Breaking with national Republican leadership, Rep. Knute Buehler, a likely challenger to Gov. Kate Brown, on Wednesday spoke out in support of ongoing investigations into President Donald Trump.

Some Oregon voters praised Buehler's statement, which was posted to Facebook, while others criticized it, saying it would mean the end of his political career.

Buehler, 52, a Bend orthopedic surgeon, called for appointment of a special counsel or formation of a congressional commission to examine potential crimes by the president. He acknowledged he had never backed Trump and had "low expectations" of him as president, but wished him success.

"Being inexperienced, ill-tempered and even incompetent are not crimes," Buehler wrote, "but impeding or obstructing justice is, so we need to fully understand what President Trump has done."

Buehler said an independent investigation is needed so the public can learn "all the facts" from witnesses and documents, not the news media.

"We need to know the truth, regardless of where it takes us," he said, adding that "the foundation of our democracy" and the president's credibility are in jeopardy.

The same day Buehler published his statement, Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed as special counsel by the Justice Department.

Some Oregonians wrote comments supporting Buehler's statement. Others excoriated him for it.

"Don't give up medicine. No politics in your future, we're up to our eyeballs in knucklehead leftists," wrote Richard Hiatt, who lives in La Grande, according to his Facebook profile.

Leo Stratton, of Portland, according to his profile, commented, "I, like many Republicans, are fed up with sanctimonious politicians with an 'R' next to their name backstabbing our president."

"As a Republican, native Oregonian and Trump supporter I will now make sure whatever Republican you run against next wins," wrote Debbie Rogers, of Forest Grove, according to her Facebook profile, who said Buehler is "a disgrace to the Republican Party."

Buehler, who is serving his second term in the Oregon House of Representatives, is seen as a moderate for supporting clean energy programs and greater access to birth control. He unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state in 2012 against Brown, who was the incumbent.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman