On the recordDecember 18, 2019
I find no pleasure coming to the floor today to consider impeachment. I ran for Congress to represent my community and to serve the country I love. As a combat veteran and having served 8 years on the Intelligence Committee, I understand the threat that foreign actors can play in our elections. Every elected official must dedicate themselves to protecting our democracy. No one should invite a foreign country to interfere with our most sacred act of voting. It was abuse of power by the President to ask a foreign nation to interfere in our election to benefit his personal and political interests and to condition bipartisan, congressionally approved aid on that interference. Unchecked, these actions could lead us down a path that will unravel the fabric of our Nation. Madam Speaker, I am saddened we are here today, but in the interest of defending our Nation, I will vote for the Articles of Impeachment.
