Story highlights Clapper said his statements aren't "exculpatory"

He warned about federal checks and balances eroding

Washington (CNN) Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Sunday that he thinks US institutions are under assault from President Donald Trump.

"I think in many ways our institutions are under assault both externally -- and that's the big news here is the Russian interference in our election system -- and I think as well our institutions are under assault internally," Clapper told anchor Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union."

Pressed if he meant US institutions were under assault internally from the President, Clapper responded, "Exactly."

Clapper called on the other branches of the federal government to step up in their roles as a check on the executive.

"The founding fathers, in their genius, created a system of three co-equal branches of government and a built-in system of checks and balances," Clapper said. "I feel as though that is under assault and is eroding."

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