Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper issued a stern warning about the state of the U.S. Government stating that the U.S. institutions are "under assault' after President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey last week.
"I think in many ways our institutions are under assault both externally- and that's the big news here is the Russian interference in our election system -and I think as well our institutions are under assault internally ," the CNN quoted Clapper as saying.
Clapper categorically stated that U.S. institutions and other branches of the federal government are under assault internally.
"The founding fathers, in their genius, created a system of three co-equal branches of government and a built-in system of checks and balances," Clapper said, adding that "I feel as though that is under assault and is eroding."
Democrats and several Republicans in Congress have publicly pressurized the Department of Justice to appoint a special prosecutor or establishing an independent investigative body to look into allegations of potential collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in what the U.S. intelligence community says was Moscow's efforts to influence the U.S. election.
There are reports that President Trump may appoint Judge Merrick Garland to head the FBI.
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United States President Donald Trump has denied allegations of any type of collusion between his campaign officials and Russian operatives.
In an interview to Fox News, President Donald said, "Everybody's convinced: They say there is no collusion. We have nothing to do with Russia."
Emphasizing that he wants to clear the air, Trump stated, "I want to get to the bottom if Russia or anybody is trying to tamper or play with our election."
The President also dismissed reports that he demanded loyalty pledge from former FBI Director James Comey at a private dinner .Trump responded saying, "No, I didn't but I think loyalty to the country, loyalty to the U.S. is important."
There are reports that President Trump may appoint Judge Merrick Garland to head the FBI.