TRUMP WORSE THAN RICHARD NIXON?

'Watergate pales compared to what we're confronting now': Ex-spy chief James Clapper launches extraordinary attack on Donald Trump - saying he's WORSE than Richard Nixon

By Stephen Johnson

Daily Mail
June 7, 2017

Donald Trump's FBI and Russian controversies are worse than Watergate, America's former top spy says.

James Clapper compared the U.S. President unfavourably with another Republican, Richard Nixon, who in August 1974 became the first and, to date, only commander-in-chief to resign.

The retired 76-year-old intelligence and military veteran said President Trump's firing of FBI director James Comey in May and his close Russian links made him worse than Tricky Dicky.

'Watergate pales really, in my view, compared to what we're confronting now,' he told Australia's National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

'The Republican President's sharing of sensitive intelligence with the Russians and compromising its source reflected either ignorance or disrespect.

Either is very problematic, said Mr Clapper, who retired as the director of national intelligence in January.

'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 also took a swipe at the 45th President of the United States for comparing the U.S. 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.

'Which, if course, our assessment did.'

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.

Mr Clapper, who served under Barack Obama, 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.

There was already a fairly high-level of angst and exasperation internationally.

But he urged Australia to 'keep on keeping on' and make decisions based on its national interest.

'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.

The long-serving intelligence chief said America's issues with Russia were similar to Australia's with China, and urged careful engagement.

'Australia should engage China but with both caution and confidence - eyes wide open, weighing its strategic and economic interests, never forgetting the importance of its democratic institutions and values.'

EDITOR’S NOTE: What a four flushing schmuck! After practically accusing Trump of betraying the U.S. to Russia, Clapper waffles by saying he didn’t know if there was a smoking gun.

Someone should give Clapper a swift kick to his clapper. Here’s to a dose of clap for Clapper.