Schneider to Vote to Impeach President for Inciting Insurrection Against American Democracy
DEERFIELD, IL — Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement:
"On January 3rd, I solemnly swore to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.' Remarkably, three days later, domestic terrorists, incited by Donald Trump, attacked not only our Capitol, but our Constitution, our government, and our democratic republic. Five people tragically died, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer. If not for the heroic actions of Capitol Police officers, this assault on our nation could have been so much worse. The violent mob in the Capitol was calling for the hanging of the Vice President and hunting for the Speaker and Members of Congress. For the first time in our country's history, we have failed to have a peaceful transition of power.
"Let's be clear: The President of the United States actively called his supporters, including the domestic terrorists, to Washington on January 6th. He organized a rally in front of the White House, and he directly instructed them to ‘march on the Capitol' and ‘fight like hell.' The law is clear, as is the President's role, in inciting this insurrection. His speech, and later that day his failure to intervene, will go down in history as the darkest day of the American Presidency.
"Sadly, in the days since the attack on our nation, the President has failed in his responsibility to protect the nation and our government.
"Today's vote will be a straightforward, bipartisan vote to hold the President accountable for his heinous crimes, and it is my sincere hope that the Senate will quickly move to convict the President and remove him from office.
"During the January 6th attack, I was locked into a secure room with other lawmakers, many of whom refused to wear masks. Two other lawmakers and I have since tested positive for the deadly COVID-19 disease that is tearing through the nation and that this President has disastrously failed to control. As a result, I will be voting by proxy from the isolation of my home in Illinois. During the attack and our bunkering, my mind was with my family, it was with my country, and it was with the oath that I swore to defend them both. The future of our national security and democratic republic are today at stake. I am proud that, as a Member of the U.S. Congress, I will be carrying out my duty to defend the Constitution."