Speaking last night to PBS Newshour’s Judy Woodruff, former director of national intelligence James Clapper claimed that “Russians not only affected the outcome of the 2016 presidential election — they decided it.” Given that Trump’s defeat of Hillary Clinton turned on less than 80,000 votes, he means. “To me, it just exceeds logic and credulity that they didn’t affect the election, and it’s my belief they actually turned it.”

Regarding President Trump‘s claim about “Spygate,” Clapper explained that “the important thing was not to spy on the campaign but rather to determine what the Russians were up to. Were they trying to penetrate to campaign, gain access, gain leverage, gain influence? That was the concern that the FBI had. I think they were just doing their job and trying to protect our political system.”