Rep. Gregory Meeks Gregory Weldon MeeksBottom line Democrats go big on diversity with new House recruits Chamber of Commerce, banking industry groups call on Senate to pass corporate diversity bill MORE (D-N.Y.) compared President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's treatment of law enforcement to that of a "totalitarian" foreign government, accusing the president of using his power to go after his political opponents.

"We're in an atmosphere of a foreign government that's totalitarian where the president is saying 'I can go after my political enemies' and try to say we want our institution to put someone in jail," Meeks said on MSNBC.

Meeks' remarks came two days after a bombshell New York Times report that Trump had directed a lawyer to lobby Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE not to recuse himself from the criminal investigation into Russian election meddling.

ADVERTISEMENT

When Sessions did recuse himself from the probe, according to the report, Trump was furious, because he felt that Sessions had not protected him like past attorneys general had protected the president.

He also said in an interview with the Times last month that he had the "absolute right" to do whatever he wants with the Justice Department.

The president has urged the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate his former Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE.