Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) on Friday called on her colleagues across the aisle in the House and Senate to step up their criticism of President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE as the investigation into possible collusion with Russia evolves.

"It's amazing that we have members of Congress who are defending and protecting this president. I am surprised," Waters said Friday.

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"And here they are in the face of growing evidence that there have been contacts with, perhaps collusion with, and obstruction of justice by this president -- they're willing to defend him. And I don't know if they're just scared of him, if they're frightened, if they don't have the guts to stand up," she continued. "What is wrong with them, I just don't quite understand."

Waters comments come after Trump Jr. released a chain of emails that revealed he met with the Kremlin-linked lawyer to receive information that “would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.”

In the emails, Trump Jr. is told it is very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump."

The White House and some Republican lawmakers have defended the meeting. Waters criticized that defense, calling for the "courage" to stand up to Trump.

"If they don't have the courage to recognize that something is wrong," Waters said. "If they can't even recognize that, and say, 'Well, that doesn't seem right,' then they have shown that they don't have courage."

"I'm not saying that they have to come to the conclusion that they should be impeached for example," she continued. "But I am saying that they should have the sense to say this is unusual, this is extraordinary."

Waters concluded by saying she believed the ongoing investigation into Russia will offer more evidence to impeach Trump.

"I think there's growing evidence that [Special Counsel Robert Mueller is] going to have the information that leads to impeachment. That's what I believe. They can delay it in their minds all they want."