Rep. Emanuel Cleaver @repcleaver
It is clear that the President needs to be removed from office. Unfortunately, the Cabinet does not appear to have the will to invoke the 25th Amendment. For that reason I have signed on to these Articles of Impeachment. We should begin the process immediately.
[….] 5:00 PM · Jan 8, 2021
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver @repcleaver
I am currently locked down in a safe and secure location. The country that I am seeing on television is unrecognizable to me. I will continue to pray for the safety of my colleagues and the Capitol Police Officers. 2:37 PM · Jan 6, 2021
Cleaver’s Statement on House Judiciary Committee Introducing Articles of Impeachment
Dec 10, 2019 [….]
(Washington, D.C.) – United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee announced the introduction of articles of impeachment against the President of the United States.
Today is a profoundly sad day for our nation. My heart is heavy, as we enter only the fourth time in our country’s history that the House of Representatives has been forced to introduce articles of impeachment against a sitting President. While no member of Congress comes to Washington to remove a President from power, we all swear an oath to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States. In recent months, the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees have presented a case with overwhelming evidence exposing significant presidential misconduct. The case presented alleges that the President abused the power of his office and undermined American national security by withholding congressionally-approved military aid in an effort to coerce a vulnerable foreign government into smearing a domestic political rival before the 2020 elections. This is a grave perversion of presidential power and antithetical to America’s founding ideals based on fair elections free from foreign interference.
I was extremely reluctant to agree to support an impeachment inquiry into the President. It was, and still is, a discomforting decision. But, as is the case in all of life, the most painful thing is ofttimes the most principled thing. After reviewing witness testimony, the call summary, and public statements from the President and his Chief of Staff, I am left with no other choice but to support the articles of impeachment introduced in the House. The evidence presented is unquestionably sufficient for a trial in the Senate. Should the articles of impeachment be sent to the Senate, I’m hopeful that every American will pay close attention to what is being presented and ask themselves whether or not this is the way we want our democracy to function moving forward. In this pivotal moment, I am thinking about my grandchildren and the country I want to leave for them. Future generations will look back on this time as a defining moment in American democracy. I intend to be on the right side of history.
Yesterday evening on the Penn Valley campus of the Metropolitan Community Colleges Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) hosted a town hall of sorts on gun violence. The community event included elected officials, law enforcement officials, and leaders of community groups. Approximately 250 individuals and members of activist groups from the Kansas City metropolitan area attended. Media from the Kansas City metropolitan area covered the two hour long town hall.
“Do something”
“We must stop killing each other”
Patty Lewis (left), a Democratic Party candidate in the 25th Legislative District.
Representative Ashley Bland Manlove (D).
Patty Lewis (left), a Democratic Party candidate in the 25th legislative District, and Elad Gross (right), a Democratic Party candidate for Missouri Attorney General.
Representative Richard Brown (D).
Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Chief Richard Smith (left), Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) (center), and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker (D) (right).
Speakers included Representative Cleaver (D), MCC Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, and the leadership (and members) of Moms Demand Action – Missouri, Grandparents against Gun Violence, Mothers in Charge, March for Our Lives – KC, Aim 4Peace, and the Ad-Hoc Group Against Crime.
(Kansas City, MO) – Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) called for an impeachment inquiry and released the following statement:
“After reading Special Counsel Mueller’s redacted report and listening to his testimony, it’s clear to me that they indicate the President committed one or more instances of obstruction of justice while in office. When looking at the evidence presented, there is obviously enough smoke to investigate the potential fire of corruption. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to further investigate the evidence presented by the Special Counsel. Unfortunately, and to the detriment of the country, the White House continues to stonewall any and all efforts to uncover misconduct by this President. While I am not ready to support articles of impeachment, I am ready to use the full force of Congress to carry out subpoenas that have stalled in the courts. That means the opening of an impeachment inquiry. I have not come to this conclusion lightly or without careful consideration. However, no man or woman can be allowed to stand above the law. The day that happens is the day we fall from democracy to despotism.”
Yesterday afternoon on Facebook, from Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D):
Emanuel Cleaver II
After reading President Trump’s remarkably racist tweets about four of my colleagues, my most agonizing pain results from the seamy silence and notorious neutrality of those whom I believe to be principled people. When the President of the United States says something so racially vulgar, carte blanche, and then doubles down on such rhetoric, then great and widespread is their sin. Although I have a public and political record of not calling individuals racist, even when they are, right now I am being tested like never before.
Some of the responses:
Congressman, respectfully, it’s time. He needs to be called exactly what he is… Liar, racist, etc.
This is one of those times history is going to remember.
After the Holocaust, it was “Never Again…” except “Never Again” is right now and we can NOT let racism and hatred win. We can not let a man like this, and his followers, destroy the fabric of this country.
Emanuel Cleaver II, the majority of us need you to start calling it like it is, here. Your voice is louder since it’s ours collectively. Trump has crossed line after line. ENOUGH! Call him out!
Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. – Elie Wiesel
Perhaps you are being “tested,” but not to remain silent, but to remain vigilant to the cause of justice. Perhaps you are to “test” the “seamy silence” that called your name so loudly. Perhaps it is your voice, Mr. Cleaver in a coalition with others needed to “test” Trump!
Please speak out. Our country needs to hear the voice of reason.
The silence is deafening. Thank you for speaking up. I’m so disappointed in those who say nothing!
Please go ahead and say it.
Scream it from the roof tops. It is the truth.
Could not agree more. How I’m the name of decency can they remain silent?
Dr King said, “Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way.” The racist-in-chief needs to be chastised loudly and long for the hateful rhetoric he spews which gives courage to the very worst in our society.
The “Silent Majority” of Americans which believes that diversity is what makes our country strong need to be shouting it from the rooftops! Please, be my voice in Washington, Rev. Cleaver!!
time to say it. way past time.
I’m so sorry. I’ll say it for you. They’re racists.
Congressman Cleaver, it is the Declaration of Independence which places the urgency in your soul. Whomsoever wantonly attacks the equality of citizens does not respect the ideal of our United States. We beseech you to not let the gravity of this attack go unanswered.
If this is not a sterile form of lynching then I don’t know what is.
I urge you to take a page out of the playbook of our beloved friends Daniel and Plillip Berrigan and made your voice indelibly heard.
We elected you to speak for us.
Feel our prayers and support as you go forth.
I can carry that load for you brother. Donald J Trump is a racist.
Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D), in an interview on MSNBC this morning, called the Trump ordered facilities holding children and families seeking asylum in the United States concentration camps.
Michael Bersin @MBersin
Call them what they are. @repcleaver just did. These are concentration camps. 8:23 AM – 24 Jun 2018
Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Kansas City – June 9, 2018.
On Saturday evening Jackson County Democrats gathered in Kansas City for their annual Truman Gala. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) was the final speaker at the event.