A New York Times report that President Donald Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller is further proof that the president "has been obstructing justice all throughout his first year in office," Sen. Jeff Merkley said Friday.
"He took on manipulation of three FBI directors," the Oregon Democrat told CNN's "New Day." "Now we find out he ordered his special counsel to fire the special prosecutor. What we see is on every piece of information, the president is absolutely panicked about the truth coming out over his team's collaboration with the Russians."
If Trump had nothing to hide, he "wouldn't be up at night worried about what was going to come out and plotting to how he can control this investigation," Merkley continued. "He would be focused on other things. He's clearly spending so much time worried, panicked over the information that has come out. It shows a pattern of conduct."
Mueller will need to be the one to determine if Trump's actions merit claims of criminal obstruction, but meanwhile, "what we're seeing is the president is obsessed with suppressing this investigation," the senator added.
The senator also said he does not believe Mueller's investigation will be ending soon.
"I know all this year, the counselors in the White House say it's almost done, almost done. I think we're seeing the highest level of professional investigation," he said. "I think it's probably a couple months out yet."