Issued the following announcement on Dec. 17.
Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) released the following statement today:
“I’ve always strived to vote in the best interest of my constituents & the country, which is why I sometimes deviate from the party line. Unlike others who called for impeachment as soon as President Trump was elected, I did not. But the Ukraine matter required an impeachment inquiry.
“I would prefer we get direct evidence, but President Trump blocked that effort & Speaker Pelosi won't wait. Since I must vote now, I will vote yes because with reasonable inference there's evidence that the president abused his power in the Ukraine matter. The House acts as a grand jury; we only need probable cause to send to the Senate for trial.
“Some claim impeachment without removal is punishment, but the expected Senate outcome would give the president the opportunity to claim complete vindication. This will not constrain his actions and may embolden him. It may further weaken Congress. November 2020, President Trump may be re-elected.
“The evidence gathered in the impeachment inquiry indicated that President Trump should be rebuked for his actions on Ukraine, so I voted yes. The inquiry has been validated. But those who pushed House Democrats to move impeachment right now may have handed President Trump a major victory.”
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