Hon. Michael G. Oxley: “I rise in support of the four articles of impeachment. As a former law enforcement official, I have helped put people in…”

“I rise in support of the four articles of impeachment. As a former law enforcement official, I have helped put people in jail based on the strength of witness testimony. Our entire judicial system must rest on the sure and solid foundation that witnesses tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, under solemn oath. Beyond a reasonable doubt, William Jefferson Clinton willfully and purposely committed perjury. He did so with alarming forethought, frequency, and disregard for the law. In a separate solemn oath, his oath of office, William Jefferson Clinton swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of this nation. He has failed to keep his word, which has brought us to this sad and historic day. If you believe that President Clinton perjured himself, and I do, and if you believe that perjury is a serious matter, and we must, then we have a duty to pass these painful but necessary articles of impeachment. President Clinton and apologists for him have tried to make this a debate about anything other than the rule of law. They want to make it a debate about the man and the circumstances surrounding his actions. But we are a nation of laws, and the fundamental question must be whether William Jefferson Clinton violated the law. The facts of this case are well known. Neither the President nor his defenders have countered them effectively.”