Story highlights Michael Morell vouched for Hillary Clinton's ability to handle classified info

He said Putin played to Trump's ego to manipulate the GOP nominee

Washington (CNN) Former CIA acting-Director Michael Morell said Sunday he'd trust Hillary Clinton with the nation's security, but that Donald Trump is being manipulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Morell, who cast Trump as an unwitting agent of Putin in a New York Times op-ed last week , said on ABC's "This Week" that he's comfortable with Clinton after seeing her in action in President Barack Obama's administration.

"I worked with her for four years very closely when she was secretary of state and I was at the CIA. I provided her -- personally provided her some of the most sensitive information that the Central Intelligence Agency has," he said. "She never misused it. She always protected it."

He added: "I would trust her with the crown jewels of the United States government. And, more importantly, I would trust her with the future security of the country and the future security of my kids."

His endorsement could help Clinton amid renewed criticism over her use of a private email server.

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