Steve Rothman: “this is wrong. This impeachment should never have occurred. The majority never met its burden of proof. The offenses do…”

“this is wrong. This impeachment should never have occurred. The majority never met its burden of proof. The offenses do not meet the constitutional standard for an impeachable offense. We are defining down the impeachment standard in the United States Constitution, to the permanent and irreparable damage of our Constitution. And we are turning back on what our Founders intended, which was a strong Presidency, only to be removed on the showing beyond a clear and convincing standard of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors against the State. But we still have the opportunity to bring this to an end, to do what the American people want us to do: To punish the President without punishing the Nation. We know because we were fact witnesses who the President lied to about his relationship, which he chose to characterize to us, and about his unforgivable relationship with an intern in the White House. And for that, he should be censured. Mr. Speaker, let us get back to the work of the people, issues like HMO reform, saving Social Security and Medicare, and improving our education. The rule of law prevails in America. The President can be held to the standards of the civil courts, which is why he paid the $850,000 settlement, to settle the civil case. The rule of law applies to him.”