Tim Scott: “Mr. Speaker, as we discuss the question of impeachment, we ought to start off with why impeachment is in the…”

“Mr. Speaker, as we discuss the question of impeachment, we ought to start off with why impeachment is in the Constitution. It is in the Constitution to prohibit and protect the country against subversion by virtue of a president committing treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The rule of law and the Constitution restricts our ability to remove the President to crimes that constitute treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. We had a hearing and had 10 experts respond to the question, does treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors cover all felonies? Most of those experts were invited by the Republican Party, and they, without discussion, said no, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors does not cover all felonies. In fact, in the President Nixon impeachment, we found that treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors did not cover a half-a-million-dollar income tax fraud. That is why most of the scholars that have addressed the question have concluded that these are not impeachable offenses. To add insult to injury, we find that the allegations are not even proven, and it is unlikely that they can be proven. That is why the vote on these articles of impeachment was essentially partisan, and why, on a partisan vote in the Senate, the President will not be removed from office.”