US intelligence agencies have come “under assault” by President Donald Trump following his firing of FBI chief James Comey, says former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Clapper said that the “very disturbing” dismissal last week highlighted clashes between the intelligence community and the Republican president, who has been accused of getting help from Russia to win the race for the White House.
“I think in many ways our institutions are under assault,” Clapper said. “Both externally, and that’s the big news here, is Russian interference in our election system. And I think as well our institutions are under assault internally.”
In a separate interview with ABC News, the former spy chief described Comey’s firing as “another victory on the scoreboard” for the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
