Over the summer, President Donald Trump reportedly urged the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to close their inquiry into Russia.
"It was something along the lines of, ‘I hope you can conclude this as quickly as possible,’” Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the committee's chairman, told the New York Times.
Burr told Trump they'd close the investigation “when we have exhausted everybody we need to talk to, we will finish.”
Trump also reportedly urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) to terminate the probe "swiftly."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who used to chair the intelligence committee, told the Times Trump's requests to end the inquiry were "inappropriate" and violate the separation of powers.
"It is pressure that should never be brought to bear by an official when the legislative branch is in the process of an investigation," Feinstein said.
White House spokesman Raj Shah said Trump "at no point has attempted to apply undue influence on committee members.
"There is no evidence of collusion and these investigations must come to a fair and appropriate completion," Shah said.
