Roemer, Buyer Vote Yea On Impeachment
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County's two representatives in Congress both voted last week to proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President William J. Clinton.
The House approved the resolution 258-176, which authorized the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into allegations the president lied under oath in a deposition given in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit and then again before a federal grand jury.
Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Dist. 3) said that while he voted for the inquiry of possible impeachable offenses, he doesn't believe the matter justifies impeachment.
"While I support proceeding with this inquiry, I do not think the allegation contained in the (Starr) report rise to the level of impeachable offenses," he said.
Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Dist. 5), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, said he is saddened by the events of last week. The allegations need to be investigated and, if determined to be true, they need to be sanctioned, he said.
"It was a solemn day. President Clinton is only the third president to be subject to a formal impeachment inquiry," Buyer said. "Telling the truth is the life's blood of our judicial system. That's why lying under the oath and obstructing justice is an assault on our constitution and the rule of law."
In addressing the House, Buyer said he has not prejudged the case, but is concerned about the ramifications if the charges prove out.
"If the facts find that the President should be exonerated, then we should do so because we follow the truth," he said. "If it shows otherwise, then we should proceed to the next step."
Should the Judiciary Committee find the evidence supports the charges, it would have to draft a resolution containing articles of impeachment against the president. If passed by majority vote by the whole House of Representatives, the Senate would act as the jury in an impeachment trial, with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County's two representatives in Congress both voted last week to proceed with an impeachment inquiry of President William J. Clinton.
The House approved the resolution 258-176, which authorized the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into allegations the president lied under oath in a deposition given in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit and then again before a federal grand jury.
Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Dist. 3) said that while he voted for the inquiry of possible impeachable offenses, he doesn't believe the matter justifies impeachment.
"While I support proceeding with this inquiry, I do not think the allegation contained in the (Starr) report rise to the level of impeachable offenses," he said.
Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Dist. 5), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, said he is saddened by the events of last week. The allegations need to be investigated and, if determined to be true, they need to be sanctioned, he said.
"It was a solemn day. President Clinton is only the third president to be subject to a formal impeachment inquiry," Buyer said. "Telling the truth is the life's blood of our judicial system. That's why lying under the oath and obstructing justice is an assault on our constitution and the rule of law."
In addressing the House, Buyer said he has not prejudged the case, but is concerned about the ramifications if the charges prove out.
"If the facts find that the President should be exonerated, then we should do so because we follow the truth," he said. "If it shows otherwise, then we should proceed to the next step."
Should the Judiciary Committee find the evidence supports the charges, it would have to draft a resolution containing articles of impeachment against the president. If passed by majority vote by the whole House of Representatives, the Senate would act as the jury in an impeachment trial, with Chief Justice William Rehnquist presiding. [[In-content Ad]]