Ex-Intel chairman: Russia diplomat is likely no spy

Former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) says Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak is probably not a spy for his nation’s government amid ongoing revelations about contact between Russian officials and those working with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

“I’m not convinced he’s a spy at all,” Rogers, a CNN national security commentator, said Friday on “New Day.” “I don’t think he’s a spy. I think he’s a very good, very polished diplomat for the Russian government.”

“I do think he’s got a lot of spies working for him here in the United States,” added Rogers.

{mosads}Rogers said, however, that U.S. officials should exercise caution when interacting with their Russian counterparts like Kislyak.

“I mean, those meetings should occur and have to occur,” he said. “That in and of itself is not a problem. But you always have to understand when you’re dealing with the Russians [that] if you pick up a snake, you’re going to get bit.”

Reports emerged Wednesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke twice with Kislyak during the 2016 presidential race despite testifying under oath for his confirmation that he “did not have communications with the Russians.”

Sessions, a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday recused himself from any federal probe of the matter, bowing to bipartisan pressure.