Robert Wexler: “on November 7, 2007, this House voted to refer Congressman Kucinich's resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney…”

“on November 7, 2007, this House voted to refer Congressman Kucinich's resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the House Judiciary Committee. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I now ask that we immediately begin impeachment hearings. The issues at hand are far too serious to ignore. Dick Cheney faces credible allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high crimes and misdemeanors. Did the Vice President manipulate intelligence to push this Nation into war based on false pretense? Did the Vice President unmask a covert CIA agent for political purposes? Did the Vice President order the illegal surveillance of Americans and the illegal use of torture? These questions must be answered. Just recently, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan revealed that the Vice President and his staff purposely gave him false information to report to the American people, a clear obstruction of justice. This administration has undermined the checks and balances of our government by brazenly ignoring congressional subpoenas and recklessly claiming executive privilege. Impeachment hearings are the only way to force the Bush administration to answer questions and tell the truth. Congress must take the first step by enforcing the subpoenas against Harriet Miers and the President's Chief of Staff and hold them in contempt of Congress. In this time, at this moment, Congress must stand for the truth.”