U.S. Ex-CIA chief says he warned Russia to stay out of election

Former U.S. CIA director John Brennan said Tuesday that he warned Russia last summer against meddling in the US presidential election but the Russians went ahead and did it anyway.

"It should be clear to everyone that Russia interfered in our 2016 presidential election process," Brennan said in testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign.

"And that they undertook the activities despite our strong protests and explicit warning they not do so," said Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 until January of this year when Trump took office.

Brennan said it became clear last summer Russia was trying to interfere in the election, and that he warned the head of Russia's FSB security service that such interference would hurt US ties.

Brennan reiterated that the CIA detected in 2016 possible signs of collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials. Those contacts are now being investigated by committees in both chambers of the US Congress and by recently appointed special counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director.

He said he did not know if this amounted to outright collusion. "I know there was a sufficient basis of information and intelligence that required further investigation" by the FBI, he added.

Brennan's comments came amid a political storm in Washington triggered by Trump's firing on May 9 of FBI Director James Comey. Comey was heading an FBI probe into Russian election interference and possible collusion with Trump's campaign, leading to accusations by Trump critics that the Republican president has sought to curtail the FBI inquiry.

However, Trump vehemently denies any collusion and says he is the victim of an unprecedented witch hunt.

(CGTN)