Hundreds of people gathered this morning in Baltimore for the funeral service of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings – including former presidents and other powerful politicians who came to remember the congressman.
Cummings, a longtime Maryland Democrat and key figure leading investigations into President Trump, died last week at the age of 68. He was the first African American congressman to lie in repose at the Capitol.
Here’s a look back at the service:
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:“Like the prophet, our Elijah could also call down fire from heaven. He stood against corrupt leadership,” Clinton said to vigorous applause. “Our Elijah was a champion for truth, kindness, and justice in every part of his life.” Clinton also added: “And he liked to remind all of us that you can’t get so caught up in who you are fighting that you forget what you are fighting for.”
- Dr. Leana Wen: “In his presence we know that we are seen, we are heard, and we matter.”
- Dr. Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings:“And now he had to go on to actually work to fight for the soul of our democracy against very real corruption,” she said of the congressman’s work. “One thing that you do not know about Congressman Cummings is that he was a man of soul and spirit, he felt very deeply, he was very empathetic.”
- Former President Bill Clinton:“I love every minute I ever spent with him, every conversation we ever had. But we should hear him now in the quiet times at night and in the morning, when we need courage, when we get discouraged, when we don’t know if we can believe anymore, we should hear him. “
- Former President Barack Obama: “He was never complacent, for he knew that without clarity of purpose and a steadfast faith and a dogged determination demanded by our liberty, the promise of this nation could wither. Complacency, he knew, was not only corrosive for our collective lives, but for our individual lives, “Obama said to applause. “You’re not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect.”
Bishop Walter S. Thompson Sr. said he saw Rep. Elijah Cummings on the morning that he signed a pair of subpoenas. It would be one of Cummings’ last official acts.
“I saw him that morning. I did not know he was still working, but he was working,” he said. “But that was not his last official act for God … But Elijah’s last official act for the kingdom of God was to bring power to church,” he said.
About the subpoenas: In one of his last official acts before his death, Cummingssignedtwo subpoenas for documents related to a temporary end to a policy change that allowed some immigrants with severe health issues to remain in the US.
Hours before his passing, staffers drove the
subpoenasto Baltimore for Cummings’ signature, said a Democratic committee aide.
Former President Barack Obama spoke today at Rep. Elijah Cummings’ funeral, commenting on the late lawmaker’s “steadfast faith” and “dogged determination.”
“He was never complacent, for he knew that without clarity of purpose and a steadfast faith and a dogged determination demanded by our liberty, the promise of this nation could wither. Complacency, he knew, was not only corrosive for our collective lives, but for our individual lives, “Obama said to applause.
“You ‘ re not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect, “Obama added.
Former President Bill Clinton said although the late congressman is gone, he should remain a constant voice of encouragement and courage.
Clinton said he loved “every minute” of his conversations with Rep.
“I love every minute I ever spent with him, every conversation we ever had. But we should hear him now in the quiet times at night and in the morning, when we need courage, when we get discouraged, when we don’t know if we can believe anymore, we should hear him, “Clinton said to applause.
This morning at the late Rep. Elijah Cummings’ funeral in Baltimore, former President Barack Obama spoke about the congressman’s humble upbringing.
Obama shared a story Cummings told about his father, Robert, who worked as a sharecropper.
President Obama just took the stage to speak about Rep. Elijah Cummings. You can watch live above.
Speaking at the late Rep. Elijah Cummings’ funeral in Baltimore this morning, former President Bill Clinton spoke to the congressman’s dedication in defending the Constitution.
We all know now that at least until certain things happen, his legacy is how ardently he honored his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, “Clinton said.
The congressman served as the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, one of the panels involved in theimpeachment inquiry of Trump.
He oversaw a range of investigations into the Trump administration, from issues relating to the impeachment inquiry to thetreatment of migrants at the southern borderto theuse of personal email for official use by White House officialsto how acitizenship question was considered for the US census
President Bill Clinton just took the stage to give remarks at late Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings’ funeral in Baltimore. Watch live above.
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings, wife of late Rep. Elijah Cummings, spoke at his funeral this morning about how her husband fought corruption amidst growing personal attacks.
“And now he had to go on to actually work to fight for the soul of our democracy against very real corruption,” she said.
Cummings was at the center of multiple disputes with President Trump. Over the summer, Trumptweeteddisparaging remarks toward Cummings and his Maryland district, which includes much of Baltimore, calling the majority black district a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”
Rockeymoore-Cummings said that these attacks affected the Congressman.
Watch moment here:
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