[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PRESIDENT'S BEHAVIOR DOES NOT CONSTITUTE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE

  (Mr. CLEMENT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I do not claim to be a great constitutional 
scholar, but I have read the Constitution and considered carefully what 
scholars have written about the document, about what its framers had in 
mind, about our common law tradition and about the history of 
impeachment of government officials.
  A careful reading of constitutional history leads one to conclude the 
information we have before the Congress concerning the behavior of the 
President does not constitute a constitutionally impeachable offense. 
Were certain of the President's actions shocking? Yes, clearly. 
Distasteful? Yes, clearly. Shameful? Yes. Morally reprehensible? Yes. 
Deserving of punishment and censure? Clearly, yes.
  But do the President's actions meet the test for impeachment 
envisioned by the Founding Fathers? Just as clearly the answer must be 
a resounding no. Punish the President, not impeach; punish the 
President, not the American people.

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