Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed Articles of Impeachment.
“The rush to impeach first and solidify the case second threatens the credibility of the process and the body engaged, this House of Representatives,” Burgess said.
“Since voting to authorize an official impeachment investigation, the nation has seen how the process has not protected the minority as in previous impeachment investigations. Chairmen of the investigating committees have violated House rules by refusing to grant access to committee records to Members or schedule a minority hearing within a reasonable timeframe. An abundance of anger helped initiate this process, all but guaranteeing the outcome before the investigation.
“This is a grave decision that I do not take lightly. I do not believe the evidence presented amounts to an impeachable offense. And, I am concerned about what we are missing while engaged in this partisan investigation. If the intent is to protect the integrity of our election, and our democracy, we must refocus on real threats, namely Russian intrusion, that we know to be ongoing.
“While the outcome of this impeachment has been known since the start, my desire is that the country will be able to come back together and heal the wounds caused by this partisan exercise.”
