Scott Peters for Congress

Team,

A week ago today, I was on the House floor when Capitol police held a barricade of furniture against the door, their guns drawn, while rioters tried to break through. It was a harrowing event that I will never forget — a violent insurrection fueled by Donald Trump and the most extreme members of the GOP.

Today is another one that will become part of this sad time in America’s history.

Trump has proven that he is unable to perform his duties as President and his continued presence in the White House is a threat to the safety and well-being of our nation.

To stop this president and his allies from damaging our democracy any further, and to ensure there is a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden, Trump must be removed from office immediately.

Vice President Pence has now stated he will not invoke the 25th amendment; Congress will vote today to impeach Trump for the second time.

It's our responsibility, as your elected leaders, to protect our democracy from any threat — even the president.

I am prepared to take action to ensure that Donald Trump is removed from office.

The last four years — especially 2020 — have tested and challenged us all in ways we never anticipated, but I know brighter times are ahead and I am grateful to have your support through it all.

Scott

Following the events of last week, Scott published an opinion editorial in our hometown newspaper, the San Diego Union-Tribune. You can read excerpts of his experience below.

“On Wednesday, I walked to the Capitol to listen to the testimony on accepting the electoral votes as certified by the states. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, not all members could be seated on the House floor, and many of us sat in the gallery above. As we listened to the argument over Arizona’s electors, we saw the top leaders of both parties quickly and forcefully escorted from the floor. An announcement from the sergeant at arms told us that the Capitol had been breached, and that we were to remain seated in our places. Then we were told to open the gas masks beneath our seats in anticipation of tear gas deployment. Those on the floor were then instructed to exit to the Speaker’s Lobby outside the chambers. We waited above. Finally, there were instructions to us in the gallery to make our way to one end, which for me was on the opposite end.

Then, suddenly, shouts for us to drop to the floor.

Four police officers held a barricade of furniture against the door to the House floor, with their guns pointed at the door. It is made of opaque, milky glass which you can’t see through. We waited again. We heard an explosion from the other side — tear gas? A gun? The woman lying behind me made a panicked call to her husband. Finally, we were told to get up and go out the door, and we evacuated through the Capitol tunnels to safety. We were taken to an undisclosed location and held there for several hours with little access to outside information.

…

I later learned that someone was killed. Later, still, I learned that she was from San Diego and from the district I represent.

I love my country. I’m so proud of this singular democracy given to us by the generations before, secured for us by the blood of men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the right to wage peaceful protest, and the right to a democratic nation in which every vote counts.

Millions of people voted peacefully in November. Local registrars processed those votes, including unprecedented numbers of mail ballots. There were challenges, and recounts, and court challenges heard by district and appellate judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans, all the way to the Supreme Court. The Electoral College voted.

As a result of all of these votes and this process, Joe Biden has won the election. Attorney General Bill Barr agreed and so did Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell. As have Republican state election officials and legislatures across the country who found that their states’ elections were fair and free from the massive fraud President Donald Trump has falsely claimed. Yet still, the president and too many of his allies claim fraud, without evidence and without shame, and with disregard for the grave consequences their claims have brought to bear.

…

I write this from my office in the Longworth House Office Building where I’m following the rest of the debate. We will likely be here all night; that’s OK. We have a job to do, and we will not allow our Constitution to be derailed by thugs. Congress will certify the election results, and Joe Biden will assume the office on Jan. 20. Then we can begin to repair the damage.”