Impeachment

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on impeachment, finally, I want to address the vote the Senate took yesterday on the point of order raised by the junior Senator from Kentucky. I regret to say, for 45 Republican Senators to vote for a spurious constitutional objection to the coming impeachment trial was deeply, deeply irresponsible.

The trial is still 2 weeks away. The constitutional objection has been completely debunked by more than 150 constitutional scholars representing the entire breadth of the political spectrum, including very prominent conservatives. But only five Republican Senators were willing to take a principled stand against this reckless and ill- advised effort by Members of this body who are eager to excuse President Trump's campaign to overturn the election and, apparently, to excuse his incitement of the mob that every one of us experienced in this Capitol.

I would simply say to all of my colleagues: Make no mistake. There will be a trial, and the evidence against the former President will be presented in living color for the Nation and every one of us to see once again. No one will be able to avert their gaze from what Mr. Trump said and did and the consequences of his actions. We will all watch what happened. We will listen to what happened, and then we will vote. We will pass judgment, as our solemn duty under the Constitution demands, and, in turn, we will all be judged on how we respond.

I am glad to see my colleague from Vermont here, as well as my colleague from Illinois.

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Mr. SCHUMER.

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