FIRST
LOOK
TONIGHT
AT
THE
% U.S.
HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES'
% VOTE
TO
ADVANCE
THE
PRESIDENTIAL
% IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY
ABOUT
THE
% PUBLIC
PHASE.
% THE RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZES
THE
% CHAIRMAN OF THE
HOUSE
% INTELLIGENT COMMITTEE
TO
CONDUCT
% OPEN
HEARINGS AND
ALLOWS
THE
% PRESIDENT AND
HIS
ATTORNEYS
T
O
% CROSS-EXAMINE WITNESSES ONCE
% TAKEN UP
BY
THE
JUDICIARY
% COMMITTEE.
% THAT COMMITTEE
WOULD
THEN
WRITE
% ANY ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT TO% BE
VOTED
ON
BY
THE
HOUSE.
% FOR HIS
PART, PRESIDENT
TRUMP
% AGAIN
DECLARES
THIS
AS A
WITCH
% HUNT AND
REPUBLICANS CALLED
THE
% VOTE A
SOVIET-STYLE
PROCESS.
% THE
DEMOCRATIC
LEADER
CALLS
THE
% PROCESS TRANCE
PARENTS
!
TRANSPARENT AND
OPEN.
% THE
VOTE
WAS
ALMOST
ALL
ALONG
% PARTY LINES.
% IN
WISCONSIN ALL
DEMOCRATS
VOTED
% AGAINST,
REPUBLICANS
!
VOTED--
!
% --%>>
JOINING U
S
NOW
IS
RON
KIND.
% SOME
WONDERED
WHETHER
YOU
WOULD
% VOTE ANY
ON
THIS
DISTRICT.
% WHY DID YOU VOTE IN
FAVOR?
% >>
FIRST
OF
ALL,
I'VE
ALWAYS
% BEEN IN
FAVOR
OF A
FULL,
% THOROUGH
INVESTIGATION TO GET TO
% THE BOTTOM
OF
THESE
EXTREMELY
% SERIOUS
ALLEGATIONS.
% AS A
FORMER
SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR% HERE IN WISCONSIN
,
I
KNOW
IT'S
% IMPORTANT
TO
GATHER
ALL
THE
% FACTS,
ALL A
THE
EVIDENCE SO
WE
% KNOW
WHAT AN
APPROPRIATE REMEDY% SHOULD LOOK L
IKE.
% I
ALSO
REMIND
PEOPLE
I
VOTED
IN
% FAVOR OF
OPENING
UP
THE
CLINTON
% IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY
BACK
THEN
% BECAUSE
I
VIEW
MY
ROLE
AS A
% COEQUAL
ROLL
OF
GOVERNMENT
% SERIOUSLY.
% WE
NEED
TO
MAKE
SURE
EVERYONE IS
% PLAYING BY
THE RULES.
% IF
WE
DON'T DO
IT, NO
ONE
ELSE
% DO.
% I THINK
IT'S
IMPORTANT
WE
DO
GO
% FORWARD ON
THE
INVESTIGATION,
% GATHER THE
INFORMATION IN
% REGARDS
TO
THIS
MATTER.% >>
AS
T
O
THE
CLINTON
% IMPEACHMENT, IN
THE
END
YOU
% VOTED AGAINST THAT.
% AM I
RIGHT?
% >> I
DID.
% THAT'S
CORRECT.% >>
WHAT
POLITICAL
CONCERNS DO% YOU
HAVE,
THOUGH,
WITH
VOTING
TO% PROCEED TO
THE
PUBLIC
PHASE
% GIVEN
YOUR
DISTRICT?
% >>
TRUTH?
% ZERO.%I DON'T THINK
YOU
CAN
MAKE
% POLITICAL
CALCULATIONS
WITH
% SOMETHING AS
SERIOUS
AS
THIS.
% IMPEACHMENT NEEDS TO
BE A
LAST
% RESORT, A
LAST
OPTION.
% IT'S AN
EXTRAORDINARY REMEDY
% THAT THE
FATHERS PUT
IN
THE
% CONSTITUTION IN
ORDER
TO
CHECK
% UNCHECKED PRESIDENTIAL
POWER
AND
% THE ABUSE
OF THAT
POWER.
% AND
I
WOULD
HOPE
AT
THE END OF
% THE DAY
THAT
WE
ALL
CAN
AGREE
AS
% AMERICANS
THAT
NO
PRESIDENT% SHOULD
BE
SHAKING
DOWN
ANOTHER
% FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO GET
THEM
% TO
DO A
POLITICAL HIT
JOB
ON
% THEIR
RIVAL.
% THAT'S THE
BASIS OF
THE
% ALLEGATION,
THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP
% WAS
USING
THE
WITHHOLDING
OF
% MILITARY ASSISTANCE
THAT
% CONGRESS
ALREADY
APPROPRIATED
% AND
WHERE
OUR
NATIONAL
SECURITY
% IS
DIRECTLY
IN
INVOLVED
SINCE
% UKRAINE
WAS
INVADED BY
RUSSIA
% AND
WITHHELD A
WHITE
HOUSE
% VISIT.
% THERE'S A STORY
THAT
CAME
OUT
% THAT
SAID THEY WERE
!
THEY
ARE
WITHHOLDING
% ASSISTANCE
TO
UKRAINIAN FOR
THE
% SAME
REASON, TO GET
THEM
TO
DO A
% POLITICAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST%
THE
BIDEN
FAMILY.
% THAT IS
DEEPLY
TROUBLING
TO
ALL
% AMERICANS.%>>
WHAT
HAVE
YOUR
CONSTITUENTS
% SAID TO
YOU
ABOUT
IMPEACHMENT OF
% THE
PRESIDENT
AND
THE
PROCESS?% >> WELL, I
THINK
THEY
APPRECIATE% THE
GRAVITY OF THE
ALLEGATIONS.
% I'VE BEEN
HAVING A
LOT
OF
% LISTENING
SESSIONS.
% MOST
OF
THEM
HAVEN'T
EVEN
READ
% THE
FOUR-PAGE
WHISTLE-BLOWER
% COMPLAINT.
% THAT'S
ANOTHER
IMPORTANT
POINT.
% THIS
WAS
INITIATED
BY
% NONPARTISAN
CAREER
INTELLIGENCE
% OFFICIALS
WORKING
IN
THE
WHITE
% HOUSE WHO ARE
DEEPLY
DISTURBED
% BY WHAT
THEY
HEARD
AND
SAW
THE
% PRESIDENT DOING
WITH
THIS
% FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
% THAT'S
WHAT
INITIATED
THIS
% ENTIRE
INVESTIGATION,
NOT
SOME
% POLITICAL WITCH
HUNT.
% AND
THOSE
ARE
SERIOUS
% ALLEGATIONS.%I DON'T
THINK
ANY
MEMBER
OF
% CONGRESS SHOULD
TAKE
LIGHTLY
OR
% TURN
THEIR BACK
TO.
% AND THAT'S
WHY
WE'VE
HAD
% WITNESSES COME
FORWARD
NOW,
TO
% CORROBORATE WHAT WAS
IN
THE
% WHISTLE-BLOWER.
% AND THEY HAVE
BEEN.
% AND
SOON
THAT WILL
BE A
PUBLIC% HEARING SO
THE
AMERICAN
PEOPLE% CAN BE
PRIVY
TO
THIS
TESTIMONY
% FIRSTHAND.%>> IN
YOUR
MIND
IS QUID PRO
QUO,
% WITHHOLDING
UKRAINIAN
AID
UNLESS
%
THAT COUNTRY
INVESTIGATED JOE
% BIDEN, A NECESSARY
ELEMENT
FOR
% IMPEACHMENT?%>> I DON'T BELIE
VE IT IS.
% IT'S CERTAINLY NOT
IN
THE
% CONSTITUTION.%JUST THE
FACT
THAT
ANY
PRESIDENT
% -- LISTEN.
% ANY
PRESIDENT THAT IS
ASKING A
% FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT
TO
DO
% SOMETHING,
THERE'S AN
INHERENT
% POWER
IMBALANCE TO
BEGIN
WITH.
% IT'S
HARD
FOR
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT
% TO
SAY NO
TO
THE UNITED
STATES
% OF
AMERICA
BECAUSE
OF
OUR
% ECONOMIC
AND
MILITARY WEIGHT.
% I'VE
NEVER
THOUGHT THERE
WAS A
% VALID
AMOUNT,
THAT
THERE
HAD TO
% BE A
SHOWING
OF
SOME QUID PRO
% QUO,
SOMETHING FOR
SOMETHING.
% BUT
CLEARLY
THE
EVIDENCE
IS
% POINTING
IN
THAT
DIRECTION,
THAT% HE
WAS
WITHHOLDING
THE
MILITARY
% AID.
% JUST
REMEMBER, THAT
AID
WAS
% FINALLY
RELEASED A
FEW
DAYS% AFTER
THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER REPORT% CAME
OUT.
% THERE
WAS
PRESSURE ON THE
WHITE% HOUSE
TO DO
IT
THEN
BECAUSE
% EVERYTHING WAS BLOWING
UP
ON
% THEM.
% IT'S CLEAR NOW
FROM
THE
% TESTIMONY
WE'VE
HEARD
FROM A
LOT% OF
THE
NONPARTISAN
PROFESSIONAL% PEOPLE IN
THE
WHITE
HOUSE
WITH
% FIRSTHAND INFORMATION THAT
% THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT
WAS
GOING
ON
% HERE.
% SO IT
IS
TROUBLING.
% AND
I
DID
NOT
GO
TO
CONGRESS
TO
% IMPEACH
THIS PRESIDENT
OR
ANY
% PRESIDENT.
% THE
LAST
THING
ON
OUR
MINDS.
% BUT,
AGAIN, IF
THE
CONGRESS
% DOESN'T STEP
FORWARD
AND
ACT
AS% A
COEQUAL
BRANCH AND
ASSUME
OUR
% CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO
% KEEP AN
EYE ON
THE
PRESIDENT AND
% WHAT
HE'S
DOING, NO
ONE
ELSE
% WILL.
% AND
HE
WOULD
MOVE
FORWARD
WITH
% UNFETTERED,
UNCHECKED
POWER,
% WHICH
COULD
PROVE DANGEROUS TO
% THE AMERICAN
P
EOPLE.% >>
YOU
TOUCHED
ON
THIS
BRIEFLY,
% BUT WHAT
IS
YOUR
RESPONSE
TO
% REPUBLICANS WHO
CALL
THIS
MERELY% A
WITCH
HUNT
OR A
SOVIET-STYLE
% PROCESS?%>>
WELL,
IT'S
FUNNY
THAT
THEY'RE
% NOT
ARGUING
ABOUT
THE
FACTS
AND
% THE
EVIDENCE, THAT
THEY'RE
% ATTACKING THE PROCESS.
% THEY'RE TRYING
TO
MAKE
THIS
SEEM
% IT'S
JUST A
POLITICAL
ADVENTURE.
% YET THERE'S BEEN
NO
REBUTTAL AT% ALL
WITH
THE
UNDERLYING
% WHISTLE-BLOWER REPORT
OR
THE
% CORROBORATING WITNESSES AND
% THERE HAVE BEEN MANY
OF
THEM
NOW
% COMING FORWARD
WITH
FIRSTHAND
% INFORMATION.
% NOW, YOU
CAN
ARGUE
WHETHER
YOU
% THINK THIS RISES
TO
THE
LEVEL
OF% AN
IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE,
BUT
TO
% DENY THOSE
FACTS
AND
TO
TRY
TO
% DIVERT
AND
OBSTRUCT
ATTENTION
% FROM IT I
THINK
IS
VERY
% DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT
SETS A
% DANGEROUS
SIGNAL
TO
THIS
% PRESIDENT
AND
FUTURE
PRESIDENTS
% THAT
IT'S
FAIR
GAME,
THAT WE
CAN
% ASK
FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS TO
% MEDDLE IN
OUR
ELECTION
PROCESS.% THAT WAS
THE
ONE
THING
OUR
% FOUNDERS
FEARED
THE
MOST,
WAS
% OUTSIDE
FOREIGN
INTERFERENCE
IN
% OUR DOE
MESS
STICK
!
DOMESTIC
AFFAIRS.
% WE
HAVE A
PRESIDENT
WHO
SEEMS TO% BE
COURTING
THAT,
NOT
JUST
% UKRAINE,
BUT
RUSSIA
AND
CHINA
% AND
HE'S
ASKED
AUSTRALIA
AND% GREAT
BRITAIN
TO
CONDUCT
% INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST SOME
OF
% HIS
RIVALS.% >> WHAT
ABOUT
THE
ARGUMENT
THAT
% DEMOCRATS
ARE TRYING TO
UNDO
THE
% RESULTS OF
THE
2016
ELECTION
OR
% PREEMPT THE NEXT
ONE?
% >>
WELL,
AGAIN,
FRED,
IT
WASN'T
% OUR
CALL
TO
START
THIS
% INVESTIGATION.%THIS WAS
BASED
ON A
% WHISTLE-BLOWER
COMPLAINT
FROM
% INTELLIGENCE CAREER OFFICERS IN
% THE WHITE
HOUSE
THAT
BROUGHT
IT
% TO OUR
ATTENTION.
% AND IT WOULD
BE
I
THINK
% EXTREMELY IRRESPONSIBLE IF
WE
% DIDN'T
LOOK
INTO
THESE
% ALLEGATIONS, IF
WE
DIDN'T
% INTERVIEW WITNESSES TO
FIND
OUT% WHAT WAS
GOING
ON
HERE.
% SO,
AGAIN,
THEY'RE
TRYING TO
% MAKE THIS
INTO
SOME
POLITICAL
% FOOT
!
FOOTBALL,
BUT
WE'RE
RESPONDING
% TO A
NONPARTISAN
WHISTLE-BLOWER
% COMPLAINT AND IT WAS
OUR
DUTY
TO% FOLLOW UP
ON
THAT
AND
I
THINK IT
% WOULD
BE
UNPATRIOT PARTICULAR
IF
% WE
DIDN'T DO
IT.
% >>
THANKS
VERY
MUCH
FOR
JOINING
% US.%>>
MY
PLEASURE.
% >>
WE
ASKED
REPUBLICANS IN
THE
% WISCONSIN
DELEGATION TO
JOIN
US.
% THEY
DECLINED.
% HOUSE
JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE
MEMBER
% REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
% SENSENBRENNER
RELEASED
ON
% STATEMENT ON THE
RESOLUTION
% SAYING,
QUOTE, AN UNFAIR
PROCESS
% CAN ONLY
LEAD
TO AN
UNFAIR
% RESULT
AND
THIS
ENTIRE
PROCESS,
% HE
SAYS, HAS
BEEN
FUNDAMENTALLY% UNFAIR
TO
THE
PRESIDENT.
% JUST
AS
NO
AMERICAN
INCLUDING
% THE
PRESIDENT IS
ABOVE
THE
LAW,% NO
ONE
IS
BELOW
IT,
EITHER.
% YET
SPEAKER
PELOSI
AND
CHAIRMAN
% SCHIFF
CONTINUE TO
ROB THE
% PRESIDENT OF
HIS
DUE
PROCESS
% RIGHTS.
% THE
RULES
OUTLINED
I
N
TODAY'S
% RESOLUTION
HE
SAYS
FALL
% EMBARRASSINGLY SHORT
AND
WILL
% DAMAGE THE CREDI