The New York Times's editorial board called President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump: If there's no wall, there's no DACA fix Trump appears to call out Samsung over missing FBI text messages Trump Commerce pick told lawmakers he would look at reversing Obama move on internet oversight: report MORE and his associates' innocence into question on Friday, asking why, if the president insists he has done nothing wrong, he "acts as if he has something big to hide."
In an editorial, the board laid out a timeline of Trump's alleged efforts to "shut down" the law enforcement investigation into whether his campaign conspired with Russia to disrupt and influence the 2016 presidential election.
That timeline rattles through a number of the president's actions over the past year, including the allegation that he pressed former FBI Director James Comey
James Brien ComeyHouse Judiciary Republican: Comey could be called to testify again Stakes intensify: Mueller seeks to question Trump Trump asked acting FBI chief whom he voted for during WH meeting: report MORE to drop the bureau's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as the recent revelation that Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE.
Trump has insisted that his actions have only been intended to "fight back" against an investigation that he has deemed a partisan "witch hunt."
"[B]ut the federal criminal code would almost surely call it obstructing justice — an offense that has led to the resignation of one president and the impeachment of another," the Times's editorial board wrote.
The editorial comes on the heels of a Times report that Trump tried last June to fire Mueller, who is leading the Russia investigation. The president reportedly backed away from that action after White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow. Mueller's investigation, however, has broad authority to look into any potential crimes that might arise from the Russia probe.
Trump's lawyers have, in recent months, taken a cooperative approach to the special counsel's probe, and touted this week that they have turned over requested documents and made White House officials available for interviews with investigators.
Trump has indicated that he would speak to investigators under oath, but that doing so would depend on his attorneys' advice.