A Republican strategist who advised Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainKelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks Trump pulls into must-win Arizona trailing in polls MORE (R-Ariz.) during his 2008 presidential bid said late Wednesday that President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey constitutes “an enormous abuse of power.”

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour,” Steve Schmidt said Comey's firing is both “unprecedented” and “shocking.”

“Any Republican member of Congress who takes the president's, his spokespeople’s assertions, that this action occurred because Director Comey was unfair to [Democratic presidential nominee] Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Virginia Democrat blasts Trump's 'appalling' remark about COVID-19 deaths in 'blue states' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE is either a fool, or they have so lost sight in this era of tribal politics their responsibilities to the country that they’ve become faithless to their oaths,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt said he agreed with a former colleague who suggested the country may need a Democratic Congress to “protect the national security of the United States in 2018.”

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Schmidt also listed several Republican senators whom he said “give you hope that the country comes first,” referencing the lawmakers’ “real dismay” over Russia’s attempted to meddle in the United States presidential election last year. The list included Sens. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Quinnipiac poll shows Graham, Harrison tied in South Carolina Senate race MORE (R-S.C.), Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and McCain.

“This is an extraordinary moment in the history of the modern presidency and a very serious one,” said Schmidt.