Sen.(D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said Monday that it’s “too early” to start impeachment proceedings againstand that lawmakers should be focused on investigating the administration.

“I think it’s too early. I think Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE is right. Let’s gather information, evidence, testimony. The House initiates this, and I think that’s the place where it should be started,” Durbin said after being asked about his views on starting impeachment proceedings.

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The release of 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 report on Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and the Trump campaign has revived a debate over whether House Democrats should begin impeachment proceedings.

Mueller did not establish that members of President Trump’s campaign conspired with the Russian government during the 2016 election, though he noted that members of the campaign believed they would benefit from Moscow’s meddling.

The special counsel also did not come to a conclusion on obstruction of justice, instead analyzing nearly a dozen instances of possible obstruction by Trump and explicitly stating that the report does not “exonerate” the president.

A handful of House Democrats have backed moving forward, but most of the caucus is lining up with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has endorsed aggressively probing the administration in the wake of Mueller’s report.

Most Senate Democrats have also stayed away from the impeachment fight as Congress has been out of town on a two-week recess. But they’re likely to be placed in the middle of it as several of their colleagues discuss the issue while running for president.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenDimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court MORE (D-Mass.) has called for the House to start impeachment proceedings, while Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Nearly 40 Democratic senators call for climate change questions in debates Joe Biden has long forgotten North Carolina: Today's visit is too late MORE (D-Calif.) has called on Congress to take “step towards” impeachment.