12/18/2019

Tulsi Gabbard Releases Statement on Impeachment of President

Trump
From: Tulsi 2020 <press@tulsi2020.com>
To: news@hawaiipublicradio.org
Date: 12/18/2019 3:46 PM

Tulsi Gabbard Releases Statement on

Impeachment of President Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D, Hawaii) released the following
statement today on her vote regarding the impeachment of President Trump:

Throughout my life, whether through serving in the military or in Congress, I’ve

always worked to do what is in the best interests of our country. Not what’s best for
me politically or what’s best for my political party. I have always put our country first.
One may not always agree with my decision, but everyone should know that I will
always do what I believe to be right for the country that I love.

After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came
to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no.

I am standing in the center and have decided to vote Present. I could not in good
conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty
of wrongdoing.

I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a
sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal
animosities that have so gravely divided our country. When I cast my vote in support
of the impeachment inquiry nearly three months ago, I said that in order to maintain

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the integrity of this solemn undertaking, it must not be a partisan endeavor.

Tragically, that’s what it has been.

On the one side — The president’s defenders insist that he has done nothing
wrong. They agree with the absurd proclamation that his conduct was “perfect.”
They have abdicated their responsibility to exercise legitimate oversight, and
instead blindly do the bidding of their party’s leader.

On the other side — The president’s opponents insist that if we do not impeach, our
country will collapse into dictatorship. All but explicitly, they accuse him of treason.
Such extreme rhetoric was never conducive to an impartial fact-finding process.

The Founders of our country made clear their concerns about impeachment being a
purely partisan exercise. In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton warned
against any impeachment that would merely “connect itself with the pre-existing
factions,” and “enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one
side or on the other.” In such cases, he said, “there will always be the greatest
danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of
parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.”

Donald Trump has violated public trust. Congress must be unequivocal in

denouncing the president’s misconduct and stand up for the American people and
our democracy. To this end, I have introduced a censure resolution that will send a
strong message to this president and future presidents that their abuses of power
will not go unchecked, while leaving the question of removing Trump from office to
the voters to decide.

I am confident that the American people will decide to deliver a resounding rebuke
of President Trump’s innumerable improprieties and abuses. And they will express
that judgment at the ballot box. That is the way real and lasting change has always
occurred in this great country: through the forcefully expressed will of the people.

A house divided cannot stand. And today we are divided. Fragmentation and
polarity are ripping our country apart. This breaks my heart, and breaks the hearts
of all patriotic Americans, whether we are Democrats, Republicans, or
Independents.

So today, I come before you to make a stand for the center, to appeal to all of you to
bridge our differences and stand up for the American people.

My vote today is a vote for much needed reconciliation and hope that together we
can heal our country. Let’s work side-by-side, seeking common ground, to usher in

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a bright future for the American people, our country, and our nation.

Journalists with questions should reach out to press@tulsi2020.com and

cullen@tulsi2020.com.

About Tulsi Gabbard:

 
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is the first female combat veteran to ever run
for US president and, along with Tammy Duckworth, one of the first two female
combat veterans elected to Congress. Currently a major in the Army National
Guard, she has served for more than 16 years and deployed twice to the
Middle East.
 
Tulsi is a Democrat and was first elected to Congress in 2012. She has served
there for more than 6 years, including on the Homeland Security, Foreign
Affairs, and Armed Services Committees.
 
Tulsi was Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 until
she resigned in 2016 to endorse Bernie Sanders in his bid for president.
 
Tulsi’s campaign for president is powered completely by people. She does not
accept campaign contributions from corporations, lobbyists, or any political
action committees.
 
Tulsi was born a US citizen on April 12, 1981 in American Samoa. When she
was two years old, her family moved to Hawaii, where she grew up. As is
typical of many residents of Hawaii, she is of mixed ethnicity — Asian,
Caucasian, and Polynesian descent.

 
More Information and Updates from Tulsi Gabbard:
 
TULSI2020.com
https://twitter.com/tulsigabbard
https://facebook.com/tulsigabbard
https://medium.com/@tulsigabbard
https://youtube.com/tulsigabbard
https://instagram.com/tulsigabbard
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