Mayor Bill de Blasio says he now believes Congress should start impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after he said he would be willing to accept dirt on a political foe from foreign governments.
De Blasio made the comments during an appearance Friday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
"What happened the other day changed my mind because what — that was treason. That was treason. What he said was openly treasonous, it was an invitation to hostile foreign governments to find information on American leaders and give it to Donald Trump to help Donald Trump," de Blasio said. "I heard that and thought, 'That's the last straw. They should begin impeachment proceedings.'"
"That interview said he has learned nothing, he is not making any changes, he is not moderating. He has to be impeached," de Blasio added.
However, during his interview, the mayor also said Democratic candidates need to start talking about kitchentable issues and not just impeachment, repeating his motto to put working people first.
For de Blasio, that means universal health care and more taxes on the wealthy.
In the past, de Blasio has said Democrats should focus on winning in 2020.
"We as Democrats are moving an agenda that favors working people," de Blasio said last month at a campaign stop in Las Vegas. "The conversation is too much about impeachment and not enough about people's reality on the ground and in their lives."
When asked in the MSNBC interview which New York City policies he would implement nationwide, he pointed to universal pre-K and paid sick leave.
"The notion that this great country should be able to reach our youngest kids, help every child start at the same starting line, and reach their god-given potential, and take that financial burden off of the families, because it should be for free like it is in New York City," de Blasio said. "That's one example of something that resonates everywhere."
De Blasio also said candidates can't be seen as the status-quo, and that the party shouldn't nominated a moderate like Vice President Joe Biden, but rather someone motivated to make real change.
DEBATE NIGHT ONE FOR DE BLASIO
Meanwhile, the lineups for the first Democratic presidential debate later this month were released Friday, and while de Blasio may have made the cut, he certainly won't be the main act.
De Blasio will not appear with most of the major headliners of this contest, instead participating in the first debate night June 26 with Sen. Cory Booker, Sec. Julian Castro, Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Rep. Tim Ryan, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
"I don't think it makes a huge difference who is on the stage," de Blasio said to members of the news media at City Hall on Friday. "The important point is that the American people will be tuning in and have an opportunity to evaluate each of us."
The second debate on the following night will feature more of the leading candidates, including Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will also participate in the second night, along with Sen. Michael Bennet, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kamala Harris, Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Marianne Williamson, and Andrew Yang.
"My sense is both debates are going to get a very high viewership," de Blasio said. "I've talked to Democrats all over the country, they are trying to make sense of where they want to go, which candidates are appealing. I think this is going to be a long process."
Perhaps the billing has its advantages: de Blasio won't be overshadowed by a big name and maybe it's a chance for him to stand out.
He has been trying to make waves on his own, attacking the frontrunner Biden on multiple occasions.
De Blasio is set to hit the campaign trail again this weekend. He will head to New Hampshire on Saturday.
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FURTHER DE BLASIO 2020 COVERAGE
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Mayor's Presidential Campaign Gets Endorsement of Hotel Workers' Union
The Complex Reality of Bill de Blasio's Record as Mayor
What Could Help and Hurt De Blasio on the Presidential Campaign Trail