House Proceeding 06-19-09 on Jun 19th, 2009 :: 0:27:40 to 0:33:35
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0:27:37 to 0:27:57( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: have brought us to this stage. and i yield to herive minutes. . the speaker pro tempore: the gentlela five minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker. i think it is important for all of us to recognize the

0:27:40 to 0:33:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Sheila Jackson-Lee

0:27:58 to 0:28:18( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: solemnnyity of this day. i thank the -- sol tim -- so lemonyity of this day. -- solemnnyity of this day. i come from texas, houston, i think it's important to note that the judge, as all people

0:28:19 to 0:28:39( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: in america may have, has his defenders. he will have an opportunity for those defenders to continue to raise their voice and to continue to emphasize their belief, as my colleague from texas indicated, that he had the -- he had debilitating conditns, that he had faced a

0:28:40 to 0:29:02( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: tragedy. that should be recognized. but i believe what i've come to acknowledge on the floor of the house, and in fact i am coming to acknowledge, that there is the responsibility constitutionally to follow the law. so article two, section 4 in fact says that we are to

0:29:03 to 0:29:23( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: proceed with impeachment, specifically if civil officers have engaged in partly or been convicted of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, specifically in count 6 in the plea agreement we find language that says this judge willingingly agreed

0:29:24 to 0:29:44( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: he had obstructed justi. he admitted to falsely stating to the special investigative committee of the united states of the court of appeals for the fifth circuit lying to an official judicial body, that the ex-ternt of his unwanted sexual contact was b was one kiss and when told that his

0:29:45 to 0:30:05( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: advances were unwelcome, he then further said they were consensual, and that's to block person a from coming forward or having veracity or noin back up what that person has said. i use a and b because i want to again respect that these are more than troubling comments and actions against two women

0:30:06 to 0:30:31( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: who deserve to have a safe and secure workplace. then article 3 indicates that judges must hold their position and they must iness sense be persons of good behavior. to create a workplace that does not allow the safety and security of your employee and

0:30:33 to 0:30:54( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: in particular the witness, a and b, that poses a serious problem. i'm making sure we track the constitutional road map we are now in and that we are aware of the fact that we can track the constitutional prosions and inssence say that this judge is not of good behavior.

0:30:55 to 0:31:15( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: he now sits incarcerated. he has been convicted of a felony. the felony is an obstruction of justice and he did it knowingly. i'd like a moment to that in the proceeding where he had to proceed with his plea, the court specifically said you have the right to persist in a prior plea of not guilty that

0:31:16 to 0:31:37( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: you have entered in this case. in that event, the burden is entirely upon this government to prove your guilt. you don't have to go forward with this. and therefore to the jury's satisfaction with proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a very high standard of proof, and under the law and the constitution, to the judge who was standing there,ou are presumed innoc

0:31:38 to 0:31:59( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: you do not have to prove your innocence to prove anything at all, meaning the judge was questioned on his plea that involved the obstruction of justice, misrepresenting and denying witness a who alleged of herctivities -- or his activities with her and person b, that everything was

0:32:00 to 0:32:20( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: consensual and person a is not telling the truth he did not have to proceed. so the court says, however if you accept -- if we accept your guilty plea this morning, each of those rights will be denied. as the defendant said yes, sir, and the court said, knowing that, is your intent to enter a

0:32:21 to 0:32:41( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: plea of guilty to this charge? yes, sir. that was in essence a plea to a felony of obstructing sad as it may be, as we proceed to the constitutional procedur of the voting here and then a trial in the senate, it lays dun the framework that we must act. we have no further and no inability to ignore it.

0:32:42 to 0:33:03( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: we must act. high crimes and misdemeanors, worthy behavior. all of them have been countered by a willing expression of this individual this judge, that he has committed this offense. so it is crucial that -- may i

0:33:04 to 0:33:24( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: have an additional 30 seconds? it is crucial --t is crucial that we proceed in moving on the articles of impeachment. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from micgan rerves the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. smith: i yield five minutes to the gentleman from

0:33:25 to 0:33:37( Edit History Discussion )

Sheila Jackson-Lee: wisconsin, mr. sensenbrenner a member of the impeachment task force and former member of the judiciary committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. sensenbrenner: i would like