A single party fraudulent Impeachment Process deployed against the president like the one being used against donald trump. Thats whats unprecedented here. Its not the claim that a president doesnt want to turn over witnesses or documents. That as we said many times today is actually quite common. By the way, lets remember, noted again, President Trump has consistently cooperated with this congress in fulfilling its oversight and investigation responsibilities. I noticed the statistics this morning when we started, there were 25 Administration Officials that testified before the House Oversight this year and 25 at the House Judiciary Committee. At the start of the Impeachment Inquiry the white house produced more than 100,000 pages of documents to the oversight committee. In spite of their allegations, the democrats know President Trump has a lawful cause to challenge the subpoenas because they involve direct wln are
communications between high ranking advisors and a president. Thats very sensitive stuff, a special privileged protection that applies there and we need the courts to sorting through the nuances of that. Most individuals they subpoenaed are not related to the ukraine matter at hand. Any Objective Observer would regard this as a Fishing Expedition and some call it president ial harassment because this is being used to show their agenda. This agenda does not allow time to proceed to a court, do this the right way and go through the process thats historic and comports with our custom and practice and the tradition and constitution. The professor, the only one allowed on our side in the very exceptional testimony he submitted in writing, he said this, want to read this expert right on point, quote, page 42 of his document. If this committee elects to seek
impeachment on the president s failure to yield to congressional demands on an oversight or impeachment investigation it will have to distinguish a long line of cases where prior president s sought the very same review while withholding witnesses and documents. Take the Obama Administration position for instance on the investigation of Fast And Furious, which was mentioned earlier. Congress justifiably began an Oversight Investigation into that scandal. Some called for impeachment proceedings but President Obama invoked Executive Privilege and barred the documents. President obama did that. This is custom and practice. And some said it was extreme and absurd. President obama thad every right to seek Judicial Review in the matter and many members of this very committee supported that position. Based on impeachment, the professor says this in itself would be an abuse of power by
congress to set up by future powers of congress to make the Judicial Branch into high crime and misdemeanor. Impeachment was never intended to be a remedy for political disagreements. It wasnt intended to be a remedy even for legal disagreements between the legislative branch and the Executive Branch. Thats why theres a third branch of government and why we have the judiciary. This is a very dangerous road indeed as professor turley noted. I hope future congress can and will exercise greater restraint than whats been shown by Chairman Schiff and Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Nadler and the rest. The stability of our republic will depend on that in the future. I pray we can put this genie back in the bottle. I yield back. For what purposes does the gentlewoman from florida move for recognition . I move to strike the last word. The gentlewoman is recognized. Thank you. Its truly disheartening hear my colleagues on the other side argue in crippling the very institution theyre a part of. The power of impeachment has built in due process protections. We are the American Peoples duly elected representative. We, members of congress are empowered to hold to account corrupt and criminal president s. When the president obstructs an Impeachment Inquiry, hes obstructing the people who have a right to know how the president is running their government. After all, that is the basis of our government, by the people for the people. We have requested hundreds of documents and been provided with absolutely not one document. The president actually
instructed the State Department to not give us the information he asked. He told witnesses, people we have subpoenaed to come and testify to not testify. Talk about a dangerous president. I think the people deserve to know how hes using the office of the presidency to advance his own interests above the people he was coming up located to serve. The president has abused his office and using that power to hide that extent of that abuse from the people. That is abuse of power and that is an impeachable offense. I want to end by saying, it is also appalling throughout this process the president and the Republican Party have continuously attack Foreign Service officers, the men and women of the military, our intelligence community, those who protect us everyday, undermining our national
security. They are patriots and they should be treated as such. After all, we are all americans. I yield back. The gentlelady yields back. For what purpose does mr. Gorman seek recognition . Does the gentleman want the last word . Di. This is so surreal, this appears to be a time right is wrong and wrong is right. Bullies are the victim and victims are called bullies. For three years this president has been harassed, hes been electronically surveilled, spied upon as normal people would call it. Allegations have never ceased,
theyre continuing today and at some point you would think someone would look at the abuses by the congress, the Justice Department, friends of our democrats, the fbi friends of our democrats who hated the president when he was nothing but a candidate. At some point, somebody would go, this is out of control. We need to step back and say, wait, wait. This train is off the tracks. Its time to get and heres the word reasonable. Whats gone on the last three years is not reasonable. Theres a doctor that knows and attorneys know, you will try to pursue some remedy, you need to have clean hands. The majority has been abusive, sure, this administration has produced tons of witnesses after subpoenas, sometimes without,
sometimes just negotiated, but normally what happens is a subpoena is received and it means youre not going to be able to use an Agency Attorney even though an Agency Attorney will not be allowed in, even though the only way the witness can appear and have Executive Privilege as properly claimed, is to have an agency or Department Attorney with them. Thats when things get negotiated and get worked out. But some of our friends know if theyre abuse enough with subpoenas and with lawfare, not warfare, but using the law as a weapon, you can run people out of office. They successfully did that pursuing sarah palin, ryan
zinke, he couldnt keep according to hire lawyers when Agency Lawyers couldnt come. This is the kind of stuff thats going on. This will end up, since our friends are not being reasonable, not willing to negotiate with the administration so Agency Lawyers could come claim Executive Privilege, even though the target kept changing. They didnt know what they would testify about. They were being accused of all kinds of different things. That kept changing and changed even in the last 48 hours, 24 hours, its changed. How do you defend yourself when the charge keeps changing. This is like a stalinesque type court system. You dont get to meet and crossexamine your witnesses. In fact, well have some Law Professor paid by our friends come in and explain what the
witnesses probably said, did say, what it is, thats all you need to hear. If youre going to vote on guilt or innocence, impeachment or not, we dont need no stinking witnesses, just bring us the chance to vote and we will vote. It is an outrage. There is nothing reasonable about whats going on. Especially, it is so ironic, this is the same week when the corruption of the Department Of Justice has been shown, and there is no sorrow, no apology, no remorse whatsoever by this incredible abusive system. The obstruction of congress is by people in congress. The administration has not been unreasonable. Theyve seen what has happened
when this abusive Justice Department gets people in a perjury trap, they got nothing to go on, but if we can get you in and get you to testify, then we can prosecute you if you make a mistake while youre testifying. It was very very reasonable not to come answer the subpoenas when you couldnt have an Agency Lawyer and theres no negotiation with the other side. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. What purpose do you ask for recognition . To strike the last word. Weve seen a stark contrast between the patriots who stood up to Tell The Truth and those who have turned a blind eye to the truth. So tonight, to those patriots, i want to lift you up. I want to tell you, thank you. I am in awe of you. Im in awe of your courage to uphold your oath at great personal sacrifice. And professional cost. Properties like colonel alexander vindman, purple heart recipient and war veteran. Ambassador taylor, bronze store recipient and vietnam war veteran. Marie yovanovitch, extraordinary ambassador to ukraine who joined the Foreign Service during the reagan administration. Dr. Fiona hill, former Deputy Assistant to the president and senior director of europe and russia on the National Security council, and so many others. More than a dozen other witnesses in this administration to confirm the details of the wrongdoing of a president. They described a president who reflexively and repeatedly abused his power for personal gain, jeopardizing our security and our own democracy. These patriots had the courage to live up to their oath. Their words mattered. Patriots, my family knows something about the sacrifice of service. Two of my brothers served in the
navy during the vietnam war, my brother, bob, serving two tours in vietnam. Im lucky to serve with those who have served on my own staff. First lieutenant colin mylon, who was recently called to service, to active duty and staffers, tim mack and dave corey gone, proud marines. Now as members of congress, it is our turn to stand up. Dr. King once said, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comforted and convenience, its where he stands in times of challenge and controversy. This is a time of great challenge. And some of my colleagues do not want to face the realities of a president s wrongdoings. And so i ask my colleagues tonight, what are you afraid of . This country was built by those who were brave enough to stand up against king george. We are called to stand up
against donald j. Trump. What are you afraid of . Look to our framers and patriots for courage. This is about courage, the courage to honor my oath, your oath. Mr. Chairman, i will with somberness of purpose yet with confidence in our constitution be voting no on this amendment and be voting yes on these articles of impeachment. With that, i yield back. Mr. Chairman. The gentlelady yields back. Mr. Chairman. What purposes do you seek recognition . Move to strike the last word. The gentleman is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I support the amendment. I offer this to you. Charging the president with obstruction of congress is frankly unprecedented, in itself, it threatens our system of government. The principles of Separation Of Powers and checks and balances demand a president be permitted to resist demands the president finds overly broad, burden assume, harassing or otherwise violative of his constitutional privileges. It is an absurdity to claim the granting of congress applies duties of the cooperation to cooperate in any and all congressional requests, no matter their merit. Disputes between the branches are actually a feature, theyre a feature of our system, theyre not a bug in the system. The branches are required to engage in a process or accommodation to reach an agreement or takes into account the relevant. Equities of both sides. Both sides have rights and interests to protect. We do and the executive does. If those disputes cannot be resolved the courts are to step in. Anything less threatens the Separation Of Powers that is the very foundation of this
constitution. This majority has taken the position, quite frankly, the dubious position, despite clear precedent to the contrary a vote of the full house is not required to an open impeachment proceeding. Think of the implication of that. Any Rogue Committee customarily can on his or her own commence an impeachment proceeding against a president elect. That chairman can make whatever subpoenas and documents request they wish. Against a president. They have no choice but to comply with a rogue Committee Chairman because his failure to do so would be impeachable. How does that comport with Separation Of Powers . President trumps actions are not unprecedented. Many president s have defied Congressional Subpoenas including President Obama on many occasions, as my colleague from louisiana just pointed out a moment ago. Many president s have outright refused to cooperate with
congressional investigations as well. I will give you three historical cases that are not artifacts but are actual cases where, for instance, president jackson said, in 1837, he called a house subpoena illegal and unconstitutional, stating the would repel all such attempts as an invasion of the principles of justice, as well as of the constitution. And he shall esteem it his sacred duty of the United States to resist them as he would the establishment of the spanish inquisition. Thats from andrew jackson. Literary, President Coolidge said from a New York Times article from april 24th, he sent a message in that oped piece to the senate that he would cease to participate in their unwarranted intrusion and legitimacy of the investigation. President truman published in
the federal register ordering them to respectfully decline any subpoena pursuant to Executive Investigation to Executive Branch personnel. Then, we have the recent obama example. So if you had a problem, you dont necessarily the chairman said he didnt exert privilege. Actually, he claimed Executive Privilege in a very broadway. Yalls were disgusted about it when he initially did it. Typically what would happen, id issue a subpoena, have it served. The person doesnt show up. Guess what we do . We go into court and we prove the providence of our subpoena. The court then issues an additional order, maybe a warrant for arrest, maybe its a fine, maybe a Contempt Citation but we avail ourselves of the process. You havent done that. You havent done that because mr. Schiff said so just last week, because he didnt want to take the time to avail himself of the process that you claim youre defending. And that is precisely why professor turley and all who look at this with objective eyes say you are the ones abusing the process. You are abusing congress and youre abusing the president arched the Executive Branch. Im afraid what happens is we actually denigrate our body and we denigrate the very process that we claim to be protecting today. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. For what purposeses does miss escobar seek recognition . Move to strike the last word. Youre recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. We heard our colleagues argue
obstruction of congress has not happened, one called it ridiculous. Another colleague said quote the president has consistently cooperated with democrats. A stunning statement. Ive had the incredible privilege of serving on the House Judiciary Committee now almost a year. The freshmen were sworn in january 3rd. Weve had many many many hearings. Theres a thread that runs through all those hearings, especially those hearings where we are trying to provide proper oversight over the president of the United States. That thread is that my colleagues complain bitterly about our efforts to be a check, our efforts to perform our obligation under the constitution and our efforts to provide oversight. We hear it time and time again. This idea that the president has cooperated, that is the claim that is actually absurd. In fact, during some of our oversight hearings, we heard the president say he was covered under absolute immunity. Without listing the documents or reasons why he deserved absolute immunity. No president , not even richard nixon, no president has refused to honor subpoenas du