2020 Democrats ramp up calls for Trump impeachment

Democratic presidential hopefuls have ramped up their calls for the House to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump after special counsel Robert Mueller spoke publicly for the first time about his investigation.

Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) joined fellow Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) in calling for impeachment proceedings, with both Warren and Harris saying that Mueller had delivered an “impeachment referral.”

Gillibrand said that “it’s time for Republicans and Democrats to begin impeachment hearings and follow the facts wherever they may lead. We cannot let this president defy basic accountability measures built into our Constitution.”

{mosads}In a statement, she pointed to the Trump administration’s refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas and “the fact that Robert Mueller clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not.”

Mueller said during a press conference Wednesday morning that his team did not come to a conclusion as to whether Trump committed a crime by interfering with the probe, but reiterated that his report did not exonerate Trump.

“After that investigation, if we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that,” the special counsel said.

Mueller also emphasized that he did not have the authority to consider whether the president committed a crime due to Justice Department regulations. The special counsel has previously said that Congress has the authority to pursue obstruction of justice investigations.

The Justice Department released Mueller’s report in redacted form last month. It detailed several instances of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and also laid out 10 instances of potential obstruction. Trump has insisted that he did not obstruct justice or coordinate with Russia.

Before Wednesday’s statement, a number of 2020 presidential candidates had already called for impeachment proceedings, with Warren last month becoming the first White House contender to call for impeachment.

Harris on Wednesday maintained that the process was a “constitutional obligation,” while Booker tweeted that Congress “has a legal and moral obligation to begin impeachment proceedings immediately.” 

What Robert Mueller basically did was return an impeachment referral. Now it is up to Congress to hold this president accountable.

We need to start impeachment proceedings. It’s our constitutional obligation.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 29, 2019

Booker said in a statement that since the Mueller report was released, Trump has “stonewalled Congressional oversight efforts,” pointing to battles between the administration and House Democrats for documents and testimony from Attorney General William Barr and former White House Counsel Don McGahn.

“It is our legal and moral obligation to hold those who have committed crimes accountable. It’s clear that the House must begin impeachment proceedings,” Booker said.

Robert Mueller’s statement makes it clear: Congress has a legal and moral obligation to begin impeachment proceedings immediately.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 29, 2019

I’ve been asking for Mueller’s testimony—today he made his views clear.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 29, 2019

This Administration has continued to stonewall Congress’s oversight. Beginning impeachment proceedings is the only path forward.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 29, 2019

Warren similarly called for congressional action, saying, “Mueller’s statement makes clear what those who have read his report know: It is an impeachment referral, and it’s up to Congress to act. They should.”

Mueller’s statement makes clear what those who have read his report know: It is an impeachment referral, and it’s up to Congress to act. They should.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 29, 2019

Mueller leaves no doubt:
1) He didn’t exonerate the president because there is evidence he committed crimes.
2) Justice Department policy prevented him from charging the president with any crimes.
3) The Constitution leaves it up to Congress to act—and that’s impeachment.

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 29, 2019

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (Texas) called impeachment proceedings the only way to ensure “consequences, accountability, and justice.”

There must be consequences, accountability, and justice. The only way to ensure that is to begin impeachment proceedings.

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 29, 2019

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg also said Mueller’s speech was “as close to an impeachment referral as it gets.”

This is as close to an impeachment referral as it gets. Robert Mueller could not clear the president, nor could he charge him — so he has handed the matter to Congress, which alone can act to deliver due process and accountability.

— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) May 29, 2019 

Meanwhile, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro specifically called for an impeachment inquiry.

Mueller made clear this morning that his investigation now lays at the feet of Congress. No one is above the law—Congress should begin an impeachment inquiry.

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) May 29, 2019

Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.), who is also among the two dozen Democrats vying for their party’s presidential nomination, tweeted that impeachment hearings should begin “tomorrow.” 

“The Mueller investigation has provided the evidence. It’s up to Congress to examine that evidence and pursue justice to its conclusion, whatever that may be, regardless of the political consequences,” Moulton said in an email to supporters. 

Mueller did his job. Now it’s time to do ours.

Impeachment hearings should begin tomorrow. https://t.co/9za3s0pqOA

— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) May 29, 2019 

–– Updated: 2:59 p.m.