Powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a Foreign Government, ukraine, in the 2020 United States president ial election. He did so through a scheme or course of conduct that soliciting the government of ukraine, dont harm the election prospects of a political opponent. President trump also sought to pressure the government of ukraine to take the steps by conditioning a conditional United States government acts of significant value to ukraine on its public announcement of the investigations. President trump engaged in this scheme for corrupt purposes and pursuit of personal political benefit. In so doing, 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 acting both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States governments corruptly solicited the government of ukraine to publicly announce investigations into a political opponent, former Vice PresidentJoseph R Biden jr. And a discredited theory promoted by Russia Alleging that ukraine rather than russia interfered in the 2016 president ial election. With the same motives, President Trump acting both directly and through his agents within and outside the United States government conditioned to coofficial acts, the release of 391 million of United States taxpayer funds that congress had appropriated on a bipartisan basis for the purpose of providing final 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, 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 to undertake investigations or his personal political benefit. These actions were consistent with President Trumps previous invitations of foreign interference in 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. He has also betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power and corrupting democratic elections. 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 selfgovernance 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. 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. In 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 j. Trump has directed the unprecedented categorical 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, and Subversive Of, The Constitution and 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 committee is undertaking the investigation, serve Subpoena Seeking documents and testimony deemed vital to the inquiry from various executive Branch Agencies and offices in current and former officials. In response, without lawful cause or excuse, President Trump directed executive Branch Agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President trump thus interposed
the power of the presidency against the Lawful Subpoenas of the House Of Representatives. Functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by The Constitution and the House Of Representatives. President trump abused to the powers of his high office through the following means. One, directing the white house to defy all lawful subpoena by withholding 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 Department 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 Administration officials denied subpoenas for testimony, namely john michael
mcleod mulvaney, robert blair, don eisenberg, michael ellis, russell vote, michael duffy, Brian Mccormick and brett buell. These actions were consistent with President Trumps previous efforts to undermine United States government investigations into foreign interference in United States elections. Through these actions, President Trump sought to arrogate to himself the right to determine the propriety of scope. In nature of Impeachment Inquiry into his own conduct 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 is ever order 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 Crimes And Misdemeanors. This abuse of office serves 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 vested solely in the House Of Representatives. In all of this, President Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as president and Subversive OfConstitutional Government to the great prejudice of the cause of Law And Justice into the manifest injury 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 selfgovernance 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 amended and the nature of a substitute recommended by the committee on judiciarys adoption, the resolution shall
be debatable for six hours, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking matter of the committee on the judiciary. 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, all members may have five legislative days to revise their remarks. That objection so ordered. Madame speaker, i now yield one minute to the distinguished speaker of the house. Speaker is recognized for one minute. I think The Gentleman for yielding, for his tremendous leadership in helping us honor The Constitution of the United States. I also extend my gratitude to Chairman Schiff who will be presiding later in the day. My colleagues this morning and every morning, members arise and Pledge Allegiance to the flag. Every day, all across america, children in school, members of the military, those specifically engaged also pledged allegiance to the flag. Let us recall what that pledge said. 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 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 independent and established a new nation, they crafted our system of government unlike one 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 founders vision of a republic is under threat from actions from the white house. That is why today, as speaker of the house, i had solemnly and sadly open the debate on the impeachment of the president of the United States. If we do not act now, we will 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 and the integrity of our elections, the basis of our democracy. Hundreds of historians, legal scholars and formal prosecutors regardless of party have stated that the president committed impeachable offenses. This today is a National Civics lesson, though a sad one. I submit these documents for the record and commend them for students to study. That objection is so ordered. Thank you, Madame Speaker. What we are discussing today is the established fact that the president , again, violated The Constitution. A matter of fact that the president is an ongoing threat to our National Security and the testimony of decorated war heros, distinguished diplomats and patriotic career public servants, some of the president s own appointees over the past week have told us this. The president use the power of his Public Office to obtain an improper personal political benefit at the extent expense of americas National Security. 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. The founders understood that it is profoundly corrosive for arc democracy for a president to invite interference in our elections. As george washington, our nations patriarch whose gaze we stand today warned history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful flows of republican government. George washington. Sadly, the American People have witnessed further wrong from the president which necessitates 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 doesnt. That recklessness is a profound violation of The Constitution and our republic, which endured because of our system of separation of power, three coequal branches, each a check and balance on the other. A republic, again, if we can keep it. The founders great fear of a rogue or corrupt president is the very reason why they enshrined impeachment in The Constitution. As one founder, william devi of North Carolina warned, unless The Constitution contained an Impeachment Provision, a president might spare no effort or means whatever to get himself
reelected. Another founder, george mason, insisted that the president who secured his appointment in the first instance through improper and corrupt acts might repeat his guilt and return to power. We in congress, article one, the legislative branch must stand up and make