This is particularly important to me since much of my thinking in this case centers on my conclusion that the President has violated his oath of office. I have determined to base my decision on the facts of the case, not the polls, the performance of the economy, the President's popularity or where he is in his term of office. Finally, I have felt that if any of the parts of an article constitute grounds for impeachment, then an affirmative vote on the article is warranted. While the Senate is clearly divided on conviction and removal, one thing we have all learned is the importance of the Constitution. We may be separated by political party or ideology, but we are united in our belief in the Constitution as the governing charter of our republic.
Presidents come and go, and Senators come and go.
The Constitution remains. It is the foundation of our political system. The Constitution is what preserves the rule of law, and guarantees that we remain a nation of laws, not of men. And, as we have all learned, in the impeachment and trial of a President, the Constitution is the document that directs how we shall proceed as members of the Congress. Some have argued that this trial has divided America.