The Case for Impeachment Hearings

I was serving in Congress and on the Judiciary Committee for the ridiculous and politically motivated impeachment hearings of President Clinton. During that witch hunt Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay, and Ken Starr wasted a year and a half on investigations and hearings about President Clinton's personal relations. However, this attempted coup d'etat by Republicans against President Clinton was not and should not be the standard of impeachment that was enshrined by the Founders in our Constitution.

First, impeachment hearings are only proper when significant allegations exist that the President or Vice-President, or others civil officers, committed actions - within their official duties - that constitute 'High Crimes and Misdemeanors.' The allegations against Clinton - involving a personal affair - never reached this threshold. The serious charges against Cheney involve alleged crimes that are central to his duties of Vice-President; namely war and peace, the widespread violations of civil liberties, and the security of the United States and our covert agents.

Unlike the show trial put on by Republicans against President Clinton, a proper impeachment hearing would involve a fair and objective presentation of the facts without hyperbole or political gamesmanship. The hard evidence that is presented at the hearings will be judged fully both by Congress and the American people. The evidence alone will determine the outcome, and if it is determined that Vice President Cheney committed "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" he should be properly impeached and put on trial before the Senate.

After the Democratic Party regained control of Congress, many - myself included - thought that it might be possible to meet President Bush half-way on the large issues facing our nation. Unfortunately, Bush has been nothing more than an ideological obstacle. He has vetoed stem cell research. He has vetoed efforts to bring our troops home from Iraq. He vetoed children's health care. So, the idea that we are somehow inhibiting Congress from passing our agenda by holding impeachment hearings - unfortunately - is a false argument.

Instead, I believe that we can both live up to our Constitutional obligation by holding hearings and pass a Democratic agenda. If President Bush perceives that the Democratic Congress is weak and unwilling to aggressively push our agenda - he will continue to veto legislation, such as children's health care - that is supported by a majority of Americans. The only way to move a progressive Democratic agenda is by acting through strength and following through on our core principles. A Congress willing to stand up to the abuses of the Bush Administration through impeachment hearings will demonstrate a strength of will that will more likely convince Bush to accommodate on issues such as Iraq, health care, and energy and environmental issues.

Today, I was joined by two other members of the House Judiciary Committee, Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Tammy Baldwin, who penned an online editorial with me calling for these impeachment hearings. In support of this effort I am releasing a call to action on video and launched WexlerWantsHearings.com. The full op-ed from the three Judiciary Committee Members can be read at this site. If we can get 50,000 or even more people to sign up in support of this effort I will report back to each and every Democratic colleague of mine the true power that exists behind this movement.

Comments

[scepticalobserver]

You can add me to the list of those supporting impeachment, with one qualifier. Don't get Bush and leave Cheney. That would be a nightmare.

I would also like someone to push every candidate for a pledge. No immunity, clemency or pardons for these criminals. These crimes are unprecedented and future generations need to be warned. If you break the laws, you go to jail.

As I write this Congess is considering granting the telecoms immunity for illegal wiretapping before holding a single hearing or conducting a single investigation.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Gee, not too many grounds for it are there. The administration has proven to be the most arrogant, corrupt, greedy, of any I can recall to date. The grounds for not just impeachment, but treason are out the ass. If the public knew of a fourth of what these bastards have done, they would want them to be publically tried, found guilty and hung as they do with traitors in other countries. Make no mistake, these have been the most decrepit, deliberate acts of treason, that are beyond the scope of normal crimes. They committed crimes against thier own troops, people, gagged the media allowing 911 to take place. They belong in federal prison, thier funds frozen and given back to the american people. Disgusting.

[zendem1]

Start the hearings. Put the deeds of these criminals on CNN every day. Make the Repuke candidates for president defend these bastards.

[PhantomAviator]

WILL

NEVER

HAPPEN.

NEVER.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Thank you Rep. Wexler.

How many times per hour can I sign up?

[EyeWantOneNation]

If Huffpo ever gets this sire updated, I'll be impressed!!
People that want to sit back and bitch, and do nothing when we just may have a positive direction going...I say you live to bitch. Myself, and many others, will not give up!!

I have totally supported Kucinich's H.Res 333, and some ask here "What about H.Res 333??" I didn't get it at first, either.

H.Res 333 covers 3 articles relating to Cheney lying to get us to invade Iraq. Wexler is taking THOSE points, and adding on illegal wiretapping of American citizens, and revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation. (outting Valerie Plame)
This move for hearings needs to be supported.­..just as Huffpo has so many comments on this that they are backlogged, so is Wexler's web link...KEE­P TRYING!!

[rwe]

Bill was impeached for perjury and obsruction of justice...­He should have been just censured . yes HR 333 is out their but has as much credibility as a Dan Rather expose. So far there is nothing of substance to charge .

[ptarantino]

Rep. Wexler,

It would be nice if you could provide a real-time petition counter on your web-site, showing how many people have signed up.

Thanks for the good work & keep it going.

[Mikie]

Rob, Let me get this straight; you want to impeach Bush for blocking the Democratic agenda which you apparently feel is a high crime and misdemeanor. And, you think you can do this in WASHINGTON without having a show trial and with no hyperbole or political gamesmanship. Of course we can all be certain in this election year that the trial will be completely objective and there is no chance that Bush will wrap himself in the flag and claim that he has done all to protect the American people. You sure you aren't a closet Republican looking to help the Democrats snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in Nov 2008.

[DLB]

As a conservative independent, I would love to see impeachment hearings. It would, once and for all, allow both sides to present their cases before the American people as to whether crimes were committed. But be warned, it would most certainly destroy the Democratic party if it was proved to be nothing more than a partisan political witch hunt.

[Mickeleh]

I agree with Mr. Wexler on this. Also with mpgarr on recommending the Bill Moyers show http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/profile.html.

Above all this is about restoring and defending our Constitution.

Bush-Cheney is not simply about the occupation, the spying, the torture, the politicization of the Justice Department, the outing of Valerie Plame. It's about a concerted effort to change the nature of our we are governed.

Even if it does not result in a conviction in the Senate, the process must begin, and the case must be made.

Debates about this or that element of policy are just wearing us down and distracting us from the big issue: we are losing our democracy and our liberties.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Need to impeach and try Number 1 and Number 2 at the same time.

Democratic Senators and Congressmen are doing an historic diservice to the nation by NOT "going to the wall".

Nothing's worthwhile is getting legislated anyway.

[CaBeachBum]

With all due respect Representative Wexler, have you ever communicated with Dennis Kucinich? Have you ever talked to your "leader," Speaker Pelosi? ImpeachBush.org already has a referendum on impeachment approaching 1 million people. National polls support impeachment. As an elected representative sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, do you and other officials not have an obligation to go forward with impeachment? What more do you need?

[clumberfeet]

Ignore it and it will go away,
Will not solve the Bush administration problem.
Ignore it and it will go away,
Has never solved any problem and,
Will never solve any problem.

[jazzman]

You can write as many articles on impeachment as you want but it isn't going to happen. Pelosi has made it clear, "Impeachment is off the table," and right now, to our Democratic leaders, their constituents and their calls for standing up to Bush have become the problem not Bush's behavior.

The sheriffs in town and the crooks are robbing the bank but the sheriff doesn't want to disturb the perception of peace so she's not going to enforce the law. To do so might end up in a shoot out, a few people bloodied, as well as having to round up the crooks and put them in jail where they belong. Too much hard work. It's easier to let them take the money.