Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu (Calif.) warned on Saturday that 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 "knows far more than people think," pointing to a new report on the Trump campaign's alleged dealings with Russia.

Lieu pointed to a Saturday New York Times report that found former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George PapadopoulosGeorge Demetrios PapadopoulosTale of two FBI cases: Clinton got warned, Trump got investigated Trump says he would consider pardons for those implicated in Mueller investigation New FBI document confirms the Trump campaign was investigated without justification MORE inadvertently triggered the FBI's investigation into Russian collusion by reportedly drunkenly telling to an Australian diplomat details of Russians possessing Democratic Party emails.

"Important story below," Lieu tweeted. "Keep in mind no one was really aware of George Papadopoulos until his guilty plea was revealed. That tells us Special Counsel Mueller knows far more than people think. And Papadopoulos is cooperating with Mueller. The White House should be scared."

Important story below. Keep in mind no one was really aware of George Papadopoulos until his guilty plea was revealed. That tells us Special Counsel Mueller knows far more than people think. And Papadopoulos is cooperating with Mueller. The White House should be scared. https://t.co/q4pDlxpRES — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 30, 2017

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Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russians during the election, which were aimed at setting up a meeting between President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The former aide is now reportedly cooperating with Mueller, who has indicted three other former Trump campaign associates in his investigation, which he and his team of federal prosecutors took over from the FBI.

The California lawmaker is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which has interviewed former Trump campaign team members about their knowledge of communications with Russia.

Lieu has fiercely defended Mueller's team despite criticism from Republicans, and has warned Trump of the political fallout that could result from firing the top investigator.