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Here's where 2020 Democratic presidential candidates stand on impeaching Trump
Here's where 2020 Democratic presidential candidates stand on impeaching Trump
Eliza RelmanApr 24, 2019, 00:07 IST
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Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.Jose Luis Magana/AP Images
Democratic presidential candidates are torn over the politics and consequences associated with impeaching President Donald Trump.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris are the most high-profile 2020 candidates to announce their support for beginning impeachment proceedings against Trump following the publication of the Mueller report.
But other prominent candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, are concerned that impeachment proceedings could hurt Democrats' chances of winning back the White House in 2020.
Ever since the Justice Department released special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation report last week, Democrats have become increasingly divided on whether to immediately move forward with impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
Those divisions are most visible among the nearly 20 Democrats running in the 2020 presidential primary.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren became the most prominent Democrat and first presidential candidate to call on the House to begin the impeachment process last Friday.
Warren made her case the day after the release of the Mueller report, which did not find sufficient evidence to accuse the president of conspiring with the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election.
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But, Warren pointed out, Mueller did not come to a conclusion on whether Trump illegally obstructed justice in his handling of the investigation and explicitly names Congress' authority to investigate and hold the president accountable in this situation.
Warren argued that it's Congress' constitutional duty to pursue impeachment.
"There is no political inconvenience exception to the United States Constitution," she said on Monday night.
But several other Democratic presidential candidates don't support moving forward with impeachment proceedings immediately. They say it should stay on the table, but that Congress needs to investigate Mueller's findings further before moving on impeachment.
Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Monday night that he's concerned impeachment would distract from the Democratic party's 2020 message on policy issues like healthcare, making it more difficult to win back the White House.
"At the end of the day, what is most important to me is to see that Donald Trump is not re-elected president," Sanders said.
Here's a rundown of the 2020 Democrats who have taken a public stance on impeachment:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren was the first 2020 candidate to call for impeachment: "If any other human being in this country had done what's documented in the Mueller report, they would be arrested and put in jail."
I believe the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States. There is no political inconvenience exception to the United States Constitution. I explained my position tonight. #WarrenTownHallpic.twitter.com/2XRbH7pj17
Sen. Kamala Harris announced on Monday night that she supports beginning impeachment proceedings: "There is an investigation that has been conducted which has produced evidence that tells us that this president and his administration engaged in obstruction of justice. I believe Congress should take steps toward impeachment."
"I believe Congress should take the steps towards impeachment."
Sen. Kamala Harris says the Mueller report points toward obstruction, but adds she is a "realist" and doubts her Republican colleagues in the Senate will vote to remove President Trump from office. #HarrisTownhallpic.twitter.com/k1B154bzql
Sen. Bernie Sanders says Congress should keep investigating, but not necessarily move forward on impeachment: "At the end of the day, what is most important to me is to see that Donald Trump is not re-elected president."
Sen. Bernie Sanders argues that a focus on impeachment of President Trump means that we're not talking about "the issues that concern ordinary Americans. What I worry about is that works to Trump's advantage" #SandersTownHallhttps://t.co/LOk64BMGidpic.twitter.com/CaI8j0zuFh
South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg says it's up to Congress: "I think [Trump's] made it pretty clear that he deserves impeachment, but I'm also going to leave it to the House and Senate to figure that out."
Mayor Buttigieg says Trump has "made it pretty clear that he deserves impeachment," but he'll leave it to Congress to figure it out because his role is to "relegate Trumpism to the dustbin of history" via a "thumping at the ballot box" #ButtigiegTownHallhttps://t.co/Kh0NtJDSL4pic.twitter.com/MRhXir27op
Former Rep. Julián Castro supports impeachment proceedings: "I think it would be perfectly reasonable for Congress to open up those proceedings. And it is clear that Bob Mueller in his report left that in the hands of Congress."
Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke doesn't support moving forward on impeachment right now: "I'm no longer sure that’s the fastest way for us to get there."
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says Congress needs to hear from Mueller and the attorney general before it can decide on impeachment: “I think it's important to keep [impeachment] on the table, but I think we need a process."
Rep. Seth Moulton is a 'yes' on impeachment proceedings: "I think we've waited way too long to seriously start debating whether to impeach this president ... [Trump] is subject to the same laws as the rest of us are and that's why we should move forward with this debate."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar isn't pushing for impeachment. "I believe that I am the jury here, so I'm not going to predispose things ... The impeachment proceedings are up to the House. They’re going to have to make that decision."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar says there are "very disturbing things" in the Mueller Report that "would lead you to believe there is obstruction," but adds she will wait to see if the House sends impeachment proceedings to the Senate before making a decision for herself. #KlobucharTownHallpic.twitter.com/DQqMa7ORxD
Rep. Eric Swalwell says Democrats are "on the road" to impeachment. He argues "doing nothing is not an option" and "this president needs to be held accountable."
"We're on that road right now," 2020 candidate @RepSwalwell says when asked if President Trump should be impeached.
Former Gov. John Hickenlooper isn't ready to make a decision on impeachment: "We have to really push for an un-redacted copy of the report that goes to Congress. I think Mr. Mueller should testify in front of Congress, and then we can see in gory detail and in high-contrast color more clearly what went on and make a decision about impeachment."
