Former CIA Director John Brennan is publicly testifying before the House Intelligence Committee Monday as part of its investigation into Russian efforts to interfere in 2016 U.S. election.
The panel had sought a wide range of information and documents about his and the Trump campaign's contacts with Russians dating back to June 2015.
Following this public testimony, John Brennan will testify in a closed-door session.
His testimony comes a day after former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn refused to hand over documents to the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is also investigating Russian interference in the election. Flynn cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
John Brennan is a three decade veteran of the America’s leading spy agency, he served as director of CIA from 2013 until retiring when Donald Trump became president in January 2017. Last year he helped compile the U.S. intelligence community assessment that Russia attempted to tip the election in favor of Mr. Trump.
In Washington Mr. Brennan is known for his “Jesuit-like” demeanor. A former career CIA analyst, Saudi Arabia station chief, and chief of staff to former CIA director George J. Tenet, he is considered a pioneer of CIA counterterrorism operations.
He helped the Bush administration establish the The National Counterterrorism Center in 2004.
Mr. Brennan has also been referred to by senior intelligence officials as a bridge between administrations, and something of a bridge between the Cold War and 9/11 wars. His work on controversial post-9/11 detention and interrogation policies, in addition to being the architect of the Obama-era drone war against terrorists — have been heavily denounced by liberal critics.
