Collins: Mueller report includes 'an unflattering portrayal' of Trump

Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsThe Hill’s Morning Report — Mueller aftermath: What will House Dems do now? Collins backs having Mueller testify Graham says he’s ‘not interested’ in Mueller testifying MORE (R-Maine) said Friday that special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE‘s report gives an “unflattering portrayal” of President TrumpDonald John TrumpGrassroots America shows the people support Donald Trump Trump speaks to rebel Libyan general attacking Tripoli Dem lawmaker: Mueller report shows ‘substantial body of evidence’ on obstruction MORE, including an effort to oust the former FBI director from his special counsel role.

“He was not only very upset by the special counsel’s investigations, but tried several times through intermediaries to end it, and it is an unflattering portrayal of the President,” Collins told Maine Public Radio.

Her comments come after Attorney General William BarrWilliam Pelham BarrEx-FBI official: ‘Links and coordination’ with Russia happen everyday Dem lawmaker: Mueller report shows ‘substantial body of evidence’ on obstruction New normal: A president can freely interfere with investigations without going to jail MORE released the 448-page report on Thursday, detailing Mueller’s findings from the probe into the 2016 election and the Trump campaign as well as his conclusion that Congress may probe potential obstruction of justice.

As part of the obstruction section of his report, Mueller detailed 10 “episodes,” including efforts by Trump to end the investigation, both when it was being overseen by former FBI Director James Comes and then by Mueller.

In one episode described by Mueller, Trump in 2017 ordered then-White House counsel Don McGahn to tell Deputy Attorney General Rod RosensteinRod Jay RosensteinNew normal: A president can freely interfere with investigations without going to jail Ex-federal prosecutor: Mueller report offers ‘knock down case for obstruction’ for anyone but Trump Elijah Cummings: ‘I am begging the American people to pay attention to what’s going on’ MORE to get rid of the special counsel. But McGahn refused, warning that he would rather resign.

In a subsequent episode described by Mueller, Trump in 2018 then tried to get McGahn to deny that he ever asked the White House counsel to help fire Mueller.

Trump, as described in the Mueller report, also tried several times to get then-Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump: Some statements about him in Mueller report are ‘total bulls—‘ Colbert hits Trump after Mueller report: Innocent people don’t say ‘I’m f—ed’ The Hill’s Morning Report — Mueller aftermath: What will House Dems do now? MORE to reverse his decision to recuse himself from the investigation and take over the probe.

Collins, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Maine NPR on Friday that she believed Mueller’s report was a “very thorough undertaking.”

“The Russians were determined to try to influence public opinion and interfere in our elections, and that is a serious threat to our democratic institution,” Collins said.

Collins, who is up for reelection in 2020, isn’t the only GOP senator raising early alarm bells over parts of the Mueller report.

Sen. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyCain says he ‘won’t run away from criticism’ in push for Fed seat Cain says he won’t back down, wants to be nominated to Fed The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump, Dems prep for Mueller report’s release MORE (R-Utah) said in a statement on Friday that he was “sickened” by some of the behavior described in the report, including actions by Trump.

“I am sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the President,” Romney said in a statement posted to Twitter.