Klamath Falls, OR— President Trump indirectly criticized Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, on Wednesday for the ongoing investigation into Russia’s 2016 campaign meddling, even as a former C.I.A. director said during a morning news show that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia may have compromising information on Mr. Trump.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell forcefully defended Robert Mueller on Tuesday, saying the special counsel should be allowed to finish his investigation and that legislation was "not necessary" to protect him against the threat of being fired by President Donald Trump. McConnell was critical of Trump's decision to call Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his recent election victory.
Separately, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” John O. Brennan, a former C.I.A. director, speculated that the Russians “may have something on him personally,” referring to Mr. Trump.
Mr. Brennan was the C.I.A. director when a salacious dossier surfaced in 2016 that claimed the Russians had compromising information on Mr. Trump. There has been no proof that such material exists, but Mr. Trump’s affection for the Russian leader has raised questions about the nature of their relationship.
*The report said Trump's briefing materials had included the warning, "DO NOT CONGRATULATE" in all caps, but that Trump did not heed it.
*He also didn't follow other pointers that said to condemn Russia for a recent nerve agent attack in the UK and Russia's election interference.
*The leak is said to have angered Trump, who believes some within his national security apparatus are secretly working to undermine his presidency.
President Donald Trump is apparently fuming over a leak to the media about how he ignored advice from his national security advisers warning him to avoid congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election victory during a phone call on Tuesday.
CNN reported Wednesday that Trump asked several allies and aides on Tuesday night whom they believed to be responsible for the leak, adding that it could only have come from a select few individuals with access to sensitive national security information. The New York Times' Maggie Haberman cited a White House official who said leaking such information "is a fireable offense and likely illegal."
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump congratulate Mr. Putin on his re-election and made no mention of the election meddling. Mr. Trump has routinely issued statements about Russia and Mr. Putin that sound at odds with his own advisers and administrative actions.
“I think he’s afraid of the president of Russia,” said Mr. Brennan, now retired from government service and a critic of Mr. Trump.
By James Garland of Tulelake News
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