Robert Mueller’s remarks that his report did not exonerate the president seemed to light a fire under the Democratic base. Specifically, they lit a fire under the 2020 Democratic presidential nominees.
Since Mueller’s press conference on Wednesday, a total of 12 nominees have called for President Trump’s impeachment. Here’s the breakdown on where all the 23 nominees stand:
Called For Impeachment
Cory Booker: “Robert Mueller’s statement makes it clear: Congress has a legal and moral obligation to begin impeachment proceedings immediately.”
Pete Buttigieg: “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.”
Julián Castro: “I think it would be perfectly reasonable for Congress to open up impeachment hearings against President Trump.”
Kirsten Gillibrand: "So far, President Trump has stonewalled Congress. In doing so, he has left us with only one option: for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings.”
Kamala Harris: “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.”
John Hickenlooper: “I think we have to begin an impeachment inquiry and that doesn’t mean we’re going to impeach President Trump tomorrow or maybe ever, but I think we do have an obligation to follow where the facts lead.”
Wayne Messam: “I believe the President should be placed under impeachment proceedings and let the weight of the full report carry out the justice the American people deserve.”
Seth Moulton: “Mueller did his job. Now it’s time to do ours. Impeachment hearings should begin tomorrow.”
Beto O’Rourke: “There must be consequences, accountability and justice. The only way to ensure that is to begin impeachment proceedings.”
Tim Ryan: "I do believe we need to move forward with the impeachment process... I don't want to. I know what this is going to do to the country. I take no joy in this at all."
Bernie Sanders: “This president must be held accountable, and I believe that the Judiciary Committee should begin impeachment inquiries.”
Elizabeth Warren: “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.”
Not Called For Impeachment
Michael Bennet: “Let’s let the process go forward and see where it takes us.”
Joe Biden: “Congress must do everything in its power to hold this Administration to account. That is what Congress is doing and should do: continue to investigate.”
Steve Bullock: “I think we should have the full investigations...oversight that’s occurring right now.”
Bill de Blasio: “I think we should continue the investigations in the Congress ... and I believe they will eventually lead to impeachment.”
John Delaney: “If we continue to allow this President to be unchecked and manipulate the truth, we will forever alter our Democracy for the worse.”
Tulsi Gabbard: “I don’t think that we should defeat Donald Trump through impeachment.”
Jay Inslee: “Congress needs to get to the bottom of what’s going on here. Impeachment should not be off the table.”
Amy Klobuchar: “If the House brings the impeachment proceedings before us, we will deal with them.”
Eric Swalwell: “I’m confident that he’s going to be removed, whether it’s by the voters in November 2020 or by Congress. We’re near the end of Donald Trump.”
Andrew Yang: “My focus is on beating Donald Trump at the ballot box and solving the problems that got him elected in the first place.”
Marianne Williamson: “Really rich when candidates talk about impeachment as though “This is about doing the right thing and politics should have nothing to do with it!’ You do realize they’re even saying that has everything to do with politics, right?”
Calls to impeach President Trump have been met with stalling by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, even as more than 50 House Democrats have come out in favor of impeachment. Adding to this list is House Majority Whip James Clyburn, who on Sunday told CNN that he believes Trump will eventually be impeached. Pelosi is hesitant to begin impeachment proceedings as she does not wish to trigger a political backlash against Democrats, and does not believe that a Republican-controlled Senate would move to remove Trump after a Democratic-controlled House impeached him.
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