Sen. Mark Warner has always considered himself a numbers guy. Since landing in Washington in 2009, the former governor has exerted the lion's share of his energy on big-picture budget items like cutting down the federal debt, analyzing the fiscal and social impact of the “gig economy” and finding efficiencies within the health care system.

But those issues aren't the reason Americans have seen Warner's name and face splashed across national headlines and TV screens in recent weeks.

Amid arguably the grandest White House controversy since Watergate, Warner finds himself as the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, one of three bodies investigating possible collusion between Russian officials and members of President Donald Trump's campaign. 

“This was not something I anticipated,” Warner said in an interview with the Times-Mirror Tuesday. “Running an investigation that reads like a spy novel is not what I anticipated doing at this stage.”

Warner was unequivocal about how significant he views his role on the committee.

“This is the most serious thing I've ever taken on. We've got to get it right, we've got to get the real facts,” Warner, the commonwealth's senior senator, said. “ … I feel so strongly, with the level of division in the country, if this ends up defaulting to partisan reports, it doesn't do anything to remove the cloud over this administration or start any healing.”

Warner and the committee's chairman, Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, have been widely lauded for their commitment to keeping politics out of the investigation.

“Burr and I are in a really good place,” Warner said, before praising other colleagues on the committee, notably Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Marco Rubio (Florida) and James Lankford (Oklahoma).

Two local Republicans told the Times-Mirror this week they feel comfortable with Warner playing a leading role in the investigation.

A spokesman for Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) said “yes and yes” when asked if Comstock believed the Senate committee will conduct an honest and impartial investigation and whether she views Warner as someone who can handle the probe in a non-partisan manner.

“[Comstock] had a recent conversation with Warner about the Senate investigation, and Sen. Warner confirmed what he has said publicly: that their investigation will be a fair, thorough and non-partisan investigation that the American people can trust and will follow wherever the facts lead,” said Comstock spokesman Jeff Marschner. “The Senate Intelligence Committee also has seasoned staff with the important expertise and clearances essential for this investigation.” 

Republican Ron Meyer, a Loudoun County supervisor and frequent Fox News commentator, said observers seem to be taking the Senate's inquiry more seriously than that of the House.

“The Senate committee, both the Republican leadership and the Democrats, seem to be handling it more professionally and maturely,” Meyer said. “People are starting to view the House investigation with skepticism since it's basically playing out on cable news. The Senate investigation doesn't seem to be playing out in cable news.”

With nearly every twist and development in the Russia case over the past week, Burr and Warner have issued joint statements. They said they were “disappointed” in former national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn's decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment in response to a subpoena for documents related to Russian meddling. At a joint press conference in the capitol following Flynn's announcement, Warner and Burr said they will not rule out holding Flynn in contempt of Congress, which Warner called the “ultimate sanction” as it relates to an intelligence investigation.

“While we recognize General Flynn’s constitutional right to invoke the Fifth Amendment, we are disappointed he has chosen to disregard the Committee’s subpoena request for documents relevant and necessary to our investigation. We will vigorously pursue General Flynn’s testimony and his production of any and all pertinent materials pursuant to the Committee’s authorities,” Burr and Warner said.

The two senators' bond has some history found in the deepest throes of partisan politics. The Republican Burr declined to donate any money to Republican Ed Gillespie, who challenged Warner in a tight Senate contest 2014. In 2016, Warner reciprocated, neglecting to donate to Burr's opponent.

Speaking directly to the investigation, Warner said flatly he doesn't know where it will lead, and he doesn't want to speculate.

“Some folks on the Republican side want it to go away, yet some folks on the Democratic side think the president's guilty without the facts,” Warner said in Tuesday's interview.

Warner anticipated the committee will soon begin interviewing key witnesses, including members of the Trump administration. The Democrat went as far as saying he hopes the investigation doesn't reveal any collusion between Trump officials and Russia.

But Warner has consistently said he'll follow the investigation wherever the facts lead.

“The administration continues to say this is a nothing burger, then they don't act that way. We see all these reports of the president potentially personally intervening a number of times,” Warner said. “You see this White House seem to be completely tone deaf, and even to some degree, not even fully acknowledging the extent of the Russian interference in our elections, which is a settled matter for virtually ever senator because they've seen the intelligence.”

Warner called for all Americans – whether a supporter or opponent of President Trump – to step back, keep a level head and consider the historical relationship between Russia and the U.S.

“The idea that this adversary did this and potentially – I say potentially – that there was some level of coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russians is frightening beyond belief,” Warner said. “Now, I hope at the end of the day that does not prove to be the case. But, it's why I think this is the most serious thing I've taken on. We've got to get it right. We've got to get the real facts.”