FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 23, 2006
CONTACT: ALLEN EDWARDS 917-856-0515, 718-604-7500

"Completing the journey to truth requires us to cross the desert of impeachment."

Brooklyn, NY -- Chris Owens, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Brooklyn's 11th Congressional District, today called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush as a result of the President's alleged abuse of his Executive powers.

"As an American committed to the vigorous protection of individual rights in a democratic society, I join with the voices both within and outside of Congress calling upon the U.S. House of Representatives to commence impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States.

I seek the truth regarding decisions made by an individual who took a solemn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. The President has admitted that he circumvented both Constitutional checks and balances and the laws ensuring that those checks and balances actually work. Illegal spying on large numbers of Americans located within our own borders has taken place. Regardless of the emotional, practical or political justifications offered by President Bush, an investigation is clearly in order.

Impeachment is too serious a step to be treated casually. This power has been abused before, particularly in the case of former President Clinton. Through his own admissions, however, President Bush has really challenged us, in actuality dared us, to define his actions as "high crimes or misdemeanors" and to impeach him. How can we believe in the rule of law and not respond?

The situation we confront today highlights the dangers of one-party dominance of the three branches of our government. This is particularly dangerous since the current dominant party has chosen to use fear itself as a political and psychological club, cudgelling the people into acquiescence as our rights are eroded.

Accordingly, appropriate reasonable legal pressure must be placed on the President, this administration, and Congressional leaders to protect our Constitution, our democracy, and our way of life by pursuing the truth. What happened? Why did it happen? Who let it happen? And, unfortunately, in this political climate we cannot expect truth to simply flow from an administration with no history of being truthful. Furthermore, finding a truly independent special counsel will be difficult, making the search for one a diversion from the real matter at hand while more time goes by and more abuses take place.

Resolving the issues raised by the President's actions is time-sensitive and requires a comprehensive response. Completing the journey to truth, therefore, requires us to cross the desert of impeachment. Impeachment is not synonymous with conviction. In fact, no President has ever been removed from office as a result of a conviction by the United States Senate.

Impeachment is a Constitutional check on the Executive Branch. In this matter, impeachment will clarify important homeland security and civil liberties issues and either prove the abuse of Presidential power ... or conclude that none occurred. We must reach the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Congress must act now.

I have innumerable problems with how President George W. Bush and his administration have managed our nation's affairs. As outraged as I may be, however, I do not seek to obtain through impeachment political satisfaction for myself or for those who share my views and values. This call for impeachment is about saving America -- the land of the free."