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Congressman Cohen Delivers Remarks during House Impeachment Debate

December 18, 2019

“In the United States, we don’t have a king. We choose our leaders. We vote.”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today spoke on the House floor during the historic debate on two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. The House is expected to vote on the articles – that the President abused his powers and obstructed Congress – later today.

See Congressman Cohen's remarks here.

Read the speech:

"From our founding, the United States has been a special nation: ‘a city upon a hill.' Our values are enshrined in our Constitution: liberty, equality, and opportunity. We are a self-governing people, where every person is equal before the law. In the United States, we don't have a king. We choose our leaders. We vote.

"Generations of Americans have fought - and some have died – to secure these inalienable rights.

"The Constitution begins, ‘We the people of the United States.' That's us. It's not ‘we the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, or China,' or ‘we the Democrats' or ‘we the Republicans.' It's ‘We the people of the United States' and all Americans -- and only Americans -- get to have a say in our elections.

"Donald Trump used the high power of the Presidency to pressure a foreign nation to besmirch his perceived primary political opponent. He corrupted our elections and compromised our national security so that he could keep power. Not power for the people – power for himself. In 2016, Candidate Trump called for foreign interference when he said, ‘Russia, if you are listening…' In 2019, President Trump sought foreign interference when he needed a ‘favor' from Ukraine to intervene in the 2020 election. President Trump attacked, and is a continuing threat, to our system of free and fair elections.

"Like all of you, I took an oath to support and to defend the Constitution. I urge my colleagues to abide by that oath and stand up to President Trump's abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I appeal to your patriotism and implore you to defend free and fair elections and preserve the Constitution.

"God Save the United States of America."

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