Robert Mueller's remarks 'explosive,' sets up impeachment talk 'for foreseeable future,' says Andy McCarthy
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy McCarthy said Special Counsel Robert Mueller's rare public statement Wednesday morning was "explosive" and it cements impeachment as an option for House Democrats.
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mueller said about the obstruction of justice inquiry into President Trump.
“We did not determine whether the president did commit a crime.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mueller explained longstanding Justice Department policy, which states that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.
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"The Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse the president of wrongdoing," he stated.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reacting on "America's Newsroom," McCarthy emphasized the significance of Mueller having noted that it is Congress' responsibility, not federal prosecutors, to discipline a sitting president.
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"This is an explosive statement. We're going to be talking about impeachment from now into the foreseeable future," said McCarthy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He said he believes it was wrong for Mueller not to make a decision on obstruction of justice, arguing Mueller should have left it up to the Justice Department on whether to cite the policy on indicting a president.
"It's simply not true that he couldn't make a decision," said McCarthy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Multiple sources familiar with the situation told Fox News that Attorney General Bill Barr was aware of Mueller's plans to deliver a statement Wednesday.
One source told Fox News that Barr -- who was traveling to Alaska Wednesday to meet with law enforcement officials -- has also been made aware of the contents of Mueller's statement.
Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.