Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld (R) wrote --
My statement on tonight's [12/18/2019] impeachment of Donald J. Trump by the U.S. House of Representatives:
“Impeachment is a solemn and, in the case of Donald J. Trump, sadly necessary step. When the Founders agonized, debated and ultimately adopted the Impeachment Clause, it is doubtful they envisioned a President who would authorize a burglary and cover it up, or a President’s inappropriate personal behavior. However, they very clearly envisioned and gravely feared the possibility that a corrupt President might use the awesome power of the presidency for his or her personal gain. With striking foresight, they precisely anticipated that a President might enlist and coerce a foreign government to aid in that abuse.
“The facts are not in dispute. Our president has arrogantly boasted of his abuses. Not only has Donald Trump committed the very acts the Founders and the Constitution foresaw, but he has made clear, through his words and deeds, that he fully intends to do more of the same.
“He has also defied the right and duty of the legislative branch of our government to exercise its rights and discharge their duties clearly assigned to it under our Constitution.
“Unchecked, Donald Trump will continue to make a mockery of the rule of law which is the foundation of our democratic institutions, and for which our Revolution was fought.
“This is not about the 2020 election. It is about the United States Congress performing its constitutional duty to enforce the limits on Executive power and state, right now and right here, that the President is not the monarch Donald Trump wishes to be.
“This is not the time to bend our necks to the yoke, or we shall betray our history and forfeit a free future.
“The House has acted. It is now up to the Senate, and particularly the Republicans in the Senate, to put partisan interests aside and affirm for generations to come that flagrant abuse of power and disregard for our democratic institutions will not be allowed to stand.”
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