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Former Attorney General Eric Holder said he "did not have to protect" former President Barack Obama from scandals, in contrast to the numerous issues that have dogged President Donald Trump during his presidency, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

The comment took place during an appearance Holder made on "Real Time With Bill Maher" Friday. Late last year Trump praised Holder in a New York Times interview, where he also lamented Attorney General Jeff Sessions for leaving him exposed to federal investigation over claims of collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russian officials.

"Holder protected President Obama. Totally protected him," Trump told the Times in December. "And I have great respect for that."

"Did you protect President Obama?" Maher asked Holder on Friday.

"The difference between me and Jeff Sessions is I had a president I did not have to protect," Holder answered, using nearly the same answer he gave the Post in an interview last month.

However, some have said Holder did indeed protect Obama during his presidency. In 2012, Holder was the first sitting attorney general to be held in both civil and criminal contempt of Congress in a bipartisan 255 to 67 vote for failing to turn over documents related to a botched ATF gun-running investigation, commonly known as Fast and Furious.

He also refused to appoint a special counsel to investigate claims people close to Obama were leaking classified information to reporters. Holder instead putting two U.S. attorneys in charge of the probe, the Post reported in June 2012.

During Obama's presidency, no Republican-led investigation took place regarding questions about him or his administration.

By contrast, the Russia probe of Trump and former campaign associates has continued since May of last year with speculation special counsel Robert Mueller is gathering information towards an obstruction-of-justice case against the president, the Post reported.

"I've known Bob Mueller for 20 or 30 years," Holder told Maher. "My guess is he's just trying to make the case as good as he possibly can."

Late last month Holder did not rule out the possibility he could run for president in 2020 in an interview with the Post.

"I care a great deal about this country," Holder said. "I think I've got ideas that I hope would resonate with the American people. I think I've got the guts to potentially do the things that I think the next president would have to do."

However, he added that statement "doesn't mean ultimately" he was going to run.

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