Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.) said Thursday he agrees with President Trump that the 2016 election needs to be investigated, arguing the probe could cover Russian interference and Trump's allegations of voter fraud.

“Though our reasons may differ, the President and I agree that the American people deserve an independent, nonpartisan investigation of the 2016 election," Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said in a statement.

He added that a nonpartisan investigation could "let the truth come out about [Trump's] baseless allegations" while also digging into findings from the intelligence community that Russia interfered in the election and reports that Moscow was in touch with Trump campaign officials.

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Durbin argued the public must believe in the "credibility" of elections and they remain "gravely concerned" about Russian meddling in the White House race.

"A nonpartisan, independent commission with subpoena power should investigate charges of irregularities, voter suppression, foreign interference, and alleged fraud in the 2016 election, as well as allegations that an American President could be compromised by a hostile foreign government," he said.

Democrats, including Durbin, introduced legislation earlier this year to establish an independent commission to probe the 2016 presidential election.

The assistant minority leader floated this week that the panel could be headed by someone like former Secretary of State Colin Powell or former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, both of whom he said are "above reproach in integrity."

Durbin's statement comes after Trump sparked the latest round in a monthslong rhetorical war over voter fraud, telling congressional leaderships during a closed-door meeting that "illegals" cost him the popular vote.

The White House said on Thursday that Trump will sign a directive to move forward with an investigation into his claims of widespread voter fraud.

Democrats, outside groups and many Republicans have dismissed the president's claims as baseless.

Three leading House Democrats also demanded that state election officials hand over cases of voter fraud, in an apparent effort to put Trump's ideas to rest.