The 1,366-word article warns that President Donald Trump "may act to cripple or shut down an investigation by the nation's top law-enforcement agencies into his campaign and administration." It says that "lawmakers need to be preparing now for that possibility because if and when it comes to pass, they will suddenly find themselves on the edge of an abyss, with the Constitution in their hands."

The editors are referencing concerns Trump could fire special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

"More Republicans need to make it clear that they won't tolerate any action against either man," The Times says.

The editorial takes up a full page of Monday's Times. Normally, there are several editorials and letters from readers on the page. But the editorial page editor, James Bennet, said this moment in time called for a unique response.