Russian links to Trump ‘brazen’
Former CIA Director John Brennan told congressional investigators Tuesday that he was worried about the interaction between Russian officials and the Trump campaign last year.
“I encountered and I am aware of information and intelligence that revealed contacts and interactions between Russian officials and US persons involved in the Trump campaign that I was concerned about,’’ Brennan told the House Intelligence Committee.
“I don’t know whether or not ... collusion existed,” Brennan said. “But I know that there was a sufficient basis of information and intelligence that required further investigation by the bureau [FBI].
“It should be clear to everyone that Russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 presidential election process,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats refused to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday whether President Trump pressured him to discredit the FBI’s Russia probe, as has been reported.
Coats said he would talk about that only as part of a probe by the Senate and House intelligence committees, which do most of their work in private.
The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump personally asked Coats and Navy Adm. Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, to publicly defend him against Russia collusion allegations. They balked, the paper said.