Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin also called on the special counsel’s eventual report to be widely released. | Zach Gibson/Getty Images Congress Durbin to lawmakers: ‘Park yourselves on the sidelines’ until Mueller probe ends

The Senate’s second-most-powerful Democrat urged his colleagues Sunday to “park yourselves on the sidelines” until special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors finish their work.

“I think the responsibility of Congress is very clear: Park yourselves on the sidelines and let Mueller complete this investigation,” said Minority Whip Dick Durbin, referring to the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.


“Don't interfere in any way, shape, or form,” Durbin added during an interview with journalist George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week.”

The Illinois Democrat also called on the special counsel’s eventual report to be widely released following the probe's conclusion.

“At the end of the day, when Mueller's investigation is complete, whenever that may be, it should be disclosed to the American public,” Durbin said. “They ought to see it in detail, understand everything that's transpired.”

Under Mueller’s reporting mandate , he must submit his confidential findings only to his supervisor at the Department of Justice — currently, that is acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.

Even if Justice Department officials decide to make Mueller’s report public, the department would have the authority to censor any confidential information disclosed in the document, and the White House has signaled it plans to weigh in on the report’s release.