Ex-CIA director to Trump: Accusation against Obama admin shows your ‘paranoia’

Former CIA Director John Brennan hit back at President Trump for accusing the Obama administration of investigating his campaign in an effort to help Hillary Clinton, saying it reveals Trump’s “paranoia” about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

“This tweet is a great example of your paranoia, constant misrepresentation of the facts, and increased anxiety and panic (rightly so) about the Mueller investigation,” Brennan tweeted Monday. 

“When will those in Congress and the 30 percent of Americans who still support you realize you are a charlatan?” he continued.

This tweet is a great example of your paranoia, constant misrepresentation of the facts, and increased anxiety and panic (rightly so) about the Mueller investigation. When will those in Congress and the 30 percent of Americans who still support you realize you are a charlatan?

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) March 5, 2018

Trump had tweeted the claim earlier Monday, declaring the accusation “bigger than Watergate.”

{mosads}

“Why did the Obama Administration start an investigation into the Trump Campaign (with zero proof of wrongdoing) long before the Election in November? Wanted to discredit so Crooked H would win,” Trump wrote. 

Why did the Obama Administration start an investigation into the Trump Campaign (with zero proof of wrongdoing) long before the Election in November? Wanted to discredit so Crooked H would win. Unprecedented. Bigger than Watergate! Plus, Obama did NOTHING about Russian meddling.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2018

Brennan, a frequent critic of Trump, led the CIA when a declassified report from the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies was released that said Russia created an influence campaign aimed at interfering in the 2016 election.

Trump in November called Brennan and other intelligence leaders “political hacks” and the investigation into Russia’s election interference “a pure hit job.”

Trump has similarly attacked Mueller’s probe into Russia’s election interference, repeatedly labeling it a “witch hunt.”

Mueller charged 13 Russian nationals and three Russian groups last month with interfering in the U.S. election.

He also filed new charges against former Trump campaign staffers Paul Manafort and Richard Gates.

A federal court in Virginia in February returned a 32-count superseding indictment charging Manafort and Gates with committing tax fraud, failing to file reports on foreign bank and financial accounts, and bank fraud conspiracy.