ORDER.
I RECOGNIZED THE RANKING MEMBER
FOR A STATEMENT.
>> IT IS INTERESTING THAT AGAIN
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES AND
BELIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS I
WANT TO DISCUSS TODAY.
WE'RE SORT OF COMING HERE TODAY
IN A DIFFERENT ARENA.
FOR EVERYBODY WHO HASN'T BEEN
HERE BEFORE IT IS A NEW ROOM,
NEW RULES.
IT IS A NEW MONTH.
WE'VE EVEN GOT CUTE LITTLE
STICKERS FOR OUR STAFF SO WE
CAN COME IN BECAUSE WE WANT TO
MAKE THIS IMPORTANT AND THIS IS
IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE
SUCH A TERRIBLE JOB OF IT IN
THIS COMMITTEE BEFORE.
BUT WHAT'S NOT NEW IS BASICALLY
WHAT HAS BEEN REITERATED BY THE
CHAIRMAN.
WHAT'S NOT NEW IS THE FACTS.
WHAT'S NOT NEW IS IT'S THE SAME
SAD STORY.
WHAT'S INTERESTING EVEN BEFORE
I GET INTO MY -- PART OF MY
OPENING STATEMENT WHAT WAS JUST
SAID BY THE CHAIRMAN.
WE WENT BACK TO A REDO OF MR.
MUELLER.
WE'RE ALSO SAYING QUOTING HIM
SAYING THE ATTENTION OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
I AGREE WITH HIM COMPLETELY
EXCEPT I GUESS THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE DID NOT INCLUDE THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAKE IT UP.
WE DIDN'T HAVE HEARINGS.
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO DIG
DEEPLY INTO THIS ISSUE.
WE PASSED ELECTION BILLS BUT
DID NOT GET INTO THE END UP
PART OF WHAT MR. MUELLER
TALKING ABOUT.
HAVING HEARINGS ABOUT HIS
REPORT.
WE DIDN'T DO IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DOESN'T
INCLUDE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE.
THE INTERESTING WE ALSO JUST
HEARD AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF
INTERESTING DISCUSSION TODAY
ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND
OTHER THINGS BUT WE ALSO TALKED
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS.
WHAT'S INTERESTING THE CHAIRMAN
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
FROM THE QUOTES AND WHY WE HAVE
THE HEARING.
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS BEING
CONCERNED ABOUT FOREIGN
INFLUENCE, BUT WHAT HE DIDN'T
QUOTE WAS THE FOUNDERS BEING
REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
POLITICAL IMPEACHMENT.
BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T LIKE THE
GUY.
YOU HAVEN'T LIKED HIM SINCE
NOVEMBER OF 2016.
THE CHAIRMAN HAS TALKED ABOUT
IMPEACHMENT SINCE LAST YEAR
WHEN HE WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN.
TWO YEARS AGO ON NOVEMBER 17th
BEFORE HE WAS SWORN IN ON
CHAIRMAN.
SO DON'T TELL ME THIS IS ABOUT
NEW EVIDENCE AND NEW THINGS AND
NEW STUFF.
WE MAY HAVE A NEW HEARING ROOM
AND NEW MICKS AND CHAIRS THAT
AREN'T COMFORTABLE BUT THIS IS
NOTHING NEW, FOLKS.
THIS IS SAD.
SO WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY?
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING?
I LOOKED AT THIS AND WHAT IS
INTERESTING IS THERE ARE TWO
THINGS THAT HAVE BECOME VERY
CLEAR.
THIS IMPEACHMENT IS NOT REALLY
ABOUT FACTS.
IF IT WAS I BELIEVE THE OTHER
COMMITTEES WOULD HAVE SENT OVER
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPEACHMENT
AND NO THEY PUT IT ON THIS
COMMITTEE.
IF IT GOES BAD THEY WANT TO
BLAME THIS COMMITTEE FOR IT
GOING BAD.
BUT THEY ARE ALREADY DRAFTING
ARTICLES.
DON'T BE FOOLED.
THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR THIS.
WE WENT AFTER THIS MUELLER,
COHEN, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FAILING
TO SEE US LEGISLATE.
IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S REALLY
DRIVING THIS, TWO THINGS.
CALLED A CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR.
THE CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR.
MOST PEOPLE IN LIFE IF YOU WANT
TO KNOW TWHA THEY VALUE.
LOOK AT THEIR CHECKBOOK AND
CALENDAR.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY VALUE.
THIS COMMITTEE VALUES TIME.
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
WHY?
THE CHAIRMAN SAID A SECOND AGO.
WE'RE SCARED OF THE ELECTIONS
NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE SCARED OF THE ELECTIONS
THAT WE'LL LOSE AGAIN.
SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS NOW.
THE CLOCK AND THE CALENDAR ARE
WHAT IS DRIVING IMPEACHMENT.
NOT THE FACTS.
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THIS IT'S
WHAT THE WITNESSES WILL SAY
TODAY.
WHAT IS INTERESTING FOR TODAY
AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
AMERICA WILL SEE WHY MOST
PEOPLE DON'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
NO OFFENSE TO OUR PROFESSORS.
BUT PLEASE, REALLY?
WE'RE BRINGING YOU IN HERE
TODAY TO TESTIFY ON STUFF
YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT, ALL FOUR.
WITH THE OPINIONS WE ALREADY
KNOW OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS THAT
MAYBE YOU ARE GETTING READY FOR
FINALS IN, TO DISCUSS THINGS
THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE -- UNLESS YOU ARE GOOD
ON TV OR WATCHING THE HEARINGS
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU
COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE DIGESTED
THE ADAM SCHIFF REPORT FROM
YESTERDAY OR THE REPUBLICAN
RESPONSE IN ANY REAL WAY.
WE CAN BE THEORETICAL ALL WE
WANT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS REALLY
GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY
HUH?
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
THERE IS NO FACT WITNESSES
PLANNED FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING.
FRANKLY, NO PLAN AT ALL EXCEPT
NEXT WEEK A HEARING ON THE
PRESENTATION FROM THE OTHER
COMMITTEE THAT SENT US THE
REPORT AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
WHICH I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY
WANT US TO PRESENT ON.
AND NOTHING ELSE.
NO PLAN.
I ASKED THE CHAIRMAN BEFORE WE
LEFT FOR THANKSGIVING TO STAY
IN TOUCH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE.
HILLS TREE WILL SHINE A BRIGHT
LIGHT ON US STARTING THIS
MORNING.
CRICKETS UNTIL I ASKED FOR A
WITNESS THE OTHER DAY AND LET'S
SAY THAT DIDN'T GO WELL.
THERE IS NO WHISTLEBLOWER.
BY THE WAY LET'S PROVE TODAY HE
OR SHE IS NOT AFFORDED THE
PROTECTION OF IDENTITY.
IT'S NOT IN THE STATUTE.
IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS
DISCUSSED BY ADAM SCHIFF.
WE DON'T HAVE ADAM SCHIFF WHO
WON'T THE REPORT.
HE SAID YESTERDAY AT A PRESS
CONFERENCE.
I'M NOT GOING TO.
I'LL SEND STAFF TO DO.
HE IS NOT GOING TO BUT TO ME IF
HE WAS WANTING TO HE WOULD COME
BEGGING TO US.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM.
IT SUMS IT UP SIMPLY LIKE THIS.
JUST 19 MINUTES AFTERNOON ON
INAUGURATION DAY 2017 THE
"WASHINGTON POST" HEADLINE THE
IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
HAS BEGUN.
IN 2017, THE COUP HAS STARTED.
AL GREEN SAID IF WE DON'T
IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT HE WILL
GET REELECTED.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S
HAPPENING?
WHY DID EVERYTHING I SAY UP TO
THIS POINT ABOUT NO FACT
WITNESSES NOTHING FOR THE
JISHDARY COMMITTEE WHICH SPENT
2 1/2 WEEKS BEFORE THIS HEARING
WAS HELD UNDER CLINTON.
2 1/2 WEEKS WE DIDN'T FIND YOUR
NAMES OUT UNTIL LESS THAN 48
HOURS AGO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE PLAYING
HIDE THE BALL ON.
IT'S EASY WHAT YOU'LL SAY.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET THAT STRAIGHT.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE
NEXT TWO WEEKS?
I HAVE NO IDEA.
CHAIRMAN SAID AN AMBIGUOUS
HEARING ON THE REPORT.
IF WE SIMPLY NOT HAVE FACT
WITNESSES WHEN WE'RE THE RUBBER
STAMP HIDING OUT BACK, THE VERY
RUBBER STAMP THE CHAIRMAN
TALKED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, WHAT
A DISGRACE TO THIS COMMITTEE.
TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE OF
IMPEACHMENT SIMPLY TAKE FROM
OTHER ENTITIES AND RUBBER STAMP
IT.
YOU SEE WHY DO THE THINGS
MATTER ABOUT FACTS WITNESSES
AND HAVING DUE PROCESS?
BY THE WAY, JUST A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO THE DEMOCRATS GOT
ALL SORT OF DRESSED UP AND SAYS
WE'LL HAVE DUE PROCESS
PROTECTION FOR THE PRESIDENT
AND GOOD FAIRNESS THROUGHOUT
THIS.
THIS IS THE ONLY COMMITTEE
WHICH THE PRESIDENT WOULD EVEN
HAVE A POSSIBILITY BUT NO
OFFENSE TO YOU THE LAW
PROFESSORS, THE PRESIDENT HAS
NOTHING TO ASK YOU.
YOU ARE NOT GOING THE PROVIDE
ANYTHING HE CAN'T READ.
HIS ATTORNEYS HAVE NOTHING TO
ASK.
PUT WITNESSES IN HERE WHO CAN
BE FACT WITNESSES.
THAT'S FAIRNESS.
EVERY ATTORNEY ON THIS PANEL
KNOWS IT.
THIS IS A SHAM.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I ALSO SEE
HERE IS QUOTES LIKE THIS.
THERE MUST NEVER BE A NARROWLY
VOTED IMPEACHMENT OR
IMPEACHMENT SUPPORTED BY ONE OF
OUR POLITICAL PARTIES.
IT WILL PRODUCE DIVISIVENESS,
BITTERNESS IN POLITICS FOR
YEARS TO COME AND CALL INTO
QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OFF YOU
ARE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
THEY WON'T FORGET.
YOU MAY HAVE THE MUSCLE BUT YOU
DON'T HAVE THE LEGITIMACY OF A
NATIONAL CONSENSUS.
THE PARTISAN COUP WILL GO DOWN
IN INFAMY IN THE HISTORY OF THE
NATION.
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?
I THINK THE KEY POINT IS THAT
THE REPUBLICANS ARE STILL
RUNNING A RAILROAD JOB WITH NO
ATTEMPT AT FAIR PROCEDURE.
TODAY WHEN THE DEMOCRATS
OFFERED AMENDMENTS AND MOTIONS
IN COMMITTEE TO SAY WE SHOULD
FIRST DISCUSS AND ADOPT
STANDARD WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH.
STANDARDS FOR IMPEACHMENT WERE
RULED OUT OF ORDER.
WHEN WE SAY THE IMPORTANT THING
IS START LOOKING AT THE
QUESTION BEFORE WE SIMPLY HAVE
A VOTE WITH NO INQUIRY VOTE
THAT WAS VOTED DOWN AND RULED
OUT OF ORDER.
WHAT MATERIAL IS RELEASED IN
SECRETARY.
THAT'S ALL WE DISCUSSED.
THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION TO SET
UP A FAIR PROCESS AS TO WHETHER
THE COUNTRY PUT THIS COUNTRY
THROUGH AN IMPEACH.
PROCEEDING WAS RULED OUT OF
ORDER.
REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO LET US
DISCUSS IT.
THOSE ARE ALL CHAIRMAN NADLER
BEFORE HE WAS CHAIRMAN.
I GUESS 20 YEARS MAKES A
DIFFERENCE.
IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME.
WE'RE HAVING A FACTLESS
IMPEACHMENT.
A ONE-SIDED PRESENTATION OF
FACTS ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT.
TODAY WE'LL PRESENT THE OTHER
SIDE WHICH GETS SO EVENTUALLY
LEFT OUT.
REMEMBER FAIRNESS DOES DICTATE
THAT.
MAYBE NOT HERE.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SCHEDULING
ANYTHING ELSE.
I HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY
WHO IS POLL TESTED WHAT THEY
THINK THEY OUGHT TO CALL WHAT
THE PRESIDENT THEY THINK HE DID.
WOW.
THAT'S NOT FOLLOWING THE FACTS.
WE HAVE JUST A DEEP SEATED
HATRED OF A MAN WHO CAME TO THE
WHITE HOUSE AND DID WHAT HE
SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO.
THE MOST AMAZING QUESTION I GOT
IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF
THIS GENTLEMAN'S PRESIDENCY
FROM REPORTERS WAS THIS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE IS PUTTING
FORWARD THOSE IDEAS?
I SAID YES, HE RAN ON THEM.
HE TOLD THE TRUTH AND HE DID
WHAT HE SAID.
THE PROBLEM TODAY IS THIS WILL
BE ONE OF THE FIRST
IMPEACHMENTS THE CHAIRMAN
MENTIONED.
TWO OF THEM.
ONE BEFORE HE RESIGNED BEFORE
THE ONE IN CLINTON IN WHICH THE
FACTS EVEN BY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS WERE NOT REALLY
DISPUTED.
IN THIS ONE THEY AREN'T ONLY
DISPUTED THEY'RE CONTRADICTED.
THEY ARE NO SET FACTS HERE.
THERE AREN'T ANYTHING THAT
PRESENTS AN IMPEACHMENT HERE
EXCEPT OF A PRESIDENT CARRYING
OUT HIS JOB IN THE WAY THE
CONSTITUTION SAW THAT HE SEES
FIT TO DO IT.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
SO THE INTERESTING THING THAT I
COME TO WITH MOST EVERYBODY
HERE IS THIS MAY BE A NEW TIME,
NEW PLACE, WE MAY BE ALL
SCRUBBED UP AND LOOKING PRETTY
FOR IMPEACHMENT.
THIS IS NOT AN IMPEACHMENT.
IT IS A SIMPLE RAILROAD JOB.
TODAY IS A WASTE OF TIME.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO I CLOSE TODAY WITH THIS.
IT DIDN'T START WITH MUELLER OR
A PHONE CALL.
YOU KNOW WHERE THIS STARTED?
IT STARTED WITH TEARS IN
BROOKLYN IN NOVEMBER 2016 WHEN
AN ELECTION WAS LOST.
WE'RE HERE, NO PLAN, NO FACT
WITNESSES, SIMPLY BEING A