Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “I rise today to preserve the sanctity of this institution, to preserve the sanctity of the Constitution, and for the…”

“I rise today to preserve the sanctity of this institution, to preserve the sanctity of the Constitution, and for the rights of all American people, yes, including the President of the United States. The resolution before us is unfair. Unfortunately, we give time for all criminals, and the President is not a criminal, has not been convicted, he has committed his error and I do not condone it. He was wrong. It is for this body, those 435 of us elected by the people of these United States, to determine whether we shall preserve the Constitution and the rights of all of its people. It has been mentioned that we are now sitting as a grand jury, and, as my friend from Maryland said, no grand jury would leak any information publicly on any case, and we know that as we have watched our government work, and it has been a good government. Why do we now sacrifice our government, when our President of these United States, elected by his people, who has done a good job for its people, and not allow him to view the report, as we release the report on the Internet? The rule does not allow that he, the President of these United States, would see that report. And I beg to differ with the Chair of the Committee on Rules, the White House has not seen this report. They have asked us to give them the opportunity, merely 24 hours, 48 hours, that they can see it, and, yes, release it to all the American people. Mr. Speaker, I think it is a shame. We have done it before.…”