Several Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday called for President Donald Trump's impeachment after Special Counsel Robert Mueller spoke briefly about the Russia investigation.
Mueller made short remarks to the White House press corps in the briefing room and then walked offstage, not answering any questions.
"We concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime. That is the office's final position and we will not comment on any other conclusions or hypotheticals about the president," Mueller said. "We conducted an independent criminal investigation and reported the results to the attorney general, as required by department regulations."
"It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of the actual charge," he said, repeating what he wrote in his report.
Following the remarks, many 2020 Democrats called for Congress to start impeachment proceedings, saying they have an "obligation" to begin impeachment proceedings immediately. Some of the 2020 Democrats include Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), former representative Beto O'Rourke (Texas), and former Obama administration official Julian Castro.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment, but instead emphasized that Trump was not exonerated by the Mueller report.
You were NOT exonerated; it seems the only reason you weren't charged is because you're the president. And if you're so innocent, why hide the unredacted report and prevent testimony? #RunningScaredhttps://t.co/SGtzcOrS7A
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) May 29, 2019
Oh, BTW, we should immediately #ImpeachBarr https://t.co/1md5t3hSyT
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) May 29, 2019
Donald Trump and William Barr lied about the Mueller report.
— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) May 29, 2019
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), who has repeatedly shown reluctance to proceed with impeachment despite pressure from progressives in Congress, responded to Mueller's statement by saying Congress "will continue to investigate and legislate to protect our elections and secure our democracy."
Pelosi holds firm on no impeachment: 'The Congress will continue to investigate and legislate to protect our elections and secure our democracy. The American people must have the truth." pic.twitter.com/sfO61FRv45
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) May 29, 2019