George Washington, in his farewell address to the Nation, counseled America that the Constitution is sacredly obligatory upon all. It is in that spirit that we proceed today. Donald Trump pressured a foreign government to target an American citizen for political gain and, at the same time, withheld, without justification, $391 million in military aid to a vulnerable Ukraine as part of a scheme to solicit foreign interference in an American election. That is unacceptable. That is unconscionable. That is unconstitutional. There are some who cynically argue that the impeachment of this President will further divide an already fractured Union, but there is a difference between division and clarification. Slavery once divided the Nation, but emancipators rose up to clarify that all men are created equally. Suffrage once divided the Nation, but women rose up to clarify that all voices must be heard in our democracy. Jim Crow once divided the Nation, but civil rights champions rose up to clarify that all are entitled to equal protection under the law. There is a difference between division and clarification. We will hold this President accountable for his stunning abuse of power. We will hold this President accountable for undermining our national security. We will hold this President accountable for corrupting our democracy. We will impeach Donald John Trump. We will clarify that, in America, no one is above the law.
On the recordDecember 18, 2019
Share
More from Hakeem Jeffries
Jul 21, 2026
This continuing resolution is a premature and desperate attempt by Republicans to abdicate their responsibility to govern while there are still several months left to negotiate a bipartisan agreement.
Aug 24, 2026
Throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing that has failed the American people. To stop the madness, we have repeatedly made clear that an extremist approach will not work and will be…
Aug 24, 2026
In every conversation that we have with the Trump administration, we will continue to make it explicitly clear that the affordability crisis is not a hoax and nothing short of transformational policy change is acceptable.





