Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon WhitehouseSenate Dems seek to turn tables on GOP in climate change fight This week: Congress, Trump set for showdown on emergency declaration Senate reignites blue slip war over Trump court picks MORE (D-R.I.), who is investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, privately told other senators that FBI Director James Comey could provide a "clearer explanation" of the FBI-led Russia investigation before he is expected to appear before a Senate panel on Wednesday, Politico reported.

Comey suggested he would provide more information during a private meeting with Whitehouse and Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamWhite House pleads with Senate GOP on emergency declaration GOP lawmaker says panel to investigate drug company gaming of patent system Sixteen years later, let's finally heed the call of the 9/11 Commission MORE (R-S.C.) earlier this month, the news outlet added. Both Whitehouse and Graham serve on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, which has FBI oversight.

The three men met on March 2, the same day that Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsFormer Trump refugee director did not notify superiors about family separation warnings Court rejects challenge to Mueller's appointment Trump says he hasn't spoken to Barr about Mueller report MORE announced he would recuse himself from investigations into Russia and the election.

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Whitehouse told Politico it is unclear from whom Comey needed additional clearance before he could further discuss the investigations.

“So we said look, we’re going to go ahead with our hearing on the 15th, just let us know by then,” Whitehouse told Politico.

“So I think he implicitly confirmed that they are looking at this and he said he’d get us a clearer explanation by tomorrow. That was satisfactory to both of us,” Whitehouse added.

“Comey wanted to have some time to structure his response,” Whitehouse added.