{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-impeachment", "STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI  REGARDING THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR  ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "William Clay", "C001049", "lacyclay.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI\nREGARDING THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD JOHN TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR\nABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS\n(Remarks as prepared for delivery)\nWednesday, December 18, 2019\n\nNOTE: Congressman Clay's actual address on the \nFloor of the US House was compressed for time.\nA verbatim record of that speech is attached via video\nand audio link below.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \n\n\"Madam Speaker:\n\nI rise today to hold Donald John Trump accountable for his repeated Abuse of Power; \n\nHis deliberate Obstruction of the House's constitutionally-mandated oversight responsibilities;\n\nAnd his unprecedented misuse of the presidency to undermine the rule of law; \n\nWeaken the Separation of Powers;\n\nAnd subvert our Constitution by dangling 391 million in congressionally appropriated tax dollars over the head of an embattled ally in order to coerce a fraudulent investigation into a potential political opponent.\n\nOur Founders feared a lawless, amoral President who willfully puts national security at risk for his own personal gain.\n\nAbuse of power and obstruction of Congress may not be flashybut the actions of this president are perhaps the most basic examples of unconstitutional.\n\n45-years ago, I was an 18-year old House intern, and I became a witness to history. \n\nRichard Nixon also believed he was above the law and that the Constitution granted him unlimited power.\n\nIn 1974, Members of the Republican leadership acted courageously by confronting Mr. Nixon to make it clear that their ultimate loyalty was not to one man, but to upholding the Constitution.\n\nBut today, that courage seems nowhere to be found.\n\nThe inescapable and uncontested evidence is that Donald Trump violated his Oath of Office.\n\nMy friends,\n\nYou can defend Donald Trump, or you can defend the Constitution.\n\nHistory will not permit you to do both.\n\nFor the sake of our republic;\n\nDo your duty.\n\nThank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.\n\n\nVIDEO LINK, COURTESY OF ABC NEWS\nhttps://twitter.com/abcpolitics/status/1207336346345340928?s=21\n\n\nAUDIO LINK VIA YOUTUBE AND COURTESY OF\nST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFWmy8jkHSU", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lacyclay.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-congressman-wm-lacy-clay-d-missouri-regarding-impeachment"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.538329990580678, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}