[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8787-H8788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IMPEACHMENT MUST NOT BECOME WEAPONIZED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Mitchell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives most 
certainly faces a vote to impeach the President before the end of this 
year. I urge my colleagues to carefully and deliberately contemplate 
this next step in their votes.
  The Constitution provides great latitude to this body in impeaching a 
President. It is up to us, all 435 of us in this Chamber, to determine 
what constitutes a ``high crime and misdemeanor,'' and those 
determinations clearly vary greatly among us.
  As we cast those votes, we must consider our place in history and the 
implications of those votes in the future of this Republic.
  Alexander Hamilton warned of the risks of impeachment becoming a 
partisan act. In Federalist No. 65, he wrote of his fear that, during 
impeachment,
`` . . . there will always be the greatest danger that the decision 
will be regulated more by comparative strength of parties, than by the 
real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.'' I fear the proceedings 
have not heeded this warning.
  Impeachment was never designed to be a supplemental election process 
but, rather, a safety valve to be used in the rarest of occasions when 
an elected official acts in such an immoral and blatantly unlawful 
manner as to threaten the very basis of our Republic.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remember this as 
they assess the interviews, depositions, and hearings that are 
unfolding today and their impending vote on impeachment.

[[Page H8788]]

  Impeachment must not become weaponized. It cannot simply be another 
election tool.
  The question before this body is not whether a Member is comfortable 
with the rhetoric of the President, his political tactics, his use of 
Twitter, his policy choices, or his political rallies. The question is: 
Have high crimes and misdemeanors been committed? And if so, they must 
be prepared to demonstrate that specifically.
  I urge the Speaker of the House to ensure that each Member, should 
they desire, be afforded time, 5 minutes per Member, during debate on 
impeachment to explain his or her view and impending vote. It is 
critical the American people, who will be watching closely, be afforded 
an opportunity to see and hear those views.
  Impeachment must not be based upon polling data, election advantages, 
or social media commentary. It must be based upon clear and compelling 
facts. To do anything else threatens our Republic.
  I intend to approach this matter in just that way. I will uphold my 
oath and vote as the circumstances require.
  But this judgment also must not be preordained based on political 
party or political maneuvering by anyone serving in this Chamber.

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