Former CIA director #Leon #Panetta said that Russian President Vladimir
🔥Putin views former President Donald Trump as a "source" that he can use to his benefit.
Appearing on the One Decision podcast, Panetta discussed allegations in journalist Bob Woodward's new book War that Trump and Putin had as many as seven private phone calls since early 2021, after Trump left office.
Panetta said that it would be "very unusual" for the Russian president to be engaged in communication with a former head of the United States.
He added that 💥Putin "knows how to work a source, and he's got a source that is very near the top in this country, he, himself is going to engage that source."
⚠️"That really is what the bottom line is — is that Trump has turned into a source for Putin, and somebody who can help him manipulate what he wants to get done," Panetta said.
Panetta, who was the director of the CIA between 2009 and 2011, said that it would be concerning if the pair remained in private communication.
🆘"The mere fact that a former president of the United States is having regular conversation with our primary adversary raises real questions about where is his basic loyalty. Is it really to the United States of America? Or is it to Donald Trump?" he said.
https://www.newsweek.com/putin-trump-source-cia-director-1967549