Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) delivered the following remarks announcing the introduction of articles of impeachment:

"Over the last several months, the investigative committees of the House have been engaged in an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump’s efforts to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 elections — efforts that compromised our national security and threatened the integrity of our elections.  Throughout this inquiry, he has attempted to conceal the evidence from Congress and the American people.

"Our President holds the ultimate public trust.  When he betrays that trust, and puts himself before country, he endangers the Constitution, he endangers our democracy and he endangers our national security.  The Framers prescribed a clear remedy for Presidents who violate their Oath of Office.  That is the power of impeachment.  

"Today, in service to our duty to the Constitution and to our country, the House Committee on the Judiciary is introducing two articles of impeachment charging the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, with committing high Crimes and Misdemeanors.  

"The first article is for Abuse of Power.  It is an impeachable offense for the President to exercise the powers of his public office to obtain an improper personal benefit, while ignoring or injuring the national interest.  

"We must be clear: no one, not even the President, is above the law.

"I want to recognize the great contributions of the investigative chairs, particularly Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, the Committee on Oversight and Reform’s former Chairman, the late Elijah Cummings, and its new Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, and Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, who helped lay the foundation for the articles we are introducing today.  I also want to thank my Judiciary Committee colleagues, who were critical in our work to hold the President accountable and in the drafting of these articles.

"Later this week, the Judiciary Committee will meet to consider these articles of impeachment, and to make a recommendation to the full House of Representatives.  We do not take this action lightly.  But we have taken an oath to defend the Constitution and —unlike President Trump — we understand that our duty, first and foremost, is to protect the Constitution and the interests of the American people.  That is why we must take this solemn step today. 

"Elections are the cornerstone of democracy and are foundational to the rule of law.  But the integrity of our next election is at risk from a President who has already sought foreign interference in the 2016 and 2020 elections, and who consistently puts himself above country.  That is why we must act now."

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