[NYTr] Congressman Wexler calls for Cheney's impeachment

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Wexler's house page - Dec 14, 2007
http://wexler.house.gov/apps/list/speech/fl19_wexler/morenews/121407_oped.shtml

December 14, 2007  	 
 
Congressman Wexler released the following op-ed on need for impeachment
hearings with Reps. Gutierrez and Baldwin:

A Case for Hearings

On November 7, the House of Representatives voted to send a resolution
of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the Judiciary Committee. As
Members of the House Judiciary Committee, we strongly believe these
important hearings should begin.

The issues at hand are too serious to ignore, including credible
allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high
crimes and misdemeanors under our constitution. The charges against
Vice President Cheney relate to his deceptive actions leading up to the
Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for
political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

Now that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan has
indicated that the Vice President and his staff purposefully gave him
false information about the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert
agent to report to the American people, it is even more important for
Congress to investigate what may have been an intentional obstruction
of justice. Congress should call Mr. McClellan to testify about what he
described as being asked to “unknowingly [pass] along false
information.” In addition, recent revelations have shown that the
Administration including Vice President Cheney may have again
manipulated and exaggerated evidence about weapons of mass destruction
-- this time about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Some of us were in Congress during the impeachment hearings of
President Clinton. We spent a year and a half listening to testimony
about President Clinton’s personal relations. This must not be the
model for impeachment inquires. A Democratic Congress can show that it
takes its constitutional authority seriously and hold a sober
investigation, which will stand in stark contrast to the kangaroo court
convened by Republicans for President Clinton.  In fact, the worst
legacy of the Clinton impeachment – where the GOP pursued trumped up
and insignificant allegations - would be that it discourages future
Congresses from examining credible and significant allegations of a
constitutional nature when they arise.

The charges against Vice President Cheney are not personal. They go to
the core of the actions of this Administration, and deserve
consideration in a way the Clinton scandal never did. The American
people understand this, and a majority support hearings according to a
November 13 poll by the American Research Group. In fact, 70% of voters
say that Vice President Cheney has abused his powers and 43% say that
he should be removed from office right now. The American people
understand the magnitude of what has been done and what is at stake if
we fail to act. It is time for Congress to catch up.

Some people argue that the Judiciary Committee can not proceed with
impeachment hearings because it would distract Congress from passing
important legislative initiatives. We disagree. First, hearings need
not tie up Congress for a year and shut down the nation. Second,
hearings will not prevent Congress from completing its other business.
These hearings involve the possible impeachment of the Vice President –
not our commander in chief – and the resulting impact on the nation’s
business and attention would be significantly less than the Clinton
Presidential impeachment hearings. Also, despite the fact that
President Bush has thwarted moderate Democratic policies that are
supported by a vast majority of Americans -- including children’s
health care, stem cell research, and bringing our troops home from Iraq
-- the Democratic Congress has already managed to deliver a minimum
wage hike, an energy bill to address the climate crisis, assistance for
college tuition, and other legislative successes.  We can continue to
deliver on more of our agenda in the coming year while simultaneously
fulfilling our constitutional duty by investigating and publicly
revealing whether or not Vice President Cheney has committed high
crimes and misdemeanors. 

Holding hearings would put the evidence on the table, and the evidence
– not politics – should determine the outcome.  Even if the hearings do
not lead to removal from office, putting these grievous abuses on the
record is important for the sake of history. For an Administration that
has consistently skirted the constitution and asserted that it is above
the law, it is imperative for Congress to make clear that we do not
accept this dangerous precedent. Our Founding Fathers provided Congress
the power of impeachment for just this reason, and we must now at least
consider using it.

See also: http://wexlerwantshearings.com/