Routine End to Historic Day for Area Congressmen

Within just a few hours Saturday, business for Ventura County’s congressmen went from historic to routine.

After casting four votes in support of impeachment articles against President Clinton, Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) boarded a plane for California. And Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), who voted against the articles, returned to his Capitol Hill office to catch up on work.

“I’m saddened by the process and I’m saddened by the result,” said Sherman, who represents the Conejo Valley. “This was a dark day for the House, not a proud one.”

Gallegly, who represents the rest of Ventura County, was a staunch supporter of impeachment both in the House Judiciary Committee and in floor voting Saturday. He could not be reached for comment.

Sherman was among House Democrats who stood behind the president Saturday at the White House.

“I was doing my best to understand what he was going through,” Sherman said. “He was not surprised [by the voting]. He was grimly determined to make sure we uphold the Constitution.”

Although some representatives crossed party lines in voting Saturday, Gallegly and Sherman were not among them. Gallegly give his support to all four impeachment articles. Sherman opposed all four.

In the end, the House approved two articles of impeachment against Clinton--perjury before a federal grand jury and obstruction of justice regarding his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Another perjury charge, in the Paula Corbin Jones civil case, and a charge of abuse of power were rejected.

With a Senate trial the probable next step in impeachment proceedings, Clinton’s fate is now out of the hands of representatives.

But Sherman said he plans to work on building public opinion against removing Clinton from office, most likely through media interviews in and outside his district.

“The national mood is going to influence what the Senate does,” Sherman said. “I think we need to start a national consensus that the Senate should try to deal with this by immediate consensus and compromise.”

After the impeachment drama ends, Sherman said, Congress should specify for future presidencies what constitutes an impeachable offense.

“We have to make philosophical changes among ourselves and structural changes in our statutes to protect the nation from the politics of personal destruction,” Sherman said.

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