Thread by @ashtonpittman

THREAD: As Dems agonize over impeachment post-#MuellerReport, recall that, in the days before the 2016 election, Republicans were already discussing impeaching Hillary Clinton.

Nov. 4, 2016: “Republicans Are Already Talking About Impeaching Clinton” (1)
vanityfair.com/news/2016/11/r…

“(Hillary Clinton) purposefully circumvented (the law), this was willful concealment & destruction...I‘d say yes, high crime or misdemeanor.”
—Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), saying on Nov. 1, 2016 that the GOP must impeach Hillary if she wins the election (2)
beloitdailynews.com/archive/articl…

“Assuming (Hillary Clinton) wins, & the investigation goes forward, & it looks like an indictment is pending, at that point in time, under the Constitution, the House of Representatives would engage in an impeachment trial.”
–Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) to Fox News in 2016 (3)

Among the Republicans who said the GOP would impeach Hillary if voters elected her? Donald Trump—the man who Robert Mueller, in his report, cited 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice that he could not charge because DOJ rules prohibit presidential indictments. (4)

So how did the Republicans who called for President Hillary Clinton’s impeachment in the days before the 2016 election respond to Robert Mueller’s report, which cites numerous instances where Mueller believes Trump attempted to or ordered aides to obstruct justice? (5)

Sen. Ron Johnson called for future President Hillary Clinton’s impeachment on Nov. 1, 2016, saying she committed “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

After reading the damning #MuellerReport, though, he says Americans should “be happy” and “we ought to be able to move on.” (6)

In saying “no evidence of collusion...move on,” Sen Johnson ignored the obstruction aspect of the Mueller report & the 10 instances Mueller cited—even though he said on 11/1/16 that Hillary Clinton must be impeached bc she “circumvented (the law)” with “willful concealment.” (7)

Sen. Ron Johnson falsely claimed the #MuellerReport found “no evidence of collusion.” But the report clearly says evidence exists of possible coordination between the Trump campaign & Russia, but not enough to establish conspiracy charges beyond reasonable doubt. (8)

The same Rep. Michael McCaul who warned on Nov. 4 2016 that Congress could “engage in an impeachment trial” against Hillary Clinton responded to the #MuellerReport by ignoring the instances of obstruction Mueller cites, saying he has “faith in AG Barr’s final determinations.” (9)

Rep. Michael McCaul, like Sen. Ron Johnson, falsely claims the #MuellerReport “concluded that no Americans conspired with Russia.” It didn’t. The report specifically says it “did not establish” enough evidence to charge conspiracy, but that they did find evidence. (10)

The same GOPers who in pre-election Nov. 2016 discussed President Hillary Clinton—despite an FBI investigation & multiple congrsssional investigations finding no evidence of crimes—now shrug after Mueller specifically said there‘s evidence Trump committed crimes. (11)

Republicans treat the #MuellerReport as vindication, but Mueller not only says his findings “prevent us from...determining that no criminal conduct occurred,” he suggests a remedy: Impeachment.

In a letter, Speaker Nancy Pelosi quotes this section of Mueller’s report. (12)

Those who floated impeaching Pres. Hillary Clinton before the election ignore this, but Mueller says the report “does not exonerate” Trump & while he cannot charge him under DOJ rules, “Congress has the authority to prohibit a president’s corrupt use of his authority...” (13)

Here’s a job for the media:

Confront & call out pols who, pre-2016 election, called for President Hillary Clinton’s impeachment even after investigations found no wrongdoing, but now ignore & wish away Mueller’s worst Trump findings.

“That’s just politics” won’t cut it. (14)

The same Sen. @RonJohnsonWI who was already calling for President Hillary Clinton’s impeachment days before the 2016 election says Americans should “be happy” and “ought to be able to move on” after the #MuellerReport—even though the report lays out evidence of Trump crimes. (15)

It’s time to stop accepting & normalizing harmful political hackery. Yes, we know “that’s just politics.” But it shouldn’t be, and a media that accepts it & lets politicians get away with this (or with “running out the clock” on things like blackface) bears responsibility. (16)

*discussed impeaching

The same politicians who in pre-election Nov 2016 floated impeaching Pres. Hillary Clinton—despite an FBI & multiple congressional investigations finding no evidence of crimes—now shrug after Mueller specifically said there‘s evidence Trump committed crimes. (17)

Corrected tweet:

https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1119737448320446465?s=21