As published on After Downing Street — From Henry Waxman:
Thank you for contacting me to express your strong opposition to the policies of the Bush White House and your support for impeachment. I appreciate having the benefit of your view on this issue and the opportunity to share my thinking with you.
As you know, on November 6, 2007, Representative Dennis Kucinich offered a privileged resolution on the House floor to bring up H.Res. 333, which would impeach Vice President Cheney. I joined a majority of the House in a 218-194 vote to refer the privileged resolution to the Judiciary Committee, which is the committee of jurisdiction.
I do not take impeachment lightly. Having been elected to the House in 1974 on the heels of the resignation of President Nixon, I fully understand the gravity of the impeachment process. And having served in the House during the partisan and political campaign that pursued the impeachment of President Clinton, I have seen the detriment of its abuse.
While I recognize the eagerness of Representative Kucinich and other supporters of impeachment to move this resolution swiftly, I believe the House has a constitutional and institutional responsibility to handle such resolutions and their underlying accusations with due process and regular order. That is why I voted to refer the measure back to the House Judiciary Committee for its evaluation and consideration.
In addition to concerns about process, I personally believe that impeachment is not a successful strategy for challenging the Bush Administration. On a practical level there aren’t enough votes in the House or the Senate for impeachment or a conviction. Furthermore, pursuing impeachment would polarize our country at a time when Americans are unifying across party lines to oppose the President’s policies in Iraq. It does not make sense to divert attention and focus on a losing strategy against an administration that will be out of office next year.
As Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform I am committed to holding this Administration accountable for its actions. I believe the best way to do so is by restoring the essential checks and balances that languished during previous congresses. I am determined to fully investigate acts of misconduct and misjudgment and learn from the Administration’s mistakes so that we can fix our policies and prevent future abuses.
For more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for periodic e-mail updates, please visit http://oversight.house.gov and http://www.waxman.house.gov.
Thank you again for contacting me and please be in touch on issues of concern.
With kind regards, I am
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Member of Congress.
Waxman is covering up the truth of 9/11. He refuses to allow Sibel Edmonds to testify about 9/11. He is obstructing justice.