California billionaire and presidential candidate Tom Steyer on Tuesday praised Democrats' efforts to impeach President Donald Trump.
"When I see the people of the United States win, and when I see the country stand up for what's right, yeah, I get a big smile on my face. That's what I live for," he said on MSNBC Tuesday.
During the interview, anchor Katy Tur confirmed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) planned to announce the opening of an impeachment inquiry. Tur asked Steyer whether impeachment helps his 2020 campaign.
Steyer replied "I don't know" and restated his excitement about the "grassroots" push for impeachment.
Steyer emphasized that his commitment to impeachment began "two years ago on the thesis that this is the most corrupt president in American history."
He also said Trump's promise to release the transcript of his phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky does not matter, since the Democrats will be able to hold hearings and find out more information.
"To be fair, I was absolutely committed to the impeachment and removal of this lawless president long before I had heard of his relationship with the Ukraine. Speaker Pelosi was talking about the need for something that's been proven by an investigation and that's really what an impeachment hearing is. But goodness gracious, Bob Mueller did an investigation and proved that this president obstructed justice," Steyer said.
Robert Mueller did not say his investigation proved obstruction of justice, but did say the report "does not exonerate" the president of wrongdoing. The report did not greatly affect public opinion on impeachment.
Steyer has poured millions into "Need to Impeach," which he calls a "grassroots movement" to impeach Trump. He has repeatedly attacked Democrats for failing to impeach. He called Tuesday's reports a "win" for his movement.
"This is actually the grassroots of the United States, the people of the United States, getting a win, which is their voice being heard, and that we'll have public televised hearings, so that we all can hear what's been going on, so we all can judge this administration and this president's behavior," he said.
Pelosi is expected to announce the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday evening.