Rep. Maxine Waters Historic Floor Speech on Trump Impeachment in U.S. House

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, delivered a speech in support of H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. Her remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below. Watch the full video here.

Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately the rules of debate won't allow me to cite all of the reasons why this president should be impeached. There are many. However, Madam Speaker and Members of this House, to quote the late Maya Angelou: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." This day was not inevitable, but it was predictable because this president has shown himself time and time again to believe that he is above the law and has no respect for our Constitution or our democracy.

Based on all that we know about Donald Trump, we could have predicted he would have abused the power of the presidency by "corruptly [soliciting] the Government of Ukraine" and Ukrainian president Zelensky to publicly announce investigations into [his] political opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden."

This impeachment resolution includes evidence that this president withheld $391 million of taxpayer funds that Congress appropriated "for the purpose of providing vital military and security assistance to Ukraine to oppose Russian aggression," – another blatant abuse of power.

Our investigations revealed that this president advanced "a discredited theory promoted by Russia alleging that Ukraine — rather than Russia — interfered in the 2016 United States Presidential election" "for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit."

Never before in our history have we experienced a president who has so clearly conducted himself in a "manner offensive to, and subversive of, the Constitution" and "directed" his Cabinet members, "Executive Branch agencies, and other White House officials "to defy lawful subpoenas" from Congress. Was he attempting to hide wrongdoing?

It is without question that this president "has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law," because at every turn, he has shown us who he is.

It's no secret that this president could have been impeached a long time ago. Today, we stand here with an irrefutable case and an indisputable set of facts that this president absolutely abused his power and obstructed Congress.

Any other individual who would have been caught conducting themselves in the way this president has would have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

It is shameful that members of this House are willing to disregard the Constitution, turn a blind eye to hard facts, and ignore a confession from the president himself.

History will remember those who were willing to speak truth to power.

Yes, I called for Trump's impeachment early. This is our country. Our foremothers and forefathers shed their blood to build and defend this democracy. I refuse to have it be undermined.

I wholeheartedly support this resolution, and I am proud that in the final analysis, justice will have been served in America and Donald Trump will have been impeached.

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