Zoe Lofgren: “many of us have labored very hard to craft a plan that would allow us to deal with the referral of the independent…”

“many of us have labored very hard to craft a plan that would allow us to deal with the referral of the independent counsel in a way that is focused, in a way that is fair, in a way that is prompt and efficient, and, most of all, in a way that puts our Constitution first. I am very distressed to say that I do not see that that is going to happen today in this chamber. Mr. Speaker, I fear what Alexander Hamilton warned against in Federalist Paper Number 65, that "there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt." That prophecy, that fear, is about to be realized. I believe that the majority has used its raw voting power to create a proposal that could result in a wide-ranging and lengthy impeachment inquiry. The Committee on the Judiciary may become the standing committee on impeachments. And I further fear that the rules in the Constitution may never be applied to the referral that has been sent to us. Even worse, we may end up--as happened Monday--with the majority counsel creating entirely new standards for high crimes and misdemeanors, which will have a very serious distorting effect on our constitutional system of government. When we are lost, the best thing for us to do is to look to our Constitution as a beacon of light and a guideline to get us through trying times.”