MAY 2007
Kucinich
Introduces Impeachment Articles Against Cheney
Kucinich introduced Articles of Impeachment
against Cheney in the
Congress today.
CQ Transcripts Wire
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
04/24/07 "ICH"
-- --
REP. DENNIS J. KUCINICH, D-OHIO: Thank you very
much for being here.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are
created equal; that they are endowed by their creator
with certain unalienable rights; that, among these, are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to
secure these rights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
government; and, whenever any form of government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people
to alter or to abolish it.
These words from the Declaration of Independence are
instructive at this moment. Because not only whenever any
form of government, but whenever any government official
becomes destructive of the founding purposes, that
official or those officials must be held accountable.
Because I believe the vice president's conduct of office
has been destructive to 
the founding purposes of our nation. Today, I
have introduced House Resolution 333, Articles of
Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney.
I do so in defense of the rights of the American people
to have a government that is honest and peaceful.
It became obvious to me that this vice president, who was
a driving force for taking the United States into a war
against Iraq under false pretenses, is once again
rattling the sabers of war against Iran with the same
intent to drive America into another war, again based on
false pretenses.
Let me cite from the articles of impeachment that were
introduced this afternoon, Article I, that Richard Cheney
had purposely manipulated the intelligence process to
deceive the citizens and the Congress of the United
States by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass
destruction to justify the use of the United States armed
forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to
our national security.
That despite all evidence to the contrary, the vice
president actively and systematically sought to deceive
the citizens and the Congress of the United States about
an alleged threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
That preceding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the vice
president was fully informed that no legitimate evidence
existed of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The vice
president pressured the intelligence community to change
their findings to enable the deception of the citizens
and the Congress of the United States.
That in this the vice president subverted the national
security interests of the United States by setting the
stage for the loss of more than 3,300 United States
service members and the loss of 650,000 Iraqi citizens
since the United States invasion; the loss of
approximately $500 billion in war costs, which has
increased our federal debt; the loss of military
readiness within the United States armed services,
through an overextension and lack of training and lack of
equipment; and the loss of United States credibility in
the world affairs and decades of likely blowback created
by the invasion of Iraq.
That with respect to Article II, that Richard Cheney
manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the
citizens and the Congress of the United States about an
alleged relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida in order
to justify the use of United States armed forces against
the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national
security.
And that, despite all evidence to the contrary, the vice
president actively and systematically sought to deceive
the citizens and Congress of the United States about an
alleged relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida.
That preceding to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the
vice president was fully informed that no credible
evidence existed of a working relationship between Iraq
and Al Qaida, a fact articulated in several official
documents.
With respect to Article III, that in his conduct while
vice president of the United States, Richard Cheney
openly threatened aggression against the Republic of
Iran, absent any real threat to the United States, and
has done so with the United States's proven capability to
carry out such threats, thus undermining the national
security interests of the United States.
That despite no evidence that Iran has the intention or
the capability of attacking the United States, and
despite the turmoil created by the United States's
invasion of Iraq, the vice president has openly
threatened aggression against Iran.
Furthermore, I point out in the articles that Article VI
of the United States Constitution states, and I quote,
"This Constitution and the laws of the United States
shall be made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made
or which shall be made under the authority of the United
States shall be the supreme law of the land. Any
provision of an international treaty ratified by the
United States becomes the law of the United States."
The United States is signatory to the U.N. Charter, a
treaty among the nations of the world. Article II,
Section 4 of the United Nations Charter states, and I
quote, "All members shall refrain in their
international relations from the threat or use of force
against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any state, or in any manner inconsistent
with the purposes of the United Nations."
The articles conclude by pointing out that the vice
president's deception upon the citizens and the Congress
of the United States that enabled the failed United
States invasion of Iraq forcibly altered the rules of
diplomacy so that the vice president recent belligerent
actions toward Iran are destabilizing and
counterproductive to the national security of the United
States of America.
These articles of impeachment are not brought forth
lightly. I've carefully weighed the options available to
members of Congress and found this path the path that is
the most important to take.
The justifications used to lead our nation to war have
unquestionably been disproved. Brave soldiers and
innocent civilians have lost their lives in a war the
United States should never have initiated. The weight of
the lies used to lead us into war has grown heavier with
each death. Now is the time for Congress to examine the
actions that led us into this war, just as we must work
to bring the troops home. This resolution is a very
serious matter, and I will urge the Committee on
Judiciary to investigate and carefully consider this
resolution.
At this time, I'm happy to take any of your questions.
QUESTION: Congressman, at this point do you have any
other -- any fellow members support this?
KUCINICH: At this very moment, the resolution is being
transmitted to members of Congress. Because this
resolution is so weighty in its import, it's going to be
important for members of Congress to have sufficient time
to study the articles. This is unlike any other type of
legislation or resolution. This is not something that you
can ask anyone to make a snap judgment on. It took me a
while to come to this point. And I would expect that
members of Congress, given the opportunity to review
these articles, will be able to come to a conclusion
consistent with their own concerns and the concerns of
their constituents.
QUESTION: But at this point, you stand alone, at this
point?
KUCINICH: At this point, I believe that I stand with
millions of Americans who have expressed concern through
their state legislatures, through petitions to Congress,
through contact with their members of Congress, that
something has to be done to reclaim our country's
goodness, to reclaim a government which the American
people want to be honest, want to be just.
And so I do not stand alone. I have multitudes of people
backing this.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) Chairman Conyers to look at this?
KUCINICH: I will discuss this with Chairman Conyers, now
that this has been introduced, and I will ask for his
consideration. And I will communicate this to all members
of the House and ask them to give it the kind of
thoughtful consideration that it deserves.
KUCINICH: I might point out that -- that when you read
the annotations here, you will see that everything that
has been said in these articles has been carefully
documented. In fact, I would imagine that some of you
have even reported some of the statements, although
perhaps the statements have not been challenged in this
way until now.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
KUCINICH: The question relates to why I'm bringing the
articles of impeachment against Mr. Cheney, and not Mr.
Bush. Is that it?
QUESTION: Why solely Mr. Cheney?
KUCINICH: Well, there's a practical reason here. And the
practical reason is -- first of all, I want to say that
each and every charge against Mr. Cheney relates to his
conduct or misconduct in office.
Now, with respect to the president. I think that it's
very important that we start with Mr. Cheney. Because if
we were to start with the president and pursue articles
of impeachment, Mr. Cheney would then become president.
It's significant and responsible to start in this way,
because if the same charges would relate to the president
as relate to the vice president, you would then have to
go through the constitutional agony of impeaching two
presidents consecutively.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
KUCINICH: Well, actually -- I'll wait until that truck
goes by here.
Let me tell you the difference. The difference today is
that this vice president is actively encouraging
aggression against Iran. It is urgent that Congress take
steps to check the abuse of power. And that's what this
impeachment resolution will do.
KUCINICH: There is no comparison whatsoever -- in any
way, shape or manner -- between these articles of
impeachment and the articles of impeachment which were
presented to the House of Representatives in 1999.
In fact, these articles of impeachment are deeply
researched, will stand up in a discussion in the House
and in the Senate. And I believe that they are -- that
they're imperative to bring forth right now because the
threat of war against Iran is very real.
And this vice president cannot be permitted to continue
to violate both the U.S. Constitution and the U.N.
Charter.
QUESTION: Congressman, you're running for president. Are
you hoping to get the others (OFF-MIKE)?
KUCINICH: Each person has to -- each person will have to
make his or her own decision.
This goes beyond partisan terms. This is being done to
defend our constitutional system of government. This is
being done so that all those of us who took an oath to
defend the Constitution of the United States can
understand that this impeachment is one valid way in
furtherance of the defense of our Constitution.
I don't see this as being distant from anyone, in any
capacity in our government. Everyone must reflect on
this.
Years from now, people will ask, "Why didn't the
United States government respond when they saw this
threat to our democracy? Why didn't people inside the
government respond?" if this doesn't move forward.
And so this really isn't so much, I might add, about the
vice president as it is about who we are as a people.
What is it that we stand for? What kind of government do
the people of the United States expect and deserve?
KUCINICH: It's not appropriate for the government to lie
to people. It is wrong for government officials -- you
know, the vice president, in this case -- to take this
nation into war based on lies.
And so, again, this becomes a question of who we are as a
people. And so this resolution 333, articles of
impeachment against the vice president, will let future
generations know that no one is above the law of this
country and that Congresses have the specific
responsibility to provide a check to administrative abuse
of power. That's the way the framers set this government
up.
QUESTION: Congressman, Speaker Pelosi has said on more
than one occasion she's not interested in impeachment.
Have you had conversations with her on this, or some
exchange, in your mind...
KUCINICH: No, I have not discussed this with Speaker
Pelosi.
I want to stress that this is not a partisan action at
all. I have not confided in anyone in the leadership of
my party, because I take this action beyond partisanship,
beyond party, as an obligation and commitment to my
nation and my loyalty to America and my willingness to
say, "Stop the lies. Stop the lying. Stop the dying
that's occurring in Iraq over lies."
It's imperative that America stand for the truth. It said
in the Bible, "You shall know the truth and the
truth shall set you free." Well, let then these
articles of impeachment help set our nation free from the
lies that have enveloped our governmental process, the
lies that are trapping us still in a war in Iraq, the
lies that could take us into a war against Iran.
This is about the truth.
QUESTION: Congressman, it's been said by some pundits
that you're just introducing these articles to gain
publicity for your presidential campaign.
What do you make of those allegations? And do you think
this is going to help you out in your race for the
presidency?
KUCINICH: These articles are about the conduct of the
vice president of the United States, that he deceived the
people of the United States to take this country into a
war, that he continues to exhibit a pattern of conduct
that could take this country into another war based on
false pretenses. That's what this is about.
KUCINICH: And I believe that the people of this country
are demanding that someone stand up and anyone has been
free to do this. Anyone in the House of Representatives
could take similar action if they so choose, or could
take action against the vice president or the president.
QUESTION: Pelosi says it's not going anywhere.
(CROSSTALK)
KUCINICH: Have you talked to her today?
QUESTION: Yes, I did.
KUCINICH: Then I would say I have not talked to her. And
as much as I admire the speaker, as much as I voted to
support her, I feel that it's my obligation as a member
of Congress to introduce these articles of impeachment.
And I believe the American people will be the final
arbiters as to whether or not these articles should go
forward.
QUESTION: Just to follow up, when you say the vice
president led us into war, wouldn't that be President
Bush? Isn't Cheney working for Bush? (inaudible)
KUCINICH: Well, let's go into Article I. "Mr.
Cheney: 'We know they have biological and chemical
weapons.'" Said this in a press conference on March
17th, 2002. "We know they're pursuing nuclear
weapons." He said this in a press briefing on March
19th, 2002. "He is pursuing, activity pursuing
nuclear weapons at this time." He said this on
"CNN Late Edition," March 24th. "We know
he's got chemical and biological, and we know he's
working on nuclear."
"Meet the Press," May 19th: "But we know
Saddam has resumed his efforts to acquire nuclear
weapons." "There is no doubt he's amassing them
against our friends, against our allies and against
us." August 26th, 2002.
On and on and on. "He has in fact activity and
aggressively seeking to acquire nuclear weapons."
September 8th, 2002, "Meet the Press."
"He has in fact reconstituted nuclear weapons."
March 16th, "Meet the Press."
This vice president was a driving force in trying to
create the circumstances to justify the United States's
attack against Iran. And he not only deceived the people
of the United States, and the Congress of the United
States, he deceived the American media.
KUCINICH: And so these articles are tightly focused on
the conduct of the vice president. And to the extent that
they may reflect in some way on the conduct of the
president of the United States, is another matter for
another day.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
KUCINICH: I think the record is very clear, that this
vice president used his conduct of office to promote a
war and Article I and Article II are very clear that he
conducted himself in such a way as to use the power of
his office to promote that war.
And so this relates to the vice president. And I think I
answered the question earlier about why the vice
president and not the president.
Anyone else? I want to thank you very much for being
here.
QUESTION: Do you have anyone you would identify as a
replacement? If Vice President Cheney were impeached, it
would have to be voted on the House and the Senate for
confirmation.
KUCINICH: That would be up to President Bush.
Thank you.
END
The full Articles
themselves, a large collection of PDF documents, are
accessible at Congressman Kucinich's
website.
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Announces Impeachment Charges Against Cheney