[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3547-H3548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the terrible precedent 
set in our country 4 days ago.
  Using the justice system to engage in a politically driven 
prosecution and now conviction of a major political party nominee 
running for President--especially on the charges brought against Donald 
Trump--should gravely concern every Member of this body, as well as 
every American across our country, whether they be Republican or 
Democrat, for Donald Trump, or against him.
  Regardless of one's opinion of the current Republican nominee, we 
would be well-served to remember the long and cherished tradition we 
have in this country of settling our political differences at the 
ballot box. For nearly two-and-a-half centuries, our Nation's elected 
leaders have properly resisted the temptation to oppose their political 
rivals through the weaponization of our justice system.
  Equal justice for all and an overall trust in our justice system is 
fundamental to who we are as Americans, and those who would destroy 
that hard-earned trust just to score cheap political points should be 
held accountable.
  As an attorney, I can tell my colleagues that May 30 will be among 
the more infamous dates in American history. The facts behind these 
flimsy charges against President Trump were already examined by 
prosecutors nearly a decade ago, resulting in the conclusion that the 
facts did not support criminal charges. Last Friday's verdict was 
clearly the result of a prosecution in search of a crime.
  The primary accusation in the entire case is that of falsifying 
business records, a misdemeanor crime in the State of New York, yet 
this district attorney questionably elevated these charges to felonies, 
dubiously creating what was essentially a first-of-its-kind 
prosecution.
  For those not convinced Donald Trump's prosecution was driven by 
nefarious politics rather than the law, consider that the DA who 
brought these charges actually campaigned on ``getting'' President 
Trump.
  Also consider that the entire basis for this verdict is the testimony 
of a convicted felon, found guilty of perjury, who also admittedly 
stole money from The Trump Organization. The same witness has since 
celebrated the verdict, even saying the verdict is ``exactly what 
America needs right now'' and ``I would like him to feel what I felt.''
  Revenge seems to be the motive. We are hearing the quiet part out 
loud, Mr. Speaker. It is often said by my friends on the other side of 
the aisle that no one is above the law. I agree, but no one is below 
the law either.
  I hear from countless Tennesseans who are outraged not only by the 
lack of merit in this case, but also the timing. We are 6 months away 
from an election. They sense we have devolved into a two-tiered justice 
system, and they want the madness to end.
  We must restore normal discourse in our country. ``Impeachment'' is a 
word used far too often in this body. I feared this would happen when 
the Democratic majority decided to take the extreme step of impeaching 
our former President twice. Now, a remedy provided by our Founders and 
meant to be rare is becoming commonplace. We cannot allow the 
Department of Justice to be trivialized as well.
  Our Founders envisioned the possibility that a President could be 
harassed by political opponents, which is why I continue to argue in 
favor of immunity for this type of prosecution. Impeachment is the tool 
the Congress has to hold our chief executives accountable. Elections 
are the tool for

[[Page H3548]]

them to be accountable to we the people.
  I look forward to the appeal of President Trump's conviction, and I 
believe it will be successful. In the meantime, House Republicans will 
continue doing all we can to shine a light on the heavyhanded tactics 
of the Biden Department of Justice. We will continue to conduct our 
constitutionally required oversight duties. Ultimately, I believe the 
first step in restoring public trust will come this fall in the 
elections when the American people make the ultimate decision and, I 
believe, reelect President Donald Trump.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind Members to refrain 
from engaging in personalities toward presumptive nominees for the 
Office of President.

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