Trump Pressed Top Republicans to End Senate Russia Inquiry
One Republican close to Mr. Burr, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Mr. Trump had been “very forceful.”
Asked why Mr. Trump is so irritated with the investigation, Mr. Burr said: “In his world
it hampers his ability to project the strength he needs to convey on foreign policy.”
Mr. Burr said Mr. Trump was not fully aware of the impropriety of his request
because the president still has the mind-set of a businessman rather than a politician.
He said he replied to Mr. Trump that “when we have exhausted everybody we need to talk to, we will finish.”
In addition, according to lawmakers and aides, Mr. Trump told Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader,
and Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri and a member of the intelligence committee, to end the investigation swiftly.
In an interview this week, Mr. Tillis said the president “just asked me where my head was” on the legislation
and described the exchange as “pleasant.” Mr. Trump did not press him on the Senate investigation, said Mr. Tillis, who is not on the intelligence committee.
Mr. Trump, he said, “at no point has attempted to apply undue influence on committee members’’
and believes “there is no evidence of collusion and these investigations must come to a fair and appropriate completion.’’
Mr. Trump’s requests of lawmakers to end the Senate investigation came during a period in the summer when the president was particularly consumed with Russia
and openly raging at his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions, for recusing himself from any inquiries into Russian meddling in the election.