[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 9 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E40]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2021

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. 
Res. 24, a resolution of impeachment against the President of the 
United States. Our institution of representative democracy is a beacon 
of hope for millions of people around the world and has been for nearly 
250 years. Last week, the President changed all that when he incited 
domestic terrorists to tear that beacon down. He put the lives of every 
person in our Capitol at risk, including those in the presidential line 
of succession, Members of Congress, congressional employees and staff, 
and the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. The insurrectionists 
wanted to hang the Vice President, kill the Speaker and take Members of 
Congress hostage. They came frighteningly close to achieving their 
objective.
  Make no mistake, the attack the President incited on January 6, 2021, 
was an illegal power grab. It was a criminal attempt to disrupt the 
certification of the Electoral College vote, to overturn the result of 
our Presidential election and to decimate our democracy. The President 
knew what he was doing. He knew the lies he spewed on Twitter, at his 
rally on the Ellipse and through his surrogates had the potential to 
inspire violence. He did not care. In fact, the President was 
reportedly delighted by the mayhem he unleashed. There has never been a 
more unconscionable act of sedition from a public servant, let alone a 
President of the United States.
  This seditious act must have consequences. That's why, today, I am 
voting for the Article of Impeachment charging the President with 
inciting the January 6 insurrection. He must be held accountable. The 
Senate must swiftly convict and remove the President from office. He is 
too dangerous to remain another week.

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