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[Pages H7561-H7562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AND STILL I RISE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise with love of
country in my heart and, I must say, I rise today, unfortunately, some
146 days since the Mueller report was released, some 48 days since Mr.
Mueller testified, some 48 days for the President to be above the law
since the testimony of Mr. Mueller, 146 days above the law
[[Page H7562]]
since the report was presented to Congress.
And still I rise, with a very special message, however. I want people
to know that there is more than hope. I rise today to say that there
will be an impeachment. The President will be impeached.
Some things bear repeating.
The President will be impeached. There will be a vote taken sometime
this week, I am told, for the Judiciary Committee to make some sort of
official announcement.
I rise to say that the President will be impeached, in spite of some
and because of others.
I rise today to say that he will be impeached because the hands of
history are piloting his ship of fate. And I believe that history will
not allow us, the Members of this august body, to allow the President
to be above the law. I believe that if we fail to do so, it would make
Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution meaningless. It would have no
application to the term that we quite often use, ``no person is above
the law.'' We would then have to say: No person is above the law,
saving at least one person.
Article II, Section 4, if it is to have meaning, means that the
President will be impeached. So I rise to stand here on the floor of
the House and announce that it will happen.
But there is one question that is outstanding, and that is whether
the bigotry emanating from the Presidency is going to be a part of that
impeachment.
I believe that if the radical Republicans in 1868 could impeach
Andrew Johnson, who was the bigot of his time, if they could impeach
Andrew Johnson, it seems to me we ought to be able to impeach this
President for bigotry emanating from the Presidency as well.
Andrew Johnson was opposed to the Freedmen's Bureau. He fought the
notion that the persons who had been freed should have the same
liberties that other in this country enjoyed, and he was impeached.
Republicans did it. Radical Republicans did it.
I believe that we ought to have the same standard today that we had
in 1868, and if we should, I believe that there will be an impeachment.
So I am announcing today that there will be an impeachment.
One final point. After the vote, whenever it takes place in the
Judiciary Committee, I will have some additional special statements to
make, but I am reserving them for after the vote.
I love my country. Democracy hangs in the balance. Liberty and
justice for all must prevail. And if it is to prevail, there must be
and will be an impeachment. The hands of history are piloting the ship
of fate.
And still I rise.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
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