Before the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Article of Impeachment: Incitement of Insurrection against President Donald Trump Wednesday, North Texas members of the Texas Congressional Delegation shared their thoughts about the second impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump.
Statements below appear in their entirety and are unedited.
U.S. REP. VAN TAYLOR (R-TX DISTRICT 3)
In a statement issued Wednesday, Congressman Talor said he would be voting "no" on impeaching President Donald Trump.
"Impeachment of a President, elected by the American people, requires thorough investigation, Congressional hearings, and thoughtful deliberation. We must not allow our Republic to devolve to the point of allowing impeachment, and subsequent removal, of a sitting President based on news reports and social media pundits. Doing so would directly contradict the fundamental principles of our American justice system. The gravity of this situation requires greater diligence and deference to the Constitution, not less. With the constitution as my guide, last week I voted to certify the electoral college results and will vote against impeachment today.
Our nation is in turmoil, more divided than ever before in modern history. The attack against the Capitol serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of self-governance. Given current political unrest, ensuring Americans witness a peaceful transition of power on January 20th is more imperative than ever. With just seven days until inauguration, I urge leaders on both sides of the aisle to come together to heal the wounds of a nation divided.”
U.S. REP. PAT FALLON (R-TX DISTRICT 4)
Congressman Pat Fallon will vote against the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. He issued the following remarks before the vote:
"I am going to vote no. Words mean things and I do agree with my Democratic friends on that. And so I read the President’s speech and I didn’t find anything that would remotely rise to the level of impeachment. And whether the rally itself was ill-timed or not is one thing, but again, that is not an impeachable offense."
U.S. REP. LANCE GOODEN (R-TX DISTRICT 5)
Congressman Lance Gooden will vote against the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. Gooden released a separate statement to NBC 5 saying the riot at the U.S. Capitol was "obviously a tragedy" but that, "Everyone bears some responsibility. The President could have certainly used better words, but I don’t believe that the words he said at that rally were his intention for people to storm down and mob the capitol."
Gooden's prepared statement below was released before the vote:
"I’m really tired of sanctimonious sermons on being a sore loser from some of the same Democrats who opposed accepting results in elections past.
Democrats objected to every Republican victory of the 21st century. In 2000, 2004, and in 2016 - Democrats objected every time.
When they objected, it was patriotic. But when Republicans do it, we're inciting a mob. We're liars and we're traitors.
This is the double standard we should expect under total Democrat control."
U.S. REP. RON WRIGHT (R-TX DISTRICT 6)
In a statement issued Wednesday, Congressman Wright said he would be voting "no" on impeaching President Donald Trump.
"I am still in shock and disgusted with the violence and hatred we witnessed last week at our nation’s Capitol. These actions are not representative of what it means to be an American, plain and simple. Every single one of the violent rioters should be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
As our beloved country prepares for a peaceful transition of power into a Biden Administration, it’s time that we all come together, not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Americans. Abandoning norms and traditions to impeach President Trump with less than ten days left in his term will only cause more hatred and division across our communities.
As Members of Congress, we have a duty to do what’s best for our nation. Let’s tone down the rhetoric and focus on the issues we came to Washington to solve for our constituents. We have a lot to be optimistic about, and it’s time we work together on common-sense solutions to get the United States of America back on track.”
U.S. REP. BETH VAN DUYNE (R-TX DISTRICT 24)
Congresswoman Van Duyne released the following statement on House Democrats’ plans to pursue articles of impeachment and a resolution calling on the Vice President to invoke the 25th amendment:
"The violent mobs and anarchists who breached the Capitol building last week didn’t just attack a building – they launched an assault on our Republic. As I said last Wednesday, just as I condemned the thugs and criminals who wreaked havoc on our cities during last summer’s riots, I fully condemn those who attacked the Capitol and look forward to swift justice for all who orchestrated and participated in these acts.
Impeaching a sitting president is supposed to be a serious and deliberative process. The last impeachment, based on lies and done for purely political purposes, was neither and this week’s effort is even less so. Dragging our country through yet another impeachment will only further divide us and neglect real issues the American people are confronting on a daily basis.
The American people deserve leaders who are focused on spurring job creation, dealing with our ongoing pandemic, and expanding opportunities for people to take care of their families. Not a single new job will be created by Congress this week. Nothing will be done to help patients, hospitals, or small businesses struggling in the midst of COVID-19. And students will be no closer to returning to classrooms or being empowered with options to help them get the education they are so desperately lacking.
The list of challenges Congress should be addressing is long and important, and none of them are being discussed because political theater once again takes precedence in the House of Representatives. The American people need us to be better than this. They need us to rise above the heat of the moment to help lift them up, focus on their challenges, and deliver real solutions for them, their children, and our country. Impeaching the President of the United States will not bring us any closer to that goal.
In just nine days, Joe Biden will be sworn in as our next President. As the Representative for the 24th District of Texas, I will reach out to his administration to accomplish what I came to Washington to do: produce real results for the people of North Texas. I sincerely hope others will focus on doing the same.”
U.S. REP. ROGER WILLIAMS (R-TX DISTRICT 25)
Congressman Roger Williams will vote no in the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. He issued the following remarks before the vote:
"Today’s rushed vote on impeachment will only further divide the American people. The assault on the Capitol last week was an act of domestic terrorism – an affront to democracy by those who preferred to engage in chaos and violence, rather than civil discourse. As our nation begins a tough healing process in the days ahead, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats must reject the impulse to politicize the heinous tragedy that occurred last week and refocus our efforts on delivering results for the American people. There will be a peaceful transfer of power on January 20, 2021 – we must move forward for the good of the Republic."
U.S. REP. MICHAEL BURGESS (R-TX DISTRICT 26)
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., a member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement after voting against impeaching President Trump.
"The rioters who stormed the Capitol were wrong and should be held accountable, but it is time for America to heal. In less than a week, President Trump will be leaving office and President-elect Biden will be sworn into office. Continuing to pursue impeachment will just further increase the partisan divide
Over the last year, we have watched as the Majority party has turned the Constitutional authority to impeach into a political chess piece. This is a dangerous precedent. Our Founding Fathers did not intend for impeachment to be used in this manner.
This weekend, I was reminded in an op-ed published by the Denton Record Chronicle of the words of President Lincoln: ‘We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
It is time for Congress to come together and put the interests of the American people first. America is coming to the other side of this Coronavirus pandemic, but there is still work that needs to be done to ensure that the vaccine is being quickly, safely, and efficiently distributed.
For too long Congress has diverted from focusing on policy and has turned the opposite political party into the enemy. We must heed the words of Lincoln. Our discussion must put America first and focus on policy, not winning partisan points.
This country is worth too much to let partisan fights divide us. Just as Lincoln said, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand,’ we must remember that we are all first and foremost Americans."
U.S. REP. COLIN ALLRED (D-TX DISTRICT 32)
Congressman Colin Allred will vote in favor of the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. He issued the following remarks before the vote:
"I believe that the President called for a mob to come to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 to challenge the results of an election that he was lying about, saying it was stolen. That he told that mob to march on the Capitol and to fight, and that they did, and for that, he incited an insurrection against the government he is supposed to lead. And for that, I think he should be impeached."
U.S. REP. MARC VEASEY (D-TX DISTRICT 33)
Congressman Marc Veasey released the following statement after he voted for a resolution to formally impeach Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection at the Capitol:
"When I started my tenure in the United States Congress in 2013, I never thought I would have the unprecedented role of voting to impeach a sitting president two different times. But last week, we saw an unprecedented attack on our democracy that calls for swift action to immediately remove Donald Trump from our nation’s highest office.
Last week, Donald Trump instigated a violent insurrection against America while my colleagues and I convened to do our constitutional duty of certifying the states’ results of the electoral college for the next President of the United States. His incitement of a violent mob of his supporters resulted in multiple deaths, put countless lives at risk, and led to the desecration of the hallowed halls of our United States Capitol building.
This insurrection underscored what we have long known--Donald Trump is an absolute threat to our democracy and must be removed immediately. That is why I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues to hold this president accountable for his dangerous actions by impeaching him today. History will look back on this moment to see who stood with democracy and who did not. I implore Republicans in the Senate to put partisanship aside and vote on this article of impeachment immediately--the future of we the people, and our democracy, cannot wait another second"
