Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.) on Monday called new acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker an "assassin" hired by President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE to "take out" the special counsel's Russia investigation.

Swalwell's comments echo sentiments from many other Democrats, who have spent days accusing Trump of seeking to undermine 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 probe by firing former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE and appointing Whitaker to oversee it. Whitaker, a Trump loyalist, has publicly made comments criticizing the special counsel's investigation and proposing ways the attorney general could stifle it.

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"We're not going to allow the president to just, you know, kill this Russia investigation by hiring an assassin like Matt Whitaker Matthew G WhitakerEx-federal prosecutor: 'Thank God' Whitaker is gone, Barr will bring 'integrity' back to DOJ GOP pollster says Dems are relitigating 2016 election with investigations of Trump Former senior FBI official calls Whitaker hearing ‘disgraceful’ MORE to come in and take it out," Swalwell said on CNN's "The Situation Room."

"Whitaker was hired because of his views on the investigation," Swalwell said. "He's prejudged the investigation."

Democratic leaders on Sunday sent a letter requesting a formal update from the Department of Justice's ethics office on whether Whitaker should recuse himself from overseeing Mueller's investigation.

The Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (N.Y.), in the letter listed what they see as Whitaker's potential ethical conflicts. They pointed out that he has spoken out against Mueller's investigation in multiple op-eds, including one for The Hill, and television appearances and has ties to a former Trump 2016 campaign national co-chairman.

Schumer over the weekend also pledged to tie a measure protecting Mueller to a piece of spending legislation that must pass Congress, according to The Associated Press.

Swalwell during the CNN interview said House Democrats, who just regained a majority, could withhold key votes if Republicans do not act to protect Mueller's investigation.

"The Republicans have not been able to get a budget passed in the last two years with their own votes, despite controlling the House and the Senate," the California Democrat said. "So if they want Democratic votes, we're saying they're going to need to ensure that the Mueller investigation is protected."