Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 24, a resolution of impeachment against the President of the United States. Our institution of representative democracy is a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world and has been for nearly 250 years. Last week, the President changed all that when he incited domestic terrorists to tear that beacon down. He put the lives of every person in our Capitol at risk, including those in the presidential line of succession, Members of Congress, congressional employees and staff, and the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. The insurrectionists wanted to hang the Vice President, kill the Speaker and take Members of Congress hostage. They came frighteningly close to achieving their objective.

Make no mistake, the attack the President incited on January 6, 2021, was an illegal power grab. It was a criminal attempt to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College vote, to overturn the result of our Presidential election and to decimate our democracy. The President knew what he was doing. He knew the lies he spewed on Twitter, at his rally on the Ellipse and through his surrogates had the potential to inspire violence. He did not care. In fact, the President was reportedly delighted by the mayhem he unleashed. There has never been a more unconscionable act of sedition from a public servant, let alone a President of the United States.

This seditious act must have consequences. That's why, today, I am voting for the Article of Impeachment charging the President with inciting the January 6 insurrection. He must be held accountable. The Senate must swiftly convict and remove the President from office. He is too dangerous to remain another week.

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