Podesta refuses to say election was 'fair and free'

Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonTrump, GOP crafting border wall plan: reports US caught Russian officials cheering Trump win: report FBI, Dems bicker over investigation of hacked servers MORE campaign chairman John Podesta on Sunday refused to say the presidential election was "free and fair." 

Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if the he thought the election was "free and fair," Podesta demurred. 

“Well, look, I think the Russians clearly intervened in the election and I think that now we know that both the CIA, the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI all agree that the Russians intervened [and] helped Trump and that as ... NBC first revealed, that Vladimir Putin was personally involved with that,” he replied. 

Host Chuck Todd then pressed Podesta, saying: "You didn't answer the question. Do you believe it was a free and fair election?"

“Well, I think it was — I think it was distorted by the Russian intervention,”  Podesta said. “Let’s put it that way.”

Both the CIA and FBI have concluded that Russia interfered in the election to help Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMike Lee: I 'would not say no' to Supreme Court seat Trump, GOP crafting border wall plan: reports Report: Trump orders Obama ambassadors to leave posts by inauguration MORE win.

Intelligence officials have said Russians were behind the hacking of emails belonging to Podesta and Democratic National Committee staffers.