00:00Hey everyone, well it is Wednesday and I am here just off of the House floor.
00:04Our colleagues are struggling once again to pass another terrible bill and I wanted to take a
00:11moment during the recess to just talk about what happened last night, to talk about the motion that
00:16was on the floor, and to explain what happened. Let me start by saying I am so sorry. There is
00:25no one who is more disappointed in myself than me that I was not here that the moment that gavel
00:32dropped as the Republicans were trying to bury this impeachment of Pete Hegseth. Because as many
00:40of you know, I was one of the original co-sponsors of one of the very first impeachment resolutions
00:46earlier this year when it became clear that Pete Hegseth was breaking the law. That is why I have
00:53supported his impeachment from the very beginning as it became clear that he had committed high
00:59crimes and misdemeanors. And so I want you to know that this fight is not over. The American
01:06people voted overwhelmingly to end the war, to hold Pete Hegseth accountable, to address
01:11the issues that are facing this country. And we take that responsibility seriously. We heard
01:17you. We are fighting. But of course, we are still in the minority. It is still the lame duck session.
01:24And while I would have wanted another outcome last night, it is clear that the Republicans were going
01:33to engage in a procedural maneuver to bury this impeachment. Because what was voted on on the House
01:39floor last night was not the impeachment itself. It was a motion to refer the impeachment to a committee
01:47in order to bury it. And not a single Republican, not even one, in addition to Thomas Massey, voted to
01:58shoot
01:58that motion down. Not one. And so while I know that it is my responsibility to be here, I know
02:08that I should
02:09have been there that moment. We did not have the numbers to move forward to impeach Pete Hegseth at this
02:17moment. Not to mention in the Senate, where he would have to have a trial and be convicted with a
02:25two thirds vote.
02:28But I do want to address why I was not there in that moment. As the vote was approaching,
02:35I ran back to my car. I got in my car, and I began driving towards the Capitol. And as
02:41I approached the
02:42Capitol, it was rush hour on Independence Avenue. They closed one of the lanes. I was stuck in the right
02:49hand lane. I had just gone through the light and was, I could literally see the Capitol. My staff
02:56were watching closely. I asked them to call the floor to let the floor know that the traffic was
03:02horrific outside. There were other members who were stuck in it. And just at that moment, as I was
03:07approaching the Capitol, there was a police motorcade that escorted a bus off of campus and blocked
03:14traffic in both directions. I should have been there sooner. I understand that it is my responsibility,
03:22and I am sincerely sorry. But there were definitely factors that were out of my control.
03:30And I want you all to know that this will never happen again. And certainly moving forward, this is
03:37not the end.
03:38Not too long.
03:38But you have to wait for me.
03:39The end.
03:39Yeah.
