Veteran journalist Carl Bernstein on Sunday claimed that President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE has helped Russian President Vladimir Putin "destabilize" the U.S.

"Trump keeps going back to the idea we need better relations with Russia. He could well be right," Bernstein said on CNN's "Reliable Sources." "But from a point of view of strength, and what everybody can see, is that he has not acted with Russia from the United States having a strength advantage with Russia."

"Rather he has done what appears to be Putin’s goals," Bernstein continued. "He has helped Putin destabilize the United States and interfere in the election, no matter whether it was purposeful or not."

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He added that he has been "told" that a draft of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's report on the probe into Russia's election interference and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin will scrutinize whether Trump was a "witting, unwitting or half-witting pawn" to Russia's destabilizing goals during the 2016 election.

.@carlbernstein: “This is about the most serious counterintelligence people we have in the US government saying, ‘Oh my god, the President’s words and actions lead us to conclude that somehow he has become a witting, unwitting or half-witting pawn...to Vladimir Putin.'” pic.twitter.com/QOSdJPsJN5 — Reliable Sources (@ReliableSources) January 13, 2019

His comments come just days after The New York Times released a report that the FBI in 2017 opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump was working on behalf of Russia.

The investigation was allegedly sparked after Trump dismissed former FBI Director James Comey, according to the Times.

The report was followed by one from The Washington Post on Saturday alleging Trump has repeatedly worked to hide details of his private conversations with Putin.

Bernstein added on Sunday that he has spoken with lawyers of defendants in Mueller's probe who think Trump "has been lying at every turn about his relationship with Russia."

"Let us look at all of the lies," Bernstein said. "Follow the money, follow the lies. They are all mostly — and most vehemently — about Russia."

Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations that his campaign colluded with Moscow, and has described Mueller's probe as a "witch hunt." He said on Saturday that the idea he was working on behalf of Russia was "insulting."

"I think it's the most insulting thing I've ever been asked,” Trump said on Fox News. “I think it's the most insulting article I've ever had written.”