The Watergate scandal that brought down a sitting President “pales” in comparison with the controversies of the Donald Trump presidency, the US’s former top spy says.
In a withering attack on Mr Trump’s presidency, the United States’ retired director of national intelligence, James Clapper, ripped in to the White House administration during a speech in Canberra on Wednesday.
“Watergate pales really, in my view, compared to what we’re confronting now,” he said during the speech at Australia’s National Press Club.
Mr Clapper reiterated his concern about Mr Trump’s “assault” on the US and its institutions – from the sacking of FBI director James Comey to being “trusting buds” with Russia.
“Certainly, the whole episode with the firing of Jim Comey … apart from the egregious inexcusable manner in which it was conducted, reflects complete disregard for the independence and autonomy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he said.
Mr Trump’s sharing of sensitive intelligence with Russia and compromising its source was an act of either ignorance or disrespect – either conclusion was “very problematic”, Mr Clapper said.
He also took a swipe at Mr Trump for comparing the US intelligence community to Nazi Germany, believing he and his team were extremely paranoid about their probe into Russian interference casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election.
“Is there a smoking gun with all the smoke? I don’t know the answer to that.” Photo AAP
The news comes a day before Mr Comey is to provide testimony to a Senate Intelligence Committee looking into the links between Russia and the Trump administration.
Mr Clapper’s attack also coincided with an explosive report in the New York Times that claims Mr Comey approached Attorney General Jeff Sessions to ask that he never be left alone with the President again.
That request reportedly came a day after Mr Trump had asked Mr Comey to end an investigation into his former national security adviser, General Michael Flynn.
Citing current and former law enforcement officials, the Post reported that Mr Sessions could not guarantee that Mr Trump would not try to talk to Mr Comey alone again.
Mr Clapper was at a loss to explain the Trump administration’s “solicitousness” of the Russians, saying it was crucial for both the US and the world to get to the bottom of the relationship.
Russia was not a friend and it, and its leader, Vladimir Putin, were diametrically opposed to Western democracies.
He revealed Mr Trump asked him directly to publicly refute the infamous dossier into his Russian ties, but “I couldn’t and wouldn’t do”.
“Is there a smoking gun with all the smoke? I don’t know the answer to that.”
Mr Clapper could not say how long the “assaults” could continue without doing irrevocable damage, and that the controversies had already caused angst and exasperation internationally.
But he urged Australia to “keep on keeping on” and make decisions based on its national interest.
“I think Prime Minister Turnbull has found the balance between being very tactful with our President but at the same time not compromising Australia’s interests and its sovereignty,” he said.
