Jerry Nadler

My resolution emphasized that, while slavery was our Nation's original sin, the underlying sin of anti-Black racism did not end with the Civil War and the 13th Amendment.

An honest reckoning with the Federal Government's role in protecting the institution of slavery has been a leading priority in my congressional career.

Mr. Conyers is a former colleague, a former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a great American, and a great leader.

It is only fitting, then, that we should hold a hearing today on H.R. 40.

Slavery was our Nation's original sin.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, when a congressional committee issues a subpoena, compliance is not optional. We expect witnesses to testify when summoned. We expect the administration to comply with subpoenas and to…

We gave it away last year when we passed that tax bill. We gave the upper one-half of 1 percent money they didn't need.

The Federal Government bears a heavy moral responsibility for what happened.

This journalism crisis is also a democracy crisis.

If we can agree on this common set of our facts as our starting place and agree to follow the facts and the law where they take us, I believe we can make a great deal of progress in this hearing today.

We were attacked. We were attacked by a foreign adversary.

Our work will, therefore, continue tomorrow on the House floor when we consider Chairman McGovern's resolution to authorize this committee to enforce its subpoena through civil litigation.

As a result, I see no need to resort to the criminal contempt statute to enforce our April 19 subpoena, at least for now, so long as the Department upholds its end of the bargain.

But I also know that the ranking member and I agree on the seriousness of the attack on our elections and that we must work together to make it more difficult for any President to ignore the danger that presented itself in 2016.

I cannot agree with that conclusion. Neither, I believe, could the special counsel, given his insistence that his report, quote, does not exonerate the President, close quote.

The committee's work is serious. We should delay it no further.

This committee and this Congress have an absolute obligation to the American people to investigate this.

This is not a bogus investigation of a false allegation but a very necessary investigation of a threat to our country and our liberty.

There is clear evidence of collusion, though not enough evidence to prove criminal conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.

There is substantial evidence that the Trump campaign knew about the Russian attack, that it welcomed the help of the Russian Government.

I would point out that the report from the special prosecutor makes very clear that the Russians attacked our elections.

Does not exonerate the President

I cannot agree with that conclusion.

Forcing people to stay pregnant against their will, is a punishment.

These laws do punish women by preventing them from getting the care that they need.