John Brennan, who was director of the Central Intelligence Agency during President Barack Obama's tenure as president, said Wednesday that Russian cyberattacks on the 2016 election were at such an extent that he has "never seen it this bad."
Brennan made the comments during a Fortune event in an interview with Walter Isaacson, a former managing editor of Time magazine and a former CEO of CNN, according to Axios.
"We have our ways," Brennan said when asked how he knew the cyberattacks were personally authorized by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian hacks were meant to damage the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, according to Brennan.
"They wanted her bloodied by the time of the election," Brennan said, according to Axios.
Brennan said the partisan divide in government will "undermine our country's prosperity."
He added government must work with the private sector, and called for "an unprecedented partnership," the Axios report on the interview said.
President Donald Trump offering praise for Putin, considering Russian interference in the election, drew criticism from Brennan.
"It made my blood boil," Brennan said in the interview, Axios reported.
The former CIA director also criticized Trump on July 9 after the G-20 meeting between Trump and Putin, saying the president did not show "good negotiating skills."
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