A former CIA operative has warned spies are “plotting against” Donald Trump and are trying to take him down by withholding or leaking sensitive information.

In a column published by Fox News, Bryan Dean Wright, a member of the Democratic Party, said: “Multiple reports show that my former colleagues in the intelligence community have decided that they must leak or withhold classified information due to unsettling connections between President Trump and the Russian Government.”

The former CIA operative made his comments after the Wall Street Journal reported US officials and intelligence were withholding sensitive information from President Trump because of fears the information could be leaked or compromised.

Alleged strong ties between Mr Trump and President Putin’s government have created mistrust within the intelligence community, official sources said.

Last week, Mr Trump accused the US intelligence service of illegally giving information to the "fake news media” about his team’s alleged contact with Russian officials.

Mr Wright also blamed some spies within the intelligence community for going beyond their duty and interfering with American democracy.

He also attacked those “plotting against” the US President, accusing them of “breaking the law” and “committing treason”.

“However, some of America’s spies are deciding that that’s not enough. For reasons of misguided righteousness or partisan hatred, they’ve taken it upon themselves to be judge, jury, and executioner. They have prosecuted their case in the court of public opinion...