Ex-CIA official: I’d advise intel leaders to consider resigning after Trump comments

Former acting and Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell said Tuesday that he would recommend senior intelligence officials consider resigning from the Trump administration.

Morell said on CBS’s “This Morning” that the relationship between Trump and the intelligence community has been “very rocky,” and that Trump siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denials of Russia’s election interference was “a blow to that relationship.”

“I do think senior officials in the intelligence community need to ask themselves whether they can continue to serve this president and represent the men and women of the intelligence community in a way that is positive,” the former CIA official said.

{mosads}

“I would advise them to consider stepping down,” Morell said.

“Senior officials in the intelligence community need to ask themselves whether they can continue to serve this president.” @MichaelJMorell says he would advise intelligence officials “to consider stepping down” in the wake of the U.S.-Russia summit. https://t.co/2vNKsDazNe pic.twitter.com/gKzCtIXvO3

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 17, 2018

Trump sent shockwaves through the intelligence community Monday when he appeared to side with Putin in the Russian leader’s denial of election interference, a rebuke of agencies’ conclusion that Russia had meddled in the election.

 “I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today,” Trump said at the press conference.

Intelligence officials joined Democrats and Republicans in largely denouncing the comments.