Anna Eshoo: “today, December 19, 1998, is a day of infamy in the House of Representatives. I believe history will record that on this…”

“today, December 19, 1998, is a day of infamy in the House of Representatives. I believe history will record that on this day, the House of the People, through searing partisanship, disallowed the right of each Member to express his or her own conscience. Today, only votes on impeachment are allowed. A flawed case was brought forward by the House Judiciary Committee. I say "flawed" because the Framers' intent for removal of the Chief Executive was set at the highest level--treason, bribery, and high crimes against the people. The President's actions, morally wrong as I judge them, do not meet this constitutional standard. The lessons of history--1868 and 1974 are instructive. Today, our Chamber, in 1998, mirrors the 1868 experience wherein the highly partisan action of the Congress ripped at the fabric of our nation and weakened the Constitution and the Presidency for decades. The 1974 experience differed in that the evidence brought forward and the deliberations were highly bipartisan--some even say nonpartisan. And importantly, the people of our Nation agreed with the actions Congress took. I believe that censure is not barred by the Constitution. The Constitution and the Federalist Papers are silent on censure. Hundreds of scholars have spoken on this. Why would the Republican majority so fear a vote being allowed and taken in the House today? Impeachment of the President is the constitutional equivalent of the death penalty.…”