December 17, 2007 (LPAC)--Three Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee have issued an op-ed calling for impeachment hearings for Vice President Dick Cheney, sparking impeachment momentum for the first time since the full House voted Nov. 7 to send an impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee.
On Friday, Dec. 14, the Congressmen released their op-ed. It was greeted with an Establishment media blackout. On Saturday, Dec. 15, a website--WexlerWantsHearings.com--went up, urging people to sign a petition calling for Cheney impeachment hearings. Rep. Robert Wexler reportedly said that he wanted at least 50,000 signatures. In one day, by Sunday morning, Dec. 16, more than 54,000 people had signed. By 4:00 PM Eastern Time Monday, Dec. 17, more than 80,000 had signed. The website includes the full op-ed, an impassioned video statement by Wexler, and related material.
The op-ed, now being circulated on a growing number of websites, was released in the names of Wexler, who represents Palm Beach and Broward Counties in Florida, Luis Gutierrez, from the north side of Chicago, and Tammy Baldwin, from the district encompassing Madison, Wis.
"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," the op-ed states.
In none too subtle a swipe at House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi's screwed head, the Congressmen note, "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.... 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."
The op-ed concludes, "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."
