President Joe Biden is reportedly urging his Democratic colleagues to keep Donald Trump's impeachment trial short so it will not overshadow his early agenda.
The new commander-in-chief avoided publicly backing calls for his predecessor's second impeachment but has not spoken out against lawmakers pursuing a conviction.
It is understood Mr Biden will seek to distance himself from the trial when it begins early next month.
It comes amid reports that the Republican anti-Trump group, The Lincoln Project, is set to sue the ex-president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
Steve Schmidt, one of the group's founders, said it may issue legal proceedings against Mr Giuliani for libel. It relates to comments Mr Giuliani made suggesting the Lincoln Project was somehow involved in the Capitol riot earlier this month that left five dead.
Mr Schmidtt told MSNBC on Saturday morning: “It is very difficult to sue somebody for defamation or libel in the United States, but our lawyers are telling us that Rudy is well across the line so we're thrilled about this.”
Meanwhile, the president is urging Congress to "act now" on his $1.9tn Covid-19 relief proposal, saying there is an "overwhelming" consensus among economists that a stimulus package is needed to help Americans hardest hit by the pandemic.
Mr Biden said Democrat lawmakers must take action with or without cooperation from their Republican colleagues, adding that the cost of inaction in this "unique moment" is "high".
