CNN political commentator Amanda Carpenter said Monday that 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's latest attack on the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE (R-Ariz.) was done to "distract from the real questions about the Russia investigation and shut down internal Republican criticism."

"It's really sad that the president of the United States would put the daughter, someone who lost her father, in the position of having to defend his grave," Carpenter said on CNN's "New Day," referring to ABC's Meghan McCain, who has regularly defended her father from Trump's criticism since he died in 2017.

"But this isn't really about John McCain," Carpenter continued. "President Trump wants to distract from the real questions about the Russia investigation and shut down internal Republican criticism.”

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The perspective comes after the president quoted Ken Starr, the former independent counsel whose investigation led to former President Clinton's impeachment in 1998, who told Fox News on Saturday that the sharing of an unverified dossier alleging ties between Trump and Russia with then-FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE by a John McCain aide in Dec. 2016 was "unfortunately a very dark stain" against the late lawmaker.

Starr also called John McCain "an American hero" and "a great man" in the same interview.

"Spreading the fake and totally discredited Dossier 'is unfortunately a very dark stain against John McCain.' Ken Starr, Former Independent Counsel," the president wrote to his more than 59 million followers on Saturday. "He had far worse 'stains' than this, including thumbs down on repeal and replace after years of campaigning to repeal and replace!"

"So it was indeed (just proven in court papers) 'last in his class' (Annapolis) John McCain that sent the Fake Dossier to the FBI and Media hoping to have it printed BEFORE the Election," he wrote an another tweet on Sunday. "He & the Dems, working together, failed (as usual). Even the Fake News refused this garbage!"

Spreading the fake and totally discredited Dossier “is unfortunately a very dark stain against John McCain.” Ken Starr, Former Independent Counsel. He had far worse “stains” than this, including thumbs down on repeal and replace after years of campaigning to repeal and replace! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2019

So it was indeed (just proven in court papers) “last in his class” (Annapolis) John McCain that sent the Fake Dossier to the FBI and Media hoping to have it printed BEFORE the Election. He & the Dems, working together, failed (as usual). Even the Fake News refused this garbage! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2019

According to court records, a McCain ally also provided the dossier to BuzzFeed in 2016. The news outlet published it in full after all other major publications passed on doing so due to its unverified nature.

Trump was more active than usual on Twitter over the weekend, with some tweets appearing to be in response to segments he watched on Fox News.

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's investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election and ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow is reportedly wrapping up, but there's no definitive timetable on when the final report will be submitted to Attorney General William Barr.