Ex-DNI James Clapper: ‘Our Institutions Are Under Assault’ by President Trump

By Justin BaragonaMay 14th, 2017, 10:28 am
 

One person that President Donald Trump has referenced numerous times to essentially clear his name when it comes to potential collusion with Russia over election interference has been former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Trump has consistently pointed to Clapper stating the hadn’t seen any evidence of collusion, leading to Clapper clearing the record last week over his past remarks.

This morning, Clapper appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and not only clarified again that he didn’t actually say there wasn’t collusion but that he just didn’t have knowledge of evidence at the time he was DNI, but he took additional shots at the president.

Regarding Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey while the FBI is currently investigating possible ties between Trump associated and Russia, Clapper stated that he was disturbed by what he’s witnessed.

“I will just say that the developments of the past week are very bothersome, very disturbing to me,” he told host Jake Tapper. “I think in many ways, our institutions are under assault externally and that’s the big news here, is the Russian interference in our election system. And I think as well our institutions are under assault internally.”

When asked if he meant the president when saying internally, Clapper said, “Exactly.” He further added that the system of check and balances in our government is being eroded.

Watch the clip above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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