‘Our Institutions Are Under Assault’ – HuffPost

WASHINGTON Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Sunday that our institutions are under assault internally by President Donald Trump, who is eroding the American system of checks and balances on political power.

The developments of the past week are very bothersome, very disturbing to me, Clapper told CNNs Jake Tapper. I think in many ways, our institutions are under assault externally and thats the big news here, is the Russian interference in our election system. And I think as well, our institutions are under assault internally.

Tapper asked Clapper if internally indicated Trump. Exactly, Clapper responded.

Trump fired FBI Director James Comey this week, and told NBC News that he did so out of frustration with the agencys continued investigation into alleged Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 election. Trump later tweeted that Comey should be careful about leaking to the press, in case tapes of conversations between Comey and Trump exist. The tweet was widely interpreted as a threat to Comey. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called the tweet inappropriate during an appearance on NBC Sunday.

On Sunday, Clapper praised the American system of three coequal branches of government created by the founding fathers with a built-in system of checks and balances.

I feel as though thats under assault and is eroding, Clapper said, adding that congressional Republicans should publicly condemn the presidents recent activities. I hope theyll speak up, he said.

Clapper lied to Congress in 2013 about the Obama administrations mass surveillance activities, infuriating some Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans, some of whom called for the government to pursue perjury charges against him.

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'Our Institutions Are Under Assault' - HuffPost