House Impeachment Managers and President Donald Trump's defense team debated the rules for the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate. The proceedings lasted for 13 hours and went on until around 2 o'clock in the morning.
Hours into the debate, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) responded to a rhetorical question from Trump attorney Jay Sekulow, who had asked "Why are we here?"
It led to a mic drop moment for Jeffries.
Watch below.
Hakeem Jeffries responds to Jay Sekulow who asked “why are we here?”: “We are here, sir, because President Trump c… https://t.co/jOHqK5VnOo— Rantt Media (@Rantt Media) 1579660316.0
Jeffries said:
"We are here, sir, because President Trump abused his power and then he tried to cover it up, and we are here, sir, to follow the facts, follow the law, be guided by the Constitution, and present the truth to the American people. That is why we are here, Mr. Sekulow. And if you don't know, now you know."
If the Congressman's concluding words sounded familiar, it wasn't all a dream: those are the lyrics from "Juicy" by the Notorious B.I.G./Biggie Smalls/Christopher Wallace, one of the most iconic rappers of all time.
Jeffries represents New York's 8th district, home of Biggie's native Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, so the quote was as much a hometown shoutout as an homage to the legendary rapper.
This isn't the first time Jeffries has paid homage to the Smalls either.
On the 20th anniversary of B.I.G.'s assassination in 2017, Jeffries commemorated Smalls on the House floor, beginning again with the lyrics to “Juicy."
People applauded Jeffries for the shoutout on the Senate floor after an expert rebuttal Trump's defense lawyers.
This was one of my favorite moments of opening day. I didn’t expect to hear Biggie on the floor of the Senate, but… https://t.co/DiaaTRK7gh— Angry Staffer (@Angry Staffer) 1579701043.0
@RepJeffries Say it louder Rep Jeffries that was one of the best moments. 👊— Tina Sizemore (@Tina Sizemore) 1579706046.0
Anytime Biggie Smalls is quoted on the floor of the U.S Senate, I consider it a win for America no matter what your… https://t.co/sLqw6F4qYg— Dan Leach (@Dan Leach) 1579687413.0
@RepJeffries Baby baby...all the way to the Senate Floor! https://t.co/4glCJToMOL— Jennifer Wilson (@Jennifer Wilson) 1579706185.0
Hakeem Jeffries quoting biggie on the senate floor is yesterday’s fiasco’s silver lining— Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako (@Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako) 1579709733.0
@RepJeffries Standing ovation at my house! #BiggieSmalls— Krista (@Krista) 1579706072.0
@RepJeffries That was a virtual 🎤drop moment. I was watching live and when you said "If you don't know now you know… https://t.co/EADeRjKqwv— Pastor Jeffery White (@Pastor Jeffery White) 1579707342.0
The Notorious B.I.G. will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this Summer.
And if you don't know, now you know.