Sen. Bob Menendez Robert (Bob) MenendezKasie Hunt to host lead-in show for MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Senators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report VOA visa decision could hobble Venezuela coverage MORE (D-N.J.) is pressing 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 over whether CIA Director Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE has been barred from speaking to lawmakers about his interview with investigators.

In a letter sent Thursday, Menendez asks Mueller whether Pompeo was forbidden from answering questions about what was discussed in the interview.

The letter was released a day after Pompeo appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing to be the next secretary of State.

It asks Mueller to respond by Friday, given the "short timeline" for Pompeo's nomination.

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In the hearing Thursday, Pompeo disclosed that he had spoken to Mueller as part of the law enforcement investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election, though he declined to discuss the actual subject matter of that interview while the probe is ongoing.

"I have cooperated with multiple investigations. While the investigation continues, I think that's the appropriate way to approach it," Pompeo said.

Menendez, the committee's top Democrat, appeared skeptical that Mueller would prohibit Pompeo from discussing the interview.

The revelation that Pompeo had interviewed with Mueller came as Menendez questioned the CIA director about a conversation he reportedly had with President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE last year, in which Trump allegedly asked if Pompeo could intervene in the FBI probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

That conversation, which allegedly took place in March 2017, was first reported by The Washington Post.

Pompeo declined to discuss "private conversations" with the president, but asserted that Trump never asked him to do anything improper.