Hayden sees ‘convergence’ between Trump, Russians

Former National Security Agency and CIA Director Michael Hayden said in an interview on Tuesday that he believes there is a “convergence” of interests between President Trump and Russia. 

“There is an eerie and uncomfortable echo between some of the things the president tweets, the different points of emphasis on Fox News, the thematic stories in the alt-right media, and Russian bots,” Hayden told Politico’s “Off Message” podcast.

{mosads}“I don’t have to create collusion here. Each for their own purposes are well-served by creating deeper divisions within American society. The president, to play to his base; Fox News, for ratings; the alt-right, because they have a conspiratorial view of everything; and the Russians, to mess with our heads,” he continued. 

Hayden’s comments come as the federal and congressional probes into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia’s election meddling continue. 

The president has repeatedly dismissed the probes as witch hunts, issuing a slew of tweets on Tuesday denying collusion between his campaign and the Kremlin. 

“I’ve been skeptical about the collusion and obstruction claims for the last year. I just don’t see the evidence….in terms of the collusion, it’s all a bit implausible based on the evidence we have.” Jonathan Turley on @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2018 

“We’ve seen NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION….I have seen nothing, the firing of James Comey and all of the aftermath, that suggests that the President has obstructed justice because he’s exercising his power as the President of the U.S. I just don’t see it.” Judge Ken Starr

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2018

WITCH HUNT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2018

The Department of Justice announced earlier this month that special counsel Robert Mueller had indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations on charges of attempting to interfere in the 2016 election earlier this month.

Former Trump campaign aide Richard Gates last week pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal with Mueller on conspiracy charges against the U.S. and making a false statement to the FBI.