Mary Gay Scanlon: “I cannot overstate the solemnness and sadness that I feel right now. To see the House so debased by the invocation of…”

“I cannot overstate the solemnness and sadness that I feel right now. To see the House so debased by the invocation of our most grave constitutional duty--impeachment of a President--should disturb every patriotic American. Just 49 years ago, Barbara Jordan, the great gentlewoman from Texas, invoked the solemnity with which any serious Member of Congress must approach our duties, and particularly the circumstances under which we should consider impeachment. {time} 1115 That solemnity has guided the majority in this House in recent years as we have tried to navigate an extraordinarily tumultuous time in service to our Nation and our constituents--a time in which we have seen a rogue former President run roughshod over the guardrails of democracy and decency, compromising our national security and disparaging the courts, the free press, law enforcement, Congress, and anyone who would try to hold him accountable. During that time, we impeached former President Trump twice, but we did so based upon a careful and close study of law, history, our Constitution, and rigorous factfinding, as well as consideration of the impact upon our country. We prayed. We prayed for guidance to discharge our duties to our country, our constituents, and our Constitution with fidelity. Today, as we confront this deeply unserious effort to impeach a President to serve partisan political posturing and political profiteering, I have to return to the words of Barbara Jordan.…”