Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CARDENAS. Madam Speaker, the United States House of Representatives will vote to impeach the President.

This is one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in my seven years in Congress. Since I came to Congress, my goal has always been to help the lives of the people of the San Fernando Valley.

And in the past year, we have done just that.

We've passed legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, combat climate change, secure our elections, make sure our veterans have the care that they need, and that our children attend safe schools.

Impeachment was not our only goal.

This president left us no other choice.

After reading the facts, listening to the testimony of witnesses, and seeing how this President put his own personal political interests above the American people, I will vote to impeach Donald Trump.

This is not something I take pleasure in.

This is a solemn moment for our country.

This vote is about the safety of the American people and the future of our democracy. I cannot, in good conscience, ignore his outright disregard for the rule of law, his continued obstruction of Congress, and the use of his office for personal gain. President Trump's most recent abuse of power was the breaking point.

For a sitting president of the United States to actively seek the interference of a foreign government in our election by withholding critical military aid is a violation of his oath of office.

President Trump has purposefully damaged the integrity of our elections and put American lives at risk.

The founders of this great country and the authors of the Constitution created a system of checks and balances so that no single branch of government would become too powerful and abuse that power.

They devised a mechanism for removing a president from office should a person like Donald Trump, use the office for their own personal, unscrupulous reasons.

I came to my decision after reviewing the mountain of evidence and the testimony of several high-ranking White House officials who have testified and confirmed his malfeasance.

I do not take my responsibility as Representative for California's 29th District lightly. Serving the people of my district is one of the greatest honors of my life.

It is my constitutional obligation to do what is right for my district and for all of the American people.

Madam Speaker, President Trump remains a threat to our democracy and by voting to impeach, I am fulfilling my constitutional duty and living up to the oath I swore before the American people.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source