Tuesday on MSNBC’s “The Beat,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said if the reports about President Donald Trump’s initial letter outlining the reasons he fired former FBI Director James Comey include ending the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, that would be “grounds to start impeachment proceedings.”
Partial transcript as follows:
MELBER: What do you make of this first letter about firing Comey that the White House counsel vetoed?
CASTRO: We’re anxious to review that, assuming the reports are true that they have been turned over and so forth. I said early on if President Trump fired Comey for that reason, that is grounds to start impeachment proceeding. If he fires Mueller for a similar reason, to get rid of the Russia investigation, or because he thinks that will accomplish that, those are grounds to start impeachment.
MELBER: Congressman, you are saying today that if those reports are true, that if it can be substantiated that the initial reason to remove Jim Comey was Russia, that that is grounds to, in your view, to begin the impeachment process.
CASTRO: Yes absolutely.
MELBER Isn’t that what these reports allege?
CASTRO: They certainly have. Everyone has to review them for themselves. I certainly have not had a chance to review those. But if that is the case, if that is what is concluded, I think those are grounds to start impeachment proceedings.
MELBER: You are saying there is a red line, and if “The New York Times” is correct coming into this weekend, he’s already passed the red line?”
CASTRO: Speaking for myself, we have not had a chance to review them, but if we get to that point, then, yes, I think that’s grounds to start impeachment proceedings.
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
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