Collin Peterson: “I also rise to oppose all four articles of impeachment. From the outset, I believed that any action the Congress chose…”

“I also rise to oppose all four articles of impeachment. From the outset, I believed that any action the Congress chose to take to punish the President had to be bipartisan. If Republicans and Democrats could put the best interests of the country ahead of their personal political viewpoints, we could solve this problem honorably and get on with the nation's business. We had the opportunity, but we didn't take advantage of it. I've been one of the people working for a bipartisan solution, trying to build consensus for a fitting punishment, but this process has degenerated into a purely partisan battle. In some ways, this process has been unfair from the outset. No other President in American history has been continuously investigated by a Special Prosecutor throughout his terms of office. The President's enemies have misused this process to undo the decision that the American people made in two elections. The office of the Special Prosecutor was not established to settle political differences, but that is how it has been used in this case, and it sets a very bad precedent for the future.”