Emanuel Cleaver: “I am thankful that we have this moment that we are using to make some expressions of concern, and I thank Mr. Perlmutter…”

“I am thankful that we have this moment that we are using to make some expressions of concern, and I thank Mr. Perlmutter for organizing it. Let me preface my comments, Mr. Speaker, by saying that when President Trump was elected, against the advice and concern of my family, my many campaign workers, and supporters, I attended the swearing in because I believed--and still believe and will always believe--that my responsibility as a Member of Congress was to be at the inauguration as a Member of Congress. Then at the first joint session--not the State of the Union, but the joint session--many of my friends and family said: You know, do not go. The President is alien to our concept of decency and democracy. I came anyway. I sat not too far from where I am standing now. I also then went to the State of the Union. Some of our colleagues chose not to come. When there were Articles of Impeachment placed on the table for a vote, I voted to table it against a person I have known in Congress longer than I have known anybody else because I know he is a decent and thoughtful person, Congressman Al Green. He had brought it to the floor. I voted to table it, along with just about every Republican and a sizeable number of Democrats, and the reason was, I believed that it was important for Mr. Mueller to complete his investigation. I resent any discussion about trying to impeach the President. I am not in that group.…”