Andy Biggs: “James Iredell, one of the Founders from North Carolina, talking about this impeachment clause said: ``The power of…”

“James Iredell, one of the Founders from North Carolina, talking about this impeachment clause said: ``The power of impeachment is given by this Constitution, to bring great offenders to punishment. It is calculated to bring them to punishment for crime which it is not easy to describe, but which everyone must be convinced is a high crime and misdemeanor against the government.'' For instance, corruption. ``Its exercise''--the impeachment--``will arise from acts of great injury to the community, and the objects of it may be such as cannot be easily reached by an ordinary tribunal.'' That is why you have impeachment. It is necessary here because what you have is a Secretary who came into Judiciary, he was given the language from the Secure Fence Act of 2006. I said: Is the border under operational control? He says: Well, no. We have redefined it ourselves. We are comfortable with the new definition that we have made. That is a violation of the separation of powers. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.”