Story highlights Michael Hayden urged the American people to have faith in the US intelligence community

The former CIA chief warned against a "partisan" reading of the intelligence community's findings

New York (CNN) Michael Hayden, a former head of the CIA and National Security Agency, said Saturday that the newly-released intelligence report describing Russia's efforts to undermine the US election was "a brick short of a load."

The report , released Friday, outlines how Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to hurt Hillary Clinton and help President-elect Donald Trump by using by "an influence campaign" which included hacking Democratic groups and figures.

CNN's Michael Smerconish -- who expressed frustration that the presented evidence was heavily classified -- told Hayden the report left him "wanting more." Hayden said he "had the same sense of disappointment," though he "probably had a little more understanding as to why it was a brick short of a load."

However, Hayden insisted, "an awful lot of the things we know can't be shared, because we need to keep going back to this well in the future, Michael, to learn things to keep America safe."

Hayden also urged the American people to have faith in the US intelligence community, even if the details weren't clear.

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