Dem lawmaker vows ‘impeachment proceedings’ to pry Mueller report away from Trump’s attorney general

Rhode Island Democratic Congressman David Cicilline told CNN Friday that the American people deserve to see the Mueller report, and he'll take any steps necessary to make sure it's made public -- including opening up impeachment procedures.

Host John Berman and Cicilline were discussing legal and legislative pathways to making the Mueller report public should Attorney General Bill Barr attempt to suppress the report on behalf of President Donald Trump. Berman brought up the "historical precedent" set by Watergate Special Counsel Leon Jaworski.

"My reading of the historical precedent is that the reason the House Judiciary Committee was able to see the evidence collected by the special prosecutor was because a judge determined there was already an open impeachment inquiry," said Berman. "Are you willing to open formal impeachment proceedings if that's the only way to see the evidence?"

Cicilline demurred and said that the multitude of investigations into the president was enough "basis for Congress to demand the report", but said he was prepared to pursue any legal angle.

"You are not at impeachment yet, even just as a means for leverage here?" asked Berman, pressing the issue.

"I can only speak for myself," Cicilline replied, saying it was "critical" for Congress to see the report. "It may, in fact, have facts which support initiating impeachment proceedings and we cannot be precluded from seeing it. If we have to have a perfunctory motion to open it up in order to access those materials, I think it's critical that we do it."

Watch the video below.