Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinNames to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' MORE (D-W.Va.) on Sunday refused to go “down that road” of saying President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE has obstructed justice in the special counsel’s investigation into Russia’s election interference.

“I haven’t gone down that road, nor am I going to go down that road. I believe in the rule of law and it pertains to all of us,” Manchin told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’re all treated the same. And if any of this has happened it will come out.”

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Manchin’s comments come after The New York Times reported that Trump called for Mueller’s firing last year, but backtracked after White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit.

Many Democrats have seized on the report, arguing it is an example of the president obstructing justice.

But Manchin, a red-state Democrat up for reelection this year in a state Trump won by more than 40 points, downplayed the report.

“You know people from New York have a different way of talking and speaking,” Manchin said. “And I take that literally and I say ‘OK, he blew off about some things.’ There’s a process to go through.”

The West Virginia Democrat, however, still advised Trump not to go “down this road” of firing Mueller: “Absolutely do not do [that], Mr. President.”