McCaul's Statement on Impeachment Vote

Below is a statement I made on the recent vote to impeach the president. 
 
Let me start by saying I strongly condemn the president’s rhetoric and his behavior. I understand, having witnessed these events first-hand, that emotions are high; but this decision must be based on facts and evidence. 
 
Let me also say, there very well may have been impeachable offenses committed leading up to, and on, that tragic day. 
 
But we have not been given the time to truly look at the facts and the evidence before this impeachment was hurried to the House floor. We haven’t been given the opportunity to hear from a single witness, or hold even one hearing. 
 
If Congress moves forward with removing a sitting president in this manner, it would set a bad precedent. I do not believe the Founding Fathers envisioned impeachment taking place in one day. 
 
If we did this in a deliberative way, perhaps we could come to a more bipartisan consensus. At the very least, I believe a deliberative process would give more Americans faith in the outcome. 
 
That’s why I’m calling on my colleagues and officials from the Justice Department to launch a full and thorough investigation. The American people deserve to know the full scope and severity of what took place.  
 
As a former federal prosecutor, I look at this as attempting to indict a case before it’s been presented to the grand jury. And I can tell you from first-hand experience, rushed justice is not the solution to mob violence. 
 
For that reason, I will, with a heavy heart, oppose impeachment at this time. I did not come to this decision lightly. And I truly fear there may be more facts that come to light in the future that will put me on the wrong side of this debate. 
 
It’s time for the nation to heal as we prepare for the peaceful transition of power.