The top ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee has been recorded saying that the best way to protect President Donald Trump is to make sure that Republicans keep control of Congress during the upcoming 2018 midterm elections.

Speaking at a private, closed-door fundraiser for a Republican colleague, Representative Devin Nunes — a prominent supporter of Mr Trump — suggested that he and his fellow Republican colleagues could stave off the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election by holding the House in 2018.

Republican control of Congress, he suggests in the clip that aired on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show, is the last line of defence against any fallout from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

“If Sessions won’t unrecuse and Mueller won’t clear the president, we’re the only ones, which is really the danger,” Mr Nunes can be heard in the tape, referring to Mr Mueller and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who recused himself from matters involving the special counsel since he was a member of Mr Trump’s campaign.

“I mean, we have to keep all these seats,” Mr Nunes says. “We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away”.

Mr Nunes has created waves in the past by calling for the impeachment of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mr Mueller, and who has direct authority over that investigation since Mr Sessions has recused himself from the investigation.

Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Show all 16 1 /16 Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests An advert from Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat is on display in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump in a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Mantyniemi, the official residence of the Finnish President EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests US, Finnish and Russian flags fly in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A protester wears a mask featuring a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the so-called "Helsinki against Trump and Putin" demonstration on July 16, 2018, in the Finnish capital Helsinki. The US and Russian leaders opened an historic summit in Helsinki on Monday, with Donald Trump promising an "extraordinary relationship" and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash out disputes around the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jonathan NACKSTRANDJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images JONATHAN NACKSTRAND AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Vladimir Putin gifts a football to President Trump at the press conference that followed their meeting AP Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump supporters hold banners during a demonstration in Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests People protest for women's reproductive rights in Helsinki's Senate Square Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A crowd watches the motorcade transporting President Trump through Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Russian President Putin drives through Helsinki on his way to meet with President Trump EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man in the audience of the joint press conference holds up a sign sign that reads "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man is removed from the joint press conference in Helsinki. Security removed the man after he pulled out a sign that read "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump and Russia's President Putin sit for a working lunch in Finland's Presidential Palace AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters

During the fundraiser, Mr Nunes reportedly said that efforts to impeach Mr Rosenstein were a matter of timing — and reaffirmed his belief that he should be impeached — and that pushing the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is a higher priority at the moment.

In response, Democrats have suggested that the nomination of Mr Kavanaugh is itself protection for Mr Trump, should Mr Mueller's team issue a subpoena for Mr Trump that the president then decides to fight.

"It tells me that Republican leadership is putting priority on confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh," Senator RIchard Blumenthal said when asked about the recording. "He's the critical swing vote if the special counsel issues a subpoena and it goes to the US Supreme Court".

Republican control of the House of Representatives is considered imperilled in the coming midterm, with Democrats across the country targeting potentially vulnerable GOP districts — and even targeting some districts that Republicans have traditionally held.