President Trump is getting closer to impeachment proceedings if a bombshell report claiming he asked former FBI Director James Comey to end an investigation into his former national security adviser Mike Flynn is true, Sen. Angus King told CNN on Tuesday.

"Reluctantly, Wolf, I have to say yes, simply because obstruction of justice is such a serious offense," the Maine senator told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer when asked of the possibility of impeachment.

"I say it with sadness and reluctance," the Maine independent continued. "This is not something I advocated for and the word has not passed my lips in this tumultuous three, four months."

Several Democratic congressmen have previously called for Trump's impeachment.



The New York Times reported Tuesday evening that Trump asked Comey to end the FBI investigation into Flynn during a meeting at the White House in February.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump said, according to a memo written by Comey. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go."

The White House has denied the president asked Comey to kill the investigation.