Republican and then what happens . Yeah, and then at that point, any member can simply say they move to offer an amendment. And when they offer an amendment, they have to actually provide the next of that language to the clerk. The amendment could be read aloud before all of the members of The Committee. And then each of the members can simply say they want a chance to talk and to speak about that particular amendment. And as you said, there are 41 members of this committee. 40 are expected to attend one is not, ted lieu because of health issues. Hes not expected to be here this week. But each of those members could speak. That could take time for each individual amendment. When that amendment is voted down which we expect because republicans are expects to offer amendments, democrats are happy with these articles and dont plan to do that. Thats why this is unpredictable how this contentious day will play out, wolf. 40 members now. Ted lieu had some medical issues. We wish him a speedy recovery. Hes not going to be here. They read his Statement Last night. Theres jerry nadler, the chairman of The Committee getting ready to bring down the gavel and open this session. Jeffrey toobin is with us as well. Do we anticipate as part of this process we will actually read the two articles of impeachment before the Committee Members . Am i allowed to say i dont know. You arent allowed to say that. I i dont know. Let me ask manu. Maybe he knows. Manu, you still there . Yeah, i am. Will nadler read the two articles of impeachment . Theyre 10, 12 pages. He can. That is something within his rights. They can also decide to waive the reading of those amendments to those articles in order to speed the proceedings. We expect at least him to read some of these aloud. Well see if he reads the entire text of this. Thats how theyll probably play out today. The question the democrats have been told to clear their
schedules today because its going to take a while to get through all of the text, both of the articles themselves and as well as the each of the amendments because each of the amendments could be read aloud so people understand what they are voting on. But we expect, we were told at least the chairman of the Committee Plans to at least read some of the language from the articles themselves so well see if he does that when he opens up the proceedings here in a matter of minutes. Its only going to be a few moments away. Jeffrey, let me talk to you about something you do know the answer to. You look at these republicans. They are not shy. So many of them, whether its jim jordan or doug collins, the Ranking Member, louie gohmert. This is a lively bunch. Committees have personalities. And there has always been the House Judiciary Committee as a place where partisans go. If you are a congressman who really cares about like bringing home the bacon and getting projects built in your district,
you dont go on the Judiciary Committee. You go on the appropriations committee. Thats a far less contentious. If you are someone who cares about civil liberties, who cares about religious freedom, hotbutton social issues you go to the Judiciary Committee. Thats why you have democrats like shirley jack lee, jamie raskin, a new member from massachusetts, a constitutional law professor. Why you have jim jordan and doug collins. So its not a coincidence you have such passionate people in this committee and we get to enjoy their company. You see the photographers are crouching down. Theyre about to begin. Lets watch jerry nadler, the chairman. The Judiciary Committee will please come to order. A quorum being present. When The Committee recessed yesterday, it had completed Opening Statements on the resolution about to be considered. Pursupt to notice under House Resolution 660, i now call House Resolution 755 um peaching donald j. Trump, president of the United States for High Crimes And Misdemeanors. Chairman, Point Of Order. I make a Point Ofored The Grounds the chairman willfully refused to schedule a properly demanded minority day of hearings pursuant to clause j of well entertain that Point Of Order once we finished calling out the resolution. Hres 755 impeaching Donald John Trump, president of the United States for High Crimes And Misdemeanors. For purposes of markup and move the Committee Report the resolution favorably to the house. The clerk will report the resolution. Hres 755. Impeaching donald trump for High Crimes And MisdemeanorsIn The House Of Representatives, december 10th, 2019. It was referred to The Committee on the judiciary. Resolution, impeaching Donald John Trump, president of the United States for High Crimes And Misdemeanors resolved that donald j. Trump, president of the United States is impeached for High Crimes And Misdemeanors and 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 j. Trump, president of the United States of america, and maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for High Crimes And Misdemeanors. Article 1, abuse of power. The constitution provides the house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment and the President Shall be removed for the conviction of trees orngs bribery or other High Crimes And Misdemeanors. In his conduct as president of the United States and violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of the president of the united
states, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care of the laws be faithfully executed, donald j. Trump abused the powers of this presidency in using the powers of high office he soliceded the interference of a Foreign Government in the 2020 United States president ial 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 president ial election to his advantage. President trump sought to pressure the Government Of Ukraine to take these steps by conditioning official United States government acts of significant value of ukraine on its Public Announcement of the investigations. President trump engaged in this scheme or mr. Chairman, i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read. Given the significance i object. Objection is heard. Personal political benefit in doing so, President Trump used the powers of the presidency in
a manner that compromised the National Security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process. He thus ignored and injured the interests of the nation. President trump engaged in this scheme or course of conduct through the following means. One, President Trump acted both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States government Corruptly Soliceded the Government Of Ukraine to announce investigations into, a, a political opponent, joseph r. Biden jr. And a discredited theory promoted by Russia Alleging that ukraine rather than russia interfered in the 2016 United States president ial election. Two, with the same corrupt motives, President Trump acted through his agents within and outside the United States government in addition to 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 vital military and Security Assistance to ukraine
to oppose aggression and a Head Of State meeting which the president of ukraine sought to demonstrate continued support for the Government Of Ukraine in the face of russian aggression. Three, faced with the public revelation of his actions, President Trump ultimately released the military and Security Assistance to the Government Of Ukraine but has persisted in openly and corruptly urging and soliciting ukraine for his personal political benefit. These were consistent with President Trumps previous invitations of foreign interference in the United States elections. In all of this, President Trump abused the powers of the presidency by ignoring and injuring National Security and other Vital National interests to obtain an improper personal political benefit. Hes betrayed the nation by using his high office. He has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to National Security and the constitution if allowed to remain in office. He has acted in a manner grossly
incompatible with governance. Article 2 obstruction of congress. The constitution provides the house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment and the President Shall be removed from office of impeachment for the conviction of treason, bribery or other High Crimes And Misdemeanors. In his conduct of the office of president of the United States in violation of his constitutional oath, to faithfully execute the office of the 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 take care of the laws be faithfully executed. Donald j. Trump directed the categorical and defiance of subpoenas issued by the house of representatives. President trump has abused the powers of the presidency in a Manner Offensive to and submersive of the constitution in that the house of representatives has engaged in an Impeachment Inquiry focused on President Trumps corrupt solicitation of the Government Of Ukraine to interfere in the
2020 United States president ial election. As part of this Impeachment Inquiry, The Committees undertaking the investigation serves subpoenas seeking documents from various executive Branch Agencies and offices and current and former officials. In response without lawful cause or exkurks President Trump directed executive Branch Agencies, offices and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President trump thus interposed the powers of the presidency against the Lawful Subpoenas of the house of representatives and assumed functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the constitution In The House Of Representatives. President trump abused the power of his high office through the following means. One, directing the white house to defy a lawful subpoena by withholding the production of documents sauts therein by The Committee. Two, directing other executive Branch Agencies and offices to defy a lawful subpoena 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
department of defense refused to produce a singem document or record. Directing former and Current Branch officials not to cooperate with The Committees in which nine Defied Subpoenas for testimony. John mulvaney, robert blair,izenburg, ellis, russell tmpts vaught, mccormick and t. Ullrich brechbuhl. Through these actions President Trump sought to arrogate to himself the right to determine the scope of an Impeachment Inquiry into his own conduct as well as the prerogative to deny any and all information to the house of representatives in 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 impede the ability of the house of representatives to investigate high crimes and
misdemeanors. This abuse of office serves to cover up the repeated misconduct and seize the control of power of impeachment and thus to nullify a vital constitutional safeguard vested solely In The House Of Representatives. President trump has acted in a manner tre manner contrary to his trust as president. Through the great prejudice of cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. President trump by such conduct has demonstrated he will remain a threat to the constitution if allowed to remain in office and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with selfgovernance. He thus warrants impeachment, removal from office and disqualication to hold the office. The gentleman will state his Point Of Order. Thank you, mr. Chairman. As i made the Point Of Order on this Minority Hearing, the chairman was furnished with the demand signed by all republican members of The Committee during the impoochment hearing on december 4th. The chaurm refused to respond to
additional requests that that hearing be scheduled and at one point actually telling me as i actually responded to this, it will rule with it today. Were here today. And its a farce that were having to rule on this today because theres no other time. Were actually taking up the articles today. So the rule is not super by the way, this rule is not superseded by any portion of hres 660 that could have been done by the majority but they were too in a hurry to get it to the floor that they chose not to exempt the Minority Hearing day. This could have been done. They chose not to. Now were not hearing it so i continue my Point Of Order. If i understand the gentlemans Point Of Order, he asserts