Former Director Of National Intelligence James Clapper: ‘Our Institutions Are Under Assault Internally’

Donald Trump is attacking our institutions of checks and balances according to the former Director of National Intelligence.

During an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a not so veiled accusation that Donald Trump is perpetrating an assault on the U.S. institutions of checks and balances.

Clapper also defended former FBI Director James Comey. When asked if Trump had crossed the line with his firing of Comey, Tapper responded by saying “Let’s take a wider view of this for one second and then get back to more detailed questions.”

“This week with the president firing the FBI director while this investigation is going on, and then saying that he was thinking about the Russia probe when he was making the decision, have we crossed a line here?”

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

Internally from the president?” Tapper asked.

“Exactly,” Clapper quickly replied.

“Because he’s firing the checks and balances?” Tapper asked.

“Well I think you know, the founding fathers put in place a system of three co-equal branches of government, and a built-in system of checks and balances, and I feel as though that’s under assault and is eroding,” Clapper explained.

“Are you surprised at how quiet Republicans on Capitol Hill have been?” Tapper asked.

“I can’t say I think each senator or congressman has got to say something,” Clapper said. “I hope they will think in terms of their own conscience. I can’t characterize it as being surprised, I just hope they will speak up.”

Donald Trump is lying about James Clapper’s testimony

Trump again has pushed his lie that James Clapper somehow exonerated him from any collusion with Russia, however, Clapper again said Sunday that he has done no such thing. In fact, Clapper noted that he didn’t even know about the FBI investigation into Trump campaign collusion until James Comey’s testimony and that he would not be aware of any evidence that implicates the president because that evidence sits with the FBI.