Sunday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell appeared on NBC News Sunday talk show program, “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd,” to defend the Democrats’ near party line vote to formalize the ongoing impeachment hearings against President Donald J. Trump (R) saying that the impeachment investigation is “about the soul of our democracy.” “I hope that the American people will understand that this is about abuse of power,” the Congresswoman added.
“This is a sobering moment in America’s history,” Rep. Sewell said. “And I think that those of us who have been reluctant participants — I represent a red state, I’m a blue dot in a red state, and frankly I think that what really got me on the side of going through this inquiry was the fact that this president is interfering in our elections. He withheld important military assistance. He did so openly in his own admission; and I think that the American people deserve to hear the facts.”
Republican have criticized the secretive manner in which the House Intelligence Committee has handled the early stages of the impeachment inquiry and argue that they have not been provided access to the hearings or the evidence.
“I think that it’s important that we make sure that this is not just about process,” Sewell said. “You know, the Republicans have been able to focus on process because they don’t, they can’t really defend the truth of the evidence that’s being presented in these investigations. And what’s really, to me, damning is the fact that over 40 Republicans get to participate in the SCIF, like I do. Three committees, 40 Republicans, over 40 of them, get to participate in this. And so I think that the vote last week was to remove the process argument and really focus on the truth.”
No Republicans, including those on the House Intelligence Committee, who participated in the secret hearings, voted in favor of the resolution authorizing a formal impeachment inquiry. Two Democrats voted “No” with the Republicans.
“I hope that the American people will understand that this is about abuse of power,” Sewell stated. “You know, my, my district, the Alabama seventh congressional district, people fought and died for the right to vote. To me, this is really about the soul of our democracy. It’s about whether or not a president can ask a foreign power to actually investigate his political rivals. And to withhold assistance. It’s about national security.”
“it’s a somber moment in American history,” Sewell told Tood. “And we want to make sure the American people understand the gravity and they get to choose for themselves, but it’s important that we present it in a way that they can understand.”
“I think the American people understand right and wrong,” Sewell stated. “And I think that it’s important that we give to them, let them hear for themselves the testimony, and I think that we’ve already been presented with a lot of testimony that has been leaked or been — the opening statements that have been presented, that has a very damning case against the president.”
Sewell said that she wanted to see a narrowing of the impeachment issue and that her biggest concern is national security.
Friday, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose) said at an appearance in Gadsden that we have seen the transcripts and the President did nothing wrong.
Pres. Trump has dismissed the impeachment as “a hoax” and “a witch hunt.”
Congresswoman Terri Sewell represents Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Sewell is a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, which has been tasked with taking a lead role in the impeachment inquiry.
