U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) this evening issued the following statement regarding reports that President Donald J. Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to shut down investigations against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn:

“If proven to be true, reports that President Trump tried to influence an independent investigation by asking former FBI Director James Comey to shut it down, rises to the level of obstruction of justice, which could be an impeachable offense.

“For years FBI investigations have been conducted without influence or interference from the White House, particularly if members of the Administration are the subjects of these investigations. General Flynn resigned his post under intense scrutiny and suspicion surrounding his connections with Russian officials and the FBI was doing its job by trying to get to the bottom of it.  

“These reports raise serious questions about President Trump’s ability to understand and uphold the duties of his office. With every passing day, it becomes clearer that this country needs a special prosecutor and independent commission to investigate the Trump Administration’s ties to nefarious actors, conflicts of interest, and now, reports of the President himself obstructing justice.”