[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8602-H8603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   END SECRET IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Byrne) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, there are crossroads in the history of every 
great nation so historically significant, so fraught with dramatic 
consequences, that those in position to influence that nation's 
direction are compelled to do all they can to ensure it does not fall 
to the dustbin of history.

                              {time}  1030

  We have arrived at one of those moments. That is why, last week, my 
colleagues and I demanded this majority end their secret impeachment 
proceedings and bring them into the light of day.
  Impeachment of the President of the United States is, next to the 
declaration of war, this body's most solemn, important authority. 
Impeachment begins the process of removing the duly-elected Executive 
of the United States, who was chosen, not by this House, but by the 
American people.
  In the past, this body has always treated that authority with the 
solemnity and respect that it demands. Certainly, during the Clinton 
and Nixon impeachments, this House respected our obligation. In this 
House, under this majority, no longer.
  In the secretive, closed proceedings in the basement of the Capitol, 
the majority party has monopolized all power, withheld pertinent facts, 
denied the accused the right to participate, and offered the minority 
party little more than token rights, all outside the public eye. The 
American people, and even most elected Members of Congress, like 
myself, have been able to glean only whatever lies, leaks, and 
misinformation the majority disseminates.
  During Watergate, this House specifically wrote in our rules that we 
cannot shut out the public, absent extraordinary circumstances, and for 
over 40 years our rules prohibited the exclusion of Members from 
attending hearings on investigations. Yet, this majority has put an end 
to those practices,

[[Page H8603]]

using secret depositions to get around the sunshine rules of this 
House. Everything is carefully, reprehensibly designed to obscure 
reality.
  This is a watershed moment of monumental, historic significance. For 
the sake of our constitutional Republic, we must start over and do it 
the right way.
  Unfortunately, today the Rules Committee will meet to mark up a 
resolution that does absolutely nothing to change our dark course.
  Don't listen to Democrat talking points. This resolution is political 
cover disguised as good will. This is not a vote to authorize 
impeachment but a vote to validate and continue the committee's 
disgraceful, improperly-conducted proceedings.
  This resolution permits the majority to continue holding proceedings 
in secret whenever the majority arbitrarily decides to do so; and, 
unlike previous impeachment proceedings, this majority's empty 
assurance to offer the minority the right to issue subpoenas is a sham. 
In fact, the minority is only authorized to issue subpoenas if Adam 
Schiff and the Democrats on his committee agree with them, the exact 
same situation the minority currently faces in all but name.
  It gives the President no right of due process and, instead, 
instructs the chair of the Rules Committee to determine, down the road, 
what the procedures will be for participation of the President of the 
United States and his counsel.
  In the resolution presented by the majority, the President is given 
no right to see evidence, present evidence, call witnesses, have 
counsel present at all hearings and depositions, cross-examine 
witnesses, make objections relating to the examination of witnesses or 
the admissibility of testimony and evidence, or respond to evidence and 
testimony.
  How can President Trump defend himself if he cannot see the evidence 
against him? Just as importantly, how can the American people make an 
informed judgment?
  Under this resolution, the House would deputize Adam Schiff and Jerry 
Nadler, handpicked by Speaker Pelosi, to be prosecutor, judge, and 
jury. The majority chooses what is seen and unseen by the American 
people.
  This is a Star Chamber proceeding reminiscent of some of the most 
egregious practices of tin-pot dictators.
  Political coups are often shrouded in patriotic overtones. Look past 
the talking points and empty promises from Democrats. We must expose 
what this resolution really does and the calamitous consequences for 
due process and separation of powers it will unleash.
  Silence in this matter is complicity. We must rally together to fight 
back for the sake of the country we hold dear. The fate of our Nation 
depends on it.

                          ____________________