Ex-CIA chief: Russians may have something incriminating on Trump

Former CIA Director John BrennanJohn Owen BrennanHow transparency on UFOs can unite a deeply divided nation The world's most passionate UFO skeptic versus the government Five things to know about the new spotlight on UFOs MORE on Wednesday suggested the Russians could have “something on” President TrumpDonald TrumpGarland imposes moratorium on federal executions White House releases staff salaries showing narrowed gender pay gap Los Angeles Dodgers to visit the White House on Friday MORE that would explain his warming relations to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

“I’m saying that perhaps the Russians have something and that’s why Mr. Trump is concerned,” Brennan told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “Mr. Trump knows better than any one of us whether or not the Russians may have something on him.”

Brennan helmed the CIA during former President Obama’s second term and when the intelligence community last year released a declassified report that said Putin called for an influence campaign aimed at helping Trump become president.

Trump received criticism on Tuesday for reportedly congratulating Putin on his reelection, which comes as multiple congressional committees and the special counsel investigate Russia’s interference in the U.S. presidential election and any potential ties between Trump campaign staff members and Moscow.

Obama also congratulated Putin on his election victory in 2012.

But Brennan during his television appearance argued it’s difficult to “explain” Trump’s actions when it comes to Putin.

“So I think it’s very difficult to try to explain his behavior and why he has taken this position vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin,” Brennan said. “And so one can again, speculate, that maybe there’s something there.”