Why I chose to stand for our Constitution
Dear Neighbor,
Since the attack on our nation’s Capitol, we have been reminded of how important it is that we protect our democracy and America's foundational ideals.
When I took the oath of office, I raised my right hand and solemnly swore to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." I intend to keep that solemn oath as long as I have the honor of serving California’s 49th Congressional District. President Trump took a similar oath when he took office – an oath he violated when he repeatedly encouraged his followers to reject the results of a free and fair election and incited an insurrection.
After President Trump told his followers, "if you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country anymore," individuals who are now considered domestic terrorists violently breached and vandalized the United States Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement officials, and sought to prevent Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential election results. Law enforcement agencies have indicated the terrorists had even more sinister intentions and are planning additional attacks.
I believe that every president must be held accountable for upholding their oath, from their first day in office to their last. We must not set a precedent that allows any president to violate their oath of office with impunity simply because their time in office is nearly over.
I do not believe that we can begin a process of healing in our country until those responsible for this insurrection are held accountable. While I wish more of my Republican colleagues upheld their oath of office on Wednesday, I do appreciate those who followed their conscience and voted to impeach President Trump for inciting an insurrection.
My great hope is that we can all come together to do the hard work of uniting Americans and addressing the extraordinary challenges our nation faces.
The time for healing is now.
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Best,
Rep. Mike Levin