Steny Hoyer: “today's historic and tragic vote is not about whether any of us condone the private behavior of the President. It is…”

“today's historic and tragic vote is not about whether any of us condone the private behavior of the President. It is, however, about whether we are committed to uphold the Constitution, the touchstone of our freedom and the articulation of the genius of our democratic government's separation of powers and adherence to the democratic transfer of power. Nor is this vote about whether the President of the United States is above the law. He is not. Indeed, as has been amply demonstrated over the past 6 years, even the President, as must each of his fellow citizens, must respond to the demands of the law. Moreover, it is clear that upon leaving office, the President could be held accountable in a court of law if charges were to be brought against him alleging the wrongdoing of which the Committee on the Judiciary Republicans have accused him of today. Nor, as some claim, is this vote about process or simply moving this weighty matter from our calendar to that of the United States Senate: A Pontius Pilate-like act, presumably designed to rationalize the profoundly precedent-setting action that this House now contemplates. Nor do I for one second believe that this vote is about setting a marker for the young on what conduct will be sanctioned or allowed to stand. Our Nation and our sustaining values will survive one man's failings.…”