEST 
EFFORT IN 1787, AND INDEED IT 
WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY ONE. 
THE CONSTITUTION THEY SIT DOWN 
WASN'T PERFECT BUT IT FOUNDED A 
REPUBLIC THAT HAS ENDURED AND 
THRIVED WITH EXCEPTIONAL 
STABILITY. 
IS A LATE SENATOR POINTED OUT, 
ONLY TWO COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,
I'VE NEVER HAD THE GOVERNMENT 
CHANGED BY VIOLENCE SINCE THEN. 
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. 
ONLY EIGHT GOVERNMENTS HAVE 
EXISTED SINCE 1914 TO HAVE NOT 
HAD THEIR FORM OF GOVERNMENT 
CHANGED BY FORCE SINCE THEN. 
THE UNITED STATES, UNITED 
KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW 
ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, SWEDEN 
AND SWITZERLAND. 
THE INNOVATIVE SYSTEM OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES THEY CONSTRUCTED 
WITH THE SEPARATION OF POWERS 
BROUGHTABOUT AND SUCCESSFULLY 
NEGOTIATED A GENERATION OF 
CHALLENGES THE WE HAVE 
SUSTAINED. 
IN THE VERY FIRST WEEK THE 
FRAMERS BEGAN CRAFTING THIS 
BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICA'S FREEDOM 
AND STABILITY IN NEGOTIATIONS 
INDEED IMMEDIATELY STARTED ON 
IMPEACHMENT. 
NO GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD 
EXPOSED THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT 
TO IMPEACHMENT, BUT AMERICA WAS 
TO BE DIFFERENT. 
IN THE VIEW OF THE FRAMERS 
IMPEACHMENT IS IN NO WAY A 
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. 
IS A PROCESS THE FRAMERS WISELY 
JUDGED WE WOULD SOMETIMES NEED. 
THIS EVENING IS ONE OF THOSE 
RARE MOMENTS. 
MADISON WORRIED THAT ONE DAY 
THE COUNTRY WOULD ELECT A 
PRESIDENT THAT MIGHT ONE DAY 
REVERT HIS TWO HE MIGHT BETRAY 
HIS TRUST TO FOREIGN POWERS. 
GEORGE MASON ASKED THE 
DELEGATES, SHALL WE SEE ANY MAN 
TO BE ABOVE JUSTICE AND ABOVE 
ALL THAT MAN SHALL BE ABOVE IT 
THEN WHO WILL COMMIT THE MOST 
EXTENSIVE IN JUSTICE. 
OF COURSE NOT, BECAUSE HAVING 
JUST THROWN OFF ONE KING THEY 
WOULD NEVER CONSENT TO ANOINT 
ANOTHER. 
AMERICA FIRMLY REJECTED THE 
NOTION OF DIVINE RIGHT. 
THE SPEAKER SUMMED IT UP, MAY 
HAVE 30 EXTRA SECONDS?  
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION.  
>> ARTICLE 1 OF THE 
CONSTITUTION, DESCRIBES 
CONGRESS AS THE FIRST BRANCH OF 
GOVERNMENT. 
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY LET ME 
QUOTE SPEAKER RABURN WHO IS 
ASKED, HOW MANY PRESIDENTS DID 
YOU SERVE UNDER? 
AND SPEAKER RABURN ANSWERED, 
NONE. 
I SERVE WITH SEVEN PRESIDENTS 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
IMPEACHMENT IS RESERVED FOR 
MOMENTS OF GRAVE DANGER THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER 
DANGEROUSLY OUT OF BALANCE, 
MOMENTS LIKE THIS ONE AND 
THAT'S WHY I WILL VOTE TO 
IMPEACH.  
>> THANK YOU MADAME SPEAKER. 
YIELD ONE MINUTE 45 TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  
>> HERE WE ARE, ON THE VERGE OF 
DOING EXACTLY WHAT AMERICA 
DOESN'T WANT US TO DO AND WHAT 
THEY FEARED YOU WOULD DO. 
IN 2016 I ALONG WITH 63 MILLION 
VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS AND WE 
RAISED OUR COLLECTIVE POLITICAL 
FINGER TO D.C. AND VOTED FOR 
DONALD TRUMP. 
FOLKS LIKE MY FATHER WHO 
WATCHED THIS PLACE DESTROY HIS 
PROFESSION, MY FRIENDS AND 
FAMILY IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY 
WHO SAW THEIR WAY OF LIFE 
DESTROYED FOLLOWING NAFTA. 
AMERICANS IN RURAL AREAS WHOSE 
OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE AND VOICE 
OF BEEN DROWNED OUT BY THE 
SCREAMS OF SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS. 
OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS 
LIVING IN POVERTY AND CRIME, 
BROKEN DOWN PROJECT-BASED 
PUBLIC HOUSING HOOVER 
GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 
THIS PLACE THAT THIS IS THE 
BEST WE THINK YOU CAN DO HERE. 
HERE'S YOUR CHECK, GOD BLESS 
YOU AND I MOVE ALONG. 
THOSE FOLKS, AND NOW YOU WANT 
TO REMOVE OUR VOICE FROM OFFICE.
OUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD AND I 
STAND HERE DETERMINED TO MAKE 
SURE IT WILL BECAUSE WE WILL 
FIGHT BACK TO BACK AGAINST THIS 
CORRUPT AND UNFAIR IMPEACHMENT 
PROCESS. 
HOW DARE YOU, THE LIBERAL 
ELITES, THE CONDESCENDING 
BUREAUCRATS AND EVERY OTHER 
KIND OF SWAMP CRITTER IN THIS 
GODFORSAKEN PLACE TELL THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC WHO THE 
PRESIDENT SHOULD BE. 
THAT IS THE JOB OF THE AMERICAN 
VOTER, NOT YOURS. 
THIS WHOLE FLIPPIN GO RADIO IS 
A SHAM AND A SHAME. 
AND IT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>>  MADAME SPEAKER, AND PROUD 
TO RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN, THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON FOR 
TWO MINUTES. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR TWO MINUTES.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, THIS WEEK 
AMERICANS ARE BUSY FINISHING UP 
THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, MOSTLY 
FOR THEIR CHILDREN. 
OR THEIR LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE 
THEM, GRANDCHILDREN. 
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS ARE TAKING FINAL EXAMS 
AND SWEATING OUT THE RESULTS. 
THAT GOT ME TO THINKING ABOUT 
THOSE WHO FOLLOW AND WHAT OUR 
OBLIGATION IS TO THEM. 
THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT 
THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE AND HOW 
THEY MIGHT HAVE SEEN THEIR 
OBLIGATION TO US. 
PEOPLE LIKE MY GRANDFATHER WHOM 
OUR FAMILY BELIEVES IT 
LITERALLY WAS BORN ON THE BOAT 
ON THE WAY OVER HERE FROM 
GERMANY. 
MY FATHER, WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD 
WAR II AGAINST THE VERY PEOPLE 
THAT HIS GRANDFATHER HAD LEFT. 
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY, ALL OF 
US, BECAUSE SOME WAS BEFORE US 
SACRIFICED SO THAT THEY COULD 
JOURNEY HERE AND BUILD A NEW 
LIFE IN THIS UNIQUE LAND. 
AND WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE 
THOSE IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR 
CHILDREN WERE DEDICATED NOT 
JUST TO THE LAND OF AMERICA, 
BUT TO THE IDEA, FREEDOM AND 
OPPORTUNITY SECURED BY SELF-
GOVERNMENT. 
CHOOSING OUR OWN LEADERS IN 
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. 
AND THE RULE OF LAW UNDER THE 
CONSTITUTION.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME IS 
EXPIRED.  
>> I YIELD ANOTHER 30 SECONDS.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THIS IDEA OF AMERICA IS IN 
PERIL. 
ABOUT SOLELY BY THIS PRESIDENT 
WHO SOUGHT TO CHEAT IN AN 
ELECTION. 
A PRESIDENT WHO PUTS HIMSELF 
ABOVE THE LAW AND ATTACKS THE 
BEDROCK CONSTITUTION OF CHECKS 
AND BALANCES. 
THE QUESTION IS CAN AMERICA 
SURVIVE? 
THIS BEHAVIOR? 
WHAT IDEA WILL WE HAND DOWN TO 
THOSE WHO FOLLOW US? 
AND FINALLY, WHAT IS OUR 
OBLIGATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD 
FOLLOW? 
IT IS THIS. 
TO DO OUR DUTY, TO DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AND THE VALUES 
UNDERPINNING IT. 
BY VOTING YES ON THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.  
>>  RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.   
>> MADAME SPEAKER I AM PROUD TO 
YIELD TO THE GENTLE LADY FROM 
FLORIDA FOR TWO MINUTES. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR  TWO MINUTES.  
>> MADAME SPEAKER, WE LIVE IN 
THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY IN THE 
WORLD. 
AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THE 
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF 
AMERICANS ARE GOOD DECENT 
PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD AND PLAY 
BY THE RULES. 
BUT THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO 
HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW, 
PEOPLE OF LITTLE REGARD FOR THE 
RULES, PEOPLE WHO SPEND A LOT 
OF THEIR TIME TRYING TO FIGURE 
OUT HOW TO GAME THE SYSTEM. 
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CALL 
THEM, HABITUAL OFFENDERS. 
AND THE MORE THEY GET AWAY 
WITH, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE 
TO ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT. 
SOME SAY IT TAKES COURAGE TO 
HOLD POWERFUL PEOPLE 
ACCOUNTABLE. 
BUT I SEE A DIFFERENT. 
I SEE IT AS A SENSE OF DUTY. 
A REGULAR PART OF MY JOB AS A 
MEMBER OF CONGRESS. 
HOWEVER, HABITUAL OFFENDERS 
DON'T USUALLY SNEAK UP ON YOU. 
THE USUALLY TELEGRAPH THEIR 
INTENTIONS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 
ON JULY 27 OF 2016 IN MY HOME 
STATE OF FLORIDA, THEN 
CANDIDATE TRUMP SAID, RUSSIA, 
IF YOU ARE LISTENING, I HOPE 
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE 
30,000 EMAILS THEREBY INVITING 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE INTO YOUR 
SELECTIONS. 
BUT THE DAY AFTER THE SPECIAL 
COUNSEL TESTIFIED BEFORE 
CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT FEELING 
AND DETERRED AND EMBOLDENED COLD
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND PRESSURE 
HIM  TO HELPHIM RIG THE 
ELECTIONS. 
AND CHOSE TO HOLD MUCH NEEDED 
MILITARY AID OVER ALLIES HEAD 
UNTIL THE PRESIDENTS DEMANDS 
WERE MET. 
I SERVED 12 YEARS ON THE 
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAM AND I 
KNOW THAT PRESSURE AND DEMANDS 
COME IN MANY FORMS. 
ENDED THIS SCHEME, WE HAD BOTH. 
I'VE ENFORCED THE LAWS AND NOW 
I WRITE THE LAWS. 
BUT THE LAWS MEAN NOTHING IF 
THE ACCUSED CAN DESTROY 
EVIDENCE, STOP WITNESSES FROM 
TESTIFYING AND BLATANTLY 
REFUSED TO COOPERATE. 
I ASK YOU TO NAME SOMEONE IN 
YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOUR FAMILY 
WHO CAN DO THAT. 
I KNOW THE PRESIDENT SAID HE 
CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING HE 
WANTS TO. 
I COME TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT 
HE CANNOT. 
BECAUSE, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE 
LAW. 
AND HE SHOULD BE HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE.  
>> AT THIS MOMENT I YIELD A 
MOMENT OF UNANIMOUS CONSENT 
REQUEST.  
>>
TRAN02 I RISE ON THE FLOOR OF 
THIS MAGNIFICENT CHAMBER. 
THE VERY HEART OF OUR 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. 
I WOULD IMAGINE, MADAM SPEAKER, 
EVERYONE OF US IN THIS CHAMBER, 
REGARDLESS OF PARTY UNDERSTANDS 
AND SHARES A COMMON VIEW THAT 
BEING CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT 
REPUBLIC IS AMONG LIFE'S MOST 
TREMENDOUS BLESSINGS. 
WE ALL KNOW THAT NO FORCE ON 
EARTH IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE 
FORCE OF FREEDOM. 
IT IS OUR MIRACULOUS 
CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM, MADAM 
SPEAKER, DEFENDED BY THE MEN 
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM THAT HAVE 
SAFEGUARDED THIS FREEDOM FOR 
230 YEARS. 
EACH ONE OF US, IN THIS 
CHAMBER, WE BEAR A SACRED DUTY 
PASSED DOWN TO US THROUGH 
GENERATIONS TO PRESERVE AND 
PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION. 
OUR NATION'S FRAMERS RECOGNIZED 
THIS REPUBLIC IS FRAGILE. 
THE EXTREME PARTISANSHIP COULD 
BE AMONG THE MOST THREATS TO 
OUR SURVIVAL. 
THAT IS WHY, IN FEDERAL 65, 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE, 
"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE 
GREATEST DANGER THAT IMPEACHMENT
, THE IMPEACHMENT DECISION WILL 
BE REGULATED MORE BY THE 
COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF PARTIES 
THAN BY REAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF 
INNOCENCE OR GUILT." 
HERE, MADAM SPEAKER DEMOCRATIC 
COLLEAGUES HAVE WORKED TO 
REMOVE THE PRESIDENT SINCE THE 
DAY HE WAS ELECTED. 
SEARCHING FOR AN OFFENSE ON 
WHICH THEY COULD IMPEACH. 
FAILING TO FIND ONE, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO 
IS WHOM ONE RATHER TO 
ATTEMPTING TO ENFORCE THEIR 
SUBPOENAS IN COURT, THEY HAVE 
DECIDED TO DECLARE IN A HIGH 
CRIME MISDEMEANOR WHEN THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
ASSERTS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL 
PRIVILEGES. 
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ASKING 
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO 
IMPEACH, DESPITE THE FACT THAT 
THEY HAVE PRESENTED NO DIRECT 
EVIDENCE OF ANY IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE. 
LET ME SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, 
THEY HAVE PRESENTED NO DIRECT 
EVIDENCE OF ANY IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSE. 
IF ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER STILL 
BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS HAVE 
PROVEN THEIR CASE,  I URGE 
THOSE MEMBERS TO ASK THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE INTELLIGENCE 
COMMITTEE, MR. SCHIFF WHY HE 
FAILED TO APPEAR TO ANSWER 
QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS REPORT  
BEFORE MEMBERS VOTE FOR 
IMPEACHMENT THEY MIGHT WANT TO 
KNOW WHY THE AUTHOR OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT REPORT WILL NOT 
DEFEND IT UNDER QUESTIONING. 
IF THE HOUSE IMPEACHES HERE, IT 
WILL CREATE THE TYPE OF RISK 
THE FRAMERS CAUTIONED US TO 
AVOID. 
IT WILL MEAN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT 
CAN IMPAIR A DEMOCRATICALLY 
ELECTED PRESIDENT BASED ON 
UNPROVEN ALLEGATIONS AND 
INNUENDO IN THE ABSENCE OF 
DIRECT TESTIMONY, DESPITE ALL 
OF THE RHETORIC YOU'VE HEARD 
TODAY. 
PASSAGE OF THESE ARTICLES OF úI 
DAMAGE OUR REPUBLIC. 
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, A HYPER- 
PARTISAN, BARE MAJORITY COULD 
CITE THIS PRECEDENT TO TRY TO 
REMOVE A FUTURE COMMANDER IN 
CHIEF. 
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH 
SIDES OF THE AISLE, MADAM 
SPEAKER, THINK OF OUR REPUBLIC, 
THINK OF THE CONSTITUTION, 
THINK OF THE OATH THAT WE ALL 
SWORE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE 
CONSTITUTION AND VOTE AGAINST 
THESE PARTISAN, RECKLESS, AND 
DANGEROUS ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
TOO I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY WE 
PROCLAIM NO PERSON IS ABOVE THE 
LAW, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
DONALD J TRUMP ABUSED THE POWER 
OF HIS OFFICE AND VIOLATED HIS 
OATH OF OFFICE BY EXTORTING A 
NEW AND INEXPERIENCED PRESIDENT 
OF A VULNERABLE FOREIGN ALLY, 
TO DIG UP DIRT ON HIS DOMESTIC 
POLITICAL OPPONENTS. HE THEN 
OBSTRUCTED THE CONGRESS, THIS 
EQUAL BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT, 
FROM UNDERTAKING OUR DUTY, 
OUTLINED IN THE CONSTITUTION 
ITSELF TO INVESTIGATE AND CHECK 
THESE VIOLATIONS. 
TODAY, WE DO NOTHING MORE AND 
NOTHING LESS THAN FULFILL OUR 
DUTY TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR 
CONSTITUTION. 
MR. TRUMP IS ALLOWED FOREIGN 
POWERS  TO INTERFERE IN OUR 
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. 
HE HAS ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND OUR DEMOCRACY 
ITSELF. 
FOR THOSE REASONS WE MUST 
IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT. 
THANK YOU MADAM SPEAKER AND I 
YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> I YIELD FOR UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST TO THIS 
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON. 
>> THE CHAIRMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> I POSE THE RESOLUTION ON 
IMPEACHMENT AND ASK THAT MY 
WORDS BE PUT INTO RECORD. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> I ASKED TO OPPOSE THESE 
RESOLUTIONS FOR MY COMMENTS TO 
BE ADMITTED TO THE RECORD. 
>> THAT OBJECTION IS ORDERED. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
MISSISSIPPI. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THANK YOU MADAM SPEAKER I 
OPPOSE THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AND LIKE MY 
COMMENTS WOULD LIKE THOSE TO BE 
ENTERED INTO THE RECORD. 
>> I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY 
TIME. 
>> WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION? 
>> I ASK OF THE GENTLEMAN IS HE 
READY TO CLOSE? 
>> NO, WE HAVE A FEW MORE 
SPEAKERS THAT I RESERVE. 
>> I RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN 
FROM NEW YORK FOR ONE MINUTE. 
>>> IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> IF YOU LIVED IN LENOX AVENUE 
IN MY DISTRICT, YOU'RE NOT 
ABOVE THE LAW. 
IF YOU LIVE ON WEBSTER AVENUE 
IN THE BRONX PART OF MY 
DISTRICT, YOU'RE NOT ABOVE THE 
LAW. IF YOU LIVE IN WASHINGTON 
HEIGHTS, THE IMMIGRANT 
NEIGHBORHOOD IN MY DISTRICT, 
YOU'RE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. 
SO I SUBMIT TO YOU, IF YOU LIVE 
ON 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE 
THAT YOU ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. 
AND YOU WILL BE HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE. 
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ASKED 
THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO DO 
US A FAVOR AND LOOK INTO THE 
BIDENS, THAT IS ABUSE OF POWER. 
HE USED THE OFFICIAL WHITE 
HOUSE MEETING TO EXTORT A 
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, THAT IS 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED THE 
WHITE HOUSE STAFF TO WITHHOLD 
$400 MILLION IN AID TO THE 
UKRAINE WHICH IS ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS STAFF 
DENIED MULTIPLE AND DEFINED 
MULTIPLE SUBPOENAS FROM 
CONGRESS WHICH IS OBSTRUCTION 
OF CONGRESS. 
HE BLOCKED WITNESSES FROM 
TESTIFYING BEFORE THIS BODY, 
THAT IS OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS. 
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
I CAST MY VOTE FOR THIS ARTICLE 
OF IMPEACHMENT AND AS MY 
COLLEAGUE --. 
>> I YOU OLD I YIELD. 
>> I AM OPPOSED TO THE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT ON THE BASIS 
THAT THEY DO NOT. 
>> THAT OBJECTION IS ORDERED. 
>> I RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THIS 
LADY FROM CALIFORNIA FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> SHE IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, AS THE CHAIR 
OF THE WOMEN'S VETERANS TASK 
FORCE I SEE EVERY SINGLE DAY 
THE IMMENSE SACRIFICE THAT OUR 
WOMEN VETERANS AND ALL OF OUR 
NATIONS VETERANS HAVE MADE IN 
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND 
SERVICE TO OUR COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF, OUR CONSTITUTION, TO 
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, AND FOR 
EVERY SINGLE MAN, WOMAN, AND 
CHILD IN OUR COUNTRY. 
WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES USED $400 
MILLION, MEANT TO PROTECT THE 
NATIONAL SECURITY IN ORDER TO 
CHEAT IN OUR ELECTIONS, HE NOT 
ONLY ABUSED HIS POWER, HE 
TURNED HIS BACK ON THE 
SACRIFICES OF OUR VETERANS AND 
THEIR FAMILIES HAVE MADE FOR 
ALL THAT WE HOLD SO DEAR. 
THAT ABUSE OF POWER IS 
REPREHENSIBLE AND IT IS EXACTLY 
WHAT IMPEACHMENT WAS DESIGNED 
TO PREVENT. 
WE HAVE A SOLEMN DUTY TO 
PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION, TO 
PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, AND TO 
HONOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE 
LAID THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE 
FOR THESE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA. 
I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> THANK YOU MADAM SPEAKER. 
I YIELD TO THE LADY FROM 
INDIANA. 
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD MY 
OPPOSITION TO THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
>> I RESERVE. 
>>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER I'M PROUD TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA MISSED DAVIS FOR 30 
SECONDS. 
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, MAKE NO 
MISTAKE, WE ARE NOT IMPEACHING 
THIS PRESIDENT. 
HE IS IMPEACHING HIMSELF. 
IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT AND 
YOU OBSTRUCT JUSTICE, TRY TO 
BRIBE A FOREIGN LEADER, AND 
THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY, 
YOU'RE GOING TO GET IMPEACHED. 
END OF STORY. 
>> WHO YIELDS BACK? 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> AT THIS TIME I RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 
ENTER INTO THE RECORD MY 
OPPOSITION TO THESE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION. 
>> I RESERVE. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.  
>> MADAM SPEAKER AND PROUD TO 
RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
NEW MEXICO, MS. HOLLAND FOR ONE 
MINUTE . 
>> SHE IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE 
MINUTE. 
>> I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A 
REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW MEXICO, A 
PLACE WHERE WE BELIEVE IN 
DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL. IN 
CONGRESS I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING 
FOR THEM AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING 
TO MAKE HEALTHCARE MORE 
AFFORDABLE, EDUCATION 
ACCESSIBLE, AND MOVE OUR 
COUNTRY FORWARD FOR THE PEOPLE, 
BUT TODAY THIS PRESIDENT HAS 
FORCED US INTO A SERIOUS 
DEBATE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 
PRESIDENT WHO USED THE POWER OF 
THE PRESIDENCY FOR HIS OWN 
POLITICAL GAIN. 
RISKING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY 
AND PUTTING THE INTEGRITY OF 
THE NEXT ELECTION AT RISK. 
IT IS A SAD DAY WHEN A 
PRESIDENT SHOWS COMPLETE 
DISRESPECT FOR CONGRESSES 
COEQUAL BRANCH AS A GOVERNMENT 
AND FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO 
ELECTED US. 
WE COLLECTED THE EVIDENCE AND 
THE FACTS ARE INDISPUTABLE, WE 
TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT AND 
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION WITH A 
SOLID RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD 
THE PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE 
BECAUSE IT IS OUR JOB. I URGE 
MY COLLEAGUES TO LIVE UP TO 
THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOW 
OUR FELLOW AMERICANS NOT NO 
ONE, NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT IS 
ABOVE THE LAW AND I YIELD. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
>> AT THIS TIME I YIELD TO THE 
GENTLEMAN FOR OKLAHOMA. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> I ASKED  CONSENT TO ENTER 
INTO THE RECORD THESE ARTICLES 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
AND I RESERVE. 
>>  MADAM SPEAKER I RECOGNIZE 
THE GENTLE LADY FROM NORTH 
CAROLINA, MS. ADAMS FOR 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST. 
>> SHE'S RECOGNIZED. 
>>  MADAM SPEAKER I ASK 
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENGINEER 
INTO THE RECORD MY STATEMENT IN 
SUPPORT OF THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT 
ARTICLE TRUMP. 
>> AT THIS TIME  I GIVE FIVE 
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM 
LOUISIANA, THE MINORITIES.  
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED 
FOR FIVE MINUTES. 
>> THANK YOU MADAM SPEAKER . 
IMPEACHING A PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES, THIS ISN'T ABOUT 
SOME SOLEMN DUTY. 
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS 
REALLY ABOUT. 
THIS HAS BEEN ABOUT A POLITICAL 
VENDETTA, IT DIDN'T JUST START 
WITH THIS CALL, IT STARTED LONG 
BEFORE THAT. LISTEN TO SOME OF 
THESE QUOTES FROM THE DEMOCRATS 
IN THIS CHAMBER SPEAKING OF 
NANCY PELOSI, "IT'S BEEN GOING 
ON FOR 22 MONTHS, 2 1/2 YEARS 
ACTUALLY. 
WE CAN'T ACCEPT A SECOND TERM 
FOR DONALD TRUMP. 
WHAT IS MORE SERIOUS IS THAT HE 
CAN'T WIN. 
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SOME CRIME 
COMMITTED, IT IS ABOUT FEAR HE 
COULD WIN REELECTION, THAT'S 
NOT WHY YOU IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT. 
AL GREEN, "I'M CONCERNED IF WE 
DON'T IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT HE 
WILL GET REELECTED. 
AND THE LIST GOES ON MADAM 
SPEAKER AND IN FACT THERE ARE 
SOME QUOTES I CAN'T READ ON 
THIS HOUSE FLOOR AT SOME 
COLLEAGUES MADE. 
KEEP IN MIND, MORE THAN 100 
DEMOCRATS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THIS PRESIDENT 
BEFORE THE PHONE CALL. 
LOOK AT SOME ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT THEY VOTED FOR. 
TWO YEARS AGO, 58 DEMOCRATS 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
OVER COMMENTS HE MADE ABOUT NFL 
PLAYERS AND HEALING FOR THE 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, 
IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT OVER 
50 DEMOCRATS VOTED TO IMPEACH 
HIM FOR THAT. 
THIS SUMMER, OVER 90 DEMOCRATS 
VOTED TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
FOR COMMENTS THAT HE MADE ABOUT 
THE SQUAD URIC SO HE MAKES 
COMMENTS ABOUT SOME NUMBER SOME 
OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND 
95 MEMBERS VOTED TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
THIS IS A POLITICAL VENDETTA 
WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A 
CRIME COMMITTED. 
THERE WAS NO CRIME. 
WHY DON'T WE LISTEN TO SOME 
WITNESSES? 
OBVIOUSLY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO 
CALL THE WITNESSES WE WANTED 
BUT THERE WERE WITNESSES. 
GORDON'S ONLINE, THE U.S. 
AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN 
UNION, HE'S MENTIONED OVER 600 
TIMES IN THE ADAM SCHIFF REPORT 
AND WAS THEIR STAR WITNESS. 
WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN HE WAS 
ASKED? 
DID PRESIDENT TRUMP EVER TELL 
YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT 
PRECONDITIONS FOR ANYTHING AND 
HIS ANSWER, NO. ANY 
PRECONDITIONS FOR THE AID TO BE 
RELEASED, NO. 
ANY PRECONDITIONS FOR THE WHITE 
HOUSE MEETING UNDER OATH HE 
TESTIFIED NO. 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT ARTICLE 
OF IMPEACHMENT PROFESSOR TURLEY 
WHO ADMITTED UNDER OATH HE 
VOTED AGAINST DONALD TRUMP 
SPOKE TO THIS CLAIM OF ABUSE OF 
POWER AND SAID, "IF YOU MAKE A 
HIGH CRIME AND MISDEMEANOR OUT 
OF GOING TO THE COURTS, IT IS 
AN ABUSE OF POWER, YOUR ABUSE 
OF POWER." 
YOU ARE DOING PRECISELY WHAT 
YOU ARE CRITICIZING THE 
PRESIDENT OF DOING, ABUSE OF 
POWER. 
THERE'S A HOUSE RULE, MADAM 
SPEAKER THAT REQUIRES, NOT A 
LOUSE BUT REQUIRES THAT THE 
MINORITY GET A DAY OF HEARING 
WHICH WE ASKED FOR MULTIPLE 
TIMES, THEY BROKE THIS RULE AND 
DID NOT ALLOW US TO HAVE A 
MINORITY DAY OF HEARING. 
THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THE 
FACTS ABOUT THIS CASE BECAUSE 
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE FACT 
BECAUSE IT WAS NO CRIME, THIS 
WAS ABOUT A PERSONAL POLITICAL 
VENDETTA. 
LET'S TALK ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS AS THEY MAKE UP THESE 
TERMS TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIND A 
CRIME AND THEY WERE LOOKING. 
THEY TALK ABOUT OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS AND SAID THE PRESIDENT 
DEFIED SUBPOENAS, LET'S GO 
THROUGH THESE DEPARTMENTS. 
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE THEY 
SUBPOENAED. LITERALLY JUST FOUR 
DAYS AFTER THE SUBPOENA, THE 
SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF 
RESPONDED TO YOUR SUBPOENA, THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, A WEEK 
LATER, RESPONDING TO THE 
SUBPOENA, THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ENERGY, RESPONDED TO THE 
SUBPOENA, WE COULD GO ON AND ON 
WITH THESE AGENCIES. 
THAT IS AN OBSTRUCTION OF 
CONGRESS RESPONDING TO YOUR 
SUBPOENA, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID, 
THEY RESPONDED, YOU MIGHT NOT 
HAVE LIKED THE ANSWER BUT 
THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS WORKS. 
YOU DON'T IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE HIS 
FOREIGN-POLICY AND SO MANY OF 
THOSE FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERTS 
CAME AND TESTIFIED. 
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DONALD 
TRUMP. 
THEY DON'T JUST TAKE DONALD 
TRUMP THEY HATE THE 63 MILLION 
AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR THE 
PRESIDENT, THE FORGOTTEN MEN 
AND WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY WHO 
HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND MADAM 
SPEAKER. 
>> THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN MAY PROCEED. 
>> IT IS THOSE FORGOTTEN MEN 
AND WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY THAT 
WASHINGTON HAD LEFT BEHIND. 
THE PRESIDENT IS DELIVERING FOR 
THEM, 600 JOBS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 
1000 JOBS, WORKERS IN MINGO 
JUNCTION OHIO, $750 MILLION 
INVESTMENTS FOR 600 NEW JOBS 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DETROIT 
NEWS, CHRYSLER, 6500 NEW JOBS. 
THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS 
DOING TO DELIVER FOR THESE MEN 
AND WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY 
WHO'VE BEEN LEFT BEHIND. 
IT'S ABOUT SOMETIME THEY STAND 
UP FOR THEM AND THE PRESIDENT 
IS SO THIS IS A POLITICAL 
VENDETTA, AND IF THEY'RE GOING 
TO THROW THIS MADAM SPEAKER, 
THE IMPEACHMENT WILL NOT JUST 
BE A STAIN ON THE DEMOCRATIC 
MAJORITY. 
IT WILL BE HER LEGACY. 
I YELLED BACK. 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> I RECOGNIZE MS. CUSTER FROM 
NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE UNANIMOUS 
CONSENT REQUEST. 
>> THE GENTLE LADY IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER I REQUEST THE 
CONSENT UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR 
ENTER IN MY STATEMENT INTO THE 
RECORD, REGARDING THE 75th 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF 
THE BULGE IN FAVOR ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT, THANK YOU. 
>> WITHOUT OBJECTION. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER IT IS NOW MY 
PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, THE 
MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES, MR. HOYER  FOR 
ONE MINUTE. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE HAD 
THE HONOR OF SERVING IN THIS 
HOUSE FOR OVER 38 YEARS. 
I SERVED DURING SIX 
PRESIDENCIES. 
I HAVE IN HERE THROUGH MOMENTS 
OF TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND 
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. 
I HAVE SEEN PERIODS OF RANK 
PARTISANSHIP AND PATRIOTIC 
BIPARTISANSHIP. 
I HAVE SEEN OUR TWO-PARTY 
SYSTEM WORK AND I'VE SEEN IT 
BREAK DOWN. 
NEVER, IN ALL MY YEARS OF 
SERVING IN THIS GREAT 
INSTITUTION THAT I LOVE, AND 
THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT, DID 
I EVER EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER SUCH 
AN OBVIOUS WRONGDOING BY THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
NOR DID I EXPECT TO WITNESS 
SUCH A CRAVEN RATIONALIZATION 
OF PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS BUT YOU 
HAVE PUT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY 
AT RISK AND UNDERMINED THE 
INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS AND 
DEFINED THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS TO 
CONDUCT OVERSIGHT. 
WE HAVE HEARD THIS FROM 
REPUBLICANS THAT THE 
IMPEACHMENT HAS TO DO WITH 
POLICY DIFFERENCES OR HOW WE 
FEEL PERSONALLY ABOUT THE 
PRESIDENT. 
ABOUT HIS TEMPERAMENT, OR THAT 
WE SIMPLY DISLIKE HIM. 
THROUGHOUT THE TRUMP 
PRESIDENCY, DEMOCRATS HAVE 
RESISTED PURSUING IMPEACHMENT, 
EVEN AS WE WATCHED WITH DISMAY 
AND DISCUSSED AT THE PATTERN OF 
WRONGDOING. 
THE PATTERN INCLUDED ORDERING 
FEDERAL AGENCIES TO LIE TO THE 
PUBLIC. 
FIRING THE FBI DIRECTOR FOR 
REFUSING TO END THE 
INVESTIGATIONS OF HIS CAMPAIGN. 
SIDING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN 
AGAINST OUR INTELLIGENCE 
AGENCIES TAKING FUNDING AWAY 
FROM THE MILITARY TO LORDS IN 
AN EFFECTIVE TOWARDS AN 
INEFFECTIVE BORDER WALL. 
AND THE SEPARATION FAMILIES AND 
CAGING OF CHILDREN. 
WE HAVE TO BE SURE DEEP 
DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE POLICIES 
AND ACTIONS TAKEN BY THIS 
PRESIDENT. 
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK 
ABOUT THE 63 BILLION PEOPLE WHO 
VOTED FOR MR. TRUMP  BUT LITTLE 
TALK ABOUT THE 65 MILLION 
PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HILLARY 
CLINTON. 
THE POLICY DIFFERENCE THOSE 
VOTES, THIS PRESIDENT WAS 
ELECTED LEGITIMATELY. 
>> THE HOUSE WILL STAY IN 
ORDER, THE GENTLEMAN DESERVES 
TO BE HEARD. 
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED. 
>> WE HAVE AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE 
BUT NONE OF THESE ARE REASONS 
TO PURSUE WHAT CHAIRMAN SCHIFF 
HAS CALLED A WRENCHING PROCESS 
FOR THE NATION. 
IN FACT, DEMOCRATS REJECTED 
THAT PROCESS EMPHATICALLY IN 
THREE SPECIFIC VOTES. 
IN DECEMBER 2017 DEMOCRATS 
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED AGAINST 
PURSUING ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
INCLUDING THE SPEAKER AND 
MYSELF. 
WE DID SO AGAIN IN 2018 WITH 
OVER 60% OF THE DEMOCRATS 
REJECTING, PURSUING ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
AGAIN, JUST MONTHS AGO IN JULY 
IN JULY 2019 60% OF THE 
DEMOCRATS SAID NO TO PURSUING 
ARTICLES 
, MANY OF WHOM
WERE APPOINTED TO OFFICE BY 
PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE 
CORR
>> HAVE COOPERATED THE DETAILS 
AND TIMELINE OF HIS ABUSE OF 
PRESIDENTIAL POWER. 
WHICH FORMS THE BASIS OF THE 
FIRST ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT IN 
THIS RESOLUTION. 
INSTEAD, I WILL NOT RECOUNT ALL 
OF THE WITNESSES OR ABUSES THAT 
HAVE OCCURRED, I CONGRATULATE 
MY COLLEAGUES AND MR. NADLER 
AND HIS COMMITTEE AND MR. 
SCHIFF AND HIS COMMITTEE  FOR 
SETTING FORTH A COMPELLING CASE.
THIS HAS BEEN LAID OUT FULLY IN 
THE ARTICLES BEFORE US AND BY 
COLLEAGUES IN THEIR REMARKS. 
WHAT I WILL DO IS REMIND 
AMERICANS THAT THE HOUSE 
PROVIDED PRESIDENT TRUMP EVERY 
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE HIS 
NNOCENCE BUT THE WITNESSES 
WERE PRECLUDED FROM COMING 
FORTH. 
THE WITNESSES WHO HAVE PERSONAL 
KNOWLEDGE DID NOT COME. 
EITHER AT THE PRESIDENT'S 
REQUEST IN WHICH HE REFUSED TO 
SHOW UP BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT 
WAS A SHAM AS SO MANY OF YOU 
HAVE SAID. 
OR TO THE COMMITTEES. INSTEAD 
HE IGNORED THE CONGRESSIONAL 
SUBPOENAS FOR DOCUMENTS AND 
TESTIMONY BY WHITE HOUSE 
OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO HIS 
SUBORDINATES DO NOT COOPERATE. 
PERHAPS THEY COULD HAVE 
EXONERATED HIM. 
THIS ITSELF, I SUGGEST TO YOU 
IS UNPRECEDENTED. 
WHEN PRESIDENT NIXON AND 
CLINTON WERE ASKED TO HAND OVER 
DOCUMENTS AND ALLOW OFFICIALS 
TO TESTIFY, ULTIMATELY BOTH 
COMPLIED BECAUSE IT'S THE LAW. 
SUCH ACCIDENTS OF THE ACTIONS 
OF THE PRESIDENT COULD BE TAKEN 
AS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF HIS 
OBSTRUCTION AND ABUSE OF POWER. 
IT IS, IN IT OF ITSELF, 
IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT, THE 
SUBJECT OF THE SECOND ARTICLE 
OF IMPEACHMENT. 
THESE TWO ARTICLES CONCERN TO 
VERY PROFOUND CONSTITUTIONAL 
ISSUES ABOUT THE ABUSE OF POWER 
IN OUR REPUBLIC. 
FIRST WHETHER IT IS ACCEPTABLE 
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES OR ANY PRESIDENT TO 
SOLICIT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN 
OUR ELECTIONS. 
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE AS TO 
WHETHER HE HAS DONE THAT AND A 
PLACE TO TRY THAT IS IN THE 
UNITED STATES SENATE. 
WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THERE 
IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO DO THAT. 
TO UNDERMINE THIS NATIONAL 
SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF OUR 
ELECTIONS AND OUR DEMOCRACY, 
SECONDLY, WHETHER IT'S 
PERMISSIBLE FOR THE PRESIDENT 
TO OBSTRUCT CONGRESS AND ACT AS 
IF HE IS ABOVE THE LAW. 
AND IMMUNE FROM CONSTITUTIONAL 
OVERSIGHT. 
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARD 
THE TESTIMONY OF THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERTS WHO 
WEIGHED IN ON THESE POINTS. 
SOME 1500 HISTORIANS HAVE SAID 
THE SAME THING AS PROFESSOR 
NOAH FELDMAN SAID, "IF WE CAN'T 
IMPEACH A PRESIDENT WHO ABUSES 
HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL 
ADVANTAGE, WE NO LONGER LIVE IN 
A DEMOCRACY. 
WE LIVE IN A MONARCHY WHERE WE 
LIVE UNDER A DICTATORSHIP. 
THE VOTES WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE 
CONCERN THE RULE OF LAW AND OUR 
DEMOCRACY ITSELF. 
LET US NOT FORGET THE WORDS OF 
JOHN LOCKE, SO INFLUENTIAL TO 
THE FOUNDERS OF OUR REPUBLIC. 
JOHN LOCKE A MILLENNIA AGO SAID 
THIS, "WHEREVER LAW ENDS, 
TYRANNY BEGINS." 
THIS IMPEACHMENT, I ASKED 
WHETHER WE ARE STILL A REPUBLIC 
OF LAWS, AS OUR FOUNDERS 
INTENDED OR WHETHER WE WILL 
ACCEPT THAT ONE PERSON COULD BE 
ABOVE THE LAW. 
IN AMERICA AS WE'VE SAID OVER 
AND OVER AGAIN, NO ONE IS ABOVE 
THE LAW. 
ONLY AS LONG AS WE HOLD EVERY 
PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING 
THE LAW, EVEN THE PRESIDENT. 
WILL THAT BE TRUE. 
IF THE HOUSE DOES NOT ACT, IF 
WE WAIT AND DELAY, WE RUN THE 
RISK OF ALLOWING THE PRESIDENTS 
MISCONDUCT. 
IF WE BELIEVE IT TO BE SO, TO 
BE REPEATED AT THE EXPENSE OF 
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS 
ON NATIONAL SECURITY, AND OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF 
SEPARATION OF POWERS. 
DEMOCRATS DID NOT CHOOSE THIS 
IMPEACHMENT. 
WE DID NOT WISH FOR IT. 
WE VOTED AGAINST IT. 
WE VOTED AGAINST IT ONCE, WE 
VOTED AGAINST IT TWICE, WE 
VOTED AGAINST IT THREE TIMES, 
AS RECENTLY AS JULY. 
WE DID NOT WANT THIS. 
HOWEVER, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 
MISCONDUCT HAS FORCED OUR 
CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC TO 
PROTECT ITSELF. 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> THESE VOTES WE ARE ABOUT TO 
TAKE IN THE PROCESS THAT WILL 
FOLLOW IN THE SENATE, THEY ARE 
NOT ONLY AN ASSESSMENT OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE 
CONSTITUTION OR TO HIS OATH OF 
OFFICE, IT IS AS WELL, A TEST 
OF OUR OWN. 
DAMNING EVIDENCE OF THE 
PRESIDENT HIGH CRIMES HAS 
EMERGED. 
NEVERTHELESS REPUBLICAN MEMBERS 
OF THIS HOUSE AND OF THE SENATE 
HAVE CONTINUED TO DEFEND THE 
PRESIDENT. 
WHOSE ACTIONS SEEM TO MANY OF 
US TO BE IN DEFENSIBLE. 
ALL OF US FEEL A SENSE OF 
LOYALTY TO PARTY. 
IT'S WHAT MAKES OUR TWO-PARTY 
SYSTEM FUNCTION. 
IT'S WHAT HELPS HOLD PRESIDENTS 
AND MAJORITIES ACCOUNTABLE. 
BUT PARTY LOYALTY MUST HAVE ITS 
LIMITS. 
AND AS EVIDENCE OF THE 
PRESIDENTS IMPEACHABLE 
OFFENSES, THEY HAVE MOUNTED 
DAILY AS THE WITNESSES HAVE 
TESTIFIED, IT'S BECOME 
INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT THE 
LIMITS OF PARTISANSHIP HAVE 
BEEN REACHED AND PASSED. 
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS 
TOGETHER FACE A TEST BEFORE OUR 
CONSTITUENTS, OUR COUNTRYMEN, 
AND OUR --. 
THE NEW YORK TIMES ON OCTOBER 
18 SUMMARIZED THE QUESTION NOW 
POST TO THE HOUSE AND SENATE. 
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, 
COMPROMISED BY COMPROMISE 
DONALD TRUMP HAS HAMMERED AWAY 
AT WHAT REPUBLICANS ONCE SAW AS 
FOUNDATIONAL VIRTUES. 
DECENCY, HONESTY, 
RESPONSIBILITY, AND YES EVEN 
CIVILITY. 
WILL THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES AND 
THEIR PARTY WHOLLY TO MR. TRUMP 
, EMBRACING EVEN HIS MOST 
ANTIDEMOCRATIC ACTIONS OR WILL 
THEY TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD 
SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM HIM 
AND RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE 
RULE OF LAW? 
MADAM SPEAKER WE HAVE SEEN 
REPUBLICAN COURAGE THROUGHOUT 
OUR HISTORY FROM THE CIVIL WAR 
TO THE COLD WAR. 
IN 1950, MARGARET CHASE SMITH 
THE SENATOR FROM MAINE, A 
REPUBLICAN SPOKE BRAVELY 
AGAINST THE CANCER OF 
McCARTHYISM IN HER PARTY. 
LEADING SIX OF HER REPUBLICAN 
COLLEAGUES IN A DECLARATION OF 
CONSCIENCE AGAINST THEIR OWN 
LEADERSHIP. 
WE ARE REPUBLICANS, THEY 
DECLARED. 
THAT WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST. 
IN 1974 ONE CONGRESSMAN TOOK 
THE BRAVE AND PRINCIPLED STEP 
OF BECOMING THE FIRST 
REPUBLICAN ON THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT IMPEACHING 
PRESIDENT NIXON. 
HE SAID TO HIS COLLEAGUES AND 
TO THE COUNTRY, AND I QUOTE, 
"IT ISN'T EASY FOR ME TO ALIGN 
MYSELF AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, 
TO WHOM I GAVE MY ENTHUSIASTIC 
SUPPORT, ON WHOSE SIDE I'VE 
STOOD IN MANY LEGISLATIVE 
BATTLES, WHOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC AFFAIRS 
ARE CONSISTENTLY APPLAUDED. 
BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, HE WENT 
ON TO SAY, FOR ME TO CONDONE OR 
IGNORE THE LONG TRAIN OF 
ABUSES, TO WHICH HE HAS 
SUBJECTED THE PRESIDENCY AND 
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY. 
THE CONSTITUTION AND MY OWN 
OATH OF OFFICE, DEMAND THAT I 
BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE 
TO THE PRINCIPLES OF LAW AND 
JUSTICE UPON WHICH THIS NATION 
WAS FOUNDED." 
HE CONCLUDED, "AND I CANNOT IN 
GOOD CONSCIENCE TURN AWAY FROM 
THE EVIDENCE OF EVIL THAT IS TO 
ME, SO CLEAR AND COMPELLING." 
MY COLLEAGUES, THAT 
CONGRESSMAN'S NAME WAS LARRY 
HOGAN SENIOR. 
HE REPRESENTED THE FIFTH 
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND. 
WHICH I NOW REPRESENT. 
HIS SON IS PRESENTLY THE SECOND 
TERM REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR OF OUR 
STATE. 
WHEN LARRY HOGAN SENIOR DIED IN 
2017 EVERY OBITUARY LED WITH 
PRAISE FOR HIS ACT OF POLITICAL 
COURAGE. 
WHO AMONG US, MANY YEARS FROM 
NOW, WILL RECEIVE SUCH PRAISE 
AS A MAN OR WOMAN OF COURAGE? 
WHO WILL REGRET NOT HAVING 
EARNED IT? 
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PARTISAN 
DIFFERENCES, THERE IS ONE 
PERSON WHO HAS SPOKEN TODAY, 
WHO IS NEITHER A MEMBER OF THE 
REPUBLICAN PARTY, NOR THE 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 
HIS NAME IS JUSTIN AHMAD WHO 
REPRESENTS THE REPUBLICAN 
DISTRICT. 
HE LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY 
AND ADMONISHED HIS COLLEAGUES 
THAT, "THIS PRESIDENT WILL ONLY 
BE IN POWER FOR A SHORT TIME, 
BUT EXCUSING HIS BEHAVIOR WILL 
FOREVER TARNISH YOUR NAME. 
HE SPOKE ON THIS FLOOR IN 
SUPPORT OF THE TWO ARTICLES 
THAT WE WILL CONSIDER THIS 
EVENING. 
NEITHER A DEMOCRAT NOR A 
REPUBLICAN, REPRESENTATIVE IS 
THE ONLY MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE 
WHO HAS NO ALLEGIANCE TO EITHER 
PARTY. 
BUT TO HIS COUNTRY. 
HE IS SUPPORTING, AS I HAVE 
SAID, BOTH ARTICLES, WE NEED 
NOT ASK WHO WILL BE THE FIRST 
TO SHOW COURAGE BY STANDING UP 
TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THE QUESTION 
WE MUST NOW ASK IS WHO WILL BE 
THE LAST TO FIND IT?
. THE PAGES OF OUR HISTORY ARE 
FILLED WITH AMERICANS WITH THE 
COURAGE TO CHOOSE COUNTRY OVER 
PARTY OR PERSONALITY. 
BUT AS PRESIDENT KENNEDY WROTE, 
"THE STORIES OF PAST COURAGE 
CAN TEACH AND OFFER HOPE. 
THEY CAN PROVIDE INSPIRATION. 
THEY CANNOT SUPPLY COURAGE 
ITSELF. 
FOR THIS, PRESIDENT KENNEDY 
SAID, EACH MAN, EACH WOMAN, 
THEY MUST LOOK INTO THEIR OWN 
SOUL." 
I URGE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN 
THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE TO 
LOOK IN TO YOUR SOUL, SUMMON 
THE COURAGE TO VOTE FOR THE 
CONSTITUTION AND OUR DEMOCRACY. 
I UNDERSTAND WE WILL ALL NOT 
SEE THE SAME CONCLUSION. 
BUT TO DO THE LESS BETRAYS OUR 
OATH AND THAT OF OUR FOUNDERS. 
THEY PLEDGED THEIR LIVES, THEIR 
FORTUNE, AND THEIR SACRED HONOR.
LET US NEITHER TURN AWAY FROM 
THE EVIDENCE, WHICH TO ME SEEMS 
SO CLEAR. 
NOR FROM OUR GOOD CONSCIENCE 
WHICH COMPELS US TO DO WHAT IN 
OUR HEARTS WE KNEW TO BE RIGHT. 
LET US NOW THE NOT ALLOW THE 
RULE OF LAW TO END OR FOR 
TIERNEY TO FIND ITS TOEHOLD, 
WITH OUR VOTES TODAY, WE COULD 
BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE 
TO THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS. 
WE CAN SHOW FUTURE GENERATION 
WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE 
AMERICANS FIRST. 
VOTE YES. 
>> THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK. 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA. 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> MADAM SPEAKER, A FEW WEEKS 
AGO, JUST OFF OF THIS FLOOR, I 
SAID THAT A DARK CLOUD WAS 
DESCENDING UPON THIS BODY. 
TODAY, BECAUSE OF THE CLOCK AND 
CALENDAR, IS CLOSING. 
IT IS AMAZING TO ME WHAT I JUST 
HEARD FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER, 
MR. SCHIFF AND MR. NADLER  
PRESENTING A COMPELLING CASE 
FOR IMPEACHMENT AND IF THIS IS 
THE CASE FOR IMPELLING 
COMPELLING IMPEACHMENT I'M NOT 
SURE WHY WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. 
IT'S NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO 
COMPELLING. 
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS 
INTERESTING? 
IT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY. 
THE MAJORITY LEADER JUST SPOKE 
AND SAID THAT IF THE PRESIDENT 
WAS GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO 
COME PROVE HIS INNOCENCE, I 
TELL YOU WHAT MADAM SPEAKER, 
LET ME HAVE JUST A FEW MINUTES, 
STOP THE CLOCK AND LET ME GO 
AROUND TO THE PRESS COURT AND 
EVERYONE HERE AND I WILL ACCUSE 
YOU OF SOMETHING. 
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
YOU DID IT. 
NOW PROVE IT'S WRONG. 
YOU DID IT. 
GUESS WHAT? 
YOU DON'T WANT TO. 
DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW, THAT'S 
YOU'RE NOT GUILTY UNTIL YOU'RE 
PROVEN. 
AND TODAY FROM THE FLOOR WE 
HEARD THE MAJORITY LEADER SAY 
THE PRESIDENT IS GUILTY AND NOT 
THE WAY AROUND. 
HE IS INNOCENT, THESE COME 
NOWHERE CLOSE TO PROVING IT. 
WHAT IS LEFT OF THIS BODY? 
LET'S HAVE AN HONEST 
CONVERSATION MADAM SPEAKER. 
WHAT WE FOUND OVER THE PAST FEW 
WEEKS IS THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THE 
MAJORITY TO TEAR DOWN A FOREIGN 
LEADER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE 
THEIR CASE, THEY CALLED HIM A 
LIAR OR WEAK OR WORSE OR AS HE 
WAS CALLED IN THE COMMITTEE, HE 
EVEN LOOKED LIKE A BATTERED 
WIFE, IT'S BELOW THE DIGNITY OF 
THIS BODY AND THIS MAJORITY TO 
TEAR DOWN A FOREIGN LEADER 
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MAKE THEIR 
CASE AGAINST THIS ONE. 
WE HAVE BROKEN RULES IN THE 
HOUSE, EVEN UP TO THIS MOMENT, 
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF AND THE OTHERS 
HAVE BROKEN HOUSE RESOLUTION 660
BY NOT TURNING OVER THE THINGS 
THEY SHOULD TURN OVER. 
I HAVE STILL NOT GOTTEN A 
TRANSCRIPT WE STILL DON'T KNOW 
WHAT'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE. 
I GUESS THE MINORITY HEARING 
WILL DATES DO NOT MATTER 
EITHER. 
WE ARE GOING TO VOTE THIS 
TONIGHT WHILE BREAKING THE 
RULES, WHAT A SHAMEFUL INCIDENT
. BUT WE ALSO FOUND CREATIVE 
INTERPRETATION OF MINORITY 
RIGHTS, WE SAW THE RIGHT OF 
PARTISANSHIP BECAUSE OF WHAT 
HAD BEEN DONE EVEN FURTHER AND 
HAVE SEEN MEMBERS SMEARED IN 
REPORTS BY DRIVE-BY POLITICAL 
HACKS WHEN THEY MATCH NUMBERS 
OF THE MAJORITY AND THE RANKING 
MEMBER AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 
PRESS WHICH COULD CONCERN 
EVERYONE OF YOU AS MUCH AS IT 
CONCERNS ONE OF US, NOTHING BUT 
A DRIVE-BY HIT. 
BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING, THE 
MAJORITY LEADER ALDO ALSO JUST 
SAID WHERE TIERNEY BEGINS. 
I WILL SAY THIS, IN THIS HOUSE 
WHERE THE RULES ARE 
DISREGARDED, CHAOS AND MOB 
RULE, THAT BEGAN IN THE 
MAJORITY WHICH HAS TAKEN THAT 
TO A NEW LEVEL. 
IT'S BEEN SAID TODAY, WHERE 
THERE IS BRAVERY. 
IT'S FOUND IN THE MINORITY WHO 
HAS LIVED THROUGH THE LAST YEAR 
OF NOTHING BUT RULES BEING 
BROKEN AND PEOPLE BEING PUT 
DOWN WITH QUESTIONS NOT BEING 
ANSWERED IN THIS MAJORITY THEY 
SAY BE WITH ANYTHING WE ARE 
GOING TO IMPEACH AND DO 
WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, WHY? 
BECAUSE WE WON THE ELECTION. 
ONE DAY YOU WILL BE IN THE 
MINORITY AND IT'S NOT GOING TO 
BE THAT FUN.  
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, WHEN YOU 
ACTUALLY TRASH THE RULES OF 
THIS HOUSE, YOU OUGHT TO LOOK 
AT WHAT YOU GAINED AT THE END, 
BY TRASHING THIS INSTITUTION 
THAT YOU CLAIM TO LOVE? 
THAT IS WHAT WE FOUND OUT SO 
FAR. 
THEY'RE CAREFUL TO SAY YOU WANT 
TO DEAL IN PROCESS WITH PROCESS 
AND AS I SAID LAST NIGHT IN THE 
RULES COMMITTEE, THEY DIDN'T 
WANT TO LISTEN. 
I WILL WIN ON PROCESS AND FACTS 
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE TRUTH ON 
OUR SIDE LET ME REMIND YOU, 
HERE'S WHAT THIS PROCESS SAYS, 
THERE WAS NO PRESSURE, LOOK AT 
THE CALL, NO PRESSURE. 
NO CONDITIONALITY. 
NOTHING DONE TO GET THE AID AND 
THE AID ACTUALLY CAME. 
THERE WERE FIVE MEANINGS 
MEETINGS. NONE OF WHICH MATTER 
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THIS DARK 
CLOUD HAS DESCENDED UPON THE 
HOUSE AND I'M FEARFUL, WHEN I 
LOOK INTO THE ABYSS I DON'T 
KNOW WHAT I WILL SEE. 
I SEE COMING UP A PRESIDENT WHO 
WILL PUT HIS HEAD DOWN TO THIS 
SHAM IMPEACHMENT AND DO HIS 
JOB, HE WILL PUT THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE FIRST, HE WILL TELL THEM 
THAT I CARE ABOUT YOU, HE WILL 
PUT THE ECONOMY FIRST AND HE 
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS 
COUNTRY STANDS STRONG, THAT'S 
WHAT I SEE. 
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING. 
IT IS WITH THAT HOPE IN THE 
FUTURE THAT I RECOGNIZE RIGHT 
NOW I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE 
REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THIS 
HOUSE, THE REPUBLICAN FROM 
CALIFORNIA,  MR. McCARTHY.  
>> THE CHAIRMAN IS RECOGNIZED . 
>> MADAM SPEAKER , I MUST WARN 
YOU, I'M ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING 
THAT MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES 
HATE TO HEAR. 
DONALD J TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
[ APPLAUSE ] HE IS PRESIDENT 
TODAY, HE WILL BE PRESIDENT 
TOMORROW, HE WILL BE PRESIDENT 
WITH THIS IMPEACHMENT OVER. 
[ APPLAUSE ] MADAM SPEAKER, 
WHEN THEY ACCEPT THAT MAYBE THE 
HOUSE COULD GET BACK TO WORK 
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
TONIGHT, I RISE NOT AS THE 
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE 
IMPEACHMENT OR AS THE ELECTED 
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CENTRAL 
VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA, I RISE AS 
KEVIN McCARTHY, CITIZEN, NO 
BETTER, NO WORSE, THAN THE 4435 
REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE IN 
THIS CHAMBER OR THE 330 MILLION 
AMERICANS WATCHING THIS 
INSTITUTION, MAKE WHAT I 
BELIEVE TO BE ONE OF THE WORST 
DECISIONS WE'VE EVER MADE. 
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER 
YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR 
REPUBLICAN, WHETHER YOU ARE 
LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE, 
WHETHER YOU ARE A FIRST 
GENERATION OR THE 10th, AT OUR 
CORE, WE ARE ALL AMERICAN. 
WE CHOOSE OUR FUTURE AND WHAT 
KIND OF NATION HERE'S OUR 
CHOICE TONIGHT. WILL HE LET 
IMPEACHMENT BECOME AN EXERCISE 
OF ROLE POLITICAL POWER 
REGARDLESS IF IT DAMAGES OUR 
COUNTRY? 
OR WILL HE PROTECT THE PROPER 
GROUND AND PROCESS FOR 
IMPEACHMENT NOW AND IN THE 
FUTURE FOR MONTHS, DEMOCRATS, 
THIS IS THE LAST ATTEMPT TO 
STOP THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, 
MADAM SPEAKER, SPEAKER PELOSI 
RECENTLY ADMITTED DEMOCRATS 
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS 
IMPEACHMENT FOR 2 1/2 YEARS. 
THOSE WERE HER WORDS, NOT MINE. 
BECAUSE THEY LOVE TO HIM IN 
2016, THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING OR 
SAY ANYTHING TO STOP HIM IN 
2020. 
THAT'S NOT AMERICA, THAT'S NOT 
HOW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS 
BEHAVE. 
ELECTIONS MATTER. 
VOTERS MATTER, AND 11 MONTHS, 
THE PEOPLE'S VOICE WILL BE 
HEARD AGAIN IMPEACHMENT IS THE 
MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION 
CONGRESS COULD MAKE OTHER THAN 
SENDING OUR MEN AND WOMEN INTO 
WAR. 
YET 85 DAYS AGO, SPEAKER PELOSI 
CHOSE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
SHE WROTE THE SCRIPT AND 
CREATED AN ARTIFICIAL TIMELINE 
TO MAKE THESE DETAILS FIT. 
WHY ELSE ARE WE DOING THIS JUST 
HOURS BEFORE CHRISTMAS? 
IF THAT'S ALL IT WAS, A RUSH TO 
JUDGMENT, SHE COULD BE 
FORGIVEN. 
BUT BEFORE THE SPEAKER SAW ONE 
WORD OR ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE 
SHE MOVED TO IMPEACH IN THE 
PAST IN THIS BODY, SUCH A STEP 
DEMANDED A VOTE FROM ALL OF US 
FROM THE START. 
NOT ONLY DID SHE MOVED TO 
IMPEACH BEFORE SHE GAVE THIS 
HOUSE AND THE HUNDREDS OF 
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WE 
REPRESENT A SAY IN WHETHER TO 
PURSUE AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 
SHE THROUGHOUT THE BIPARTISAN 
STANDARDS THIS HOUSE GAVE 
PRESIDENT NIXON AND CLINTON. 
THAT IS WHY I IMMEDIATELY SENT 
SPEAKER PELOSI ASKING HER TO 
FOLLOW THE RULES OF HISTORY, 
TRADITION, AND FOLLOW THE 
STANDARDS THAT HAVE SERVED 
AMERICA WELL. 
WHAT DID SHE SAY? 
SHE REJECTED IT. 
SHE REJECTED IT BECAUSE 
DEMOCRATS THROUGH A FAIR 
PROCESS THAT THIS WOULD 
CRUMBLED HER CASE. 
THAT THIS WOULD EXPOSED TO THE 
AMERICAN PUBLIC WHAT MANY 
ALREADY KNEW. 
DEMOCRATS HAVE WANTED TO 
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP SINCE 
THE DAY HE WAS ELECTED. 
NOTHING WAS GOING TO GET IN 
THEIR WAY, CERTAINLY NOT THE 
TRUTH. 
MADAM SPEAKER, CHAIRMAN SCHIFF 
SAID HE HAD EVIDENCE, NOR 
CIRCUMSTANTIAL COLLUSION. 
THAT WAS FALSE. 
IN JANUARY, WHERE WE STOOD IN 
THIS BODY, WE STOOD UP AND 
RAISED OUR HANDS AND WE SWORE 
THAT WE WOULD UPHOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION. 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> A FEW MERE HOURS AFTER THAT, 
THE CONGRESSMAN SAID SHE WOULD 
IMPEACH  THE EXPLETIVE. 
THOSE ARE NOT MY WORDS, A YEAR 
BEFORE TAKING THE MAJORITY, 
CHAIRMAN NADLER CAMPAIGNED TO 
THE DEMOCRATS THAT HE WANTED TO 
BE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE WHERE IMPEACHMENT IS. 
NEW YORK TIMES WRITES, MADAM 
SPEAKER BECAUSE HE IS THE 
STRONGEST MEMBER TO LEAD A 
POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT AND 
CONGRESSMAN RASKIN, A LEADING 
DEMOCRAT ON THE JUDICIARY 
COMMITTEE, WARNED THE DEMOCRATS 
HAVE REPRESENTATION IN THE 
RULES COMMITTEE FOR THESE 
ARTICLES JUST YESTERDAY. 
TOLD THE CROWD HE WOULD IMPEACH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP TWO DAYS BEFORE 
HE WAS EVER SWORN INTO OFFICE. 
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AS A RIGGED 
PROCESS THAT'S LED TO THE MOST 
PARTISAN AND LEAST CREDIBLE 
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HISTORY OF 
AMERICA, THAT IS THIS LEGACY, 
ANY PROSECUTOR IN THIS COUNTRY 
WOULD BE DISBARRED FOR SUCH 
BLATANT BIAS, ESPECIALLY IF 
THAT PROSECUTOR WAS THE FACT 
WITNESS, THE JUDGE, AND JURY. 
[ APPLAUSE ] MADAM SPEAKER, 
DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T JUST FAILED 
ON PROCESS, THEY'VE ALSO FAILED 
ON EVIDENCE. 
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF DEBATE ON 
THE FLOOR TODAY. 
BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE MEMBER 
OF THIS BODY DISPUTE THIS 
SIMPLE FACT, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
PROVIDED LETHAL AID TO UKRAINE. 
IT CAME BEFORE THE CALL, IT 
CAME AFTER THE CALL, AND IT 
CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. 
PRESIDENT TRUMP PROVIDED 
UKRAINE TANK BUSTING BOMBS, THE 
PREVIOUS MINISTRATION, GAVE 
BLANKETS. THIS IS THE TRUTH, 
MEANWHILE THE DEMOCRATS CASE IS 
BASED ON SECONDHAND OPINIONS 
AND HEARSAY. 
SIMPLY PUT, THERE ARE NO 
GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT. 
AS CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR 
JONATHAN TURLEY, I WOULD 
CHALLENGE TO SAY HE'S PROBABLY 
THE MOST RESPECTED AND WE ALL 
KNOW IT. 
A DEMOCRAT WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR 
THE PRESIDENT SAID UNDER OATH 
THERE WAS NO BRIBERY, THERE WAS 
NO EXTORTION, NO OBSTRUCTION OF 
JUSTICE, AND NO ABUSE OF POWER. 
BASED ON THESE FACTS AND THE 
TRUTH, BASED ON THIS LACK OF 
EVIDENCE, TURLEY CALLED THIS 
THE FASTEST, THINNEST, AND 
WEAKEST IMPEACHMENT IN THE U.S. 
HISTORY. 
SUCH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER SHOULD 
BE THE END OF ALL OF THIS. 
BUT SPEAKER PELOSI IS MOVING 
FORWARD WITH THIS IMPEACHMENT. 
WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF FACTS, OR 
TRUTH, OR PUBLIC SUPPORT. 
THE SPEAKER SAYS IT'S OUT OF 
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FOUNDERS. ON 
THIS I AGREE. 
I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER WE 
SHOULD LISTEN TO THE FOUNDERS. 
IF ONE DOES, IT'S VERY CLEAR 
THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT IS 
UNFOUNDED AND IMPROPER. 
IN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON WROTE, 
"THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE THE 
GREATEST DANGER THAT 
IMPEACHMENT WOULD BE DRIVEN 
BIPARTISAN ANIMOSITY INSTEAD OF 
REAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF INNOCENT 
OR GUILT." 
THAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD BE 
DRIVEN BIPARTISAN ANIMOSITY 
INSTEAD OF REAL DEMONSTRATIONS 
OF INNOCENCE OR GUILT. 
ANOTHER AUTHOR OF THE 
FEDERALIST PAPERS WROTE, "THE 
DANGER OF LEGISLATIVE ABUSE 
MUST LEAD TO THE TYRANNY AS IS 
THREATENED BY EXECUTIVE ABUSE." 
THE FOUNDERS DID NOT WANT 
IMPEACHMENT TO BE USED FOR 
POLITICAL OR PARTISAN BATTLES. 
IF MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT WANT TO 
FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL 
STANDARDS, FOR UNDOING A 
NATIONAL ELECTION, PERHAPS YOU 
COULD HAVE FOLLOWED SPEAKERS 
PELOSI'S STANDARD. 
AT LEAST THE ONE THAT SHE 
PROMISED TO FOLLOW IN MARCH. 
NOW THIS IS A VERY SENSIBLE 
STANDARD SHE SAYS IMPEACHMENT 
IS SO DIVISIVE THAT THE 
EVIDENCE MUST BE OVERWHELMING. 
COMPELLING AND BIPARTISAN. 
NOT ONE OF THOSE CRITERIA'S 
HAVE BEEN MET TODAY. 
BASED ON THE FACTS AND THE 
EVIDENCE, BASED ON THE TRUTH 
THIS IMPEACHMENT FAILS THAT 
TEST. 
THOSE NOW WHO SAY REMOVING 
PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD PROTECT 
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY 
HAVE IT BACKWARDS. 
I REMOVING A DULY ELECTED 
PRESIDENT ON EMPTY ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT, CONGRESS WILL 
ERODE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN OUR 
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. 
I UNDERSTAND YOU DISLIKE THE 
PRESIDENT. 
HIS BELIEFS, THE WAY HE 
GOVERNS, AND EVEN THE PEOPLE 
WHO VOTED FOR HIM. 
HOW DO I KNOW THIS, BECAUSE YOU 
SAY SO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. 
IN 2016, THEY EVEN DISMISSED 
HIS SUPPORTERS, REMEMBER 
CALLING US DEPLORABLE'S? 
NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO 
DISQUALIFY OUR VOICE BEFORE 
THESE 2020 ELECTIONS. 
THEY WANT TO UNDO THE RESULTS 
OF THE LAST ELECTION TO 
INFLUENCE THE NEXT ONE. 
AS I'VE SAID, PRESIDENT TRUMP 
WILL STILL BE PRESIDENT WHEN 
THIS IS ALL OVER. 
BUT CONGRESS WILL HAVE WASTED 
MONTHS OF TIME AND TAXPAYERS 
DOLLARS ON IMPEACHMENT RATHER 
THAN DOING WHAT AMERICA'S PEEP 
WILL WANT US TO DO. 
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. 
IS THIS WHY WE CAME HERE TO 
SERVE? 
TO TRAMPLE ON DUE PROCESS 
RIGHTS? 
TO ISSUE MORE SUBPOENAS THAN 
LAWS? 
TO APPEASE THE NEW DEMOCRATS 
SOCIALIST BASE? 
 
>> THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP. 
THAT IS RAW POLITICAL POLITICS. 
THIS NATION. 
 CONCERN FOR  
THE
WITHOUT ANY CONCERN FOR THE 
REPERCUSSIONS. 
MOREOVER, POLITICIZING THIS 
PROCESS HAS DISCREDITED THE 
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES AND COULD 
FOREVER WEAKEN THE REMEDY OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
TO AGAIN QUOTE PROFESSOR 
TURLEY, IT IS THE DEMOCRAT'S 
RUSH TO IMPEACHMENT THAT IS AN 
ABUSE OF POWER. 
HISTORY WILL WRITE THAT.
MADAM SPEA
HISTORY WILL WRITE THAT. 
AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WE 
FACE A CHOICE. 
DO YOU TRUST THE WISDOM OF THE 
PEOPLE? 
OR DO YOU DENY THEM A SAY IN 
THEIR GOVERNMENT? 
FORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE WILL 
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK 
UP AND RENDER THEIR VERDICT IN 
11 MONTHS TO MY FELLOW 
AMERICANS. 
TO MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IF YOU 
APPROVE THE WAY THE HOUSE HAS 
CONDUCTED THEIR BUSINESS, IF 
YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR TAX 
DOLLARS GO FORWARD TO ENDLESS 
INVESTIGATIONS, SUPPORT THIS 
IMPEACHMENT. 
BUT IF YOU WANT TO RESTORE A 
WORKING CONGRESS LIKE THE 
PREVIOUS CONGRESS THAT LISTENED 
TO YOU AND WORK TO BRING THE 
BEST ECONOMY THIS COUNTRY HAS 
EVER SEEN. 
[ CHEERING AND APPLAUSE ] 
>> 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. 
THAT'S WHAT'S 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. 
>> SPEAKER. I YIELD BACK. 
>> GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS 
RECOGNIZED. 
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, I RECOGNIZE 
MYSELF FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR 
TIME. 
>> GENTLEMAN'S RECOGNIZED. 
>> MADAME SPEAKER, MY  
COLLEAGUES, AFTER EIGHT HOURS, 
LET US RETURN TO WHERE WE BEGAN 
WITH THE ARTICLES THEMSELVES. 
ARTICLE 1 CHARGES THE PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES WITH 
ABUSING THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE 
BY COERCING AN ALLY INTO 
CHEATING IN A U.S. ELECTION ON 
HIS BEHALF. 
IT CHARGES THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES. 
>> THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. 
THE GENTLEMAN HAS A RIGHT TO BE 
HEARD. 
THE GENTLEMAN SHALL SUSPEND. 
GENTLEMAN MAY RESUME. 
>> THE CHARGES THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE UNITED STATES WITH ABUSING 
HIS POWER BY WITHHOLDING 
OFFICIAL ACTS, BY WITHHOLDING A 
WHITE HOUSE MEETING THAT THE 
PRESIDENT OF QUEUE CRANE 
DESPERATELY SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH 
THE SUPPORT OF HIS MOST 
IMPORTANT BENEFACTOR, THE 
UNITED STATES. 
BY WITHHOLDING HUNDREDS OF 
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MILITARY 
AID TO A NATION AT WAR IN ORDER 
TO GET THAT NATION TO INTERVENE 
IN OUR ELECTION BY SMEARING HIS 
OPPONENT. 
THAT IS THE GRAVAMIN OF THE 
CHARGE IN ARTICLE 1. AND WHAT 
IS THE DEFENSE FROM MY 
COLLEAGUES? 
I'VE LISTENED CAREFULLY TO MY 
COLLEAGUES FOR THE LAST EIGHT 
HOURS. 
AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BEEN 
HARD FOR ME TO FOLLOW. 
BUT IT AMOUNTS, I THINK, WHEN 
YOU CUT THROUGH IT ALL, WHEN 
YOU CUT THROUGH ALL THE SOUND 
AND THE FURY SIGNIFYING 
NOTHING, WHAT IT REALLY AMOUNTS 
TO IS THIS. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE? 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT WHAT 
THE PRESIDENT DID TO UKRAINE? 
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE SHOULD 
CARE ABOUT OUR ALLIES. 
WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT UKRAINE. 
WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT A COUNTRY 
STRUGGLING TO BE FREE IN A 
DEMOCRACY. 
WE USED TO CARE ABOUT 
DEMOCRACY. 
WE USED TO CARE ABOUT OUR 
ALLIES. 
WE USED TO STAND UP TO PUTIN 
AND RUSSIA [ CHEERING AND 
APPLAUSE ] 
>> WE USED TO. 
I KNOW THE PARTY OF RONALD 
REAGAN USED TO. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT 
UKRAINE? 
BUT, OF COURSE, IT'S ABOUT MORE 
THAN UKRAINE. 
IT'S ABOUT US. 
IT'S ABOUT OUR NATIONAL 
SECURITY. 
THEIR FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT. 
THEIR DEFENSE IS OUR DEFENSE. 
WHEN RUSSIA REMAKES THE MAP OF 
EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 
WORLD WAR II BY DENT OF 
MILITARY FORCE AND UKRAINE 
FIGHTS BACK, IT IS OUR FIGHT 
TOO. 
EN AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT 
SACRIFICES OUR INTERESTS, OUR 
NATIONAL SECURITY FOR HIS 
ELECTION, HIS SACRIFICING OUR 
COUNTRY FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN. 
THAT IS THE GRAVAMIN OF ARTICLE 
1. ARTICLE 2, ARTICLE 2 CHARGES 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES WITH OBSTRUCTING THE 
CONGRESS, WITH DENYING THE 
CONGRESS ANY WITNESS, ANY 
DOCUMENT, BY TELLING ALL OF HIS 
ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE YOU WILL 
NOT APPEAR. 
WHAT IS THE DEFENSE TO THIS 
FROM MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN? 
IT IS WHY SHOULD WE CARE? 
HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF OUR 
PARTY. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE IF HE 
IGNORES THIS CONGRESS? 
I REMIND ME FRIENDS THAT HE 
WILL NOT BE THE LAST PRESIDENT. 
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER 
PRESIDENT, AND YOU MAY BE ONE 
DAY ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT ACT 
LIKE IT, YOU MAY ONE DAY BE IN 
THE MAJORITY. 
AND YOU WILL WANT TO HOLD A 
PRESIDENT  ACCOUNTABLE. 
WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN THAT 
PRESIDENT SAYS YOU ARE A PAPER 
TIGER? 
I CAN IGNORE YOUR SUBPOENAS. 
WHAT WILL YOU SAY? 
WHAT WILL YOU ARGUE? 
WELL, NO, THAT WAS DIFFERENT. 
THEN, THEN WE WERE IN THE 
MINORITY. 
THEN IT WAS A REPUBLICAN 
PRESIDENT. 
WILL THAT BE YOUR ARGUMENT? 
IS THAT HOW LITTLE FAITH YOU 
HAVE IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR 
CONSTITUTION? 
IS THAT HOW POORLY YOU DEFEND 
AND UPHOLD THAT CONSTITUTION? 
BUT FINALLY, LET ME ASK THIS 
QUESTION THAT OVERRIDES IT ALL. 
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT ANY OF 
THIS? 
AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ONE 
CONVERSATION THAT CAME TO 
LIGHT. 
BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE MOST 
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, BUT IN 
MANY WAYS IT IS THE MOST 
REVEALING. 
IT TOOK PLACE ON  SEPTEMBER 
14th IN UKRAINE WHEN AMBASSADOR 
VOLKOR SAT DOWN WITH ANDRE 
YERMACH THE TOP ADVISOR TO 
ZELENSKI. 
HE SUPPORTED THE RULE OF LAW, 
AND HE SAID YOU ANDRE YERMACH 
SHOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE LAST 
PRESIDENT FOR POLITICAL 
REASONS. 
YOU SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN 
POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
YOU KNOW WHAT YERMACH SAID? 
HE SAID OH, LIKE WHAT YOU WANT 
US TO DO WITH THE BIDENS AND 
THE CLINTONS? 
AND IN THAT ABRUPT, BRUTAL 
RETORT, WE SEE WHY WE SHOULD 
CARE. 
BECAUSE WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS 
YOU, AMERICA, HAVE FORGOTTEN 
WHAT IT MEANS TO UPHOLD THE 
RULE OF LAW. 
YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT 
MEANS TO SAY THAT NO ONE IS 
ABOVE THE LAW. 
WE ARE A STRUGGLING DEMOCRACY. 
BUT EVEN WE KNOW BETTER THAN 
THAT. 
WHAT IS AT RISK HERE, WHAT IS 
AT RISK HERE IS THE VERY IDEA 
OF AMERICA. 
THAT IDEA HOLDS THAT WE ARE A 
NATION OF LAWS, NOT OF MEN. 
WE ARE A NATION THAT BELIEVES 
IN A RULE OF LAW. 
WHEN WE SAY WE UPHOLD THE 
CONSTITUTION, WE'RE NOT TALKING 
ABOUT A PIECE OF PARCHMENT. 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL 
ARCHITECTURE IN WHICH AMBITION 
IS SET AGAINST AMBITION, IN 
WHICH NO BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT 
CAN DOMINATE ANOTHER. 
THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO UPHOLD 
THE CONSTITUTION. 
IF YOU IGNORE IT, IF YOU SAY 
THE PRESIDENT MAY REFUSE TO 
COMPLY, MAY REFUSE LAWFUL 
PROCESS, MAY COERCE AN ALLY, 
MAY CHEAT IN AN ELECTION 
BECAUSE HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF 
OUR PARTY, YOU DO NOT UPHOLD 
OUR CONSTITUTION. 
YOU DO NOT UPHOLD YOUR OATH OF 
OFFICE. 
WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THIS. 
I WILL UPHOLD MINE. 
I WILL VOTE TO IMPEACH DONALD 
TRUMP. 
I YIELD BACK. 
 
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: 
[ APPLAUSE ] 
>> A TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE 
HAS EXPIRED. 
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 
767, THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS 
ORDERED ON THE RESOLUTION AS 
AMENDED. 
THE QUESTION OF ADOPTION OF THE 
RESOLUTION IS AMENDED SHALL BE 
DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO 
ARTICLES. 
THE QUESTION NOW OCCURS ON THE 
ADOPTION OF ARTICLE 1. ALL IN 
FAVOR, SAY I. 
>> I! 
>> OPPOSED, NO. 
>> NO! 
>> THE I'S HAVE IT. 
>> SPEAKER, THE I'S AND NAY'S 
ON THAT VOTE. 
>> ROLE CALL. 
>> THE YAY'S AND NAY'S ARE 
REQUESTED. 
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE 
YAY'S AND NAY'S WILL ARISE. 
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING 
RISEN, THE YAY'S AND NAY'S ARE 
ORDERED. 
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTE 
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. 
THIS WILL BE A 15-MINUTE VOTE. 
>>> HI, EVERYONE. 
I'M ELAINE QUIJANO. 
WE ARE WATCHING A HISTORIC 
MOMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
FOR JUST A THIRD TIME IN 
AMERICAN HISTORY, LAWMAKERS ARE 
VOTING ON WHETHER TO IMPEACH A 
PRESIDENT. 
DEBATE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 
HOURS OVER TWO ARTICLES. 
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION 
OF CONGRESS. 
STEMMING FROM ALLEGATIONS THAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESSURED 
UKRAINE TO INVESTIGATE A 
POLITICAL RIVAL, ENLISTING 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN A U.S. 
ELECTION. 
THE VOTE IS HAPPENING NOW 
ELECTRONICALLY ON THE FIRST 
ARTICLE. 
IT IS EXPECTED TO BE ALONG 
PARTY LINES. 
LET'S BRING INTO THIS 
CONVERSATION LESLIE IS A 
CONTRIBUTOR. 
ANTOINE IS A DEMOCRATIC 
STRATEGIST. 
AND MOLLY IS A CBSN POLITICAL 
CONTRIBUTOR. 
MOLLY, LET'S START WITH YOU. 
DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT WE ARE 
GOING TO BE SEEING HERE TAKE 
PLACE. 
YOU HAVE TWO ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
HOW LONG IS THIS EXPECTED TO 
TAKE? 
COULD THERE BE A ROLE CALL 
VOTE? 
>> WELL, THERE WON'T 
NECESSARILY BE A ROLE CALL 
VOTE. 
IF YOU NOTICE ALL THE MEMBERS 
AND I'M GOING TO POINT UP TO 
THE SCREEN THAT I CAN SEE GOING 
TO THE WELL OF THE HOUSE AND 
THEY'RE PICKING UP CARDS. 
ONE IS A RED CARD FOR NO. 
THE OTHER IS A GREEN CARD FOR 
YES. 
I HAVE A FEELING THE DEMOCRATS 
ARE CASTING THEIR VOTE 
ELECTRONICALLY. 
BECAUSE WHEN YOU WRITE DOWN 
YOUR NAME ON THAT RED CARD, 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF 
THE VOTE AS SOON AS IT'S ABOUT 
TO BE GAVELED OUT, THE CLERK 
WILL GENERALLY READ THE NAMES, 
READ OFF EVERY NAME WHO VOTED 
AGAINST IT. 
AS OPPOSED TO JUST TURNING 
AROUND AND LOOKING UP AT THE 
MAGICAL ELECTRONIC VOTING BOARD 
THAT'S VISIBLE IN THE GALLERY 
AND IN THE HOUSE BUT NOT TO 
EVERYONE ELSE, ESSENTIALLY. 
>> RIGHT. 
>> SO I'VE NOTICED A LOT OF 
REPUBLICANS ARE DOING THAT. 
I BELIEVE THAT IS BECAUSE THEY 
WANT THEIR NAMES READ OFF, AND 
IT WOULD TAKE LONGER FOR THIS 
PROCESS TO GO ON. 
BUT IT IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT 
THAN, SAY, WHAT SOME 
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CALLING 
FOR, WHICH WOULD BE A TRUE ROLE 
CALL VOTE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY 
STAND AND SAY YOUR VOTE. 
SORT OF LIKE ON THE FIRST DAY 
OF EACH CONGRESS WHEN THE 
MEMBERS VOTE FOR THE SPEAKER. 
SO THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. 
BUT THIS MIGHT BE ONE MORE 
LITTLE DELAY, YOU KNOW, A MAGIC 
VOTING MINUTE IF YOU WILL. 
>> REMIND US OF THE NUMBERS 
HERE. 
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? 
>> 216 VOTES. 
216 VOTES WILL WIN THE DAY, SO 
TO SPEAK. 
IF THERE ARE 216 MEMBERS WHO 
VOTE FOR THE FIRST ARTICLE OF 
IMPEACHMENT ON ABUSE OF POWER, 
THEN THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN 
IMPEACHED ON THAT. 
SAME THING FOR THE NEXT 
ARTICLE. 
216 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER. 
AND THAT IS BECAUSE CURRENTLY 
THERE'S FOUR VACANCIES IN THE 
HOUSE DUE TO SEVERAL 
RESIGNATIONS AND ELIJAH 
CUMMINGS RECENTLY PASSED AWAY. 
THERE ARE FOUR OPENINGS. 
WHAT YOU NEED IS A MAJORITY OF 
THOSE MEMBERS VOTING AND 
PRESIDENT, WHICH WOULD BE 216. 
>> SO WE KNOW THAT EVEN AS THIS 
IS TAKING PLACE IN WASHINGTON, 
PRESIDENT TRUMP MEANTIME HAS 
TAKEN THE STAGE, AND WE WANT TO 
SHOW YOU IN BATTLE CREEK, 
MICHIGAN AT THE KELLOG ARENA, 
THE PRESIDENT IS ADDRESSING HIS 
SUPPORTERS NOW. 
WE KNOW THAT HE IS EXPECTED TO 
ADDRESS IMPEACHMENT. 
WE ARE KEEPING AN EAR ON THIS. 
AND IF YOU WANTED TO WATCH 
THIS, WE SHOULD TELL YOU IT'S 
AVAILABLE AT 
CBSNEWS.COM/TRUMPRALLY. 
ONCE HE BEGINS SPEAKING ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT, WE'LL BRING THAT 
INTO OUR CONVERSATION AS WELL 
AND TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT. 
IN THE MEANTIME, LET ME TURN TO 
OUR STRATEGISTS ONSET. 
ANTOINE, I WANT TO GET YOUR 
TAKE. 
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT 
THESE 31 DEMOCRATS WHO ARE FROM 
DISTRICTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CARRIED IN 2016. 
AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE 
SUPPORTING IMPEACHMENT. 
WHAT IS IT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN 
WEIGHING UP UNTIL THIS VOTE? 
>> YOU ASKED MOLLY THE 
QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO 
SEE? 
WE'RE GOING TO SEE MEN AND 
WOMEN FULFILL THE DUTY AND 
RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY SWORE 
INTO WHEN THEY WERE ELECTED 
WHENEVER IT WAS THEY WERE 
ELECTED. 
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS 
ABOUT PUTTING COUNTRY FIRST, 
PUTTING COUNTRY ABOVE POLITICS, 
PUTTING THE OATH OF OFFICE 
ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. 
WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS 
POSTURE, AND THESE MEMBERS 
WOULD NOT BE IN THIS POSTURE 
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THAT FAMOUS 
PHONE CALL ASKING CAN UKRAINE 
LEADER TO DIG UP DIRT ON DONALD 
TRUMP'S POLITICAL OPPONENT. 
AND WITHHOLDING THE NEEDED 
FUNDING THAT THE UKRAINE 
GOVERNMENT NEEDED BY THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE 
MEMBERS FULFILL THEIR DUTIES 
AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 
>> AS YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING, MY 
PRODUCER TELLS ME WE JUST SAW 
JEFF ANDREW, DEMOCRAT OF NEW 
JERSEY, VOTE AGAINST AS 
EXPECTED THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT AS HE SAID HE WAS 
GOING TO. 
HE IS EXPECTED TO ACTUALLY 
SWITCH POLITICAL PARTIES, ISN'T 
HE? 
>> YES, HE IS. 
AND ANDREW REPRESENTS A 
DISTRICT THAT WAS ONCE HELD BY 
FRANK LOBIANDO IN NEW JERSEY. 
IT'S MORE OF A REPUBLICAN-
LEANING DISTRICT. 
AND ACTUALLY, THE STRATEGISTS 
CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT 
BETTER. 
BUT JEFF ANDREW DID ANNOUNCE HE 
WAS GOING TO DO IT. 
HE WAS TAKING A LOT OF HEAT 
BACK HOME IN HIS DISTRICT WHEN 
HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD SUPPORT, 
I MEAN HE WOULD VOTE AGAINST 
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. 
HE WAS TAKING A LOT OF HEAT 
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN 
THAT AREA. 
>> WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE WAS HE 
FACING? 
>> HE HAS REPEATEDLY, I THINK, 
SINNED AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC 
VALUES. 
WHILE PEOPLE MAKE A BIG TO-DO 
AND THINK THIS IS ALL ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT VOTE, I'LL REMIND 
THEM THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE 
SURVIVED THE PRIMARY. 
BECAUSE OF SOME PREVIOUS VOTES 
AND POSITIONS HE'S TAKEN 
AGAINST HIS OWN PARTY AND 
CAUCUS. 
WHILE THERE ARE OTHER SWING 
MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT ALWAYS 
VOTED WITH THE CAUCUS, THEY 
HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE SAME 
POSTURE AND POSITION AS THE 
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY. 
AND WHILE THE REPUBLICANS WANT 
TO CLAIM VICTORY, I DON'T THINK 
THEY CAN CLAIM VICTORY AND ASK 
ACT AS IF IT WAS ABOUT 
IMPEACHMENT. 
THESE ARE ABOUT OTHER VOTES AND 
HIS POLITICAL BEHAVIOR BEFORE 
NOW. 
I THINK THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL 
THING THAT TURNED THE WATER CUP 
OVER. 
>> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. 
LET ME TURN TO YOU, LESLIE. 
REPUBLICANS WILL POINT TO VAN 
DREW AND SAY HERE IS AN EXAMPLE 
OF HOW THE ONLY VOTE IN THIS 
THAT WAS BIPARTISAN WAS TO VOTE 
AGAINST THE ARTICLES OF 
IMPEACHMENT. 
>> SURE. 
IT'S VERY CONVENIENT TO SAY 
THAT IT'S JUST LOCAL POLITICS 
AS OPPOSED TO VOTING THEIR 
CONSCIENCE WHEN THEY'RE VOTING 
WITH REPUBLICANS. 
THAT SHOWS YOU HOW HYPOCRITICAL 
THAT ARGUMENT IS. 
YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVE GOLDMAN 
WHO IS GOING TO SPLIT FOR HIS 
VOTE. 
HE'S A DEMOCRAT IN ONE OF THOSE 
DISTRICTS THAT TRUMP IS VERY 
STRONG IN. 
THAT'S ANOTHER CASE FOR THAT. 
BUT HERE OR THERE, YOU'RE 
EXACTLY RIGHT ON THAT POINT. 
THE ONLY BIPARTISANSHIP IS 
DEMOCRATS MOVING TO 
REPUBLICANS. 
YOU'RE NOT SEEING THIS 
CONSENSUS BUILDING. 
WE DRAMATICALLY TALK ABOUT YOU 
NEED DURING IMPEACHMENT. 
WE HEARD A LOT OF SPEECHES IN 
HOURS AND HOURS, BUT WOW IT'S 
BEEN AN EXHAUSTIVE SEVEN WEEKS. 
WE'RE ALL SO TIRED AND WE ARE 
TIRED FROM HEARING THE LOOP OF 
TALKING POINTS THAT GO AROUND 
AND AROUND. 
BUT PUT IT IN CONTEXT 
HISTORICALLY WHEN YOU HAD BILL 
CLINTON'S INVESTIGATIONS WENT 
ON FOR 19 MONTHS. 
NIXON WENT ON FOR MORE THAN TWO 
YEARS TO GET TO THE POINT. 
>> AND YOU ALSO HAD MUELLER 
THAT DIDN'T COME TO ANYTHING. 
THAT WAS A TWO-YEAR 
INVESTIGATION. 
>> THIS IS WHY THE AMERICAN 
PUBLIC IS NOT ON BOARD. 
YOU CAN DISLIKE WHERE THE 
PRESIDENT IS, BUT THIS IS WHY 
HALF OF THE COUNTRY IS NOT ON 
BOARD. 
MORE THAN HALF IS NOT ON BOARD 
WITH RESPECT TO THIS. 
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO PARTISAN, 
RUN BY BASICALLY THE SCHIFF 
IMPEACHMENT AND A BUNCH OF NEWS 
ARTICLES THAN WANT TO VOTE ON 
AND SEND OVER TO THE SENATE. 
>> GO AHEAD. 
>> I THINK HALF THE COUNTRY IS 
ON BOARD. 
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE 
CLINTON ERA IMPEACHMENT. 
I THINK REPUBLICANS WANT TO 
IGNORE THE REALITIES THAT 
DONALD TRUMP ADMITTED TO 
HIMSELF. 
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE CALL IT 
RECEIPTS. 
THE PRESIDENT ADMITTED ON TAPE 
IN THE WHITE HOUSE FRONT LAWN 
THAT HE WAS PROUD OF HIS 
ACTIONS. 
MICK MULVANEY CALLED IT PART OF 
THE PROCESS. 
SO THE THINGS HE'S BEING 
IMPEACHED FOR ARE THINGS HE 
ADMITTED TO. 
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HAVING A 
THIRD PARTY WITNESS, BUT DONALD 
TRUMP'S DOJ AND HIS ATTORNEY 
GENERAL BARR WHO WE KNOW IS A 
PARTISAN HACK IS NOT GOING TO 
DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE NAME 
OF UPHOLDING HIS OFFICE FOR 
DOING WHAT'S RIGHT AND THE BEST 
INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE. 
IF SO, HE WOULD HAVE 
DEMONSTRATED IT BEFORE. 
THIS PROCESS WAS KICKED TO THE 
THE AG'S OFFICE BY THE 
INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THIS 
POINT. 
>> I THINK WE START GOING DOWN 
A DANGEROUS ROAD, A SLIPPERY 
SLOPE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO 
INSTILL FURTHER DISTRUST INTO 
DOJ AND OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
INSTITUTIONS. 
THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE GOT TO 
THIS POINT TO BEGIN WITH. 
REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT OF úPROB 
NOW. 
THERE'S A HEALTHY DEGREE OF 
SKEPTICISM WITH MY FRIEND HERE. 
BUT I DON'T SAY JUST BECAUSE 
THE HEAD THAT AUTOMATICALLY WE 
CAN DISCOUNT THEM. 
REPUBLICANS TRIED THAT. 
THINK ABOUT HOW MANY AG'S THE 
REPUBLICANS DIDN'T LIKE. 
WE NEVER SAID WE DIDN'T TRUST 
THEIR ACTIONS. 
>> GO AHEAD. 
>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I 
THINK CONGRESS HELD ERIC HOLDER 
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT. 
IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS. 
>> WHICH HAS A LOT OF TEETH. 
>> I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE, 
THOUGH, THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE 
WITH WHICH THIS VOTE IS 
HAPPENING, YOU HAVE A GREAT 
DEAL OF DIVISION, RIGHT? 
AND THE QUESTION WAS, IS THE 
NEEDLE GOING TO MOVE IN ONE WAY 
OR THE OTHER OVER THE COURSE OF 
THIS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY? 
OUR LATEST CBS NEWS POLL SHOWED 
THAT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS 
IMPEACHED, THIS IS WHAT 
AMERICANS SAID. 
THE SENATE SHOULD CONVICT AND 
REMOVE HIM. 
42% OF AMERICANS SAID THAT. 
BUT THEN YOU HAD A COMBINED 42% 
SAYING EITHER NOT CONVICT HIM 
OR NOT HOLD A TRIAL AT ALL, 
MOLLY. 
SO YOU LOOK AT THAT VERY 
DIVISIVE LANDSCAPE. 
AND FOR SENATORS NOW, YOU KNOW, 
EVEN REPUBLICANS RIGHT WHO 
DON'T APPEAR TO BE PARTICULARLY 
FOND OF THIS EXERCISE, NEVER 
THELESS I WONDER YOU LOOK AT 
SOMEONE LIKE A MITT ROMNEY OR 
SUZANNE COLLINS, WHAT ARE YOU 
LOOKING AT THERE AS ALL 
INDICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE 
MOVING OVER TO THE SENATE FOR 
TRIAL? 
>> YOU LOOK AT THOSE 
REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE VOICED 
CONCERN BEFORE BECAUSE REALLY 
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW 
BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE 
SENATE IS SETTING UP THE RULES 
OF THIS TRIAL THAT WOULD HAPPEN 
IN THE SENATE. 
AND ESSENTIALLY WHETHER 
WITNESSES WILL BE CALLED BEFORE 
THE SENATE, WHETHER THEY'LL 
TAKE DEPOSITIONS. 
THEY'RE SETTING UP ALL THE 
PROCEDURES. 
AND UNLIKE A VOTE TO CONVICT OR 
REMOVE A PRESIDENT, WHICH 
REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS, VOTES FOR 
TESE RULES REQUIRES 51 
SENATORS. 
AND IF SCHUMER, CHUCK SCHUMER, 
HE CAN GET FOUR SKEPTICAL 
REPUBLICANS TO AGREE TO CALL 
CERTAIN WITNESSES LIKE MICK 
MULVANEY, MIKE POMPEO, JOHN 
BOLTON. 
IF HE CAN GET THEM TO VOTE ON 
CERTAIN RULES THAT WOULD 
BENEFIT DEMOCRATS CASE, THAT 
COULD POSSIBLY SWAY PUBLIC OH 
PINION. 
I DON'T WANT TO FORECAST THAT, 
BUT HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THE 
INDIVIDUALS WHO SPOKE TO THE 
PRESIDENT ABOUT THESE ACTIONS 
REGARDING UKRAINE IS SOMETHING 
THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD THUS FAR. 
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF 
PRESUMPTION FROM THESE 
INDIVIDUALS, BUT IN TERMS OF AN 
INDIVIDUAL LIKE JOHN BOLTON WHO 
IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISOR WHO DID NOTTEN WANT ANY 
PART OF THIS DRUG DEAL, TO 
QUOTE HIS FORMER AID FIONA 
HILL, WHAT CONVERSATION DID HE 
HAVE WITH THE PRESIDENT ABOUT 
IT? 
WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE 
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO 
HIM. 
>> YOU USED THE WORD SKEPTICAL. 
WHY CAN'T THERE BE INDIVIDUALS 
WHO WANT TO SEE A FAIR AND 
BALANCED PROCESS? 
MY DEAR FRIEND WHO I LOVE TO 
DEATH REMINDS ME THIS PROCESS 
IS SO PARTISAN. 
THE SENATE HAS A PRIME 
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FAIR 
TRIAL. 
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY 
SENIOR SENATOR SAID HE HAD NO 
INTEREST IN ENTERTAINING 
WHATEVER CAME FROM THE HOUSE. 
HE WAS NOT EVEN GOING TO 
PRETEND. 
LEADER McCONNELL WAS VERY CLEAR 
HE'S WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH 
THE WHITE HOUSE TO MOVE 
EXPEDIENTLY TO GET THIS DONE IN 
THE NAME OF PARTISANSHIP. 
SO, WILL REPUBLICANS STEP UP TO 
THE PLATE AND DO WHAT HISTORY 
PROBABLY SUGGESTS THEY SHOULD 
DO? 
I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT. 
YOU CAN'T PAINT THIS AS THE 
DEMOCRATS WANT TO RUN THIS 
PARTISAN GAME OR THIS PARTISAN 
BALL DOWN THE FIELD. 
>> I WASN'T SAYING IT WAS 
PARTISAN. 
>> NOT YOU. 
NOT YOU. 
NOT YOU. 
NOT YOU. 
THE ENVIRONMENT. 
>> I'M KEEPING AN EYE ON THE 
CLOCK. 
MOLLY, THAT NUMBER WAS 216, 
RIGHT? 
SO A MINUTE AND A HALF. 
>> I HAVE A FEELING THAT WAS 
COLLIN PETERSON. 
>> TELL US ABOUT HIM. 
>> HE HAS OFTEN VOTED AGAINST 
HIS PARTY WHEN IT COMES TO 
THESE ISSUES, LIKE SAY 
OBAMACARE, ON MAJOR ISSUES. 
CAP AND TRADE BACK IN 2009-
2010. 
AND JUST TO GO TO ONE POINT, 
GOING BACK TO JEFF VAN DREW, 
IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED FOR A 
MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY TO 
SWITCH PARTIES AND JOIN THE 
MINORITY. 
PARKER GRIFFITH DID IT WHEN 
PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS THE 
PRESIDENT AND OBAMACARE CAME 
UP. 
BUT HE LOST IN 2010 THE YEAR 
THE REPUBLICANS TOOK BACK THE 
MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES. 
>> IT'S NOT CLEAR IT'S GOING TO 
PAY OFF. 
>> THE REPUBLICANS WHO DID 
IMPEACHMENT IN 1998, WE POINT 
TO TWO YEARS LATER, MANY OF THE 
IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS WERE 
EITHER PRIMARIED OR LOST IN 
THEIR GENERAL ELECTIONS. 
IT'S A VERY HIGH POLITICAL 
PRICE TO HAVE THIS HIGH-LEVEL 
PROFILE. 
SO THAT'S CERTAINLY PART OF 
THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH OF 
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT. 
I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT ALL THE 
TALKING POINTS. 
THEY JUST WENT AND AROUND ON 
EVERY NETWORK. 
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THAT. 
LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF 
THE POLITICAL QUESTION THAT 
YOU'RE ASKING. 
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE, 
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, THIS 
WILL BEHOOVE A PARTY. 
YOU CAN'T SAY YOU'RE GOING TO 
WIN ON THIS. 
FOR THE SENATE BEING THAT 
COOLING MECHANISM, THE SENATORS 
WHO ARE QUESTIONING THE 
PRESIDENT'S UNORTHODOX 
APPROACH, THE MITT ROMNEY, WE 
TALK ABOUT COLLINS, WE TALK 
ABOUT THEM, I THINK THEY WANT 
TO SEE THIS PROCESS BE FAIR. 
AT LEAST FAIRER THAN IT WAS IN 
THE HOUSE. 
BUT I DON'T SEE AN APPETITE TO 
ELONGATE THE PROCESS. 
TRY TO PUSH AMERICA INTO THE 
IDEA THAT BELIEVING REMOVAL OF 
THE PRESIDENT IS THE RIGHT 
ANECDOTE FOR THIS CALL, 
ESPECIALLY WITH THE LAST POINT 
BEING THAT YOU HAD OVER 100 
SENATORS VOTING ONE WAY OR 
ANOTHER ON THREE DIFFERENT 
VOTES. 
SORRY, HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED ONE 
WAY OR ANOTHER OVER THREE 
DIFFERENT VOTES TO IMPEACH THE 
PRESIDENT BEFORE THE JULY CALL. 
THERE'S AN APPETITE AMONGEST 
DEMOCRATS. 
IT'S NOT MOVING TO CONSENSUS. 
>> I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE 
THAT TIME HAS RUN OUT ON THIS 
FIRST ARTICLE. 
YOU SEE THAT NUMBER, 222 
CROSSING THAT THRESHOLD OF 216 
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. 
>> NOTICE THAT SPEAKER PELOSI 
IS ACTUALLY IN THE CHAIR 
PRESIDING OVER THE HAIR. 
>> TELL US ABOUT THAT. 
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU 
NORMALLY DO. 
I MEAN, AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 
EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK THAT'S 
WHAT ONE DOES, TYPICALLY ON 
BIGGER VOTES SUCH AS THIS, 
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN 
VOTE, THE SPEAKER DOES ASCEND
