Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spoke out against Democratic efforts "jumping the gun" to impeach President Donald Trump, saying Sunday it "does nobody any good."
"I think there is a process that has to be followed," Sen. Sanders told NBC's "Meet the Press." "I think [FBI special counsel Robert] Mueller is doing a very good job on his investigation. If Mueller brings forth the clear evidence there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians, I think you have grounds for impeachment.
"But I think jumping the gun does nobody any good. You have to bring the American people onto this issue. You don't want to make it into a partisan issue."
Sen. Sanders told host Chuck Todd the Muller investigation has to lead the findings before any move for impeachment is brought to the American people, much less Congress.
"If we're going to go forward with impeachment, I want the American people to clearly understand why that is the case, why it makes sense, why it's the right thing to do," Sanders told Todd.
"I don't think we're there right now. That's what the Mueller investigation is all about."
Sanders added a stern rebuke of efforts to downplay or discredit the FBI special counsel's probe.
"I am deeply offended by Republican efforts to try to discredit Mr. Mueller," Sanders said. "When he was FBI director, he was a great guy. Now that he's doing his job here, Republicans don't like him. I think that's really very unfair."
The House resoundingly struck down a resolution of impeachment Wednesday 364-58, with even a majority of Democrats voting against it.