Former CIA chief John Brennan is lashing back at President Trump after being stripped of his security clearance. Trump's denials of any collusion with the Russians during the 2016 election are "hogwash," Brennan writes in the New York Times. He uses the same word to describe Russia's denials of meddling in the election. In his op-ed, Brennan makes the case that a sophisticated Russian scheme sought to find "gullible or unprincipled individuals" who could be easily manipulated by "Russian puppet masters." And Trump, he suggests, became the perfect puppet.
"The only questions that remain are whether the collusion that took place constituted criminally liable conspiracy, whether obstruction of justice occurred to cover up any collusion or conspiracy, and how many members of 'Trump Incorporated' attempted to defraud the government by laundering and concealing the movement of money into their pockets," writes Brennan. Trump's attempts to protect himself are growing "more desperate," which explains the "politically motivated decision" to yank Brennan's security clearance, argues the former CIA chief. The president is clearly trying to scare others who might come forward, he adds, making it all the more important for Robert Mueller's investigation to be completed with no interference. Click to read the full op-ed. (More John Brennan stories.)