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Coverage of House Impeachment Debate Continues. Aired 4-4:30p ET

Aired December 18, 2019 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SCHIFF: The day after this call, what does President Trump ask?

[16:00:00]

What does the president want to know? Did he ask about Ukraine's efforts to battle corruption? Of course not. Did he ask how the war with Russia was going? Not a chance. On the phone his voice, loud enough for others to hear, President Trump asked Sondland, so he's going to do the investigation? And the answer was clear, Sondland assured Trump that the Ukrainian president was going to do it, and that he would do anything you asked him to.

If that wasn't telling enough, my colleagues, in a conversation that followed, an American diplomat dining with Sondland asked if it was true that President Trump didn't give a blank about Ukraine? Sondland agreed saying the president cared only about big stuff.

The diplomat noted that there was big stuff in Ukraine, like a war with Russia -- and Sondland replied that the president cared only about big stuff that benefits him personally, like the Biden investigation that Mr. Giuliani was pushing.

In that short conversation we learned everything we need to know about the 45th president of the United States. He doesn't care about Ukraine, or the impact on our national security caused by withholding military aid to that country fighting for its democratic life.

All that matters to this president is what effects him personally, an investigation in to his political rival, and a chance to cheat in the next election. As Professor Gerhardt testified before the Judiciary Committee two weeks ago, if what we're talking about is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable.

Even as this body uncovered the facts of this Ukraine scheme -- even as we opened an impeachment inquiry, even as we gathered evidence -- President Trump continued his efforts to seek foreign help in the next election.

"Well I would think," he said from the White House lawn on October 3, "that if they're being honest about it, they'd start a major investigation in to the Bidens. It's a very simple answer," he said. And he made it clear it's an open invitation to other nations as well, saying China should start an investigation in to the Bidens too.

President Trump sent his chief of staff to the White House podium and he told the world that of course they had linked aid to investigations, and that we should just "get over it." And even as these articles have made their way to this House floor, the president's personal attorney has continued pursuing these sham investigations on behalf of his client, the president.

The president and his men plot on, the danger persists, the risk is real, our democracy is at peril. But we are not without a remedy prescribed by the founders for just these circumstances, impeachment.

The only question is will we use it? Or have we fallen prey to another evil that the founders forewarned? The excess of factionalism, the elevation of party over country. Many of my colleagues appear to have made their choice to protect the president, to enable him to be above the law, to empower this president to cheat again as long as it is in the service of their party and their power.

They've made their choice, despite this president and the White House stonewalling every subpoena, every request for witnesses and testimony from this coequal branch of government.

They have made their choice knowing that to allow this president to obstruct Congress will empower him and any other president that follows to be as corrupt, as negligent, or as abusive of the power of the presidency as they choose. Section 35

Status: Complete Checked Out by: Spike Jones Checked In: 12/18/2019 9:19 PM Last Edited by: Spike Jones Edited At: 12/18/2019 9:20 PM

SCHIFF: They have made their choice, and I believe they will rue the day that they did. When Donald J. Trump was sworn in on January 20, 2017 he repeated these words, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Has he lived up to that sacred obligation? Has he honored his oath of office? Has he preserved, protected and defended the Constitution of the United States. The uncontested evidence provides the simple yet tragic answer -- he has not.

In America, no one is above the law. Donald J. Trump sacrificed our national security in an effort to cheat in the next election. And for that and his continued efforts to seek foreign interference in our elections, he must be impeached.

I reserve the balance of my time.

SPEAKER: The gentleman from North Dakota?

ARMSTRONG: Madam Chair. It's nice to see you here, Chairman Schiff. It would have been nice to have either you or the whistleblower present in either the Judiciary or the Oversight hearings. And I think we're -- and I think we're continuing to neglect the four key facts of this. The transcript is out, everybody can read it, the American people can read it. There is no conditionality or aid discussed on that call. The two -- the two -- yes, ma'am?

SPEAKER: Go ahead.

ARMSTRONG: The two principals on that call, President Trump and President Zelensky, have said there is no pressure. President Zelensky has basically screamed from the rooftops on numerous occasions that there was no pressure, no bribery, no prid quo quo (sic).

The Ukrainian government got the money and didn't know the aid was being paused and no investigation was announced and no meeting -- and -- and meeting with the President took place and the aid was released. And with that, I would yield to...

SPEAKER: ... reminded to address the remarks to the Chair.

ARMSTRONG: And with that, I would yield a minute and a half of my time from my friend from Missouri, Mr. Smith.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half.

J. SMITH: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I come from a state that raises corn and cotton, (inaudible) and Democrats. Your frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I'm from the show me state -- you have to show me.

The only thing that you all have shown so far is that you're about to impeach a duly elected President who has done nothing wrong. Democrats are not impeaching the President because they are scared of our republic or that he has committed a crime, they are impeaching him because they fear the President's policies and how well they are working for the American people. Most of all, they fear the election because they know they can't beat them. In fact, one of my Democrat colleagues is quoted stating "I'm concerned if we don't impeach him, he will get re-elected."

This kind of rhetoric is disgusting. Impeachment is not a political weapon and any member who votes for impeachment should be ashamed today. You cannot undo the results of the 2016 election simply because your flawed candidate did not win. And thank God she didn't.

Over the last three years, unemployment has dropped to the lowest point in generations. We are seeing better trade agreements with our trading partners and record numbers of taxes and regulations that stifle economic growth have been rolled back, all thanks to President Trump's leadership and commitment.

But we shouldn't be surprised. Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment -- can I have one, 30 seconds?

(UNKNOWN): We'll yield him 15 seconds.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized.

ARMSTRONG: This is very important. We shouldn't be surprised. Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment in five out of our last six Republican presidents. They are the party of impeachment. The Democrats are the party of impeachment.

SPEAKER: Gentleman yields back. And once again, members are admonished to address their remarks to the Chair. Gentleman from California?

SCHIFF: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from California, Mr. Swalwell.

SPEAKER: Mr. Swalwell's recognized for two minutes.

SWALWELL: Donald Trump is using the presidency to put his own personal gain above our national interests. He is using our taxpayer dollars and foreign interference to cheat the next election and it jeopardizes our national security and integrity at the ballot box.

And not a single fact in this case is seriously in dispute. I ask my colleagues, who sent his personal lawyer to Ukraine to investigate his political rival? Who fired an ambassador who stood in his way? Who conditioned a White House meeting on investigations that only personally benefited him and not the national interest? Who cut off military aid to an ally that desperately needed it? Who pressured President Zelensky to conduct those investigations? Who stood on the White House lawn and asked not only Ukraine to investigate his rival but also China? Who has buried evidence and blocked witnesses from testifying? And who is still, today, sending his personal lawyer to Ukraine to dig up dirt and rig an election? The answer to all of these questions is President Donald Trump.

This is a crime spree in progress but we know how to stop it -- courage . Yes, this investigation has shown us how corrupt President Trump is but it's also shown us the courage of some of our fellow patriotic civil servants who have used their courage to not only stand up around the world to extinguish corruption but also to extinguish it at the White House.

How? Well my colleagues argue no harm, no foul, Ukraine got the aid. Wrong. Trump cheated, patriots caught him, then Ukraine got the aid. Standing up, turns out, works. Now is the time to summon the courage of those patriots and to summon the courage that they showed against Donald Trump.

If they can risk their careers, even their lives, to do the right thing, can my colleagues also do the same? After all, more is on the line than just military aid to an ally. Our national security is at stake, stand up for that. Our election integrity is at stake, stand up for that. And our Constitution's at stake, stand up for that.

I yield back.

SPEAKER: Gentleman from North Dakota?

(UNKNOWN): Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining on each side?

SPEAKER: The gentleman has one hour and 23 and a fourth minutes remaining and the gentleman from California has one hour and 18 minutes remaining.

(UNKNOWN): I appreciate the detail and with that I yield one and a half minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Johnson.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized for one and a half minutes.

B. JOHNSON: Madam Speaker, this is a sad day for America. This partisan impeachment sham seeks to disenfranchise 63 million American voters. So I want to use my time to call on this chamber, for members to rise and observe a moment of silent reflection, to give every member here the chance to pause for a moment and remember the voices of the 63 million American voters that Democrats today are wanting to silence.

Madam Speaker, disenfranchising 63 million voters gives me 63 million reasons to vote no and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

SPEAKER: The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from California?

SCHIFF: Madam Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield two minutes to Ms. Sewell, the gentlewoman from Alabama.

SPEAKER: Gentlelady's recognized for two minutes.

SEWELL: Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and a profound sense of the gravity of this moment that I rise today in support of the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. To be clear, I did not run for Congress to impeach a President. I came to work every day on behalf of the hardworking people of Alabama's 7th congressional district.

But the facts are uncontested, the truth is clear and I have been left no other choice. As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I sat in shock, in awe as witness after witness came forward, their stories painting a clear picture of the President's abuse of power.

They testified that the President had direct orders to withhold vital military aid for Ukraine and a White House visit in exchange for investigation into the Bidens. To date, all the military aid has not been released and there still has been no White House meeting.

The bottom line is clear. President Trump endangered our national security and the very essence of our democracy for his own personal political gain. Then President Trump sought to cover it up by subverting the oversight authority of Congress. If presidential abuse of power is left unchecked, we all become accomplices when he does it again. This cannot become the new normal. Not on our watch.

While President Trump's indefensible action set in motion this event, my vote for impeachment today is not about the president. It is about my oath to defend and protect the Constitution of this United States of America, and to make sure that I uphold and honor the sacred trust that my constituents gave me.

President Trump has betrayed his oath of office. Let us not betray ours. I yield back the balance of my time.

SPEAKER: The gentleman from North Dakota.

COLLINS: I'm from...

SPEAKER: Oh, you're back. From Georgia.

COLLINS: I'm back. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm back. Also noticed some changes around here since we left. And I noticed I have a new manager on the other side who, as I came back in from getting a quick bite, I noticed gave an eloquent defense of his side of the story that we are telling. I just wish we could have had that same eloquent defense before the Judiciary Committee where we could have asked questions instead of just giving one side.

With that I yield a minute-and-a-half to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Keller.

SPEAKER: The gentleman is recognized for a minute-and-a-half.

KELLER: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Today will forever be remembered as a stain on our republic. These impeachment proceedings are not based upon facts, evidence, reason, or any inappropriate or impeachable actions by our president. Instead, the actions being taken by those favoring impeachment are a product of their disdain for President Trump, his "America First" agenda, and particularly disdain by the other party for the 63 million Americans that elected him as president.

Again, these Articles of Impeachment are not based on any facts but rather on hearsay, presumptions, innuendo, and feelings. Feelings by Democrats and career bureaucrats who have wanted President Trump removed from office since the day he was elected.

In defense of the Constitution I urge all members to oppose both Articles of Impeachment. It is unclear who will judge those voting for impeachment today more harshly, history or voters. So I want Democrats voting for impeachment today to know that I'll be praying for them.

From the Gospel of Luke, the 23rd Chapter Verse 34. "And Jesus said, father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Thank you. And I yield back.

SPEAKER: The gentleman yields back.

The gentleman from California.

SCHIFF: Madam Speaker, my colleagues have referred to patriotic Americans who testified before the Intelligence Committee as career bureaucrats. I want to remind people just who those career bureaucrats are. They are people like Ambassador Bill Taylor who has served this country for decades, graduated top in his class at West Point, served during Vietnam in combat, earned a Bronze Star.

They are people like Colonel Vindman, served in Iraq, earned a Purple Heart. They are people like Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, served in dangerous places all over the world, one of the most respected of all of our Foreign Service officers.

These are the people that my colleagues would pejoratively label as career bureaucrats. And why? Because they have the courage to do their lawful duty, to answer a subpoena, to come and testify. And for this they are called career bureaucrats. Well, we should have more career bureaucrats of that caliber.

I'm pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from California, Mr. Costa.

SPEAKER: The gentleman is recognized for one minute.

COSTA: Madam Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart. The two most difficult votes any member of Congress ever has to cast is to vote to go to war or to impeach. Today I will vote for the Articles of Impeachment. Over the last few months I have listened carefully to my constituents. I've weighed all the available information to determine whether or not the president committed any wrongdoing.

There are disturbing facts from this administration that inform my decision, including the president's own words. His ambassador to the European Union testified there was a quid pro quo to withhold aid to Ukraine for an investigation of former Vice President Biden, and that everyone was in the loop.

His own national security adviser, John Bolton, said he wanted nothing to do with this "drug deal," as he called it. And then the president openly acknowledged that China and Ukraine should investigate Mr. Biden. There is much more evidence pointing to the president violating his own oath of office.

I have not made this decision lightly but I must uphold my own oath of office because I believe the president has failed to uphold his oath of office. The weight of history and my belief in the Constitution of the United States and our own national security interests have led me to this vote.

And I yield back the balance of my time.

SPEAKER: The gentleman from Georgia.

COLLINS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

It is interesting to say -- and I appreciate anybody who would come and give testimony, but it is interesting to see that the same chairmen who spoke eloquently about those who testified would have to actually dismiss completely almost anything by Mr. Volker or Mr. Morrison. But, again, I will say at least they had the ability and the willingness to come and testify, unlike the chairman who wrote a report, sent it to Judiciary, and didn't.

With that, I yield a minute-and-a-half to the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Granger.

SPEAKER: The gentlelady is recognized for a minute-and-a-half.

GRANGER: Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the politically driven Articles of Impeachment that have been brought before the House of Representatives today. For the past three years, Democrats have been unable to accept the voters' choice to elect President Trump. They have used any and all undemocratic and unfair means necessary to try and remove him from office. My vote today is not only against illegitimate impeachment of our president, which began not with facts but with a foregone conclusion, it is against House Democrats making a mockery of due process and the rule of law.

This will not go anywhere in the Senate so all Democrats have accomplished is postponing the important work of the American people sent their elected officials to Washington to do. This endless crusade of Democrats to remove the duly-elected president of the United States has put partisan politics above the issues that Americans face today. It's time Democrats stop playing partisan games that hurt hardworking taxpayers. It's time for the American people to be Congress's priority again. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no.

And I yield back the balance of my time.

SPEAKER: The gentleman from California.

SCHIFF: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I am more than delighted to refer to the testimony of Ambassador Volker and Mr. Morrison. Ambassador Volker, who acknowledged that in retrospect he should have recognized that when they were calling for investigations of Burisma it really meant the Bidens, and that to ask a foreign leader to investigate a political rival was wrong.

Happy to refer to his testimony as well as Mr. Morrison, who went to the National Security Council lawyer immediately after he listened to that telephone call. And who also testified that he was informed by Ambassador Sondland that the president wanted Zelensky in a public box. That he wanted him to be forced to go to the mike and announce these sham investigations. Happy to refer to their testimony as well.

And now happy to recognize the gentlewoman from California for two minutes, Representative Speier.

SPEAKER: The gentlelady is recognized for two minutes.

SPEIER: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

My father fled Nazi Germany for America because he saw what happened when a despot became untethered. He fled because he believed in democracy and the rule of law and the right to vote. Before he died, he asked to be buried in a simple pine box with an American flag to symbolize his love of this country.

Today we are called upon to do our duty out of love of country. The president stands accused. We must judge him as we judge any of our fellow citizens, on the facts and on the law. The facts show that the president's north star is Russia, not the Constitution.

There is no question that President Trump delayed military aid to Ukraine, our ally, as they were under attack by Russia, our adversary. There is no question the president withheld a meeting with President Zelensky at the White House, giving Russia the upper hand in peace negotiation with Ukraine.

There is no question that President Trump promoted the Russian hoax that Ukraine attacked our election in 2016, a canard that has been has proven to be a lie, a Russian lie. The only question is his motive. The fact is, his conduct and crimes are reprehensible and unquestionably impeachable.

When I vote today, my father's legacy is deep, very deep within me. My father loved America. And I love America. And that is why I will vote to impeach the president of the United States.

I yield back.

SPEAKER: Gentleman from Georgia.

COLLINS: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I see how this is playing out. Instead of coming and testifying for seven or eight hours and answering all questions, we're going to do it in potshots as we go (inaudible).

But, again, let's talk about Mr. Volker again. He never testified that anyone wanted to investigate Vice President Biden. What he did testify to, which was left out, was that they wanted to -- that if Ukrainians doing bad things placed Hunter Biden on the board of Burisma to avoid anything, that needed to be investigated and found out.

Let's at least tell the story. Again, had plenty of time to do this in an actual hearing, not here. This is what they want. This is what they've been wanting. The majority has played this the whole time.

So we'll play this out as long as they want to. It would have been better, though, if they actually had a case, to have made it in the proper setting instead of not coming and not testifying.

With that, I yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Weber.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized for a minute and a half.

WEBER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. You know, it's very interesting to see the socialistic left Democrats that have a new-found appreciation for the Constitution and our Founders' principles. Would that those same socialists, Madam Speaker, would afford unborn babies the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as well.

Madam Speaker, history tells us the first three impeachments in this country, crimes were involved. Johnson violated law that Congress had just passed over his veto. Nixon was involved in a cover-up from Watergate. Clinton lied to a federal grand jury and instructed Monica Lewinsky to falsify an affidavit. Crimes, all instances of crimes.

Now comes the socialistic-leaning Ds, in my opinion, Madam Speaker, ostensibly reading the president's minds, knowing what his intent was and dictating to us and the witnesses that were in the hearings what his mindset was, and that quite frankly, they didn't believe that he had the right to be in charge of foreign policy.

We heard ambassadors, and yes, we heard career bureaucrats, career diplomats -- whatever you want to call them. They get to ride the bus; they don't get to drive the bus. The president is in charge of foreign policy. We had -- they said that the president had the audacity to use -- audacity to use his judgment on foreign policy instead of theirs. Opinions. Opinions. Suppositions, indeed.

The very swamp he is draining is objecting. Who knew? Who knew?

Today now, during the earlier rule debate comes the floor manager of the other side from Massachusetts citing fact -- not facts, not facts witnesses, but newspaper articles -- CNN, USA opinions, editorials. Unbelievable, Madam Speaker. Americans are washing -- watching that these are delusional deleterious, delirious and in deep yogurt.

I yield back.

SPEAKER: The gentleman from California.

SCHIFF: I would just remind my colleagues that Ambassador Volker said that the attacks on Joe Biden were meritless, and he tried to persuade Mr. Giuliani there was no factual support for them.

Proud to recognize the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Lewis, for two minutes.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized for two minutes.

LEWIS: Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to support this resolution. When we came to Washington in 1961 to go on the Freedom Rides, we chose that day. When we came here on August 28, 1963, for the march on Washington, it was joyful. We met with a young president, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. When we came here on August 6th, 1965 for the signing of the Voting Rights Act, we were excited, hopeful. We met with President Lyndon Johnson.

But today, this day, we didn't ask for this. This is a sad day. It is not a day of joy. Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings; we have presidents, and the Constitution is our compasses.

When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. Our children and their children will ask us, "What did you do? What did you say?" For some, this vote may be hard, but we have a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.

I yield back the balance of my time.

SPEAKER: Gentleman from Georgia.

COLLINS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I always like to be polite, and I do appreciate the gentleman from California confirming everything I just said in my statement just a moment ago.

With that, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Wenstrup.

SPEAKER: Gentleman's recognized for two minutes.

WENSTRUP: Thank you. Madam Speaker, since 2016, America has seen a pattern of failed and disproven attacks and allegations against President Trump. Today is the fourth impeachment-related vote since President Trump took office. It's yet another attempt to reach their predetermined conclusion of impeachment, on a -- a conclusion built on political bias, accusations and innuendo.

[16:30:00]

These repetitive and false allegations reveal a political obsession disguised as some kind of righteous oversight.