Hoyer Floor Remarks on Civil Contempt Resolution
“This is not political. It's Constitutional. It's about separation of powers. It's about responsibility. It's about accountability. The House is exercising its responsibility to uncover all the facts and discover the truth on behalf of the American people. We represent, each of us, about 750,000 people. We're not asking on our own behalf. We're asking for the people, so that the people have the information they need in a democracy to make the decisions that they are called upon to make in a very solemn exercise we call voting.”
“Attorney General Barr and former White House Counsel McGahn have both refused to respond to subpoenas to testify before the House, and the Attorney General refuses to allow Congress to see the full and unredacted report by the Special Counsel, Mr. Mueller... The Attorney General's efforts to prejudge the conclusions of that report before its release, as he did, and his public mischaracterization of its conclusions are, in my opinion, evidence of the contempt with which he refuses to answer questions and respond to subpoenas. It seems contemptuous as well of the basic principles of the rule of law and checks and balances.”
"The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russia's efforts to interfere in our elections and subvert our democracy. You didn't have to listen too closely to Bob Mueller to understand that he believed that there was much more to be found or to miss the fact that he said: ‘Congress, do your duty. Make sure the American people know the facts.’ The American people deserve to know whether the President or anyone in his Administration or inner circle of confidence were involved in trying to cover it up.”
“I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for our Constitution and vote for this resolution... Let us make sure that today we vote for the people. Stand up for our Constitution and for this House and for the rule of law.”