Raising a question of the privileges of the House.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

House Resolution 304. Raising a question of the privileges of the House.

Whereas Michael Cohen testified under oath as a witness before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on February 27, 2019;

Whereas Michael Cohen falsely testified under oath, ``I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump'';

Whereas in truth and fact, attorney for Michael Cohen, Lanny Davis, admitted on March 6, 2019, that Cohen ``directed his attorney to explore possibilities of a pardon at one point with Donald J. Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as well as other lawyers advising President Trump'';

Whereas in truth and fact, attorney for Michael Cohen, Michael Monico, admitted in a March 12, 2019, letter that Cohen's testimony was inaccurate;

Whereas in truth and fact, the ex post representation by Cohen's attorney does not annul Cohen's intentionally false and misleading testimony;

Whereas in truth and fact, Cohen's testimony under oath was delivered in the context of apologizing for all his criminal activities;

Whereas in truth and fact, Cohen's denial of ever seeking a pardon contained no qualifiers about the context of his statement;

Whereas in truth and fact, Cohen's denial of ever seeking a pardon, as uttered under oath in his testimony, was absolute and unequivocal;

Whereas in truth and fact, Cohen testified under oath that he and his lawyers spent hours editing his written statement submitted to the Committee on Oversight and Reform preceding his testimony, which included the written assertion, ``I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump'';

Whereas in truth and fact, Cohen's denial in his written statement of never asking for a Presidential pardon was an unqualified assertion;

Whereas Michael Cohen falsely testified under oath that he ``did not want to go to the White House'' and he ``did not want a role or title in the administration'';

Whereas in truth and fact the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York submitted to Federal court a sentencing memorandum expressing Michael Cohen's desire to work in the White House, explaining: ``during and after the campaign, Cohen privately told friends and colleagues, including in seized text messages, that he expected to be given a prominent role and title in the new administration. When that did not materialize, Cohen found a way to monetize his relationship with and access to the President'';

Whereas Michael Cohen falsely testified under oath on other factual matters of material significance;

Whereas Michael Cohen's intentionally false testimony was aimed at obscuring the truth and ameliorating the extent of his own personal embarrassment;

Whereas intentionally false testimony to a committee of the House of Representatives harms the integrity of the proceedings of the House;

Whereas it is a Federal crime to provide false information to Congress and the failure to enforce this crime further undermines the integrity of the House; and

Whereas it is the judgment of the House of Representatives that providing a copy of the official transcript of the hearing of the Committee on Oversight and Reform on February 27, 2019, to the Department of Justice would aid the Attorney General's consideration of investigation and potential prosecution of Michael Cohen's criminal conduct: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the House of Representatives directs the chair of the Oversight and Reform Committee to submit to the Attorney General an official copy of the transcript of the hearing during which Michael Cohen testified under oath on February 27, 2019.

Madam Speaker, I was absent April 29, 2019 through May 2, 2019. If I were present, I would have voted on the following: Roll no. 168--H.R. 91--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: YEA; Roll no. 169--JOURNAL--On Approving the Journal: YEA; Roll no. 170-- H.R. 1876--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: YEA; Roll no. 171--H. Res. 328--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution: YEA; Roll no. 172--H. Res. 329--On ordering the previous question: YEA; Roll no. 173--H. Res. 329--On agreeing to the resolution: YEA; Roll no. 174--H. Res. 304--On motion to table the measure: YEA; Roll no. 175--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Espaillat Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 176--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Gosar Amendment No. 10: NAY; Roll no. 177--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Gosar Amendment No. 11: NAY; Roll no. 178--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Porter Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 179--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Fletcher Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 180--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Schrier Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 181--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Van Drew Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 182--H.R. 9--On Agreeing to the Engel Amendment: YEA; Roll no. 183--H.R. 9--On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: NAY; Roll no. 184--H.R. 9--On Passage: YEA.

Mr. Speaker, I spoke at the memorial service for Indiana's former Senator Birch Byah and missed roll call votes 172 to 174. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

Roll Call 172, on the Previous Question on the Rule, H. Res. 329, vote YEA.

Roll Call 173, on H. Res. 329, vote YEA.

Roll Call 174, the Motion to Table the Green of Tennessee Privileged Resolution, H. Res. 304, vote YEA.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and could not get to the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 172, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 173, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 174.

Madam Speaker, I rise to offer a question of the privileges of the House previously noticed.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.