large measure will define who we are as congresspeople and as american citizens. is that the gist of your message that you have a duty to do this? i do think part of my message is that generational duty. i m very mindful. i have new grandchildren. i have three grandchildren now, two just in the last two months. i m very mindful we re here for just a short period of time but must be caretakers and stewards of this place and of our oath and of our constitution. and in the face of the extraordinary wrongdoing of this president, seeking for personal and political gain, interference in our elections, risking our national security, nothing could be more brave. and so i see these articles as very well written and i have an obligation to uphold my oath and hold this president accountable. of course, there are also practical concerns and we heard the president in your home state of pennsylvania last night at a rally. and he talked about what i think is probably a concern for many
problem with this, and then you leaked further information. this is the problem here, and we can be righteous about trying to get this president or note. when it comes to this, this is why people are getting so just turned off by this whole thing. when we understand that, that is the problem i have, you could have handled this differently. i m going to blame the chairman, i hold the member, the one with the pen responsible. i m going to assume he ordered this, this he was the one that said put their names in here, he s the one that can t come and defend that. unfortunately, he sent you. and you had to take it. that s wrong and this committee deserves better, with that, i yield back. the gentleman yields back, the gentle lady from california is recognized. thank you, mr. chairman. the gist of the question here is the potential of abuse of the president s power to benefit himself in the next election. now, america is based on free and fair elections, after russia
intimidated, threatened and tampered with prospective and actual witnesses in the impeachment inquiry, correct? yes. it is a federal crime to intimidate or seek to intimidate any witness before congress, is that right? yes. there s a little bit more to it but that s the gist. am i correct president trump publicly attacked witnesses before, after and even during their testimony? that is correct. i d like to quickly go through some examples. on twitter the president tried to smear ambassador bill taylor, a former military officer who graduated at the top of his class at westpoint, served as an infantry commander in vietnam and earned a bronze star and medal for a d device for valor.
beneath this congress. that s why i have a problem with this. then you leaked further information. this is the problem here. we can be righteous about trying to get this president or not. this is why people are turned off by this whole thing. that s the problem we have. are you could have handled this differently. and you mr. schiff. i don t blame the chairman. i hold the one with the pen responsible. he ordered this and said put their names in here and he can t come and defend that. unfortunately he sent you. you have had to take it. that s wrong and this committee deserves better. i yield back. gentleman yields back. gentle lady of from california is recognized. the gist of the question here is the potential of abuse of the president s power to benefit himself in the next election. america is based on free and fair elections.
it s beneath you and beneath this congress. and that is why i have such a problemwh with this. then you leaked further information. this is the problem here. we can be righteous trying to get this president or not this is why people are getting turned offe by this whole thing. when we understand that, that is the problemnd i have. because you could have handled thisyo differently. you and mr. schiff. i don t blame the chairman i hold the member the one with the pin responsible. i m going to assume he ordered this and said put their names in here and can t come and defend that. unfortunately he sent you. and you had to take it. that s wrong and this committee deserves better. with that i yield back. yi the gentleman yields back. gentle lady from california is rec mied. thank you, mr. chairman. the gist of the question here is the h potential of abuse of the president s power to benefit himself and the next election.