Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperCook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' MORE became the ninth Democrat running for president to call for President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE’s impeachment, saying early Thursday that the process could uncover crucial facts about possible wrongdoing by the president.

Hickenlooper, who had previously shied away from impeachment, said on CNN that he was swayed by the remarks of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, who on Wednesday maintained that he could not exonerate Trump of any crimes and that “the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing.”

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“After listening to Mueller, and I wanted to hear what he had to say, I think of myself as an extreme moderate, but I think he laid the responsibility clearly at the doorstep of Congress. I think we have to begin an impeachment inquiry. That doesn’t mean we’re going to impeach President Trump tomorrow or maybe ever. But I do think we have an obligation to follow where the facts lead,” Hickenlooper said.

“And we have to recognize that, I’m not naive, but [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE’s never going to impeach Trump. We’ve got to keep our eye on the prize and recognize that we’ve got to beat Trump at the ballot box. But at the same time, we’ve got to get the real facts of what did happen.”

John @Hickenlooper is the latest 2020 candidate to call for an impeachment inquiry into President Trump.



“I think we have to begin an impeachment inquiry…I think it’d be crazy not to do it, to be quite honest. We have to go out and try to get the facts” https://t.co/t4lTItClQs pic.twitter.com/p5vtR9I1Xh — New Day (@NewDay) May 30, 2019

Hickenlooper’s comments come as the White House defies a slate of subpoenas from several House committees for testimony and documents from current and former officials. Several House members have cited the White House’s refusal to cooperate with the oversight inquiries as evidence that impeachment proceedings should begin.

“I think that having an impeachment inquiry where you do have the weight of the inquiry behind the subpoenas so that you really get the real facts, I think that’s critically important at this point,” Hickenlooper said, adding that he views that separately from the impeachment proceedings themselves.

“Yes, I think that we need to get the facts, and just asking to bring forth the evidence, I think you’d be crazy not to do it.”

Hickenlooper joined a chorus of Democratic presidential candidates calling for Trump’s impeachment, many of whom ramped up their criticism of the president after Mueller’s remarks.

However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.) avoided calling for impeachment proceedings, saying only in a statement Wednesday that the House would continue its oversight efforts.