Sonny Bono: “I rise in support of the articles of impeachment. I want to speak about this difficult issue not only to my colleagues…”

“I rise in support of the articles of impeachment. I want to speak about this difficult issue not only to my colleagues but also to the American people. Although there is much disagreement on this issue, most Americans agree that we must resolve this matter as soon as possible. I strongly believe that our troops overseas must be reassured that the business of our Nation will not be interrupted by the actions of a tyrant who will not heed the will of the international community despite the clear and convincing evidence that the President of the United States committed perjury before a grand jury, before a Federal grand jury, lied to the American people. The decision was not an easy one for me or, in my belief, any of my Committee on the Judiciary colleagues. Yet I firmly believe that we would not be fulfilling our oaths of office as United States Representatives if we do not follow our duty as stated in the Constitution. We need to be realistic about what is at the heart of this vote. The central issue is whether the President is above the law and whether sexual harassment in civil rights laws remain viable in effective protections for all Americans. Despite record numbers of women working to support their families, women are all too vulnerable in our society to sexual harassment. If Congress turns a blind eye to the President's behavior, then we are turning our back to those victims of sexual harassment.”