WASHINGTON – Virginia Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who co-chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he is troubled by President Donald Trump’s comments on the intelligence whistleblower who is at the center of the House impeachment inquiry.

Warner said the president “basically threatened the whistleblower and anyone the whistleblower talked to, calling them out as spies of traitors.” Warner also urged intelligence officials to publicly pledge that they will protect the whistleblower from retaliation or other harm.

He said “Trump’s rhetoric can only serve one purpose: intimidation of this whistleblower and anyone else within the intelligence community who is considering stepping forward to report wrongdoing.”

Accusations and warnings are flying between House Democrats pushing the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump and the administration officials resisting that effort.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday the Democrats are trying to “intimidate” and “bully” career officials as he sought to delay their appearances before House committees.

Democrats warn that blocking congressional access to impeachment witnesses could itself be an impeachable offense.