[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 9 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E42-E43]
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. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2021

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, last week, we experienced a tragic 
day in American history when President Donald Trump incited 
insurrection with irresponsible aggressive rhetoric that encouraged and 
incited a mob of his supporters to violently breach and defile the 
United States Capitol Building. This attack was a supreme act of 
domestic terrorism that ultimately led to bloodshed and death in the 
sacred temple of our democracy.
  I take no joy in voting to impeach President Trump, but the president 
has blood on his hands in the wake of this attempted coup. The fact 
remains no one, including the president of the United States, is above 
the law. And this president has sadly violated his oath to support and 
defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, 
foreign and domestic. As members of Congress who have taken that same 
pledge, it is our duty to take this action.
  His constant bombardment of false information alleging widespread 
voter fraud and his repeated attempts to delegitimize the 2020 
presidential election has deeply divided an already fractured nation 
and has violently turned American against American. As this 
unprecedented attack on American democracy and our Constitution 
transpired, President Trump was reported to gleefully watch on 
television the attempted destruction to our nation's capitol while 
ignoring repeated pleas for him to call on his supporters to stand 
down.
  Trump continues to reject any responsibility for the violence and has 
shown no remorse or

[[Page E43]]

concern for those who have died because of his insurrection. A 
heartbreaking example was his initial failure to honor the fallen 
Capitol Police officers by lowering the White House flag to half-staff.
  At a time when thousands of Americans are dying of an insidious 
virus, which demands effective presidential leadership and unity of 
purpose to defeat, the president continues to be focused solely on 
himself. Defeating this pandemic cannot be undertaken while we have a 
president who denies its existence and is actively encouraging violence 
to overturn a well-documented free and fair election.
  Even after the tragedy of January 6th, Trump continues to fuel the 
fire of his supporters with his self-serving and dangerous rhetoric and 
to incite violence and distrust across America. He still refuses to 
denounce the insurrection and unequivocally call on his supporters to 
stand down from carrying out their armed threats against our nation's 
capitol and state capitols across the country.
  This lack of leadership and concern for the lives of our countrymen 
and women is one more example that confirms Donald Trump is unfit for 
office and poses a true danger to America and American democracy. To 
protect our country and our democracy, he must be impeached and barred 
from holding federal office again.
  This lack of leadership and concern for the lives of our countrymen 
and women is one more example that confirms Donald Trump is unfit for 
office and poses a true danger to America and American democracy. To 
protect our country and our democracy, he must be impeached and barred 
from holding federal office again.
  I cast my vote today for the safety of my constituents and all 
Americans nationwide, and for the survival of our democracy in the 
days, months, and years to come. In good conscience, I simply have no 
other choice.

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