Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “twenty months ago, Members of the 105th Congress took our collective oaths of office. In that oath, we have sworn to…”

“twenty months ago, Members of the 105th Congress took our collective oaths of office. In that oath, we have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. As such, it is not our option, but our obligation to the American people to deliberate the issues and information that are presented before us in hearings, Committee mark-ups, or during floor debate, and weigh them in an unbiased and clear fashion before voting on the issue of the day. Our votes on items both mundane and vital must come in a context of what is best for our respective constituencies and our nation. Today, Congress voted to release the Referral from the Office of the Independent Counsel. Like my colleagues, I soberly await its arrival to my office. I promise my constituents, the residents of the great State of Michigan, and the citizens of our country, that I will read, analyze, and review this report, like all of the bills and reports that come before me, with great care. While it would be sheer folly of me to arrive at any conclusion before I have had the opportunity to review the record from the Independent Counsel and its rebuttal by the Executive Branch, I would like to use this opportunity to make one thing clear: our Constitution demands that we provide a fair and non-partisan venue for the consideration of impeachment. Regrettably, the resolution that was voted on today did not provide that consideration.”