[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER 
   SUFFICIENT GROUNDS EXIST FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF WILLIAM JEFFERSON 
                CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

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                               speech of

                          HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, ``The House of Representatives shall have 
the sole power of impeachment.'' I take these words directly from 
Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States. Reading 
further, ``The President shall be removed from office on impeachment 
for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and 
misdemeanors'' (Article II, Section 4). It is this Constitution I swore 
an oath to uphold as Representative of the people of Georgia's 8th 
district, and it is the demands of this Constitution that I must 
interpret as I prepare to vote on this resolution to authorize a full 
inquiry to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to impeach 
President William J. Clinton.
  Recently, the House of Representatives received the report of the 
Independent Counsel, Kenneth Starr, as his investigation relates to 
White House response to certain activities. While I condemn the 
President's decision to carry on a sexual relationship he has now come 
to admit, the substance of this relationship is irrelevant to the 
decision we face today.
  The independent Counsel has reported 11 separate counts that may 
serve as the basis for the impeachment of the President. Among them, 
they include obstruction of justice, perjury, and witness tampering. 
Note that not one of the counts reported to the House addresses the 
right or wrong of the President's relationship with the former intern. 
The report contains allegations of activity that are inconsistent with 
the laws of this land, laws the President has sworn to uphold, laws the 
President and no man are above.
  The decision we face today is as follows: Based on the report of the 
Independent Counsel, should the House of Representatives direct its 
committee on the Judiciary to make such investigation as is necessary 
to determine whether the facts warrant the bringing of articles of 
impeachment to the full House. Having had the opportunity to review the 
report of the Independent Counsel, my answer must be `yes.'
  While I regret much of the detail associated with this inquiry, the 
responsibility for it may not be laid at the foot of the Congress or 
the Independent Counsel. I am confident that this House can and will 
pursue this inquiry with the import and dignity that will be demanded 
by the American people and the Constitution, itself. I do not take this 
action lightly, but if this Nation is to continue as the beacon of 
freedom, the seat of democracy, and if it is to continue to be in the 
words of Abraham Lincoln a ``Government of the people, by the people, 
and for the people,'' we must not shy away from our responsibility. 
Over its history this great Nation has many times offered the ultimate 
sacrifice of its sons and daughters to protect our constitutional form 
of government. If for no other reason, it is for those fallen Americans 
that we must enforce the rule of law today.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a sad, yet resolved, heart that I support the 
resolution before us today to authorize the inquiry into whether 
sufficient grounds exist to impeach President William J. Clinton.

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