Tim Ryan does not support impeachment proceedings against Trump: 'Let the process play itself out'

"Let the process play itself out," Ryan told CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday on "State of the Union."

Though he argued "it's pretty clear that the President obstructed on several different occasions," Ryan said he believes the "first step" should be for House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler to "continue to open up this investigation to better understand this."

"Let the Judiciary Committee look at this. There's a process in place here," Ryan said, adding: "I think that's the natural next step, and let's see where that leaves."

After the Mueller report's release on Thursday, House Democratic leadership opted not to encourage potential impeachment, while a small number of House Democrats have argued that it should be pursued.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another 2020 Democratic candidate, called on Friday for the House to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Ryan told CNN on Sunday that while he "(understands) their move to try to impeach" Trump, "I would rather us take this next step, educate the American people, really get these details out."

"This is a very nuanced document," Ryan said of the redacted report, adding later that "it's very detailed, the American people, through this process, will get up to speed with how this administration has been behaving.

The Mueller report said the special counsel's investigation does not exonerate Trump of criminal conduct on the issue of obstruction. The redacted report details numerous cases in which Trump asked his aides to take actions that would have obstructed the investigation, but stated they were unsuccessful because the aides refused his orders.

Attorney General William Barr concluded that the evidence was "not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense."

CNN's Jeremy Herb and Laura Jarrett contributed to this report.

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