The Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats is currently testifying in front of Congress, after a Washington Post report that US President Donald Trump tried to enlist him to get the intelligence chief to convince then FBI Director James Comey to back off the Russia investigation.
Mr Comey was fired by the President last month, triggering widespread condemnation from the President's opponents.
In his opening remarks, the Senate Intelligence Committee's Democrat Vice Chairman Senator Mark Warner said the intelligence community must be able to operate outside of politics:
IN: "Any attempt..."
OUT: "...deeply, deeply troubling."
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