Story highlights Schumer said Michael Flynn's resignation raised questions

Merkley, however, went further than Schumer Tuesday night

(CNN) Two Senate Democrats are calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from any Justice Department investigation into issues related to the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn and his contacts with the Russian ambassador late last year.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Tuesday for an "independent investigation," possibly led by career DOJ employees with prosecutorial powers, while Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley suggested to CNN's Erin Burnett a special prosecutor should be appointed.

"(Flynn's) resignation raises more questions than it answers and the American people deserve the truth," Schumer said at a news conference in the Capitol.

"In the days and weeks ahead, the Trump administration has many serious questions to answer. These questions must be asked by independent and unbiased law enforcement officers. They must be answered truthfully by administration officials, and any attempt to lie or mislead must be countered with the full force of the law," Schumer said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment.

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