"The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush"12/8/06 - Congresswoman McKinney files Articles of Impeachment
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney filed Articles of Impeachment against George Bush as one of her final acts in Congress. Article I charges that Bush manipulated intelligence and lied to justify the Iraq war. Article II charges "abuse of office and executive privilege" and includes Cheney and Rice. Article III makes charges related to the warrantless domestic wiretaps.
Normally, resolutions of impeachment are privileged business and must be handled before other business. But adjournment can preempt privileged business. The House of Representatives was supposed to adjourn on December 6th so it is unlikely that this resolution will be addressed during this session.
In her speech to introduce the Articles she said "With a heavy heart and in the deepest spirit of patriotism, I exercise my duty and responsibility to speak truthfully about what is before us. To shy away from this responsibility would be easier. But I have not been one to travel the easy road. I believe in this country, and in the power of our democracy. I feel the steely conviction of one who will not let the country I love descend into shame; for the fabric of our democracy is at stake. Some will call this a partisan vendetta, others will say this is an unimportant distraction to the plans of the incoming Congress. But this is not about political gamesmanship. I am not willing to put any political party before my principles. This, instead, is about beginning the long road back to regaining the high standards of truth and democracy upon which our great country was founded."
"Under the standards set by the United States Constitution, President Bush—along with Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice—should be subject to the process of impeachment, and I have filed H. Res. 1106 in the House of Representatives. To my fellow Americans, as I leave this Congress, it is in your hands—to hold your representatives accountable, and to show those with the courage to stand for what is right, that they do not stand alone."
McKinney voted against HJR114, the Authorization to use Military Force in Iraq in 2002. In her floor speech at the time, she cited the terrible cost of the Vietnam and first Gulf War and warned that a new war would have dire consequences. She warned that fighting in Iraq would actually hurt us in the War on Terror. She also said that the evidence for WMD was exaggerated.
McKinney has been characterized as a radical in the media but she is one of the only Representatives who expressed a realistic view during the debate on HJR114. She is also the only one who has stood up for the traditional values of the US Constitution by calling for the Impeachment of George Bush. Someday perhaps the situation will reverse and Truth and Justice will be considered "mainstream" values while Fraud, Corruption and War Mongering will be considered "radical".
Resources
- Text of McKinney's Articles of Impeachment
- Status of H.RES.1106 in Thomas
- "Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Introduces Articles of Impeachment, Faces Vicous Attacks by Media" by David Swanson on AfterDowningStreet.org
- "Rep. McKinney Files Articles of Impeachment" by Matt Pascarella of Guerilla News Network. The reporter was present at the drafting of the Articles.
- Text of McKinney's speech on the floor.
- "Rep. McKinney's parting shot: Bill to impeach Bush" - CNN/AP
- Cynthia McKinney House website
