[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IMPEACHING DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR HIGH 
                        CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS

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                               speech of

                           HON. DWIGHT EVANS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 18, 2019

  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about why I am voting 
``Yes'' on both articles of impeachment against President Trump:
  Impeachment is a solemn and historic task. With the outrageous, 
ongoing conduct of President Trump, impeachment is necessary for 
upholding our oath of office and the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin 
said after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia that we have 
`a republic, if you can keep it.' House Democrats intend to keep it.
  This impeachment process, holding the President accountable, is only 
possible because the House majority changed, but the root cause of it 
all is the President's own unconstitutional, reckless behavior. He 
withheld $391 million in congressionally approved, tax-funded military 
aid from a free country, Ukraine, that is trying to defend itself from 
a dictatorship, Russia, and he did this for political gain. His action 
appears to have cost Ukrainian lives. He obstructed investigation and 
oversight by Congress, which is a co-equal, independent branch of 
government under the Constitution. He appears to have no shame or 
regret about any of this behavior, which means he is likely to repeat 
it unless he is held accountable.
  No one is above the law in America--that is the principle the House 
is voting to uphold. Now the nation will be watching the Senate to see 
if Senators will uphold their oath to do impartial justice.

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