President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized U.S. intelligence leaders for their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, calling them “political hacks” and slamming the investigations as a “Democratic hit job.” The Hill reports.
Trump blasted former U.S. intelligence officials by name, including former CIA director John Brennan, former director of national intelligence James Clapper and former FBI Director James Comey.
“I mean, give me a break, they are political hacks. So you look at it, I mean, you have Brennan, you have Clapper and you have Comey. Comey is proven now to be a liar and he is proven now to be a leaker.” Trump said, discussing the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election in favor of Trump.
He added that the investigation into Russian interference in the election was a “Democratic-inspired thing” and a “pure hit job.” Trump also stressed that he wasn’t going to “argue” with Putin about whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
Multiple US intelligence agencies including the CIA and FBI have concluded that Russia did interfere in the 2016 election, and several Congressional investigations are currently underway to determine the scale and scope of Russia’s interference, The Hill informs.
Trump is in the middle of a five-nation, 13-day trip to Asia, and is currently in Vietnam. Trump participated overnight in the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Danang, The Hill adds.
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