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After Mueller Statement, More 2020 Democrats Call for Impeachment After Mueller Statement, More 2020 Democrats Call for Impeachment
(32 minutes later)
Robert S. Mueller III’s statement on Wednesday, in which he reiterated the conclusions of his investigation and declined to clear President Trump, seemed to open a dam in the Democratic presidential field.Robert S. Mueller III’s statement on Wednesday, in which he reiterated the conclusions of his investigation and declined to clear President Trump, seemed to open a dam in the Democratic presidential field.
Before Mr. Mueller spoke, seven of the 23 candidates had endorsed impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump. By Thursday morning, 11 had done so, with others edging closer. Before Mr. Mueller spoke, six of the 23 candidates had explicitly endorsed impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump. By Thursday morning, 10 had done so, with others edging closer.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and former Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado came out explicitly in favor of impeachment proceedings for the first time. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and former Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado came out in favor of impeachment proceedings for the first time.
They joined Senators Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Representatives Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Eric Swalwell of California, the former housing secretary Julián Castro, former Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas and Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, Fla., who had previously voiced their support for impeachment proceedings. They joined Senators Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, the former housing secretary Julián Castro, former Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas and Mayor Wayne Messam of Miramar, Fla., who had previously voiced their support for impeachment proceedings.
But several leading candidates were more hesitant. A representative for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said in a statement that Mr. Biden “agrees with Speaker Pelosi that no one would relish what would certainly be a divisive impeachment process, but that it may be unavoidable if this administration continues on its path.” As he left a campaign event in Dallas on Wednesday, Mr. Biden did not stop to engage a sizable group of reporters who shouted questions about Mr. Mueller toward him. An 11th candidate, Representative Eric Swalwell of California — a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which has the authority to begin such proceedings — has said he is “preparing for impeachment” and called it potentially “the only road to save our country.”
But several leading candidates were more hesitant on Wednesday. A representative for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said in a statement that Mr. Biden “agrees with Speaker Pelosi that no one would relish what would certainly be a divisive impeachment process, but that it may be unavoidable if this administration continues on its path.” As he left a campaign event in Dallas on Wednesday, Mr. Biden did not stop to engage a sizable group of reporters who shouted questions about Mr. Mueller toward him.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, too, avoided an outright endorsement of beginning impeachment proceedings, but tweeted, “If the House Judiciary Committee deems it necessary, I will support their decision.”Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, too, avoided an outright endorsement of beginning impeachment proceedings, but tweeted, “If the House Judiciary Committee deems it necessary, I will support their decision.”
The ground has shifted since the Justice Department released its redacted version of Mr. Mueller’s report. While a few candidates, including Ms. Warren, called for impeachment then, they were in the minority, and officials on other campaigns said there had been little pressure from voters.The ground has shifted since the Justice Department released its redacted version of Mr. Mueller’s report. While a few candidates, including Ms. Warren, called for impeachment then, they were in the minority, and officials on other campaigns said there had been little pressure from voters.
(Ms. Warren, for her part, said on “The View” on Thursday that if Mr. Trump “were anyone other than president of the United States, he would be in handcuffs and indicted.”)(Ms. Warren, for her part, said on “The View” on Thursday that if Mr. Trump “were anyone other than president of the United States, he would be in handcuffs and indicted.”)
But now, a majority of the Democratic field has expressed support, explicitly or implicitly, for impeachment.But now, a majority of the Democratic field has expressed support, explicitly or implicitly, for impeachment.
Last month, Mr. Booker said he would reserve judgment until Congress received a full version of the report, telling voters in Nevada, “There’s a lot more investigation that should go on before Congress comes to any conclusions like that.” On Wednesday, however, he said on Twitter that legislators had “a legal and moral obligation” to pursue impeachment.Last month, Mr. Booker said he would reserve judgment until Congress received a full version of the report, telling voters in Nevada, “There’s a lot more investigation that should go on before Congress comes to any conclusions like that.” On Wednesday, however, he said on Twitter that legislators had “a legal and moral obligation” to pursue impeachment.
Mr. Buttigieg tweeted that Mr. 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.” Ms. Gillibrand wrote similarly that after listening to Mr. Mueller’s statement, she believed he “clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not.”Mr. Buttigieg tweeted that Mr. 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.” Ms. Gillibrand wrote similarly that after listening to Mr. Mueller’s statement, she believed he “clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not.”
On Thursday morning, Mr. Hickenlooper told CNN that he had changed his mind on impeachment proceedings after Mr. Mueller “laid the responsibility clearly at the doorstep of Congress.”On Thursday morning, Mr. Hickenlooper told CNN that he had changed his mind on impeachment proceedings after Mr. Mueller “laid the responsibility clearly at the doorstep of Congress.”
“I think we have to begin an impeachment inquiry,” Mr. Hickenlooper said. “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.”“I think we have to begin an impeachment inquiry,” Mr. Hickenlooper said. “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.”
Several candidates seized on one line in Mr. Mueller’s statement, in which he said that under Justice Department policy, filing criminal charges against Mr. Trump was never an option — but that the Constitution provided another mechanism. It was a clear reference to impeachment, and Mr. Buttigieg, Ms. Harris, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Ms. Warren all characterized it as, essentially, an impeachment referral.Several candidates seized on one line in Mr. Mueller’s statement, in which he said that under Justice Department policy, filing criminal charges against Mr. Trump was never an option — but that the Constitution provided another mechanism. It was a clear reference to impeachment, and Mr. Buttigieg, Ms. Harris, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Ms. Warren all characterized it as, essentially, an impeachment referral.
In a lengthy email sent to supporters, Mr. Moulton, who this month had already called for impeachment, wrote: “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.”In a lengthy email sent to supporters, Mr. Moulton, who this month had already called for impeachment, wrote: “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.”
As sitting members of the House, Mr. Moulton and Mr. Swalwell — who tweeted pointedly on Wednesday, “Our founders gave us a checks & balances system” — are the only candidates so far who both favor impeachment proceedings and actually have the power to affect the decision. As a sitting member of the House, Mr. Moulton is the only candidate so far who both favors impeachment proceedings and actually has the power to affect the decision.
The other sitting representatives in the race are Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has said she opposes impeachment, and Tim Ryan of Ohio, who did not call for it explicitly on Wednesday but edged about as close to the line as he could without stepping across. The other sitting representatives in the race are Mr. Swalwell; Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has said she opposes impeachment; and Tim Ryan of Ohio, who did not call for it explicitly on Wednesday but edged about as close to the line as he could without stepping across.
“The President, no President, is above the law,” Mr. Ryan wrote on Twitter. “And it’s Congress’ job to make sure we are true to our founding principle that the President is not a King and must answer to the American people.”“The President, no President, is above the law,” Mr. Ryan wrote on Twitter. “And it’s Congress’ job to make sure we are true to our founding principle that the President is not a King and must answer to the American people.”