Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper James Robert ClapperOn China, Biden is no Nixon — and no Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report - Speculation over Biden's running mate announcement Trump slams former intelligence officials to explain 'reluctance to embrace' agencies MORE in a Wednesday morning interview described the Republican memo alleging surveillance abuses at the Justice Department as “a hit job” meant to discredit special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's probe into Russia's election interference. 

“Well, I think this is a hit job, more or less, to attack the FBI, attack the Department of Justice and inferentially, or by extension, the Mueller investigation.  I think the whole point here was to discredit all this,” Clapper told CNN’s “New Day.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

Clapper argued that the House Intelligence Committee, which is conducting its own probe into Russia's election meddling and any potential ties between Trump campaign members and the Kremlin, “is beyond hope at this point.” 

Host Alisyn Camerota then asked the former intelligence chief if he believes the committee under the leadership of Chairman Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesSunday shows preview: With less than two months to go, race for the White House heats up Sunday shows preview: Republicans gear up for national convention, USPS debate continues in Washington Sunday shows preview: White House, congressional Democrats unable to breach stalemate over coronavirus relief MORE (R-Calif.) is “capable of doing its job.” 

“I do not.  Not in the manner in which it was intended,” Clapper replied. “ Not used as a political lever to do a drive-by shooting in the interest of defending the president and the White House.” 

Nunes led the charge to release a memo drafted by his staff that accuses the Justice Department of surveillance abuses, a move that angered Democrats, who hope to release their own countermemo this week. 

The House Intelligence Committee on Monday voted unanimously to release the Democratic countermemo. 

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE has five days to allow or block the document's release.