Rep. Collins Calls For Probe of CNN Report of Pulling Spy Out of Russia

CNN’s report that the CIA extracted a high-level spy from Russia due to President Donald Trump’s “mishandling” of classified intelligence warrants a probe, Rep. Doug Collins told Fox News’ America’s Newsroom on Tuesday.

"I really question whose side CNN is on," the Georgia Republican said. “To put this out at this time and to put it in such a way that the CIA had to come out and respond to this is, really, a disturbing part.”

The White House on Tuesday slammed CNN for the report, with Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham saying in a statement that “CNN’s reporting is not only incorrect, it has the potential to put lives in danger.”

The CIA also criticized the reporting, calling it "misguided" and "simply false."

CNN, however, stood by its report that the U.S. pulled its source from Russia in 2017, in part due to concern that the Trump administration had "repeatedly mishandled classified intelligence and could contribute to exposing the covert source as a spy."

• CNN: US Extracted Top Asset From Inside Russia in 2017
• NBC News: Trump Gave Russians Intel Too Sensitive to Report