Porter Goss: “we are all public servants here today representing our constituents and doing our duty. My beginning in public service…”

“we are all public servants here today representing our constituents and doing our duty. My beginning in public service outside the bounds of my immediate hometown began when I was appointed to a vacant county commission seat. The seat was vacant because a good commissioner committed a single act of perjury, lying to a grand jury about a sexual escapade, to protect a recently married friend. He lost his job, his reputation, his paycheck, his pension, his rights, and his freedom. He went to jail. The judge noted that those in public service have a higher standard of behavior and that telling the truth is fundamental to public service in our free land. The sentence was considered just in my district. I will support the articles of impeachment. Mr. Speaker, sadly, some of our colleagues on the other side are, in the interest of avoiding the issues at hand, seeking to deflect this debate. Let me be clear: the work of this house in fulfilling our constitutional obligation regarding the impeachment inquiry in no way detracts from or diminshes our absolute support for the men and women of our Armed Forces doing their jobs in the Persian Gulf. The truth is that every one of us here today would rather not be debating articles of impeachment against this President.”