Warner on Russia probe: ‘We have no smoking gun at this point’

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Sunday said the Senate Intelligence Committee has yet to find a smoking gun as it investigates Russia’s meddling in the United States election.

“There is a lot of smoke. We have no smoking gun at this point, but there is a lot of smoke,” Warner told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Warner, who is the vice chairman of the committee, said the probe will “sort through” whether or not the Russians were guided in their attempts to interfere in the election.

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Warner also said he would be concerned if there is any truth to reports that President Trump sought to interfere in the investigation by asking the former head of the FBI to “let it go,” among other things. He said that it would “be very concerning” if intelligence heads were asked to “downplay” the Russia probe at any point.

The senator also said he thinks Trump would be on “shaky ground legally” should he use executive privilege to prevent fired FBI Director James Comey from testifying in front of Congress. The administration has signaled it is considering such an action.

“Clearly it would be very very troubling if the president of the United States is interfering in investigations that affect the president and his closest associates,” Warner said.

Comey is slated to testify in front of Congress on Thursday.